I would be interested to hear people's examples of things/indicators that place you in a particular ability group. Like how they rate people's language proficiency or tennis skills...

for example?

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expert: already knows the system but also when special rules/exceptions can be triggered to assist him/her ahead of others. For example, encountering irregular operations of UA flight to LHR for important business meeting, pre-emptively contacts reservations while still on the delayed plane to suggest and protect alternative routing, using the later-departing LH codeshare through FRA.

intermediate: Knows the system, and usually anticipates when doing things a certain way will bring advantages. For example, sees tight connection between terminals during short layover returning through ORD, doesn't check bags so can be the first in line through immigration and security to the domestic flight.

novice: Unaware of advantages and disadvantages of various schemes, systems, and choices. For example, has just spent 50,000 miles to redeem "free" digital camera at airline merchandise site, and pretty pleased about it.

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maybe you all can come up with better/funnier examples...