You know, this is a really good question. As I sit here, I don't have a good answer, as I believe the future is very much undefined. I'll contemplate this to see if I can come up with a better answer.

If the airlines rationalize, should FT be similarly rationalized? I say no. I see rationalization as a trimming or a way of making more economically viable. FT is about people and their words. I would definitely support constant vigilance of what was a hot topic and make sure that I played a role in discussing and possibly voting on beneficial changes in forums, realignment of forums, consolidation or expansion of forums, and possibly even greater growth of non-miles/points forums.

People are expected to travel less in the coming years and so they will almost certainly travel differently. That they travel differently, and assuming they still use FT, we would necessarily need to be on top of current topics and trends in considering forums. We would also have to become far more active in learning things freshly when we may think we know all about the travel universe.

FT is a great model in that it is eminently flexible. We can and will keep up with the needs of the flying public in terms of providing appropriate forums to allow the effective discussion of those things important to travelers. Whether it be miles, or a better seat, whether it be food choices on board or how to get a better car rental, or even if it is advice on the best place to order things online due to less direct purchasing overseas, we need to be ready to meet those needs with forums so knowledgeable people are attracted to gathering here and pooling their information here. In such a way all of FT, the current members and those thousands that will become members in the next ten years will all have a place that serves them well, which meets their needs, and which lives on as the premier place to find travel related answers.

Changes in the industry and in FT
 

What I would predict based on current trends, is that FT would serve two purposes: (with part of this prediction based on the change to IB's ownership )

1) Airline forums will be more concerned with keeping members abreast of changes and liquidations, with perhaps less emphasis on issues of compensation or equity. How to maximize benefits on specific types of trips or patterns may become more important.

2) Other peripherally-travel-related forums will be come more important and active, and the social networking functions will take even more precedence. This (IMHO) will tend to skew FT membership younger and even more social-group-savvy.

Since I'm assuming IB purchased FT at least in large part to gain the "eyeballs' of those frequent travelers who would purchase other goods and services, I think the overall focus will skew to upscale and business travel.

How the TB will manage these changes if indeed they are to be managed, will depend in large part of the composition of the TB as well as whatever changes occur. Personally, if elected I would hope to help keep FT as inclusive as possible so that the varied types of travelers who now benefit form FT continue to do so.

I don't get some of the responses here. The question was asking about FlyerTalk reacting to the constant change the airlines do. This isn't about servers, TalkBoard "politics" or anything like that. The answer is right in front of our faces.

We all know that the airlines try to get away with doing as little for the most amount of money shelled out by the consumer/flier. The airlines, whether through consolidation or making upgrades harder to get (for two quick examples), play a huge role in the one on the boards.

FlyerTalk is a living, breathing thing that is mostly reactionary to the industry. However, there are exceptions. I feel FlyerTalkers played a huge role in restoring 500-mile minimums to UA Mileage Plus.

Of course, TalkBoard's role is to be on top of the change and render decisions based on what the airlines have up their sleeves.

When you think about it, this question personifies what FT is all about.

My initial response admittedly went off on something of a tangent,. but the gist of my comment is that FT is simply a message board and all TalkBoard can attempt to influence are the things I mentioned - primarily what the forums are and how they are arranged.

I think the key factor is that any lobbying or campaigning is best done by the members of an individual forum. As you imply in terms of UA and their 500-mile minimums - anything achieved via Flyertalk isn't actually achieved by the website itself - it's achieved by Flyertalkers.

All TB can do is help provide the platform.

The global economy, speculation of global security, and the reitrement of baby boomers will impact the way we travel in general.
Though travel as a whole will be impacted, I believe FT will become a force to be reckoned with.
Any FT can normally save money, utilize friendships, and find information on demand on FT. Just think if people used FT as it was designed and what is has eveloved to? We would have FT members that never have to stand in a line for crazy questions at a hotel or airport again.
The utilization of FT will grow and so will our knowledge base just because our hope for answers from the travel industry just aren't there.

If you are looking to find someone to help grow and bring FT into the future, VOTE LEATHERHEADIOWA!

It's hard to make such a prediction as one does not necessarily follow the other. We've seen some consolidation (e.g. AF/KLM) and FlyerTalk has adapted quite nicely to that consolidation. We've seen the loss of a couple of carriers (Aloha, e.g.) and the information has been preserved. I can't imagine FlyerTalk not reacting to changes in industry and I think that we already have a pretty good mechanism in place for doing so.