Should AFF members use luggage tags to identify each other?

[JohnK]

Oh yes, I forget most people that post on the internet don't want to be identified and are heavily into privacy. But with the amount of meet-ups held by members on this site, I wouldn't of thought it was a bad idea, and clearly it isn't...

I don't like the idea of being surprised by a total stranger away from the airport or a Qantas Lounge especially if AFF and my handle was plastered all over the luggage tag.

Yes we do meet people we have never met in the past but that is usually organised prior to the event and we meet up at organised functions, like FT Ozfest, or Qantas Lounges. I did accidentally meet someone in the BNE J lounge once and it could have been a potential issue. The person was quite harmless and he was surfing FT next to me and giggling while I was surfing AFF. We had a chat and that was the end of it....

 

[samh004]

Just as a matter of interest, what privacy issues do you see with people having AFF luggage tags, versus say airline club or hotel club tags?

Well it's a hard one to explain, though many before me have done a good job. I guess the main thing is individually being a member of a FF program and getting a baggage tag from them isn't very identifiable. You can look at the name and search it in google and maybe find their Facebook, but unless you're a member of the same network as them, you're not likely to see more than their name and photo.

Personally I'm a pretty open person, search my username or real name and you'll find pages upon pages of info on me, with the most revealing stuff on my actual website. I'm not concerned with privacy too much.

QUite a big difference really. I see someone with QFF tag and I have no idea who they are. With an AFF tag I get to put a face to a name...

How about "AFF" in supersize bold fonts, and underneath that an option to personalise something...... like a place for your handle? name? telephone number?

Now here lies the real problem.

If you put your handle/username on the tag, that's easily searchable and anyone would be able to find you and your posts online. It'd likely come up right away, right to the AFF or FT without you even looking at the logo on the tag.

However if you put your actual name, you'd get the same results as entering a name off any luggage tag. If your name wasn't too similar to any of your posts here, you might not even be exposed.

AFF, Logo, Real Name:

1. Average Joe: "Never seen that logo before, I'll search their name but likely only find a hidden Facebook profile".
2. AFF member: "That's someone I talk to online, but I'm going to have to talk to them to find out who".

AFF, Logo, Handle:

1. Average Joe: "Never seen that logo before, I'll search the handle and find out exactly who they are".
2. AFF member: "That's samh004 from AFF, don't really want to talk to him so I'll sit over here instead".

I'd be happy with just a generic tag, I don't see why it would need to have your handle or anything like that on it......

There should be somewhere on it that you can write your name, address, etc. though as per most other baggage tags.

There's generally two types of luggage tag, the kind that says, "If lost, please rummage through my things before returning to this address", and the kind that says, "AFF, Sam Heathfield, xx_xx_X". I didn't think we were going for the address/telephone number kind?

I think if you start splitting AFF people into various levels of gold, silver etc it just splits a relatively small group into even smaller groups.

Matt

That's a good point, although there are 14,000+ members, the amount active must be a lot lower. In fact, only 54 members have even voted in this poll. So it really comes down to, should the tag take the colour scheme of the AFF (a non-premium colour choice) or should it differ and be gold/platinum/diamond/uranium/etc...

 

[Flashback]

Personally I'm a pretty open person, search my username or real name and you'll find pages upon pages of info on me, with the most revealing stuff on my actual website. I'm not concerned with privacy too much.

Due to the uniqueness of your username, I'm going to assume the hits that came up are predominantly tied to you.

I now know you were born in 1985 (already knew that as you turned 21 in 2006 as per another post), in the UK, you use/like/own a Mac, you're not heterosexual and you like using wikis!

 

[moongirl]

I did expect a far more critical response! I don't think privacy between members on this site is an issue - sure there are "lurkers" out there, but most of us are genuine frequent travellers and we see a meet and greet as a good thing, not as a stalk fest or anything else. I for one enjoy meeting new faces on this forum (although not nearly enougth) and have made a number of new friends here.

Mr!

{moongirl comes out of a "lurking" phase to say}
I like the idea of a tag, and there are lots of great ideas out there. I'd personally prefer all the same colour, no ranking. Perhaps Gold members could get theirs free as part of their membership? Plebs like me can pay.... Maybe it could just be a shape? The arrowhead, with perhaps just ff on it? I'm not sure about real name/handle on it, I'm in two minds about that.....
{goes back into "lurking" phase}

 

[samh004]

Correct, and no worries to me. It's all out there in various forms.

But back on topic, that's the difference between a username and a real name.

{moongirl comes out of a "lurking" phase to say}
I like the idea of a tag, and there are lots of great ideas out there. I'd personally prefer all the same colour, no ranking. Perhaps Gold members could get theirs free as part of their membership? Plebs like me can pay.... Maybe it could just be a shape? The arrowhead, with perhaps just ff on it? I'm not sure about real name/handle on it, I'm in two minds about that.....
{goes back into "lurking" phase}

That's a very cool idea with the shape and lettering, might cost a bit more to make though if it has to be cut from a standard rectangular-card-shape?

