MSPeconomist

Here's an attempt to delineate some criteria for the sort of threads and/or OPs that would be appropriate for crossposting in a redefined MilesBuzz/Miles and Points Hot Topics fourm as well as the airline/hotel specific fora.

We start from the presumption that most regular FT users follow the fora of their major programs fairly closely/frequently, fora associated with secondary programs less seriously but still with some regularity as well as when specific information is needed, and most other specific program fora not at all.

Given that, a question to ask before something is posted in the refurmulated MilesBuzz/Miles and Points Hot Topics forum would be whether someone who doesn't use a particular program (much) is likely to need the information or find it useful. Some specific characteristics of this sort of news would include the following:

--major new features that might cause people to change programs; significant reworking of the main principles of a program (switch from distance based to spend based)

--major devaluations (beyond the usual annual hotel category increases)

--innovative or creative new features that other programs might copy in the future

--new apparently permanent interlinkages between programs (recently, Delta and SPG or UA and Marriott)

--significant new joint ventures, bilateral partnerships or alliance memberships; mergers

--bankruptcies or major sales of assets