AFF'rs come and go

[Deleted member 29185]

I have been quietly following this thread, as I do many others, and have now decided to add some of my thoughts.

That's the best post I've read in a long time. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

 

[marki]

It was BR who inspired me to somehow try for the shower on a plane. While MrP had reached high status in Ansett and WP in Qantas due to massive travel, those days were pre AFF membership. I remember years ago looking at a couple with First Class luggage tags on an International Flight and thinking they must be super rich. I know better now.

Occasionally AFF tags they are a rarity though very special privileges too!

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I have been quietly following this thread, as I do many others, and have now decided to add some of my thoughts. AFF changed my life, I mean that, I was a frustrated traveller living life as a suburban mum. I love being a mum, I love my family, but there was a whole area of my past life that was seemingly lost to me. I am not a very social beast, I'm not timid, but rather a typical INTJ personality type and finding this online community opened the door to a new world and a fabulous new phase of my life. I discovered that there is a whole world of people out there who like me, love the smell of av gas in the morning and who's heads swivel at the sound of an unexpected plane overhead. Since joining AFF, I have taken my kids, one at a time, on their own special adventures, we've had family holidays and I've managed to leave them all at home for a few short days several times. Even 'why fly direct when you can connect' was a revelation to me and made my desire to spend more time on planes feel less odd. I am on AFF every day and would be lost without it, my friends live here. Yes, I have real world friends, but on here I don't have to explain myself or justify that I would prefer to fly than replace my old TV. Thanks, in great part, to the regular posters on here, since joining 3 years ago I have been to Bali twice, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Broome, Perth, Canberra plus Melbourne and Brisbane several times. Next year we have a second family trip to NZ and another mum/son adventure to Yunnan China. I would love to attend an AFF get together, I will have to get past my nervousness about meeting face to face to do this. Thank you all, my friends. And p.s. I was quite affected when Markis left, losing him from my online life was really disappointing. And p.s.s. My family is now happily on board with my passion, hubby loves the benefits of travel and having a happy wife and I am breeding a new generation of AFFers in my children.

You capture it so well here feezable. Thanks for sharing your story.

The advice and information found in these forums forms only one part of my AFF addiction. For me, it was a sense of validation. As you said feezable, it's the smell of jet fuel and the desire to spend time on planes that not everyone understands and realising your weird habits are shared by others is great. I know there was always FlyerTalk et al, but the community here isn't like the others.

Every single AFF member seems to come from a different background, with their own values, beliefs, habits, priorities and goals, and somehow, despite those differences, it all comes together in a place that makes us feel a little bit more normal. Thanks AFFers. I'm sticking 'round for a while yet.

 

[Julesmac]

A big thank you to those far more experienced FF'ers than I. Advice and hints have been invaluable to me on my planning of trips. Alas retirement and MrMac's ill health has meant the finish of our o/s travel, sadly. But I do enjoy reading others' trip reports, I fear I am addicted to Drron's which are fantastic. Can you tell me what is the difference (not counting that it's an o/s site) between AFF and Flyertalk, and why would folks migrate to that?

 

[Fiches Mouser]

A big thank you to those far more experienced FF'ers than I. Advice and hints have been invaluable to me on my planning of trips. Alas retirement and MrMac's ill health has meant the finish of our o/s travel, sadly. But I do enjoy reading others' trip reports, I fear I am addicted to Drron's which are fantastic. Can you tell me what is the difference (not counting that it's an o/s site) between AFF and Flyertalk, and why would folks migrate to that?

FT is massive – somewhat more global, but very much US-focussed. There are often times you need a greater sample of cases on a particular topic – say, upgrade success on a particular airline – that FT can help with. It's also good for issues on the big hotel chains since they're all US-based.

AFF is obviously 'Australian' by name, but still covers the whole world (in both topic and membership). There's just something more intimate to it.

 

[JohnK]

The pinnacle (IMHO) is a Buzzard Wine tour. I just wish could attend more.

Only if you enjoy vinegar in your water!

