Great thread.

Due to the wonders of technology, (NOTHING is secret on the web!) here is the first link I believe is still available to Flyertalk, as it was seen in April/May 1998 on your screen. Note the contents box for Inside Flyer May 1998 blurb on the RH side which dates it clearly - ignore date line across page top.

If you look down to "INTERACTIVE" half way down central table, there is a FlyerTalk link which gives you the VERY earliest version:

Also: Right now we are running a special promotion to celebrate the launch of FlyerTalk in which we are giving away 1,000 miles a day for ten days. Get in on "Can We Talk?" and win miles just for talking to other frequent flyers!

So what are your waiting for? Start talking!

And click HERE for the (IMO) yukky colours of Jungle Green and Blechhh many of us will remember from August 2000, just after I joined. Not sure about anyone else but I intensely disliked those colours.

This may be the first thread and earlier than the example Randy gives above? (First dates post is from May 5, 1998

www.flyertalk.com/pasttalk/ftpasttalk_forum/Forum1/HTML/000001.html

("Forum 1 000001.html")

From the first promo noted above we get this interesting comment from Randy (bolding mine):

Please note that the FlyerTalk bulletin boards are not intended for general travel or airfare discussions. For booking or fare information, we recommend that you visit sites like Microsoft Expedia or TheTrip.com. FlyerTalk is devoted specifically to discussions about frequent travel programs, and -- since that's a topic we could talk about for days -- we'd like to keep that focus here.






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Don't forget the FT Party In Paradise 'PiP' Hana Hou - in HNL Oct 25-27