Very well said.

Yep.

Networking is the greatest benefit of any FT (or MP) DO. Not only is it pretty much the only way to crack into the 'secret' listservs and alerts, but I have made many of my best friends by visiting DOs. And in fact met both my wife AND the best man at my wedding at FT DOs. ^

Of course, this can be accomplished just as easily at a 'free' happy hour or dinner (or, um, swimming pool ) DO....@:-)^

You think the "DO" has changed? Obviously I haven't been here nearly as long as you have, but it seems like back them (say 4+ years ago) people actually knew the face that matched the ft handle, whereas now it's the old-timers vs. the new people who stumble on the forum and get bashed for asking newbie questions. Maybe DO's in Canada are just ... different. I have no idea, honestly.

I haven't been to a FT event in a year or so....but I've met (former) strangers all over the world at FT DOs. Sometimes it is cliquey, sometimes not. Part of it is likely personality, and IME FT attracts a lot of introverts. So sometimes it takes time and effort to draw out attendees.

Also IME, attendees as DOs break down into two categories: those who ONLY want to talk points and miles and those who want to talk points and miles but also just be social. I'm definitely in the latter category.

I've never been to a seminar, so I can't compare the dynamic there to a 'regular' DO.

Agreed. When I talk to my friends about signing up for credit card bonus', they all think I'm crazy. They don't get it. FTU crystalizes things for some, sort of like an oh my moment. If attendees are willing to be led by FTU, I know they can and will find their pot of gold.

And it's the network of friends we have made that makes FTU and local DO's ^

Maybe when one of these FTU's come to the NY area, I'll show up. Hint Hint.


dh

My question would be if you have to pay the 99 or whatever $$$ to hang out with the FT/MP crowd at the pool?

IMO it would be tacky, but if you have a room at the hotel, they can't prevent you from using the pool or hanging out in the hotel's lounge (assuming elite or club level room) or bar areas. You wouldn't have a name tag, but people don't wear them while swimming. (DYKWIA?)

When the FTU was held in the DC suburbs I hung out with a few attendees/friends who came to town for it but of course did not 'attend' the event myself. ^

What were the unattended consequences?

Seriously, if you go to the bother to travel to the event, even locally, $100 is an entirely reasonable fee to pay to maximize the value of your time spent.

Anyone care to comment on Chicago vs. FTU in terms of the lectures/presentations?

Bolding mine: I take offense to that! I'm not cheap, I'm thrifty and frugal

i'd think they'd be pretty much the same as you have the same content and same presenters roughly although I've never been to either.

I certainly don't want to speak for koko, but that $100 buys lots of drinks at a local Irish bar. Now that's what I call maximizing the value of your time. @:-)

dh

You speak for me. If I am going to spend $100, I'd certainly rather be drinking Guinness in an Irish pub with a bunch of FlyerTalkers than watching Gary and Ben torture a couple of CSRs for an hour or two to prove how smart they are and how dumb CSRs can be. @:-)^

YMMV!

For years, my morning reading has included FT and travel blogs. I learned from them, early on, that FTU was slated for a TPA locale this fall. I have a home in TPA and thought how cool and easy it would be to go to FTU therefore. As we moved through the summer months and into fall, I found so little FTU "hype" that I began to wonder if going would be worth it or not. The event just didn't seem to be promoted all that much. It's website seemed lackluster to me, and even as the date got closer the focus on the sites I read highlighted the Chicago "do" w/ample enthusiasm. The seemingly lack of groundswell about the TPA FTU kept me away because I figured it was so poorly promoted perhaps there just wasn't much to it.