FlyerTalk Badges Launch
#31



Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 Plat, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,484
I now wonder if the number of 'airline miles' was itended to convey frequent flyer miles earned? (Rather than miles flown, which I assumed). A friend was confident they only earned 500k airline miles but 5+ million airline points on different airline that termed it accordingly
For hotel nights earned, how do you think folks will consistenly record an example of 350k Hyatt points earned, usable for 100 nights at a Category 1, or usable in full for 7 nights at a Cat7.
Last edited by expert7700; Oct 2, 2024 at 5:47 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott LT Plat | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 13,274
How many free nights you earned this year. I will admit that this was the most difficult badge to gauge. No shade to our anonymous research group, but I would have liked more input on this category specifically. I saw a record of 200 nights earned in a year, which I found pretty insane, so I halved it.
See above for comments for countries and FT profile age but, essentially, while I recognize there are 200 countries (give or take), visiting even 10 is an extremely privileged position to be in. Less than 5% of the developed world has travelled to more than 30 countries. BUT a 100 countries badge will be coming.
#33
Original Poster
Administrator




Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Internet Brands
Posts: 4,435
So badges are a combination of the honor system, what the user assumes nights / miles means, and whether they find how to adjust. Android dark mode doesn't seem to have a badges option under edit profile, unless I force reload in desktop mode). I wonder if the UI team could have made it adjustable by clicking on one's own badge/badge "holder" on a post.
I now wonder if the number of 'airline miles' was itended to convey frequent flyer miles earned? (Rather than miles flown, which I assumed). A friend was confident they only earned 500k airline miles but 5+ million airline points on different airline that termed it accordingly
For hotel nights earned, how do you think folks will consistenly record an example of 350k Hyatt points earned, usable for 100 nights at a Category 1, or usable in full for 7 nights at a Cat7.
I now wonder if the number of 'airline miles' was itended to convey frequent flyer miles earned? (Rather than miles flown, which I assumed). A friend was confident they only earned 500k airline miles but 5+ million airline points on different airline that termed it accordingly
For hotel nights earned, how do you think folks will consistenly record an example of 350k Hyatt points earned, usable for 100 nights at a Category 1, or usable in full for 7 nights at a Cat7.
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .60 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 17,987
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 28,758
How many free nights you earned this year. I will admit that this was the most difficult badge to gauge. No shade to our anonymous research group, but I would have liked more input on this category specifically. I saw a record of 200 nights earned in a year, which I found pretty insane, so I halved it.
See above for comments for countries and FT profile age but, essentially, while I recognize there are 200 countries (give or take), visiting even 10 is an extremely privileged position to be in. Less than 5% of the developed world has travelled to more than 30 countries. BUT a 100 countries badge will be coming.
See above for comments for countries and FT profile age but, essentially, while I recognize there are 200 countries (give or take), visiting even 10 is an extremely privileged position to be in. Less than 5% of the developed world has travelled to more than 30 countries. BUT a 100 countries badge will be coming.
If it's meant to be "free nights stayed this year," then I call BS even on 100 nights. Seriously? Honestly? In calendar year 2024 to date?
I think this one would be better served by "free nights stayed lifetime" or some such.
And I still think a badge for number of DOs attended lifetime would be popular.
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS Plat, AA EP, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Dia, Hyatt Glob, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 21,465
How many free nights you earned this year. I will admit that this was the most difficult badge to gauge. No shade to our anonymous research group, but I would have liked more input on this category specifically. I saw a record of 200 nights earned in a year, which I found pretty insane, so I halved it.
I am not trying to parse words here, but when I just went through the settings, I figured it simply meant how many nights per year I am staying in a hotel, and went with that. Seems to be a more meaningful metric, to be honest.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have to count the number of countries I have visited. Do airport layovers count?
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattDisc.►HiltonGold►ALL Plat.
Posts: 22,326
The "free nights" section took a while to populate in my area, but it's there now.
If it's meant to be "free nights stayed this year," then I call BS even on 100 nights. Seriously? Honestly? In calendar year 2024 to date?
I think this one would be better served by "free nights stayed lifetime" or some such.
And I still think a badge for number of DOs attended lifetime would be popular.
If it's meant to be "free nights stayed this year," then I call BS even on 100 nights. Seriously? Honestly? In calendar year 2024 to date?
I think this one would be better served by "free nights stayed lifetime" or some such.
And I still think a badge for number of DOs attended lifetime would be popular.
"Yearly Hotel Bed Nights" would be much more indicative.
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattDisc.►HiltonGold►ALL Plat.
Posts: 22,326
What is a "Lifetime Airline Mile"?
Is that lifetime miles flown in a aircraft? Or, is it an Airline Mile (or point) earned from a reward program?
Is that lifetime miles flown in a aircraft? Or, is it an Airline Mile (or point) earned from a reward program?
#39




Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
Programs: AC 75K, A3*G, AS MVPG, AA LT Gold 1MM, JL/JGC (OWS) , Marriott Titanium, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 3,703
Butt-In-Seat I'm just north of 3MM,
Are we counting Mileage earn by flying or CC, then thats awhole different ballgame...
Or Just Elite Miles earned lifetime via Revenue Tickets?
Ibjoel, might want to consider a 100/125/150 and All on the Countries Visited Badge

I can easily think of 3-5 FTers on the Trip Report forum who've hit those numbers
#40


Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 3,885
I don't this it is intuitive to measure air miles on a lifetime flown basis but hotel nights on a current annual earned reward basis, Especially when you look at the values for each.
Hotel reward nights as explained above cannot be measured in most programs because the redemption levels are dynamic. There is some confusion here.
Air miles is subject to interpretation, you should change the wording to "miles flown" or "miles earned".
However, to make this simple and clear all badges should be lifetime based: countries visited, air miles flown, hotel nights stayed. Cash and reward miles/nights both count. There is too much left to individual interpretation which will make the badges less meaningful.
Hotel reward nights as explained above cannot be measured in most programs because the redemption levels are dynamic. There is some confusion here.
Air miles is subject to interpretation, you should change the wording to "miles flown" or "miles earned".
However, to make this simple and clear all badges should be lifetime based: countries visited, air miles flown, hotel nights stayed. Cash and reward miles/nights both count. There is too much left to individual interpretation which will make the badges less meaningful.
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak; GM with hotels; Waymo; Honda crv; iOS
Posts: 36,605
For those using desktop version on iPhone, the Badges are at bottom left of MyFlyertalk.
photo. Hth.

photo. Hth.

#43


Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci Diamond Hairbrush Elite, BAC silver. EBG, AF Blue
Posts: 5,140
I think it is necessary as I can honestly claim 50 countries, but I am just a fairly lightweight holiday traveller. Many of the great and good here are well north of 100 and it doesn't seem right that I have the same badge. It does seem to get exponentially harder to tick places off the list once you start getting above 125, so I can see a point to having those higher badges, but you have to remember what they are for. They are not there for a competition to show off for the top people, they are there to make people feel good about what *they* have achieved so they engage with the site more and generate additional advertising revenue. So there needs to be a large cohort with the top badges. I presume this is also why the other badges are as they are. They are there because it's what the advertisers think is useful for their demographic and for them.
A lot of people never leave their own country which will skew the global travel statistics and some geographies make totting up the early badges almost trivial. So 10 countries might seem like a lot to someone in Kansas, but someone from The Netherlands would probably wonder why you didn't get out more. But as pointed out, here on FT there are probably enough with 100+ to make it a useful badge.
On the flip side, x million milers seems to be mostly a US thing. Because non-US airlines tend not to give rewards based on total mileage I don't think people elsewhere count it as often.
#44



Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+, BAC Bronze (until 2027)
Posts: 4,133
What about some other badges? For example Lounges visited/IDB's/Op Upgrades/Lounges barred from - must be lots of other ideas for this. Also I need the 100 countries badge.
#45


Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci Diamond Hairbrush Elite, BAC silver. EBG, AF Blue
Posts: 5,140
But you will have noticed that the site stopped being useful shortly afterwards as well, I certainly stopped trusting any of its content. Let's hope the same thing doesn't happen here.



