Point Hacks' purchase of AFF

[Doctore1003]

I think many AFFers may have missed the news that Points Hacks purchased AFF earlier this month, since the title of the announcement was vague and comments were turned off.

I have mixed feelings about this, since I'm happy for Clifford to be able to pass on his creation, but also a bit wary now that AFF is a subsidiary of a much larger company.

Perhaps a discussion would be worthwhile if members have any concerns or questions?

 

[oz_mark]

I think Point Hacks itself was sold to its current owners a couple of years ago. I'm not really sure who runs it these days.

It will be interesting to see how it evolves. Point Hacks itself has evolved since the change.


(FWIW if I ever created something of value, I'd try to sell it too )

 

[Virgin Bart]

Wow, I had no idea! Congrats, Cliff

 

[Doctore1003]

I think Point Hacks itself was sold to its current owners a couple of years ago. I'm not really sure who runs it these days.

It will be interesting to see how it evolves. Point Hacks itself has evolved since the change.


(FWIW if I ever created something of value, I'd try to sell it too )

I recall hearing that either the comparison website iSelect bought Points Hacks or people affiliated with iSelect purchased it (and hence now own AFF).

 

[exceladdict]

I think Point Hacks itself was sold to its current owners a couple of years ago. I'm not really sure who runs it these days.

It will be interesting to see how it evolves. Point Hacks itself has evolved since the change.


(FWIW if I ever created something of value, I'd try to sell it too )

I recall hearing that either the comparison website iSelect bought Points Hacks or former iSelect staff purchased it (and hence now own AFF).

Yes, I had the pleasure of meeting Keith around the time that he moved on. It is nice to see Point Hacks grow since; I do smile every now and then when there's a mainstream (usually news.com.au) article that quotes one of the point hacks writers, it's almost like our hobby is 'normal'.

I love the community on AFF and hope that things continue as they are under the new ownership.

 

[Franky]

I think many AFFers may have missed the news that Points Hacks purchased AFF earlier this month, since the title of the announcement was vague and comments were turned off.

I have mixed feelings about this, since I'm happy for Clifford to be able to pass on his creation, but also a bit wary now that AFF is a subsidiary of a much larger company.

Perhaps a discussion would be worthwhile if members have any concerns or questions?

That was a surprise. I strongly second his comments re the Moderators, they do a hard job well in my opinion.

 

[Danger]

I did miss the news and think this thread is a good idea.

I hope Clifford made a packet!

 

[QF WP]

You’ll be pleased to know that we (the whole AFF Mod team) had a face-to-face meeting with the current CEO and we’ve all agreed to continue with the new owner.

I’m in Melbourne this week and meeting with the CEO and the Melbourne based team on Tuesday morning, to get to know them.

We had the opportunity (time) to research Points Hack and I’m fortunate to know one of their senior writers Chris.

 

[kpc]

I have a very rough idea how much AFF was worth so good on Clifford! ..but I'm not a big fan of the current Point Hacks set up...it is a business (getting bigger and bigger) to make money out of our frequent flyer hobby - look how they promote credit cards)...and I really don't like the term "hacks" as it implies (to me) l am doing something dodgy. I personally will switch off AFF (member since 2003) if there's a significant change in direction and purpose of AFF.

 

[jakeseven7]

I and many others think there has been a massive change in direction of AFF anyway, completely unrelated and prior to the PH acquisition.

We’ve lost so many ‘real’ frequent flyers, air warriors, the executive/senior business premium high flyers over the years as the forum became more about getting 50 points for buying a donut, the endless whine threads and a growth in members who very clearly don’t fly anywhere near as much as the members who used to contribute.

I think it’s just a reflection of changing times really, nothing you can really do I suppose - it is what it is, but though I do wonder where all those high flying members went, some still exist but rarely post, we have a group of us who still catch up outside of AFF and we often consider starting a ‘new’ private ‘AFF’ with a different membership base… but everyone who likes the idea is too busy with corporate life to start it

Anyway I’m sure the PH era will see this forum become ever more wide and even less about actually flying frequently (as has been happening anyway) and everyone can make their minds up whether to stick around or not!

