Nov 17, 2014, 8:07 pm
Last edit by: IBobi
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Currently, there is no paid Premium subscription to eliminate advertising from the FlyerTalk viewing experience, and at this moment (18 Nov 2014) there is no plan for a Premium subscription in the works.
HISTORY: A few years ago, Randy Petersen, owned a number of travel-related products and websites under Frequent Flyer Services (est. 1986), including FlyerTalk, WebFlyer, FlyerGuide (wiki) and Inside Flyer magazine (more recently, MilePoint and Boarding Area).
When the FlyerTalk Premium subscription was instituted, one could subscribe to Inside Flyer magazine and through it, to an advert-free version of FlyerTalk that also included an expanded message box for Private Messaging.
Randy Petersen sold FlyerTalk to Internet Brands March 2007 and Randy Petersen and FlyerTalk went their separate ways in November of 2010.
When Premium subscriptions came up for renewal, for a period of time the Premium subscription could appear to be renewed by paying once again via the Inside Flyer webform. Unfortunately, due to the separation of ownership, this did not extend the Premium FlyerTalk subscription, and previous Premium members were presented with advertising and saw a sudden diminution of their PM message box.
CURRENT STATUS: Admin has been working on a Premium, ad-free membership solution for over two years, but at this moment there is no Premium membership, nor is there any intent for such a product in the near future.
On a case-by-case basis, Administration has extended an ads-free experience with expanded PM message box to those (relatively few) members with a recent Premium subscription due date gratis. If you feel you have cause to request that interim free service because your Premium service expired recently, please post your request here. These should not be expected to be renewed in perpetuity.
Other posts relating to the future of Premium subscriptions and related issues may be posted here as well.
When (and if) the Tech and Admin departments have a Premium subscription solution at hand, it will undoubtedly be advertised or broadcast to all FT members. For now, there's no comprehensive solution.
Thank you for your understanding.
(lower right wiki corner)Currently, there is no paid Premium subscription to eliminate advertising from the FlyerTalk viewing experience, and at this moment (18 Nov 2014) there is no plan for a Premium subscription in the works.
Hi everyone,
As of now, we do not have a solution regarding Premium. What this means is that there is currently no plan for a Premium, ads-free product. It doesn't mean there won't ever be one, but the fact that it's not on the radar means it probably won't be happening any time soon.
Regarding ads, please *do not promote ad-blocking software on FlyerTalk*. I don't know that anyone particularly enjoys seeing advertising. But the fact remains that FlyerTalk is *free* to use, and that's because of advertising revenue. In addition, the use of adblockers causes us (me) no end of headaches, because it interferes with site functionality in such a way as to make it very difficult to determine if there is an issue with flyertalk.com, or with a single user's computer. The complaint comes in and must be researched either way.
Thank you all for your help,
Paul
As of now, we do not have a solution regarding Premium. What this means is that there is currently no plan for a Premium, ads-free product. It doesn't mean there won't ever be one, but the fact that it's not on the radar means it probably won't be happening any time soon.
Regarding ads, please *do not promote ad-blocking software on FlyerTalk*. I don't know that anyone particularly enjoys seeing advertising. But the fact remains that FlyerTalk is *free* to use, and that's because of advertising revenue. In addition, the use of adblockers causes us (me) no end of headaches, because it interferes with site functionality in such a way as to make it very difficult to determine if there is an issue with flyertalk.com, or with a single user's computer. The complaint comes in and must be researched either way.
Thank you all for your help,
Paul
When the FlyerTalk Premium subscription was instituted, one could subscribe to Inside Flyer magazine and through it, to an advert-free version of FlyerTalk that also included an expanded message box for Private Messaging.
Randy Petersen sold FlyerTalk to Internet Brands March 2007 and Randy Petersen and FlyerTalk went their separate ways in November of 2010.
When Premium subscriptions came up for renewal, for a period of time the Premium subscription could appear to be renewed by paying once again via the Inside Flyer webform. Unfortunately, due to the separation of ownership, this did not extend the Premium FlyerTalk subscription, and previous Premium members were presented with advertising and saw a sudden diminution of their PM message box.
CURRENT STATUS: Admin has been working on a Premium, ad-free membership solution for over two years, but at this moment there is no Premium membership, nor is there any intent for such a product in the near future.
On a case-by-case basis, Administration has extended an ads-free experience with expanded PM message box to those (relatively few) members with a recent Premium subscription due date gratis. If you feel you have cause to request that interim free service because your Premium service expired recently, please post your request here. These should not be expected to be renewed in perpetuity.
Other posts relating to the future of Premium subscriptions and related issues may be posted here as well.
When (and if) the Tech and Admin departments have a Premium subscription solution at hand, it will undoubtedly be advertised or broadcast to all FT members. For now, there's no comprehensive solution.
Thank you for your understanding.
No ad / Ads - Premium subscription (master thread)
Sep 29, 2013, 9:29 pm
#107
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,023
I really appreciate the helpfulness of the IB staff, but this is just utterly puzzling.
Sep 29, 2013, 9:37 pm
#108
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,741
1) Disappointed the choice was to re-introduce (even if temporarily) ads for folks who had longtime supported the community with a subscription. Why could not the "ad free" option be continued until a true option was available?