 

[burmans]

Can you tell me what is the difference (not counting that it's an o/s site) between AFF and Flyertalk, and why would folks migrate to that?

I can tell you a couple of reasons not to migrate to FT! If you think AFF can be tough at times on newbies it's no a patch on FT, newbies certainly get short shift for stupid questions. And lets say American can be very outspoken, they don't hesitate to slam each other (verbally) on the smallest of pretext. And plenty of pseudo-lawyers!

For me AFF is in general quite a lot friendlier, this doesn't mean from time to time people on AFF don't go overboard ( and I agree with the previous comment that some long-timers seem to get away with this for a bit longer than others) but in general things are relatively mild here.

 

[RooFlyer]

I can tell you a couple of reasons not to migrate to FT! If you think AFF can be tough at times on newbies it's no a patch on FT, newbies certainly get short shift for stupid questions. And lets say American can be very outspoken, they don't hesitate to slam each other (verbally) on the smallest of pretext. And plenty of pseudo-lawyers!

For me AFF is in general quite a lot friendlier, this doesn't mean from time to time people on AFF don't go overboard ( and I agree with the previous comment that some long-timers seem to get away with this for a bit longer than others) but in general things are relatively mild here.

I used to be active on the Air Canada forum at FT. My God; Canadians are generally a very polite bunch but give 'em Air Canada and some anonymity and its really vicious!!

Mind you, there is some sport to be had at FT with some ex AFFers who take themselves way too seriously!

 

[incumbent]

Then you need to get into the business side of things that I do not quite understand but I believe admin may have greater selling power of advertising if they can prove this is an active forum with so many active members, so many posts per day, so many posts per month etc. If every thread stopped after the first post that answered the question then this site would be extremely boring. You are potentially stopping constructive debate. Yes I know some threads go off topic but that can still be fun.

So continued necroposting is part of the whole monetisation strategy? I guess that would explain a lot...

Starting to understand why people before me felt reluctant to share.

 

[TheBOSman]

I can tell you a couple of reasons not to migrate to FT! If you think AFF can be tough at times on newbies it's no a patch on FT, newbies certainly get short shift for stupid questions. And lets say American can be very outspoken, they don't hesitate to slam each other (verbally) on the smallest of pretext. And plenty of pseudo-lawyers!

I am an American and I approve this message .

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So continued necroposting is part of the whole monetisation strategy? I guess that would explain a lot...

Starting to understand why people before me felt reluctant to share.

Necroposting???? At the risk of being described as unfriendly, I have to say I disagree!

Have you ever stopped to consider that many people who lurk on AFF do so, not because of unfriendliness of the forum, but simply because of a perceived lack of knowledge on their part. I say this from experience. I lurked for many years without even joining....in fact it was posts on AFF the pushed me from predominantly JQ flying to DJ flying where I quickly rose from red to silver to gold to platinum and gained the benefits. The reason I never even joined AFF back then (circa 2006) was because I just thought I was not a "real" frequent flyer and would be seen as an "imposter" if I joined. I genuinely believe that thought process to be the case with many lurkers. When people get comfortable with the rather odd acronyms used here on AFF and feel more comfortable with their own level of FF knowledge, people (including me) tend to join and contribute. In fact when I first joined I posted an experience about curb side check in and through checked luggage only to learn that some of the people I held in awe as "real" FFers didn't know what I has done at MIA was even possible and all of a sudden it dawned on me that perhaps I did have some experiences that might be useful on line and hence my contributions started. It's a learning experience for many people and the mods actually do a really great job of walking the line between open and frank discussion and censorship for probity and certainly not (IMHO) monetisation based necroposting incentives exist. It may also pay to remember that the mods are also FFers themselves and will post mostly without their mod hat on and honestly, do you really think there is a premeditated plan by admin to keep resurrecting old posts? That necroposting quip is just bizarre IMHO.

 

[RooFlyer]

AFF is great, because even if you don't actually fly much, another way to participate is to finger point at others and describe their behaviour with bizarre words.

 

[OATEK]

Necroposting???? At the risk of being described as unfriendly, I have to say I disgree!

