Questions not in FAQ
 

Hey there.

I don't post much here, but have been lurking about for over a year. I have some questions not answered in the FAQ.

I notice you folks have your own language on here, acronyms for just about everything. Airport codes and airline codes are easy enough to figure out, but there are many other that baffle me.

Has anyone put together a list of them and their meanings? got a link?

I also notice some of you folks are quite 'cliquey' about the providing info or perks to people who have a 'minimum of xxx posts on FlyerTalk". So, if I just blather about nothing in every single thread for a couple days I'm in the group, but if I read and frequent the site for years, posting when I have a real question I'm not worthy? Is that right?

I find this site has a lot of useful info, but it could be so much better if it were more inclusive to new members. I would suggest a proper FAQ that not only explains the mechanics of the site and account details, but also explains the lingo, acronyms and so forth so casual but interested users can learn and participate to make a better forum for everyone.

Just my thoughts.

Hello,

For what it's worth, if you click on the "Help" link at the top of the page, in addition to the FAQ you'll find such other goodies as Airport Code Lookup, Glossary, and Guidelines and Rules. Those may answer some of your questions.

For the most part, that is incorrect.That is one of the main purposes of the “Lounge” thread concept.

Go to the FlyerTalk forums in which you like to peruse the threads and see if any of them has a “Lounge” thread. If it does, like in the Delta forum with The Delta Forum Lounge Thread — Everybody is Welcome!, simply stop in, say “hello”, introduce yourself and join in on the discussion.

Here's a link for many of the acronyms. Anything that you can't find on here, just ask when you see it.

That is not correct. I have seen very helpful responses to posts by new members. If you set the tone right, they will stick around and you get the pleasure of helping them.
Don't hesitate to ask questions!

The folks here are friendly enough. They just seem grumpy because all new people ask the same questions that last week's new person asked. This is why they say to search first. Plus some of the forums, such as the American Airlines one are know to be snarky, in other words contain very grumpy posters. But so what, its not like you are seeing these folks face to face. Ignore the grumpy ones or give them back the same. just be as humorous about it as possible. Lastly people are more aggressive here, just as drivers are on the freeway, because it is anonymous.

I suspect the OP's reference to post-count and "not worthy" are references to the limitations on OMNI and Coupon Connection. Perhaps a mod might want to take a crack at that but suffice to say that Randy - and the new owners - felt there were good and sufficient reasons for such limits. They in no way limit participation in the vast majority of the site. Most of the forums are very welcoming and helpful to new posters. Some more than others, but that is pretty well true of every group or organization.

There are no limits on OMNI anymore. Even google can see it.

Coupon Connection is limited and, IMO, for good reason. Without limits that require one to prove that they are a contributor to the site there is way too much potential for abuse of that aspect of our community.

To the OP, if you do want to blather on about nothing definitely check out some of the lounge forum threads. They are a bit clique-y to be certain, but generally open and welcoming of new folks.

I guess that shows how often I visit OMNI anymore - like never. :p

^^ Good advice.

After posting this (below) in the AC forum...

... the OP's questions were all answered. Kudos to the members of the AC forum. :)

I had wondered about something similar a few weeks ago. On other forums, I've seen whole parts of the site dedicated to new member introductions. Granted, we do have that one thread for making your intro post here, but I feel like just a few people will see that, and the rest of the community will go on thinking "who the hell is this guy?".

Just my 2 cents.

To answer your question: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...ho-we-all.html

Not every forum needs a seperate thread for that. It's better to centralize that information.

I found the link a bit after I posted the initial posts in this thread, and I started using it right away. It did help some, but there were far too many instances where it did not help.

I totally think that glossary, and other helpful tips should be under the FAQ section. That is the standard place to look for such help.

I haven't read the responses to my post in the AC forum yet, so can't comment, but from the sounds of things I'll have more info there shortly. Again, info in the FAQ would be best.

A thread or sticky where people can ask, what is...?, how does...work? would be nice too. For example, I spent a good while the other night reading about people looking for upgrade sponsors and such, and after reading dozens of posts, it was still not clear how that process worked. It was just all, "I need a sponsor", "I'm willing to sponsor", etc.. Well, somewhere where the question of "what the heck is a sponsor anyway?" could be answered and new folks could find it QUICKLY would be nice too.

Just my thoughts.

And to the couple of folks who said I'm incorrect about the # of posts being a limiting factor here, sorry, but YOU'RE incorrect. Just the other night I ran accross several posts offering their lounge passes and such to people who have over 200 or over 500 posts. People wouldn't do that if there wasn't a precident and culture of that happening on the board. People do as people see.

I'm not saying the board isn't helpful, far from it. I wouldn't have been on here lurking about for over a year if that was the case, but I hang out on other boards too..(cruisecritic, airliners.net, etc..) and this board is by FAR the most cliquey and most difficult for new users.

Please do not equate a request to limit exchange of airline/hotel goodies to posters above a certain number of posts with being cliquey. I believe the intent of this limit is for self-protection -- the offeror assumes that a cetain number of posts translates into safety and reliability that whatever is offered as an exchange will come through.