I have lots of folks here in CLE that ask me to consult them about FFP methodology. And I always ask them to provide a pretty wide swath of info about their travel patterns, preferences and goals BEFORE engaging in a more in-depth conversation.

FWIW, at the Apple Store here in CLE, you actually have to identify WHAT your inquiry is so that you can be queued into the APPROPRIATE 'Genuis Bar' line. So, the concept of some kind of user profiling before making human contact should not be particularly offputting to a new user.....especially if there is an intro paragraph that specifically advises that there will be followup contact by a FT Volunteer/AmbASSerator/whatever within a designated period of time (ie- w/in 72 hrs?)

It's all starting to sound a bit like bidding for travel though, and I actually don't like that system.

I think the open format could serve up more than pat answers to which FFP fits the individual and could serve as a catch all venue for comparing not only programs but cabins, lounges, partnerships & alliances, redemptions, etc. FFP/FFM are only, to me, one part of the travel puzzle.

I think the challenge is that are indeed so MANY variables that influence the choice of best FFP for a given user.

Plus, there is often times a disconnect between user goals and reality (ie- user wants to go to Tahiti in First Class...then we find out that they generate 25K a year in total miles!!!!). No one's time and effort is well-served unless there is enough user info to provide them sage advice.

I think the profile interface could be quite easy to use and take less than 1 minute to fill out, with some very easy-to-answer gateway profile questions.

Remember, RP has mentioned utilizing volunteers for this project, hence the concern about allocation of time! Even if RP/IB decided to use a paid person as key contact, that person would benefit from having a more useful profile as a PRELUDE to engage the user.

I think that once you get a sense of a user profile, all those other issues (cabins, lounges, alliances, etc.) will invariably fall into place as part of a FFP suggestion from the FT contact.

Someone whose profile is earning a total of 25K a year BY NECESSITY, won't really be a candidate about lounges, upgrades because they won't qualify on status. Nor will they likely be so concerned about cabins/aircraft because they'll likely be fliying Economy.

Conversely,someone who has mega-credit and spend and 100K BIS miles can be offered a FAR BROADER array of advice.

I think that the user profile will go along way in at least helping user and advisor PRIORITZE which elements to focus on. Other related issues could be presented on a 'tease' basis if the user wants to delve more deeply after getting their PRIMARY issue answered.

So, the process would not have be be we answered you, now GET OUTTA HERE!! But, rather, we answered you, and we have other related options to present if you are interested.

But frankly, I think at this juncture, tcook's obersvation about enaging the usee into the FT millieu makes a lot of sense. In effect, we've taught you SOME, now go to the specific FFP forum to learn MORE on your own and get integrated into the FT community.

If this Genuis Bar becomes TOO thorough, we could end up with a lot of hit and run folks!!


The Genuis Bar should serve DUAL purposes- providing a service for the user AND giving the user a terrific platform/introduction to becoming a more regular/contributing member (more views/clicks for IB!!!) of FT.

Agreed. There may be less of a fear of posting in such an open and accessible format forum than one more narrowly dedicated to one particular program. Yes, lots of possibilities....:)

Consider this possibility, please.

After the proposed form is filled out and evaluated by a few of 'the pros' or members-at-large, suggest something like: "based upon your travel habits and expectations, you may find [AA, CO, DL etc] a good choice. Please visit the forum [link to it] and find out more."

This creates at least two opportunities. First, it provides some amount of instant information. Second, it introduces the person to effective use of the fora.

Voila! Give a man a fish AND go on a fishing expedition!


---- oops, Beaubo pretty much said all this a few posts back

I completely agree, as I have been thinking about this idea myself.

Overall, I believe that if the comparison threads were consolidated in one forum, they would be easier to find.

Sub-forums for comparison forums could also be a possibility, although that may be considered overkill.

I like the idea of a comparison engine and I imagine a system exists for other sites run by the owner of this IBB.

I don't know if that is the feature which enables this discussion but I'm all for helping the Host expand this site with a few select features.

It's not like we have any equity here except our posts and relationships. We can try some new things which might enhance the experience for new users.

If technology exists for this forum, then I'm happy to be a guinea pig.
I'm getting used to that feeling. ;)

I'm glad the longer-term-than-me members have been commenting on this.

It's exactly why *some* people find this board. "What's the best program for me?" I'm in a slightly different situation of searching out my next program, but a thread or forum to help me choose based on what I already know about flying would be of major assistance this year.

So if a way can be worked out which allows our professional FFP collectors to contribute without feeling as though they are being taken advantage of and still allow those of us in search mode to discover the best program for us, then this is a grand idea and I'm all for it.

It sounds to me like a "feeding with a spoon" forum.

While I would support such a helpful base (everyone changes his preference from time to time) there is one thing to consider:

It will need alot of input and competent answers. No assumptions or the like. Because of this, a basic form like Beaubo generated it would be a good start.

I say it because thats what I do for a living in consulting. So often I talk to travel managers or CEO's who complain they based their decision for a travel strategy on aspects that were in the end not very important for the target they set in the beginning.

I agree, this is yielded for the private person who is maybe self emplyed. So the key factor is really: What are your most important targets ?

Status - Benefits and Irrop support (especially for domestic travel)
Miles - Bonus and earning rates (mostly for intl travel)
Awards - We all want it but in the end we have to fly for the miles and face possible inconveniences on these trips: Are 30K more miles worth it to stick with a programm that offers you less priority benefits?

I present a real-life scenario!

Example: Someone who isn't research impaired, but rather simply hasn't a clue at this point about which airlines or programs are a good choice (that'd be me).

In this example, the flyer typically hops around the lower 48 on an LCC (hi nsx!) with the occasional flight on a legacy or two. Under normal circumstances there wouldn't be much to investigate, but now the pax needs to fly around Europe briefly in Italy and France as well as some serious state-hopping coming up - and worse, there will be little to no lead-time for those bookings. All last minute flights.

Should this pax become a devoted legacy flyer? Are the miles earned from Europe going to translate to anything of significance to hedge against sticking with the LCC and its perks? What happens when you mix openskies and LCCs? (seriously, that's my current most viable option) Are there important questions the pax is neglecting to ask?

And that's just the dilemma for today! I think a general "Howszit? whatszit?" forum would be nice. A place to go when you don't know where to go and have big complicated questions that cover multiple airlines, cities, and programs.

We can call it "Howzsit? Whatszit?" - "From here to there via anywhere related questions."

I think the general idea is awesome -
 

But i am still grappling with the issue of what questions to ask, and what information the user will need to know before filling out a profile, vs. how many questions are too many.

I give an example -

My former boss traveled ALL the time for work and leisure - about 60/40 domestic/foreign, and about 70/30 solo /family. He is a relatively average non-FT traveler in that he knew to have a mileage earning cc, offered to pay for meals to earn miles , concentrated his hotel travels to one chain whenever possible. BUT until I took over his travel arrangements HE HAD NO IDEA that status miles were different from cc miles. If he had filled out a questionnaire, he would have said he traveled over 100,000 status miles a year in one program which was NOT true.

So as the devil is in the details, I think it would take a subcommittee to hash out what to ask and how much human involvement. I like beaubo's idea of once you get some basics, you're steered to a particular forum.

Got to say, I think FT's great resource is the interaction with people who know, so I'm not sure that the way forward would be to automate the process?

I would only suggest that any solutions shouldn't be totally US focused.. choices are still relevant to other markets.. even though the number of options may be lower, the choice of FFP or Alliance is still relevant. For example, just because I live in Spain, doesn't mean I have to fly or enroll with IB, JK or UX..