I removed snogal's post since she's one of our busiest reps here, and wasn't able to return and edit her post like she wanted. Also, we're not vouching for anyone... it was a phone call we received asking for help with a fare, so we directed her up to FlyerTalk and suggested posting a topic about it.

there have been a lot of good responses in this thread, both for and against the original topic, but there have also been some very reactionary replies that do nothing but fuel the flame war. I think Hersheymom has received a true baptism under fire here and now knows that "barter" is not a term that is taken lightly with our veteran FT'ers.

Again, I want to apologize for all the confusion that has resulted. We're not taking anyone's side here, just directing callers to FlyerTalk for help, since FlyerTalk is the place for frequent travelers to ask for information and assistance.

It looks like this thread is providing some very useful information for anyone looking for help in purchasing tickets, and that really is what FlyerTalk is all about...sharing info.