Does anyone here also post on Milepoint?
Aug 12, 2014, 12:12 pm
#241
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,623
Aug 12, 2014, 12:34 pm
#242
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,396
Again, you assume this is zero-sum.
Aug 12, 2014, 12:42 pm
#243
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Aug 12, 2014, 2:09 pm
#245
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
MP is a great place for a new guy, it never hurts to look at other places for information...
A lot more BS on FT, but BS is good sometimes.,,
I like them both, and I started flying in the 50s.,
A lot more BS on FT, but BS is good sometimes.,,
I like them both, and I started flying in the 50s.,
Aug 12, 2014, 4:55 pm
#246
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
There is plenty to 'like' about the MP platform and management. (pun clearly intended)
I do think that the 4 co-founders sincerely thought they had a better mousetrap with the newer software platform.
According to co-founder Gary Leff, the value proposition for MP was "bringing live chats with heads of programs to members, sponsoring frequent flyer activities, supporting the charitable efforts of members (the Kiva team on Milepoint has lent out over $1 million! the site has donated thousands to Komen, etc)… plus the effort to build a friendly and welcoming community."
According to co-founder Randy Petersen, here was the value proposition:
"• Milepoint was able to start with a newer technology platform, while FlyerTalk, with its millions of users and gigantic archive, is less nimble and has to retool to make changes.
• Milepoint is easier to search and often displays newer threads than FlyerTalk, which sometimes answers queries with threads from 2007.
• While FlyerTalk enables you to subscribe to a thread and receive e-mail notifications instantly, daily or weekly when someone replies to the thread, Milepoint, which also has e-mail notifications, goes a step further. It optionally displays a red flag above "Alerts" on the top right of the page when someone updates the discussion.
• With its massive community, FlyerTalk defined "social media" before anyone knew the term. But Milepoint has become a bit more social, installing a "like" button. This enables users to highlight useful posts and Milepoint to show the most relevant content as judged by the crowd."
But, for me, their management stumbled badly out of the gate with a lack of transparency that left me cold (as the linked thread spells out). You never get a second chance to make a first impression and all that.
The fact is that there have been several attempts to replicate/improve upon FlyerTalk. Most fail. I was involved with one in 2005 or 2006 or so (moremiles.org) that petered out (the idea was FT without oppressive moderators).
But none have had Randy and his resources behind them.
In the end, the market decides.
I do think that the 4 co-founders sincerely thought they had a better mousetrap with the newer software platform.
According to co-founder Gary Leff, the value proposition for MP was "bringing live chats with heads of programs to members, sponsoring frequent flyer activities, supporting the charitable efforts of members (the Kiva team on Milepoint has lent out over $1 million! the site has donated thousands to Komen, etc)… plus the effort to build a friendly and welcoming community."
According to co-founder Randy Petersen, here was the value proposition:
"• Milepoint was able to start with a newer technology platform, while FlyerTalk, with its millions of users and gigantic archive, is less nimble and has to retool to make changes.
• Milepoint is easier to search and often displays newer threads than FlyerTalk, which sometimes answers queries with threads from 2007.
• While FlyerTalk enables you to subscribe to a thread and receive e-mail notifications instantly, daily or weekly when someone replies to the thread, Milepoint, which also has e-mail notifications, goes a step further. It optionally displays a red flag above "Alerts" on the top right of the page when someone updates the discussion.
• With its massive community, FlyerTalk defined "social media" before anyone knew the term. But Milepoint has become a bit more social, installing a "like" button. This enables users to highlight useful posts and Milepoint to show the most relevant content as judged by the crowd."
But, for me, their management stumbled badly out of the gate with a lack of transparency that left me cold (as the linked thread spells out). You never get a second chance to make a first impression and all that.
The fact is that there have been several attempts to replicate/improve upon FlyerTalk. Most fail. I was involved with one in 2005 or 2006 or so (moremiles.org) that petered out (the idea was FT without oppressive moderators).
But none have had Randy and his resources behind them.
In the end, the market decides.
And some of those things already existed on FT (Kiva team, other charitable activities).
I have no technical expertise on what it would take to change the platform that FT runs on - I'd guess it's quite an undertaking but don't know. While I do like the MP appearance and functionality better, that isn't a deciding factor in itself for me.
Aug 12, 2014, 5:29 pm
#247
Moderator: Hilton Honors forums
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Marietta, Georgia, United States
Posts: 24,997
In other words, do not expect a platform change anytime soon.
A platform upgrade, however, is another story — but that would only occur if it is determined that an upgrade version of the vBulletin bulletin board software can handle FlyerTalk and its traffic.
Aug 12, 2014, 6:06 pm
#250
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
I enjoy the community here and could write volumes on what I've learned, but the software is dated and needs to be upgraded. Most noticeably the mobile version.
Aug 12, 2014, 6:31 pm
#251
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
Those are good excuses on 99.999% of BBS; but they don't fly when your company owns and develops the software the Board is running on.
I enjoy the community here and could write volumes on what I've learned, but the software is dated and needs to be upgraded. Most noticeably the mobile version.
I enjoy the community here and could write volumes on what I've learned, but the software is dated and needs to be upgraded. Most noticeably the mobile version.
Aug 12, 2014, 7:34 pm
#252
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
I just hope they do it before they lose their market position. All companies, especially IT companies, will die if they don't innovate, and FT won't be an exception.
Aug 12, 2014, 8:20 pm
#253
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
Aug 13, 2014, 4:15 am
#254
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
The software platform on which FlyerTalk operates — vBulletin — is a division of Internet Brands, as is FlyerTalk.
In other words, do not expect a platform change anytime soon.
A platform upgrade, however, is another story — but that would only occur if it is determined that an upgrade version of the vBulletin bulletin board software can handle FlyerTalk and its traffic.
In other words, do not expect a platform change anytime soon.
A platform upgrade, however, is another story — but that would only occur if it is determined that an upgrade version of the vBulletin bulletin board software can handle FlyerTalk and its traffic.
Aug 13, 2014, 10:40 pm
#255
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
