Status Run Spreadsheet access pre-requisites

[MarkD]

Just to throw my two bobs worth in. I find myself agreeing with both sides here. I understand someone new wanting to get involved, and thats great, but I have also seen the other side, where an airline has USED the members of this site, to close any SC benefit that we had worked out. It did happen, and that is why the spreadsheet is private.
With all due respect to the OP nobody knows if you are actually Borghetti or Gunter, pretending to be someone else, so best to sit tight and wait and see, rather than everyone else getting their Runs enhanced away.
Flip side of the coin is I guess, even though I have been here a while, you never know if I am JB or Gunter in disguise either so there has to be a certain amount of effort made to be part of the community, before you can start extracting information, that really is precious to FFers.

 

[lobo76]

With your permission Lobo76 I will post the PM conversation for all to see

Eh, whatever floats your boat, dude.

 

[alister]

Just to throw my two bobs worth in. I find myself agreeing with both sides here. I understand someone new wanting to get involved, and thats great, but I have also seen the other side, where an airline has USED the members of this site, to close any SC benefit that we had worked out. It did happen, and that is why the spreadsheet is private.
With all due respect to the OP nobody knows if you are actually Borghetti or Gunter, pretending to be someone else, so best to sit tight and wait and see, rather than everyone else getting their Runs enhanced away.
Flip side of the coin is I guess, even though I have been here a while, you never know if I am JB or Gunter in disguise either so there has to be a certain amount of effort made to be part of the community, before you can start extracting information, that really is precious to FFers.

It's not about extracting data it's about a two way flow. I am a whisker away from platinum retain but already have more than enough flights booked to take me over the limit. I just use the internet a lot, like to look up stuff and felt I could get into the swing of things and become a part of the community by looking at and seeing if I could add to the list. Maybe I will just do some work instead now

I signed up with my real name, login in with my real name, use my own company email account to join and to request access, paid my membership using my paypal account. I am sure I am not the boss of the airline

whats the old saying: paranoia will destroya

 

[DeKa]

I think this thread, and a recent one about not being able to enter the QFF competition have taught me one thing... Sign up to every forum I may vaguely be interested in when I stumble across them!

 

[medhead]

You know if we put aside the particular circumstances to do with the OP, I think a valid question has been asked. If lobo76 wants to discuss that question, in a non-blaming way, I think it would be worthwhile.
For me key sub-questions are:
100 days/100 posts has been mentioned. Is that reasonable?

How to account for someone who has a killer status run that they want to share but does make the grade? That might not be relevant now, but what if runs start to dry up?

 

[lobo76]

You know if we put aside the particular circumstances to do with the OP, I think a valid question has been asked. If lobo76 wants to discuss that question, in a non-blaming way, I think it would be worthwhile.
For me key sub-questions are:
100 days/100 posts has been mentioned. Is that reasonable?

How to account for someone who has a killer status run that they want to share but does make the grade? That might not be relevant now, but what if runs start to dry up?

I'm totally open to the admission requirements being totally fluid. If the consensus is to relax them I'm all for that. I'm actually being more relaxed than 100+100 since a few low post count members have been here for a year or more.... if I'm being too lenient I'm happy to tighten it up too...

Likewise if a moderator or admin directs me to add someone I'm fine with that too

 

[ReLoad]

I think the talk of the opportunity of VA's SC runs is rather poignant at the minute; I'm giving them a wide birth until their systems are settled down, although, like all things there perhaps is an opportunity within the chaos; perhaps now is the time to reconsider that, especially if the SC runs are amazingly uber cool.

Still i have no access to the mystery spreadsheet, so I wouldnt know.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Flip side of the coin is I guess, even though I have been here a while, you never know if I am JB or Gunter in disguise

I do! :mrgreen:

 

[ms1]

Where is this spreadsheet found? I'd be interested in a good status run or 2.

 

[medhead]

Where is this spreadsheet found? I'd be interested in a good status run or 2.

See early in this thread for a link:

#8

Specifically #144


And having found that I see there is a JASA sheet. Umm to PM or not.

 

[DC3]

If someone asks for access after only joining up last month, I can understand why they wouldn't be given access at this time.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just having a read through, I'm going to say something that's not meant to be inflamatory, but possibly will be construed that way by the OP.

The need for a spreadsheet may not actually be there, but we don't know.
The need for vetting first may not actually be there, but we don't know.

lobo76 bit the bullet and developed it with help from a few others. I congratulate them all for their efforts.
lobo76 has previously discussed, with the open forum, the requirements for access.

Nobody was able to suggest a sure-fire way of vetting whilst being fair and transparent.......in fact general consensus does not want it transparent, otherwise we'd just contiue on with posting to the open forum and perhaps very quickly losing some appealing runs.

