Proposal: Split UA into multiple child forums
#16
 
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,303
Filtering would certainly include one option for mileage-related and one option for travel-related. So each user could create his own sub-forum based on his own preference. That's why filtering is better than splitting a forum. Rather than move a topic, mods can simply attach filter tags.
But as you pointed out, we don't have this type of filtering. Also, even if we did, it really would depend on the mods tagging every thread properly.
JMHO, and it's ok if we disagree.
-David
#17
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicagoland/ORD
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As someone who usually checks the UA forum at least once a day, I've never had a problem skimming the threads to see what I might want to open. Even when I'm offline for a few days, I don't find it cumbersome to navigate.
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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By "child" forums I'm assuming you mean sub-forums?
#19
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
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#21
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Isn't that what OMNI & ORP are for?
Seriously, seems to me a shame to contemplate a sub-forum just for b*tching about UA and sets an unfortunate precedent it would seem hard to deny later to other forums.
It's been done before with the MR forum being split in two with the MR Discussion forum being a subordinate sub-forum before later being granted its own forumhood, if that's a word.
Seriously, seems to me a shame to contemplate a sub-forum just for b*tching about UA and sets an unfortunate precedent it would seem hard to deny later to other forums.
Originally Posted by LIH Prem
yes, I think so. I don't know the right term for it, I guess.
-David
-David
#22
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I have NO problem whatsoever w/ the UA forum as it is, and am a bit confused on why there is perceived to be a problem. Heck, if complaints re: a program is an issue, basically EVERY forum on FT would get shut down (at least the hotel/airline ones). Duh...
BTW - word I heard is AA is the rudest
Cheers.
BTW - word I heard is AA is the rudest
Cheers.
#23
 
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,303
But any talk of change to the UA forum to try to make it make it better and more manageable seems to bring out the best in people. hahaha. "please don't change me. I'm used to the way it is now."
Sharon: no more computer help for you. hahaha. My proposal was basically MR-realated and non-MR-related sub-forums. Or any cut on it that the talk board wanted to propose or try. I think anything will be better than this huge monolithic thing we have now.
BTW, I think cblaisd's suggestion had some merit too.
-David
Last edited by LIH Prem; Mar 13, 2009 at 1:44 am Reason: request from a friend
#24
 
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,303
examples
ok, I re-read the post on how to suggest new forums.
Looking at the first page of threads in the UA forum, with my settings, here's a sample of topics, and how we might sort them. I ignored sticky posts and moved posts. Is this a good enough random sample?
United - Mileage Plus Related Discussion (Anything directly or indirectly related to Mileage earning, use, questions, and program benefits.)
Value from expiring e500s?
Beginner's luck booking XC tickets to FCO
UA's ability to understand LH's booking codes decline
E+ Question
Air New Zealand - No EQM?
Book award travel for 20,000 miles
United - Discussions that are unrelated to Mileage Plus (Service related questions, issues, upgrades, baggage, and anything not related to the Mileage Plus program).
RTW fare has decreased. Will UA refare and issue refund/ voucher?
Why were you compensated and what did you get? [Merged Threads]
DBC FREE Questions
Our Pilot does great 15 min talk on 777s - on Channel 9 mid flight
Well done. Gate agent gets creative to make sure flight pushes on time
Pacific Fare War
UA provides H2O toiletries in Y class toilets now?
Priority Pass holder's UA RCC entry with no Wifi card
SFO/SYD or LAX/MEL
Annie is a rock star (aka United in Australia)
No more Trader Vic's Mai Tais to Hawaii?
Drink vouchers for international passengers in RCC
Domestic F Beverage List
Printing paper swu for LH at airport
FA to me: "You slept through the safety demonstration!!!"
Can I select fare class online?
Service in F on 3 class 777 IAD-SFO-any better?
It wasn't that hard to sort them, and I don't think there were any difficult grey area posts in that batch. (ok, maybe I made a judgment call on the Priority Pass/RCC one, not sure. I'm sure there will be some judgment calls, just like there are today.) These would be the first two new sub-forums of the united forum.
I'm not proposing that we move any existing posts into the sub-forums, but all new posts should be posted to the sub-forums. It will be up to the mods to move existing active threads into the sub-forums if they want to and decide to.
The benefit of the new sub-forums would be to make it much easier for people that want to follow only the MP-related sub-forum much easier for them to do so, without getting bogged down in all the other stuff. We can all read the other stuff too, if we want to, and I will when I have time, but I want to be able to keep up with any MP related promos, etc, in one easy to use sub-forum.
nsx, I'm not sure how fatwallet style filtering would help me here with this real world example.
-David
Looking at the first page of threads in the UA forum, with my settings, here's a sample of topics, and how we might sort them. I ignored sticky posts and moved posts. Is this a good enough random sample?
United - Mileage Plus Related Discussion (Anything directly or indirectly related to Mileage earning, use, questions, and program benefits.)
Value from expiring e500s?
Beginner's luck booking XC tickets to FCO
UA's ability to understand LH's booking codes decline
E+ Question
Air New Zealand - No EQM?
Book award travel for 20,000 miles
United - Discussions that are unrelated to Mileage Plus (Service related questions, issues, upgrades, baggage, and anything not related to the Mileage Plus program).
RTW fare has decreased. Will UA refare and issue refund/ voucher?
Why were you compensated and what did you get? [Merged Threads]
DBC FREE Questions
Our Pilot does great 15 min talk on 777s - on Channel 9 mid flight
Well done. Gate agent gets creative to make sure flight pushes on time
Pacific Fare War
UA provides H2O toiletries in Y class toilets now?
Priority Pass holder's UA RCC entry with no Wifi card
SFO/SYD or LAX/MEL
Annie is a rock star (aka United in Australia)
No more Trader Vic's Mai Tais to Hawaii?
Drink vouchers for international passengers in RCC
Domestic F Beverage List
Printing paper swu for LH at airport
FA to me: "You slept through the safety demonstration!!!"
Can I select fare class online?
Service in F on 3 class 777 IAD-SFO-any better?
I'm not proposing that we move any existing posts into the sub-forums, but all new posts should be posted to the sub-forums. It will be up to the mods to move existing active threads into the sub-forums if they want to and decide to.
The benefit of the new sub-forums would be to make it much easier for people that want to follow only the MP-related sub-forum much easier for them to do so, without getting bogged down in all the other stuff. We can all read the other stuff too, if we want to, and I will when I have time, but I want to be able to keep up with any MP related promos, etc, in one easy to use sub-forum.
nsx, I'm not sure how fatwallet style filtering would help me here with this real world example.
-David
Last edited by LIH Prem; Mar 13, 2009 at 1:38 am
#25
 
