An open letter to the members of FlyerTalk
#257
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,648
Wishing you the best in the future and want to thank you for giving us FT. I've learned so much here and as a result have been able to afford to make some trips I thought I'd only dream of. It is truly a wonderful community^
#258
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: DL estranged 1MMer and lifetime gold, F9/CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat now dust, Spirit RIP
Posts: 42,248
Randy = The King of "Sticky"
We'll miss you, Randy! I hope this won't be like Apple without Steve Jobs or Berkshire Hathaway without Warren Buffett (or The Doors without Jim Morrison).
Of all the "sticky" ways to spend time on the Internet I've fallen into since 1993, this one has proven stickiest. All the obscure mileage bonuses uncovered or odd fares found have allowed even more travel than existed already. Events like the SIN RUN DO and caravans of FTers on particularly popular deals were creations of the medium. So was the peculiar thrill of chasing all the deals.
Randy also deserves massive credit for keeping OMNI, OMNI PR and some of the other discussion forums going, as they add massively to stickiness. A bean-counter approach to those would have trouble seeing past the inevitable flaming that had to be put out and other non-revenue-producing headaches. It also must have been hard in the early years to spend money upgrading FT when it was popular but not in a way that immediately paid the bills or offered certainty thereof. The arrangement today is a product, no doubt, of getting it right at numerous decision points.
(And lest that be taken for granted, I'm reminded of a certain system administrator of a content site who's known for suspending posters of valuable information if they didn't book through her affiliate link. Imagine if FT were run on THAT kind of vision! Having someone like Randy in charge has made a difference!).
Of all the "sticky" ways to spend time on the Internet I've fallen into since 1993, this one has proven stickiest. All the obscure mileage bonuses uncovered or odd fares found have allowed even more travel than existed already. Events like the SIN RUN DO and caravans of FTers on particularly popular deals were creations of the medium. So was the peculiar thrill of chasing all the deals.
Randy also deserves massive credit for keeping OMNI, OMNI PR and some of the other discussion forums going, as they add massively to stickiness. A bean-counter approach to those would have trouble seeing past the inevitable flaming that had to be put out and other non-revenue-producing headaches. It also must have been hard in the early years to spend money upgrading FT when it was popular but not in a way that immediately paid the bills or offered certainty thereof. The arrangement today is a product, no doubt, of getting it right at numerous decision points.
(And lest that be taken for granted, I'm reminded of a certain system administrator of a content site who's known for suspending posters of valuable information if they didn't book through her affiliate link. Imagine if FT were run on THAT kind of vision! Having someone like Randy in charge has made a difference!).
#259
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum-3 MM Marriott Lifetime Plat Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 980
Randy good luck in your future ventures. My wife I met you for lunch a few years ago when you were in Miami at the Lowes. Until flyertalk was created there was no way to learn how to maximize these programs in any real way. The flyertalk community is really a high level group for sure. I have been to several of the meets in South Fla, Vegas and even Australia. I became a 2 million mile AA flyer because of FT.
Again wish you the best and I will follow on Twitter/Facebook.
Robert Weisberg
Again wish you the best and I will follow on Twitter/Facebook.
Robert Weisberg
#260




Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: LAX CA
Programs: UA1P MM, Hilton Dia, Mar Lifetime Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,537
Randy,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to travel the world. I truly enjoy visiting other countries and FlyerTalk made it possible beyond my dreams. I was a domestic business traveler in 2001 when I first logged onto FT. A year later I not only found my way to Europe in C, but was fortunate enough to be able to upgrade a soldier heading home. I have over 100 stamps on my passport now. FlyerTalk changed my life and still plays an active role in my travel. I wish you the best as you move on!
Mike
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to travel the world. I truly enjoy visiting other countries and FlyerTalk made it possible beyond my dreams. I was a domestic business traveler in 2001 when I first logged onto FT. A year later I not only found my way to Europe in C, but was fortunate enough to be able to upgrade a soldier heading home. I have over 100 stamps on my passport now. FlyerTalk changed my life and still plays an active role in my travel. I wish you the best as you move on!
Mike
#264
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: source of weird and eccentric ideas
Posts: 40,085
I don't know how, but in 1999 when I needed you, you found me and I joined FlyerTalk. What an amazing fantastic enriching experience it's been.
Randy, I will miss you here. I trusted you with my time and my posts and you never, ever disappointed me. You have been a true guardian of what is best about contributing and building a community. I learned so much from you and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a moderator here (and for being smart enough to take that opportunity away when it was time for me to move away from that role!)
Thank you thank you thank you!
Randy, I will miss you here. I trusted you with my time and my posts and you never, ever disappointed me. You have been a true guardian of what is best about contributing and building a community. I learned so much from you and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a moderator here (and for being smart enough to take that opportunity away when it was time for me to move away from that role!)
Thank you thank you thank you!
#267




Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,223
Randy, I wish I had known about FT earlier, joined earlier, and gotten to know you better. We'll miss you here, and hope that our paths will cross in some other perhaps-yet-to-be-started forum somewhere.
Merry Christmas and all the best.
Merry Christmas and all the best.
#268


Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: QF LTG:
Posts: 1,865
Well Randy on this your penultimate day on FT I say thanks for starting and nurturing FT for many years.
I never got to meet you in person but having read and learnt heaps here I say thanks and all the best for the future.
May you only see economy (or coach as you call it) in your nightmares.
In the meantime I'm off to the SIN Do next month and I have no doubt you'll be one of the main topics of conversation.
I never got to meet you in person but having read and learnt heaps here I say thanks and all the best for the future.
May you only see economy (or coach as you call it) in your nightmares.
In the meantime I'm off to the SIN Do next month and I have no doubt you'll be one of the main topics of conversation.
#269
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,351
Plenty of time to build another Barn Randy. 
Enjoy it to the fullest, and thanks for 10 years of adventure.
The Mouth from the South.

Enjoy it to the fullest, and thanks for 10 years of adventure.

The Mouth from the South.
#270
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus. Eurobonus Millionaire
Posts: 38,730
Hey, Randy -- s
long and thanks for all the fish!
long and thanks for all the fish!