 

[Virgin Bart]

I and many others think there has been a massive change in direction of AFF anyway, completely unrelated and prior to the PH acquisition.

We’ve lost so many ‘real’ frequent flyers, air warriors, the executive/senior business premium high flyers over the years as the forum became more about getting 50 points for buying a donut, the endless whine threads and a growth in members who very clearly don’t fly anywhere near as much as the members who used to contribute.

I think it’s just a reflection of changing times really, nothing you can really do I suppose - it is what it is, but though I do wonder where all those high flying members went, some still exist but rarely post, we have a group of us who still catch up outside of AFF and we often consider starting a ‘new’ private ‘AFF’ with a different membership base… but everyone who likes the idea is too busy with corporate life to start it

Anyway I’m sure the PH era will see this forum become ever more wide and even less about actually flying frequently (as has been happening anyway) and everyone can make their minds up whether to stick around or not!

Unfortunately I agree.

 

[levelnine]

We’ve lost so many ‘real’ frequent flyers, air warriors, the executive/senior business premium high flyers

They're going the way of coal workers. There will always be some, but the cohort has permanently diminished and will never come back to pre-COVID levels as they've come up against a perfect storm of COVID-19 normalising video conferencing, travel costs skyrocketing and environmental concerns making travel an easy target for greening the annual report.

Sites like AFF and PH are probably all too aware of that new reality and will pivot their business models accordingly. More and more focus on beginner guides, credit card marketing, adjacent leisure industries (cruising) etc etc.

 

[pauly7]

Unfortunately I agree.

Also agree, and also agree it happened / started happening pre-covid, as the nature of the conversations started to change the types of members changed to reflect this.

Travel is almost back to pre-covid levels domestically (and probably would be internationally too if the planes and pilots were around!).

Certainly my cohort in corporate are back to travelling, even more so right now to compensate for the lull, satellite offices and operations were cut off for a long time from our head offices are now finally being reconnected.

Clients are being won and serviced again (face to face and hybrid for touch ups) and try booking a function/event space these days - they are rammed full for months and months with conferences and strategy days back in full swing. This has all contributed to the massive resurgence in business travel.

However to answer the well penned reflection, I just think AFF has become a less relevant place for a lot of those ‘true’ frequent flyers because of the different direction in conversations. I certainly find less conversations here interesting than I once did but it still has a place, just a smaller one in the groups I frequent and contribute to.

I’m philosophical about it though - it’s just the way the site has evolved. I don’t really know anything about PH, looking at the site it looks like a good resource for looking at credit card deals.

 

[RooFlyer]

we have a group of us who still catch up outside of AFF and we often consider starting a ‘new’ private ‘AFF’ with a different membership base…

There are a number of groups of AFFers who regularly catch up in Oz and overseas - that's one of the side benefits of a forum like this, which fortunately is a broad enough church to cater for numerous types of points of views (and sometimes attitudes change after socialising ). And there is already at least one separate on-line 'AFF' group that I know of .

 

[Vic]

explains the point hacks ads lately that have been a day late and...

 

[QF029]

I wasn't aware PH had been sold. I've been annoyed recently by their article headlines such as 'fly from Australia to Europe on SG in business for $500' which is clearly misleading given you need the points which 'cost' a lot more than that.

I figured it was the influence of a 'senior' writer but it sounds like it might be a by product of increased commercialisation.

 

[Doctore1003]

I wasn't aware PH had been sold. I've been annoyed recently by their article headlines such as 'fly from Australia to Europe on SG in business for $500' which is clearly misleading given you need the points which 'cost' a lot more than that.

I figured it was the influence of a 'senior' writer but it sounds like it might be a by product of increased commercialisation.

Agree that headlines like that are very misleading. I’ve noticed influencers doing this too.

 

[MARTINE]

What about the information that is held about us? Will it result in push advertising from PH
What is the privacy policy/transfer of information process?

 

[coles525]

Never even knew, not that I actually thoroughly watch this site often (ie: on facebook and email).

 

[jb747]

Congratulations Clifford. I hope you got a good return out of it. The last couple of years would have been a hard time to be running a travel based site.