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,303
Anyway, can I interest any of the TB members in championing this proposal?
I really think that it will make FT a better place. Yes, it's change. Don't be afraid of change.
-David
I really think that it will make FT a better place. Yes, it's change. Don't be afraid of change.
-David
#26
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
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As I say, there is only so much talk about MP one can do. But there is infinite talk possible about the UA experience. If you want the MP PhDs to keep coming to the UA forum to talk about MP when issues come up, you have to let them talk about the UA experience in the meantime.
If I thought the balance or tone ever tilted toward Untied I'd be the first to support somethig like this. But imho it hasn't, and the mods have done an excellent job of merging the right topic threads.
JMHO.
#27
 
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,303
As I say, there is only so much talk about MP one can do. But there is infinite talk possible about the UA experience. If you want the MP PhDs to keep coming to the UA forum to talk about MP when issues come up, you have to let them talk about the UA experience in the meantime.
I thought FT was supposed to be about miles and points. Since I can't seem to get that information in the UA forum anymore, I don't spend hours and hours sifting through the threads to get it.
And there's nothing in the proposal to stop any sort of posts. I'm just asking that they be categorized into sub-forums. one specifically for MP related threads and one for everything else. Or any split that separates the MP related posts and discussion from everything else, like was done in the Mileage Run forum.
Got ideas to improve the FT experience? PM me! I promise they'll be discussed!
#28
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL, AA
Posts: 6,031
How about adding prefixes to the thread title? I know a couple of forum are using them. While they are not always used, BMI offers a variety of prefix options (Newbie Question, Redemption Help, DC Partner, Promo, DC Partner, Call Centre, Rant, OT). Perhaps similar prefixes would help users skim the UA forum for relevant threads without setting up a subforum.
#29
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I'm not in favor of sub-forums in general as I don't think they make either the Mod.'s workload easier nor improve the casual surfer's experience as much as proponents expect. Both newbies and veterans unfamiliar with the change aren't always quick to grasp the subtle distinction about where topics should go as is witnessed regularly on the MR forum with threads that are posted there which are more appropriate to the MR Discussion forum.
Just MHO.
Just MHO.
#30
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
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What makes this so hard to decide is that the current users of the forum probably prefer it the way it is. People who find it unusable have already left, or never stayed after their initial visit. Therefore we have to guess whether the change would increase or decrease the value of FT to future users. If a substantial percentage of current forum users (meaning the people who didn't give up and leave) is in favor of a split, I would find that persuasive.