There is circumstantial evidence that VA does indeed monitor and act on information here on AFF. In fact, if you read back through my posts far enough, you'll find I mentioned that I felt VA was "putting the magic back into flying". Lo and behold, VA much later released the same phrase (and put it up on billboards and everything). Did they take my sentiment and use it? Maybe....maybe not. A good VA SC run was openly discussed on AFF and within a day (IIRC) it was removed by VA. Did they get the "heads up" from AFF? Maybe.....maybe not. We don't know, but do we risk it continuing? In fact, will a spreadsheet stop VA if they're interested? Maybe....maybe not. I don't know, lobo76 doesn't know, but at least someone with more computer skill and motivation than me, built a spreadsheet to trial and see. For that I'm grateful and if you got over your me, me, me tirade, you may actually either agree it is a difficult situation or perhaps even suggest a better method for access to this trial.

As others have said, AFF is a community and like all communities, there will be vocal participants and shyer participants, but I think the 100 days and 100 posts is not too much to ask. A helpful post on AFF need not be a "you beaut" SC run. It can be something as innocuous as posting about a polite lounge angel or a positive experience with a rental car upgrade or tell us about roadworks near an airport that we may wish to avoid or..............I could go on until the cows come home.

I apologise if you think I have been rude, but without that spreadsheet you may find all the good runs are only discussed via PMs between members. What hope would you or other new members have then? At least this way you can work toward access but by spitting at lobo76 simply because you believe the "rules" (loose definition, agreed) shouldn't apply to you because you may find something useful to add, in my view doesn't help your cause.

How about, if in the interim you find a great SC run, you PM lobo76 with it and that may also be a key to the door? Share and share alike.

 

[medhead]

If someone asks for access after only joining up last month, I can understand why they wouldn't be given access at this time.

Still considering they signed up 21 days before the spreadsheet was advertised, it might be safe to assume they didn't sign up just to get access to the spreadsheet. :idea: Unless perhaps they have the vision.

 

[alister]

Still considering they signed up 21 days before the spreadsheet was advertised, it might be safe to assume they didn't sign up just to get access to the spreadsheet. :idea: Unless perhaps they have the vision.

I have this weekends lotto numbers too if anyone wants them

 

[MarkD]

Status Match?
:mrgreen:

 

[alister]

Just having a read through, I'm going to say something that's not meant to be inflamatory, but possibly will be construed that way by the OP.

Not at all. I have no issue with anyone here, I just had issue with the access restrictions that were/are in place. It's not all about me either, there are others in the same boat as me I am sure that would have liked access. I just like to ask why and how and wtf. Maybe I was/am too naive and didn't realise that you need to be around here awhile to have enough credibility. I notice that some people are still junior members after a long time. That's cool, no problem with that either. I think it is great that lobo76 created the spreadsheet and makes it available to aff members. If there was just clear access criteria then there would be no hassle (from my end), and maybe it takes this discussion to come to those criteria, or maybe not. I am over it and don't require access any more. thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

 

[jetlagger]

I have this weekends lotto numbers too if anyone wants them

Only if: They are the winning numbers :mrgreen:

 

[alister]

and for the record the full private message exchange between lob76 and myself going back to my initial request after reading the post asking people to PM him for access.

Originally Posted by alister
hi any chance of access to the spreadsheet?
my email is alister@xx_.com.au




Lobo76:


Hey Alister, the group reached a bit of a consensus that brand new users would not be given access to the spreadsheet. Please feel free to apply again after you've been a bit more active on the forum.




Alister:
Thanks for that. Do you have an idea of how long we are talking about? Just so I know when to hassle you next.


I must point out I find it to be a rather archaic view that only long term members should be entitled to access, this could border on discrimination. I am a member, have posted several posts and have platinum status with Virgin. What do the moderators of the forum think?


Lobo76:


Hey Alister, the reason is to ensure that Virgin employees do not access the information and use it to reduce status run opportunities. As far as I know the mods are fully onboard with this, ;please feel free to raise it with them. As a community resource I'm merely keeping community standards.


Hey Alister, the group reached a bit of a consensus that brand new users would not be given access to the spreadsheet. Please feel free to apply again after you've been a bit more active on the forum.


Alister:


Fair enough but can you give me a time frame?
I noticed there was one user who had less posts than me that got access?? He has been a member longer but less active??


Lob076:


Yes. I haven't given access to any users that registered AFTER the document was created. Some users have been on here for a few years but only made a dozen or so posts. Some of those users have provided various personal details that substantiate that they are not Virgin employees. Personally I think it's a ll a little paranoid but I feel must go with the sentiment of the group on this, and they feel Virgin has used this forum in the past to restrict some deals.


Alister:


so are you able to give me a timeframe?? surely if you have restrictions then you have clear timeframes around those restrictions.


I don't really care either way about access but feel its a bit rough to exclude people purely based on their membership length or your GUT feeling. I was enjoying this "community" but now feel I am not welcome nor included.


lobo76:


I don't have any hard or fast rules. When you've made yourself at home, participated and seem like a genuine user I have no problem granting access. Similarly if you want to get a mod to vouch for you, indicating they are happy you've never logged in from a Virgin domain etc. I'm also happy to grant access. I'm sorry if you feel unwelcome by this.

Why not make a post about it and see what the community thinks?

 

[alister]

Only if: They are the winning numbers :mrgreen:

trust me

 

[samh004]

I have this weekends lotto numbers too if anyone wants them

It's only $4 million though, do you have Thursday's lotto? That's $15 million!