Why does that remind me of Air France though?

 

[Flashback]

Correct, and no worries to me. It's all out there in various forms.

But back on topic, that's the difference between a username and a real name.

That's a very cool idea with the shape and lettering, might cost a bit more to make though if it has to be cut from a standard rectangular-card-shape?

Would cost much, much more!

I don't see what all the fuss is about, I think we're all getting a little paranoid..... average Joe really isn't going to go out of his way to have a look at your bag tag and see who you are, any more than some other person that has a QF, AA, PC etc. bag tag..... maybe I'm missing something here?

 

[moongirl]

That's a very cool idea with the shape and lettering, might cost a bit more to make though if it has to be cut from a standard rectangular-card-shape?

Why does that remind me of Air France though?

Yep I thought it would probably cost more and you would need to be careful that it didn't end up looking like something you get out a McYukky meal box.

Air France? awww you just ruined it for me

 

[samh004]

Yep I thought it would probably cost more and you would need to be careful that it didn't end up looking like something you get out a McYukky meal box.

Air France? awww you just ruined it for me

Sorry, there was something about it but now I've been to their website there's no resemblance, so I dunno. My crazy memory.

 

[Alanslegal]

I only suggested big bold AFF and an option to personalise something underneath like your handle, name or whatever. I'm relying on the KISS principle

Anyway, I'd probably put my handle down if I had the choice and if someone who recognised me then so be it - I'd just make sure I'd mention you in my next TR and how we had a good conversation in the lounge!

 

[thegurio]

Must admit - I'd probably do the same. I don't have anything to hide and would welcome a chat most times. Almost everyone knows when it isn't an appropriate time.

 

[drron]

I've decided not to vote.my luggage tags seem to mysteriously disappear,even those on my carryons.Just lost my last EXP tag and I cant get any more.

 

[Maca44]

I think its a good idea as, in the past, I have walked around the QP waiting for a flight and not knowing anyone from AFF. I have looked in parts of the lounge where I understood members met, but again had no idea of whether they were with AFF or not.

I don't think members should be separated and/or ranked as silver/gold etc as it is more important to simply identify an AFF member in the lounge with whom they have a common purpose, travel, than be concerned about how much more knowledge they might have than yourself. I reached QFF gold a year ago now, but only have the normal QFF tag on my carry on as I think some people go into wanker mode, and its only important the check in staff know what status you are.

Keep it simply, one colour for all.

 

[Moody]

I really don't have time to wade through 8 pages knee deep in egos, but to quote Groucho Marx "I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member". There's another one about stinking badges but I can't be bothered googling for it.

 

[codash1099]

I really don't have time to wade through 8 pages knee deep in egos, but to quote Groucho Marx "I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member". There's another one about stinking badges but I can't be bothered googling for it.

It comes from "Blazing Saddles "

I'm in favour of a tag. We all have other tags so it doesn't need to carry any identifying information, other than your handle, if you want it. Anyone interested in talking would approach you even if there was no identification other than the tag itself.

I'm not a registered member of AFF so I can feel free to suggest that the tag be provided as part of that membership. You could increase the fee slightly to cover the cost (amortised over a couple of years) and you may increase the number of registered members. You would need to add a requirement that members undertake not to use the tag if they cease to be a member.

 

[munitalP]

I have found the manufacturer and supplier of QF luggage tags.

The cost is a bit steep as a minimum purchase is 500 sets, but I am working on it!

Moody, thanks for the constructive post, I especially like the way in a single shot about people's ego's, I am sure you have made a heap of friends. The assumption is also being made that the particular club would want you as a member... (or Groucho Marx in that case)


Mr!

 

[explorer13]

I think that this would be a great idea, just for lounge identification of other members. I do not think that it requires any personal identification. I have a yellow flyertalk tag and have struck up conversations with other like minded souls

 

[munitalP]

Welcome to AFF explorer13!

Hope we'll see more posts from you on here

Mr!

 

[explorer13]

Welcome to AFF explorer13!

Hope we'll see more posts from you on here

Mr!

Many thanks for the kind welcome, I really look forward to both posting and reading

Regards

Paul

 

[Keith009]

I am in favour of the tags in principle. In practise - like drron I always seem to lose them. Have lost almost all my FT and SQT ones already, and not using the remainder for fear of losing them all. Still, it's a mighty fine idea that enhances the sense of community on AFF in helping us to identify each other on our travels (and those who want 'privacy' can choose not to have the tags), and hence it's a concept that has my wholehearted support.

As for the actual implementation, I like the K.I.S.S. principle. Just have a simple tag for everyone that's easy to spot. I'm not sure I agree with the different designations on the tags as Gold/Silver/whatever.

 

[Afton4]

FT already has a bright yellow one....blue ones match AFF's colours but they don't give themselves away as "priority" colours

Argh!