FF Miles Generation Summit

[Cruiser Elite]

Guys I just spent a week in PEK - cold as a mother in laws kiss there - not quite as cold as what munitalP and Oz_Mark experienced in Harbin but then again I aint anywhere near as silly as they are - but that is a topic for another thread.

However in the last week I did have a bit of time to sit and ponder exactly what I am currently doing and how I am doing it.

MEL-PEK ret on SQ J Saver - wow what a wonderful era in which we live.

I can now virtually traverse the globe at my leisure in business class free of charge thanks to FF points earning on credit cards.

YES I know there are annual fees on credit cards - and YES there are surcharges to pay to use credit cards to secure points - and YES there are fees and charges to pay when you redeem flights - so I use the term free of charge rather loosely - but still we are looking at huge savings over buying flts.

This board is a great medium for exchanging ideas on how to maximize FF pts earning - but maybe there is a need or potential to go a step further and maybe convene a mini summit / gathering for free and open sharing of ideas.

I myself have a couple of tricks up my sleeve that I will not post in an open forum - I assume there are others in same boat - and I would love to share with like minded individuals.

Your thoughts gentlemen on whether or not this notion is worth pursuing or not?

 

[11sjw]

Guys I just spent a week in PEK - cold as a mother in laws kiss there - not quite as cold as what munitalP and Oz_Mark experienced in Harbin but then again I aint anywhere near as silly as they are - but that is a topic for another thread.

However in the last week I did have a bit of time to sit and ponder exactly what I am currently doing and how I am doing it.

MEL-PEK ret on SQ J Saver - wow what a wonderful era in which we live.

I can now virtually traverse the globe at my leisure in business class free of charge thanks to FF points earning on credit cards.

YES I know there are annual fees on credit cards - and YES there are surcharges to pay to use credit cards to secure points - and YES there are fees and charges to pay when you redeem flights - so I use the term free of charge rather loosely - but still we are looking at huge savings over buying flts.

This board is a great medium for exchanging ideas on how to maximize FF pts earning - but maybe there is a need or potential to go a step further and maybe convene a mini summit / gathering for free and open sharing of ideas.

I myself have a couple of tricks up my sleeve that I will not post in an open forum - I assume there are others in same boat - and I would love to share with like minded individuals.

Your thoughts gentlemen on whether or not this notion is worth pursuing or not?

I'd be keen to participate, however I'd be more of a learner than a contributor.

Pretty sure there are a few ladies amongst us that could contribute as well...

 

[samh004]

If you come along to a drinks night or one of the many Do’s you’ll find in the Meeting and Social events section of the forums, you’ll find many a member willing to share their latest tips ad tricks that they don’t want to share online

This is why participating in Do’s makes good sense

That and the food and drink!

 

[sjf]

Hi Cruiser,

Sounds like a great idea, I have similar ideas that I'd love to discuss but would rather not discuss on a public forum.

 

[oz_mark]

While I don't mind the idea, cove floated the idea of an FF school at one point (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....stions/frequent-flyer-point-school-32589.html). Might be worth a read of that thread.

Not sure how aligned his and your ideas are, but just pointing you at a previous discussin!

 

[kpc]

There are certainly things / tips / tricks etc that are not published online (and rightly so IMHO!) that people will share face to face so I like the idea of a yearly AFF seminar...maybe can be incoporated into the AFF Do or held separately.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

If you come along to a drinks night or one of the many Do’s you’ll find in the Meeting and Social events section of the forums, you’ll find many a member willing to share their latest tips ad tricks that they don’t want to share online

This is why participating in Do’s makes good sense

That and the food and drink!

I have no doubt a social event would follow what I had in mind - but I am kind of thinking deadly serious mini presentations by each attendee ALCOHOL FREE at that point in time - afterwards open slather on the grog - but business first.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Colour me interested. More as a willing recipient of info than an expert

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Colour me interested. More as a willing recipient of info than an expert

PF I know there will be MANY MANY willing recipients - but what we all need is useful input - that is the direction in which I am trying to head.

