wharvey

Dear Talkboard and Members,

I have noticed an increase in the number of travel product related questions over the past months on Flyertalk.

From Travel Luggage, wallets, clothing, headphones, travel agencies and the like.

I would like to recommend that the Talkboard considering adding a Travel Products and Services Forum under the Travel & Dining area. The description could be "This forum is for all your questions, recommendations and comments on the latest in Travel Products and Services." I am sure someone could come up with a better description. Just thinking it would be great to have one place with all the luggage, wallet, headphone recommendations.

Thoughts?

Mary2e

I'd love to see this. These types of threads are scattered all over. The most puzzling is a current Tumi thread in travel tech

I suspect all these travel product threads are left where they land by the mods because there's no really good place to put them and deleting them would serve no purpose at all since the information is needed and good.

ScottC

Mary is right. I've always left them in Travel Tech simply because there is no better place for them.

I'd be perfectly content if the Talkboard voted on changing the description of Travel Tech to Travel Products.

Cholula

That would work.

But then isn't the forum somewhat unwieldy with mixed threads discussing WiFi, luggage, SIM cards, laptops, clothing and whatever else on the same page??

Why not just leave Travel Tech as truly a tech forum? I'm sure that'll please the regulars who visit the forum now for advice, info and discussion on the latest and greatest tech devices.

And create either a separate forum or a sub-forum where all the non-tech threads like luggage, wallets, clothing, etc. could be created or transferred.

With FT's member base continuing to grow at a fast clip, I think we could justify separate areas to discuss both categories.

chexfan

Can you show the demand? What's wrong w/ the way it is? What are the downsides of leaving it status quo?

wharvey

I would actually prefer that the threads not be in the Travel Technology Forum.... would like to see that be more "technical" in nature.

PLEASE... not a sub forum.... that has all types of problems about what shows as latest thread. I would hope it would deserve a parent forum status.

wharvey

Always willing to show demand. I will leave it up to the Talkboard as to whether they see anything wrong or downsides.

Laptop Bags - Specfically Briggs & Riley: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...highlight=tumi

Tumi: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...highlight=tumi

Recommend a Good Travel Wallet: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...highlight=tumi

TravelPro Warranty: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...highlight=tumi

Recommendations for Luggage and Bags: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...highlight=tumi

Weekend Bag Recommendation: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...highlight=tumi

Your Favorite Wallet: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...highlight=tumi

Just a few threads that come up with Search on "Tumi"... lots more out there for anyone who wants to search.

chexfan

Actually isn't the onus on those who are asking for the forum?

wharvey

I choose to not take the onus....

I have made a recommendation that I believe is in the best interest of our membership and community. The Talkboard will decide whether or not it is.

This is not about SPAM and freebies... and prefer that it not go down that road.

chexfan

I'm sorry, when seeking new forums, the TB has expressed a desire to show a need. 7 threads isn't an "unmet need" IMO.

But who knows, your tactic may be successful (it shouldn't if the past is any precedent) as the target is always moving to whatever is best suited by the contituency.

And I don't understand, why did you bring up SPAM and freebies?

Again, what is wrong with the status quo?

Dovster

Even as a member, I do not presume to talk for all of TalkBoard -- so how can you?

We are nine different people, all of whom have a shared goal of making FlyerTalk better, but in no way can be said to have the same methods of achieving that.

For example, I have repeated said that I will support the request for any national flag carrier if 25 members say they are members of its FF program and will post regularly on the forum. I don't believe that any other TB member has said that will be enough to get his or her vote.

We do not have, nor should we have, any cut and dried criteria for a forum. Each member should make his own decision based on his own best judgment.

Prospero

On the subject of demand, we see recurring threads on my local airline forum (the BA board) relating to product recommendations.

I would personally support this proposal - if only to do my bit in educating the world that LV luggage is just inherently wrong

birdstrike

Having benefited from their "traveling with only solids" thread, I must say this would devastate the Women Travelers forum

SkiAdcock

I would support this forum since so many of the travel products threads are scattered amongst so many different forums.

Cheers.

l etoile

Funny... I'm always interested in travel products and yet was just thinking this forum would probably have the greatest impact on the Women Travelers forum. We've had discussions on the best mascara for travel; the tiniest eyelash curlers for packing ease; eyelash extensions, which are a product that allow you to no longer have to travel with mascara; travel vases; travel shoes that are unique to women; and so many more. As one of the moderators there, I would leave these discussions in the women's forum because they fit our purpose in that they are "primarily of interest to women" and because a thread on eyelash curlers would quickly drop to to page 112, but I can certainly predict a whole lot of RBPs asking that these be moved.