Believe this has been handled poorly.
Sep 30, 2013, 6:05 am
#109
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,039
Recent received and took effect today.
No sure where to direct this post, so will start here.
1) Disappointed the choice was to re-introduce (even if temporarily) ads for folks who had longtime supported the community with a subscription. Why could not the "ad free" option be continued until a true option was available?
Believe this has been handled poorly.
No sure where to direct this post, so will start here.
1) Disappointed the choice was to re-introduce (even if temporarily) ads for folks who had longtime supported the community with a subscription. Why could not the "ad free" option be continued until a true option was available?
Believe this has been handled poorly.
While it's not been handled wonderfully, and many of us would be happy to pay for this ad-free browsing, IB has decided not to deal with that right now, and simply gives it to those who previously had it, at no cost.
Dec 31, 2013, 10:27 pm
#111
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP, Hhonors Gold, National Executive, Identity Gold, MLife Gold
Posts: 2,687
IBobi - I appreciate that you're addressing these individual cases as they pop up. But where do things stand as far as FT introducing a "premium" product?
Jan 2, 2014, 12:20 pm
#112
No longer with Internet Brands
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM 1.6MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 5,343
As with all new products and updates, as soon as I have some scheduling information, I will pass it along in the appropriate thread. I have no new info at this time regarding Premium.
Paul
Paul
Nov 17, 2014, 11:18 am
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
No Ads please !
There was a time when we could pay a premium (like $20) to remove ads when we log on.
Sadly that option is gone now that FT has been sold to Internet Brands.
Why?
I don't mind quiet ads. But when I'm surfing along and suddenly get one with sound, it is very annoying !!
How to turn this off?
Sadly that option is gone now that FT has been sold to Internet Brands.
Why?
I don't mind quiet ads. But when I'm surfing along and suddenly get one with sound, it is very annoying !!
How to turn this off?
Nov 17, 2014, 11:24 am
#114
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,510
I am moving this to the Technical Support and Feedback forum. Thank you for your understanding.
NewbieRunner
co-moderator, CommunityBuzz
NewbieRunner
co-moderator, CommunityBuzz
Nov 17, 2014, 2:45 pm
#116
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,878
Nov 18, 2014, 12:01 pm
#117
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
We've merged some comments and threadlets into one "master thread" with a summarizing wiki so members coming here can get the basics easily, and so when change is announced it can be added.
Thank you for your participation and patience.
JDiver
Senior Moderator
Thank you for your participation and patience.
JDiver
Senior Moderator
Nov 18, 2014, 12:01 pm
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
If you have an Android, you could always root your phone and get ....... Plus.
On desktop, you could use ....... and ....... Plus on Google Chrome (or Chromium built browsers).
On desktop, you could use ....... and ....... Plus on Google Chrome (or Chromium built browsers).
Nov 18, 2014, 1:41 pm
#119
No longer with Internet Brands
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM 1.6MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 5,343
Hi everyone,
As of now, we do not have a solution regarding Premium. What this means is that there is currently no plan for a Premium, ads-free product. It doesn't mean there won't ever be one, but the fact that it's not on the radar means it probably won't be happening any time soon.
Regarding ads, please *do not promote ad-blocking software on FlyerTalk*. I don't know that anyone particularly enjoys seeing advertising. But the fact remains that FlyerTalk is *free* to use, and that's because of advertising revenue. In addition, the use of adblockers causes us (me) no end of headaches, because it interferes with site functionality in such a way as to make it very difficult to determine if there is an issue with flyertalk.com, or with a single user's computer. The complaint comes in and must be researched either way.
Thank you all for your help,
Paul
As of now, we do not have a solution regarding Premium. What this means is that there is currently no plan for a Premium, ads-free product. It doesn't mean there won't ever be one, but the fact that it's not on the radar means it probably won't be happening any time soon.
Regarding ads, please *do not promote ad-blocking software on FlyerTalk*. I don't know that anyone particularly enjoys seeing advertising. But the fact remains that FlyerTalk is *free* to use, and that's because of advertising revenue. In addition, the use of adblockers causes us (me) no end of headaches, because it interferes with site functionality in such a way as to make it very difficult to determine if there is an issue with flyertalk.com, or with a single user's computer. The complaint comes in and must be researched either way.
Thank you all for your help,
Paul
Nov 18, 2014, 5:18 pm
#120
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Thanks, Paul, for the update.
It might not be what some of us wanted to hear, but at least it brings some closure to this issue and quells any anxiety over when the Premium service might become available and how we'd hear about it.
As a moderator, I waived Premium subscription possibility because I wanted to see the ads (to report inappropriate content, ultra-pesky or malfunctioning ads.
I never thought about ad blocking software causing problems at the back end! That's good to know, because I don't want to jam a stick in the spokes of FT.
It might not be what some of us wanted to hear, but at least it brings some closure to this issue and quells any anxiety over when the Premium service might become available and how we'd hear about it.
As a moderator, I waived Premium subscription possibility because I wanted to see the ads (to report inappropriate content, ultra-pesky or malfunctioning ads.
I never thought about ad blocking software causing problems at the back end! That's good to know, because I don't want to jam a stick in the spokes of FT.