Originally Posted by
megshaye
I am wanting to learn more about the different aspects on this site. Ihe mileage run forum and the "trick it/dump" forum etc assume a certain amount of prior knowledge, in fact I am not 100% on what exactly they are or how to do it or even if it is advisable etc.
I understand that there are reasons for this, and I also understand that some people also enjoy a bit of cloak and dagger sudoku musing, but this makes it difficult for people who have a genuine interest to be part of the "club" so to speak. It's a bit like being a 1st grader in a high school class.
I don't want to annoy people by posting copious questions. I have tried readng through the different sections to get a handle on it myself and it is not happening.
If you do not have the time or inclination to help me no worries move onto the next post, but if you have a real passion for this site and are a full bottle on it and enjoy sharing your knowledge get in touch so I can start asking you annoying questions like what exactly is a dump, what is the process you go through step by step to do it, what are the pros and cons etc etc.
When the student is ready the master appears
I am no master but will be happy to answer any question I can. A few general observations-
No person is an expert on or interested in everything. Therefore, you should figure out what interests you most, then seek experts in those specific forums. Also read the "stickies" in those forums.
The main thrust at FT is earning frequent flyer miles which bring elite status, lounge access, upgrade from economy/business to business/first, etc., and get you otherwise-super-expensive tickets like round-the-world itineraries. If you are passionate about free drinks in foreign airports or about being served your meal before others, you have found a home.
There is a smaller but equally dedicated group whose main interest is finding the lowest possible fare. (Of course, the two are related; low fares can allow one to fly more and thus earn more miles.)
As far as I can tell, the lucrative fares posted by
Raffles longhaul and "trick/dump" threads are the only mysteries here. For the time being, don't waste your time on them. Everything else is pretty clear.
Seriously, most posts on MR Deals identify attractive fares that require no special decoding except a knowledge of airline-, cabin-, and airport-codes. They are bookable by anyone. The etiquette for using the deals forum: manage your travel online; don't call the airlines while the fare is alive; don't publicize it outside FT.
For researching fares you should learn to use
ITA if you haven't already.