Very good question techgirl. I was hoping that the discussion in this thread would get back on track.

If I had to highlight some concerns of the community vis-a-vis FFPs, they would be (in no particular order):

1. The changing nature of Elite qualification. Various actions taken in recent times by AA, DL, US, CO, BA et. al. make it clear that the road to Elite FFP membership will look different in a couple of years than it does today, and we could provide useful input to ensure that the new standards are fair to frequent flyers.

2. Better training and awareness of FF rules (especially in regards to award tickets) by airline staff. IME, the award reservations staff at any given airline tend to be among the least knowledgeable of issues like routing rules and upgrade policies, and this often works to the disadvantage of both the customer AND the airline.

3. Domestic upgrade issues. As US carriers implement long-awaited partnerships (i.e., UA/US and DL/CO/NW), there is concern among many FFers that upgrades will become much harder to get as thousands of OAL elites now become eligible for the same few F seats.

4. Point dilution. There is concern amongst many FFers that airlines will attempt to increase award levels, especially as earning FF miles is now easier than ever. We could play a role by working to stop the point increases, or at least work them in such a way as to cause the least harm.

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All those who fly Continental Airlines, raise your hands.
The rest of you, raise your standards.

I'm trying to recall a funnier thread than this one on FT... and I don't think I can.

Well, the numerous threads where ozstamps engaged in ad hominem assaults would have been funny had they not nearly resulted in the loss of FlyerTalk.

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All those who fly Continental Airlines, raise your hands.
The rest of you, raise your standards.

[This message has been edited by avek00 (edited 08-19-2003).]

Is there a backstory that I'm not aware of?

There is a finite chance he is exaggerating.

Yes, there is.

A few years back, Ozstamps was involved in multiple flame wars in FlyerTalk Forums. Despite repeated FT bans issued by Randy himself, Ozstamps continued to launch personal attacks ad inifinitum. Numerous "veteran" FlyerTalkers left the Community, and FT itself was very nearly shut down altogether.

Unfortunatetly, it appears that Ozstamps has decided to continue the attacks.


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All those who fly Continental Airlines, raise your hands.
The rest of you, raise your standards.

It's NOT ozstamps.

It's everyone else.

Just read the threads I linked above.

Oh thank goodness!! A day without "ad hominem" is a day without sunshine.

Don't forget about the part that he's not really attacking so much as he is quoting. At least in the case of this thread.

Now, you have still not addressed many of the issues in this thread. As we now gone on page 5, I thought I would drop a nice reminder of that fact.

(for anyone joining us late, you will find the distinct refusal to address any substantial issues on page 1-4 to be rather enlightning).



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Saving the world, one clue at a time.

This is pretty funny. And sad. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The tagline is ok, but it's annoying to see in AA land.

Amen CG, Amen.


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All those who fly Continental Airlines, raise your hands.
The rest of you, raise your standards.

It is interesting to note that there has been little response to my answer to Techgirl's question. It seems as if the trolls go back into the woodwork whenever someone raises a substantive issue on this thread.... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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All those who fly Continental Airlines, raise your hands.
The rest of you, raise your standards.

1. The changing nature of Elite qualification.
2. Better training and awareness of FF rules (especially in regards to award tickets) by airline staff.
3. Domestic upgrade issues.
4. Point dilution.

gruezi Avek00.

While for sure, the points raised by you, are of concern for some/many FlyerTalkers on this board; they are probably not important future discussion-stuff for the TalkBoard on/about giving Randy advice/tips/hints how to run/improve FlyerTalk.

(They might be more valid discussion-'stuff' for a 'political' follow-up to/for some sort of 'Ralph Nader-FrequentFlyer-consumer-protection-groupe').

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 08-20-2003).]

Yes, and really vague and relatively useless in my opinion. In a similar vein I suggest you add the following issues:


5) Mom
6) Apple Pie

Kiss some babys on your way out.