Please consider the possibility of added a "By invitation" feature to a thread. The basic idea is that the thread starter will be able to identify the thread as "By invitation" (either for posting or for posting and viewing). The thread title will still show up forum and the moderators will still have full power over the thread

This can make some threads less problematic (e.g Miami four points) since people which didn't stay in the place could be kept from posting (by the starter); enable limiting participants of a poll to a defined group of users, allow sub-groups (e.g. Do, Mistake fare) to have a more private discussion without the "benefits" of views from non-participants, less impacted, users and removing the possibility of non-users having access to the information.

I believe that this will actually reduce the load on moderators since each such thread will have a limited power moderator (the starter) and will be less likely to get spammed or derailed since the starter get to control the participants.

I see many possible uses for this kind of a thing, such as in many of the "Consolidated..." threads, where the thread starter maintains the first post with lists of discounts or tips or participants in a DO or whatever.

And a place to have a more clandestine discussion of discounts (mileage run fares and others) would be useful in many places.

Add me as a +1 to look into this.

Sagy, are you aware of any other vBulletin-based forums that have this implemented? If it's a feature that can be turned on natively in the vBulletin software or instituted by a simple existing plug-in, the administration here would be much more likely to be open to doing this.

No, I'm not aware of a vBulletin feature or a plug-in. If/when I have some free time, I'll try to do some searches to see if anyone created such a plug-in.

I'm going to have to go on record as being very much against this idea.

Flyertalk is about the free exchange of information. As our community standards require that you can't post an event on FT unless all active members are invited, then I can't even imagine being allowed to post a thread and telling people they can't see or post.

Having to be invited to post on a thread is cliquish and anti community.

Good point.

How about getting rid of the invitiation to view/post idea but still being able to assign limited editing powers to a designated member? That way, some of the "Consolidated..." threads can be maintained by a new volunteer (who isn't a moderator) if/when the old thread maintainer retires from maintaining it or leaves FlyerTalk. That's the part I was focused on, anyway.