Clarification Requested - Purpose of the Destination Forums
 

I had a discussion with a number of people on FT and there is a lack of full consensus about what the intention of the destination forums are. Are they forums to discuss:

a) how to get around, hotels, dining and sightseeing in the defined area

OR

b) are they all of a and also intended to be the location where the AIRPORTS within those locations are discussed -- not just construction, etc of the general airport but also airline type questions, e.g. what terminal do I arrive into, getting between terminals, customs, immigration, getting around inside the terminals, what to expect, etc.

For example (you can see my *A/UA flying habits here), if I was flying on UA to FRA and had to switch to LH, where would I post my question about getting around IN the airport? Or if I was flying UA into ORD or IAD and wanted to talk about getting through customs and dealing with the airport/getting around in the airport - where should that post go?

My take was always A, with the airport type questions usually posting in the appropriate airline where I'm either flying that airline or if there is two, go to the one that uses the airline as a hub ... recently it's been pointed out that those forums really should be treated as B which means myself (along with a lot of other people) are looking at FT forums and posting in the wrong forums. No promise I'll change habits but I'm curious on the take of the talkboard members on what is expected to be in these forums. Since you are the ones who define the forums, I'm guessing you are the ones to say what the expected content of each would be. Thanks! :)

Edited to add:

Forum definitions like this also tends to make me think A was the right answer:

Quote:

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There's nothing 'Lost in Translation' here as we talk about the sights, sounds and the visuals of this gateway to the Orient. Tip: slurp the noodles and gift the kimono.

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They are for both.

A couple of years ago (someone else perhaps remembers exactly when), the airport-specific forums were folded into the Destination forums by Randy.

It's a very helpful structure and kudos to him for doing so. ^ When people post what are airport-specific questions in those forums, there is a good mass of information built up over time.

A

One often gets unexpected bonus airline-specific material by asking in the airline forum. @:-)

Which means that a traveler who needs information about Airport X is forced to search dozens of forums hoping there might be something about that airport, and it means that the same information is essentially cross-posted in a number of different forums.

This is not helpful.

This question is actually intended for the TalkBoard members input, but I'll respond to this.

Since the type of airport queries I'm referring to are AIRLINE related/based (re: experiences & questions inside the airport), most people go to the respective airline's forum FIRST. If there is a question about how to get to the airport, then yes I agree it's more of a generic question belonging in the destination forum. If the information is distributed out to the destination forums, and this is only done for a couple of the airline forums, then people might have to either search in multiple places OR re-post questions that have been answered previously but are not in the expected location, the airline's respective forum. It is rare for the forums I frequent to see someone post an internal airport question in the destination forum, rather it goes to the airline forum and might be moved.

OTOH - Threads about the generic security policy - like the new line at IAD might be created in the DC forum rather than UA (that thread is in the UA forum) as its IAD generic not UA specific due to the set-up of security at THAT airport. Conversely, this applies very much to UA fliers as its a UA hub and therefore all things IAD can be considered 'near and dear' to the posters in the forum.

The experience and information related to each airport differs greatly depending on which airline you're flying. A perfect example is FRA and the first class LH terminal - it's an airport question so you are saying it belongs in the destination forum but it is clearly AIRLINE related. This would belong in the LH forum, IMO. Same thing with IAD, UA and the RCC clubs - its all about where the clubs are and what they're like, etc. It's dulles related so you are saying move it - I consider it club/airline related and would expect it to be in the UA forum.

The end result today is that some are selectively moved out to a destination forum but the majority are left behind ... leaving the person looking for information split on where and how to search.

This thread is to look for clarification on how those forums are intended to be used and then request that information be shared so people know where to post and where to search for whatever information they are looking for. This is a cloudy subject at the moment as you can tell.

A similar question has come up before in respect to airport lounge info. Currently this information may be scattered across multiple forums - the specific airlines, alliances as well as destination forums.

I guess the post I replied to got deleted. Q.e.d.

Interesting. I thought I posted something, but I guess I messed up.

This really isn't a topic at all. The Talkboard really does not define the forums. The "participants" of that forum do...

that's wishful thinking -
Talkboard creates and defines the forums, the moderators "moderate" the forums, which includes managing the forum so it meets the definition set by TB ... Randy oversees it all :) Works for me, except when the definition of the forum is not clear which is why I'm seeking clarification from TB members.

Quite simply, this is not true... although it should be.

Never saw the history you reference, but as a TB member, if you have input to my question, I'd appreciate it.

To be brutally honest, GoingAway, I have devoted a total of five minutes and zero posts in the Destination Forums in my four years on FT.
They were created, I believe, prior to my joining FT and in my very brief experience with them, I have never figured out their reason.

My belief is that questions to do with cities and areas of the world can best be answered in the main hotel and airline forums. And the lack of people posting in the Destination Forums obviously causes information there to be minimal.

I think this all stems from FT being the premier source to maximize miles and points as opposed to a general travel information site.

Cholula - Thank you ... I'd take that more as an "A" than a "B" -- more targeted/limited than not -- and the fact that many are not heavily used as an add-on.

I am not sure I really see what the problem is. My answer would be that it is a and partly b (if the question is generic, dealing with the airport or surroundings of the airport), but if the question is airline-specific (lounges, etc.), it is probably better placed in the respective airline forum.

Yes, that was exactly the intention when Randy merged the old airport forums into the destination forums.