Meeting In Real Life Etiquette
May 8, 17, 11:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: South East England
Programs: Status with BA Exec Club; KrisFlyer; Hilton Honors; IHG One; Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 543
Meeting In Real Life Etiquette
Hypethetical question:
You see a fellow traveller, who you think might be a FT BAEC regular, do you:
1. Ignore them - we're too British to talk IRL with strangers
2. Take out the laptop and click refresh on the FR BAEC tab and hope they notice
3. Flamboyantly take a photo of your meal
4: Run over and shout "you're @corporate-wage-slave and I claim my 500 Avios" !
?
You see a fellow traveller, who you think might be a FT BAEC regular, do you:
1. Ignore them - we're too British to talk IRL with strangers
2. Take out the laptop and click refresh on the FR BAEC tab and hope they notice
3. Flamboyantly take a photo of your meal
4: Run over and shout "you're @corporate-wage-slave and I claim my 500 Avios" !
?
May 9, 17, 12:11 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 13,576
It's 1 then later you post on here how so and so ignored you and accuse them of printing out war and peace whilst drinking from a bottle of fizzy water.
May 9, 17, 12:30 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,597
5. Write "DYKWIA" in pen on the front of the BoB menu and subtly wave it in front of them to see if they show any sign of recognition. If they give you a knowing wink you can strike up a conversation. I can see this going wrong.....
May 9, 17, 12:48 am
#8
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 9,211
Originally Posted by Flexible preferences
I'm leaning toward 3. Something is curious about how you would take a food photograph flamboyantly.
May 9, 17, 12:48 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,716
I've rendezvoused with several FTers in the lounge at TLL by listening for aviation-related chat and doing a very British "I couldn't help overhear, but...". As JamieABZ noted, you often have a sneaking suspicion sometimes, something you can't quite place... 
Then again, if you want to track them down, the back 5 rows of the ATR-72 between TLL and HEL seems to be exclusively populated by FTers.
Then again, if you want to track them down, the back 5 rows of the ATR-72 between TLL and HEL seems to be exclusively populated by FTers.
May 9, 17, 12:53 am
#11
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 58,490
I get 4. about once a fortnight. I mean, you all know where and how to find me. Funnily enough about half are not regular posters here, many have a post count of 0 or a very low one.
I have to say one of the privileges of being an ambassador, probably the best one, is getting to meet many of the FT contingent face to face. It's a very rare week that I don't meet at least one person from this forum somewhere on the road. I think I've met most of the household names here, with a few notable exceptions.
And the point about Dos is a good one. Of the hundreds of FTers who have been to Dos, I think I've only encountered one person who didn't enjoy it. For the overwhelming majority it's a great way to get an interesting circle of new friends with at least something in common.
I have to say one of the privileges of being an ambassador, probably the best one, is getting to meet many of the FT contingent face to face. It's a very rare week that I don't meet at least one person from this forum somewhere on the road. I think I've met most of the household names here, with a few notable exceptions.
And the point about Dos is a good one. Of the hundreds of FTers who have been to Dos, I think I've only encountered one person who didn't enjoy it. For the overwhelming majority it's a great way to get an interesting circle of new friends with at least something in common.
May 9, 17, 12:55 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, A3*G, UA 1K, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,269
May 9, 17, 12:57 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,540
I once tried to start a conversation with someone in the LAX lounge who I spotted using FT. He was very reluctant to chat and we both ended up feeling awkward. So, I don't think I would do that again.
I like the idea of standing on one leg and leaning over as this would not be embarrassing and if reciprocated could lead to an interesting chat while waiting for the aeroplane.
I like the idea of standing on one leg and leaning over as this would not be embarrassing and if reciprocated could lead to an interesting chat while waiting for the aeroplane.
May 9, 17, 1:10 am
#15
Join Date: May 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 270
Originally Posted by Quarky Quark
A code phrase would be easier and you'd get some fantastic looks from non-FT'ers.
Non FT: "I hope this delay isn't too much longer"
FT: "Jean has a long moustache"
Non FT "Uhh, ok"
Non FT: "I hope this delay isn't too much longer"
FT: "Jean has a long moustache"
Non FT "Uhh, ok"