 

[samh004]

I have no doubt a social event would follow what I had in mind - but I am kind of thinking deadly serious mini presentations by each attendee ALCOHOL FREE at that point in time - afterwards open slather on the grog - but business first.

So you could host such a summit in a lounge meeting room

I see what you’re saying now, unfortunately I don’t think I have the experience and knowledge, much less the people skills sans alcohol to give a presentation

 

[anat0l]

How would you propose we run this summit? Similar to a professional conference (except scaled down), i.e. invite submissions from various members to give talks, then plan sessions around that?


I feel that an open slather forum (even if we group it by, say, airline or alliance groups) would be too messy and nothing too different to the discussion at the local pub.


In theory this all sounds interesting, and wouldn't even mind participating in the organisation (just not right now, I suppose!)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So you could host such a summit in a lounge meeting room

Yeah could be done in Lounge meeting room - I am sure we would muster sufficient Plat attendees to guest noin Lounge members.

Or it could be held anywhere - any city - anytime. For the type of summit i had in mind which could possibly yield huge upside for those attending location would not be an issue I would have thought.

I see what you’re saying now, unfortunately I don’t think I have the experience and knowledge, much less the people skills sans alcohol to give a presentation

Nobody would judge your performance - we would only judge the content of info you deliver.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

How would you propose we run this summit? Similar to a professional conference (except scaled down), i.e. invite submissions from various members to give talks, then plan sessions around that?

Totally open mind at this point in time.

I never considered airline specific - maybe it could go that way - maybe just general different methods of generating pts via AMEX or Visa / Mcard.

Just throwing it out there - soliciting contributions.

What I do want is contributors that broaden the general earn base - but how where when totally open.

As I said earlier - I have a couple which I will share but will not do it in open forum.

And I would be reluctant to do it and not have a few others be able to reciprocate with content I can then use going forward.

Just opening the discussion - please contributions from ALL.

 

[11sjw]

It seems as though you're gearing this initial conference towards earning points (as opposed to burning them). Broad topics:

1. Credit/Charge Card programs
2. Search tools for Finding best earning flights (points / $)
3. Other earning opportunities could form several categories

Submissions from those that have information they wish to share could be taken with a synopsis of each contained in a thread that is voted upon by those that intend on being there. This could create a schedule for the day.

 

[vertisol]

I would say a useful split in the program would be sessions on earning points - followed by - sessions on burning points.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I gotta be honest here - never gave any thought to burn aspect but as I said open to all thoughts / input.

 

[serfty]

IMHO, There's four main facits in relation to Frequent Flyer based loyalty schemes.

1. Point/Mile earning,

2. Status earning,

3. Making the most of status benefits &

4. Burning of points efficiently.

Posted on a wing & a prayer

 

[Cruiser Elite]

While I don't mind the idea, cove floated the idea of an FF school at one point (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....stions/frequent-flyer-point-school-32589.html). Might be worth a read of that thread.

Not sure how aligned his and your ideas are, but just pointing you at a previous discussin!

I really want to keep right away from the notion of a school.

I had a much more informal concept in mind where maybe a group of 15 to 20 individuals who really do have some unique points generation methods could get together and share there individual devious schemes.

indeed still totally open minded and not even sure how inclusive / exclusive this could or should be.

Indeed making it more formal and a part of an official AFF function could well see potential ontributors reluctant to share there info.

 

[oz_mark]

I really want to keep right away from the notion of a school.

I had a much more informal concept in mind where maybe a group of 15 to 20 individuals who really do have some unique points generation methods could get together and share there individual devious schemes.

indeed still totally open minded and not even sure how inclusive / exclusive this could or should be.

Indeed making it more formal and a part of an official AFF function could well see potential ontributors reluctant to share there info.

Well, two aspects are the format and the content. I think cove had something in his thought bubbles for it, not just from a format but from a content point of view. Just thought it was mentioning a previous idea that had been floated.

 

[cove]

If we did it with say a limit of 15 to 20 it could work ok. Forget the school thought bubble. Hand pick the participants.No press present nor any reports to them. Moderators to qualify participants? Location say Melbourne?
Earn points section
Burn points section

Actually Serfty has it pretty right splitting the discussion into his 4 sections.