Have you ever stopped to consider that many people who lurk on AFF do so, not because of unfriendliness of the forum, but simply because of a perceived lack of knowledge on their part. I say this from experience. I lurked for many years without even joining....in fact it was posts on AFF the pushed me from predominantly JQ flying to DJ flying where I quickly rose from red to silver to gold to platinum and gained the benefits. The reason I never even joined AFF back then (circa 2006) was because I just thought I was not a "real" frequent flyer and would be seen as an "imposter" if I joined.....

I must admit this was my concern. I was once a very frequent flyer, mostly on charter and regional flights where FF membership was redundant. When I started travelling overseas once or twice a year, I searched various sites including AFF for hints and tricks etc. But as swanning_it says, I didn't consider myself a real FFer.

However I eventually saw there was a place on this site for people with a great deal of interest in travelling, who did not have high status and would probably never reach high status. And I was wrong about not achieving higher status, as I made it to QFF SG, but know that I have reached my pinnacle given most of my travel these days is self funded. In over 50 years of flying I had never travelled J until I saw here how it could be done on my budget, and know I would never have reached SG, had it not been for been inveigled in the mysteries of AFF.

One of the reasons I welcome newcomers, and why I try to help out on the availability threads with EF searches, is to put back something for the great benefits I have received.

 

[kamchatsky]

Ranked 168 (203 posts) for this year ...... I don't post in AFF as much as I used to. I hardly flies these days due to newborns but I still enjoy AFFs as much now as before.

Frequent Flyer point addictions always helps. There is no way to cure this apart from flying Business or Suites with a glass of Krug or Dom on one hand.

That's why AFF is so valuable for me, along with FT as well.

 

[wandering_fred]

No doubt some will think this is wandering too far, but FT has some forums where the subject matter is somewhat better organized than here. The OneWorld forum being perhaps the best example. OTOH, on matters related to QF or JQ/3K etc AFF would be a far better source. As well as providing a rather more down home attitude to matters flying.

And for some (not so?) strange reason, people who like either (or both) said forums don't seem to post as often on the more photogenically oriented FB platform. Or at least I don't read those groups in as much detail and I do see the regulars from here but not as "regularly".

But by all means welcome and invite the "newbies" to attend a "DO" or two. Even if it inflates your post count.

But as usual, that's more wandering

Fred

 

[Princess Fiona]

And for some (not so?) strange reason, people who like either (or both) said forums don't seem to post as often on the more photogenically oriented FB platform. Or at least I don't read those groups in as much detail and I do see the regulars from here but not as "regularly".

But by all means welcome and invite the "newbies" to attend a "DO" or two. Even if it inflates your post count.

But as usual, that's more wandering

Fred

Equally OT but I post very regularly, daily more or less on my Facebook group and here. There are quite a few members (and mods) who do contribute pretty regularly to Facebook.
I don't think you are a member of that group so may not see the activity.

 

[incumbent]

AFF is great, because even if you don't actually fly much, another way to participate is to finger point at others and describe their behaviour with bizarre words.

Not sure why you'd assume I don't fly much. Seems like a bit of a "mine is longer" claim... That's great if yours is so very very long. Good for you.

Telling me something like 6A being a good seat to Vancouver on AC is something I thank you for. Repetitive snark, not so much.

Not sure why all the vitriol. If you don't notice the preponderance of threads that had died a natural death only to be "resuscitated" by JohnK (something he himself has acknowledged), then you're just not very observant. If you don't care, that's completely fine. My only point is why I personally am on the "go" end of the "AFF'rs come and go" spectrum. And it's only been reinforced by some of the behaviour in this thread.

 

[medhead]

Who..??..??

Really..??..how quick people forget when you don't fly 46.73 hours to have a burger..??

I've generally found the uncommon instances of haranguing to be moderated. There doesn't seem (to me) to be any favouritism to established posters by the moderators.

It's great that you're allowed to express your opinion on this matter.

 

[samh004]

I'm in the top 25 this year, at least for now, but that's still down on the last few years.

 

[Foreigner]

I recall I'm on p.2 of the list.