Adventures with Lufthansa and FTU Amsterdam: FTU Amsterdam

Adventures with Lufthansa and FTU Amsterdam – Speaking at FTU Amsterdam.

FTU Amsterdam is the first time the FTU team have taken their format over to Europe, and with 60 people or so it wasn’t rammed solid, allowing people to talk to presenters, and presenters to talk to people with as much time as I needed to.

However, for me, there was an additional side to FTU Amsterdam – the fact that I would be speaking. I’ve written about my fear of public speaking before, and I’ll do so again.

It scares the bejeebers out of me.

I’m used to talking to small groups or one-to-one (one of the reasons I discovered I was a better tutor than a teacher… yes I did do teaching many many moons ago), so groups of 10 or more are a bit nerve inducing.

Especially when the audience is armed with apples and water with stuff in it.

So, as part of my preparation, I spent weeks and hours researching my subjects (as well as introducing ideas along the way). My approach was simple:

Know the subject
Talk about the subject
Wrap up the subject
Throw items from the Boeing store at people to ensure they’re awake.

Well, the last past is optional normally, but what the heck. In for a penny, in for a pound.

And in the end, I did was most presenters do – use their slides as a guide and talk. A lot.

Tommy777 taking point at FTU Amsterdam.

Things you can convert drinks carts into…

I was scared of these going flying during FTU Amsterdam. Honest.

Anyone who thinks an hour isn’t a short time should try it.

So two talks – my first was The Mileage Run – Is it Dead? Some think it is. I think otherwise- as I justify in my presentation. Even @JoeyMello caught me as I was plugging myself…

It’s a rather expansive subject, but can be focused on a core fact – things in Europe are different compared to those in the USA. Once you get past that, there are many more options out there.

My second subject was Star Alliance for Europeans – where I focused on Star Alliance programmes that would provide good quality results for those of us who are based in Europe – and comparing them against a couple of fares (cheap United economy fares, and what a Lufthansa P fare earns – even in the selection I worked through the results were varied).

Muggins post-presentation.

Muggins with Points to be Made handing him a small gift from the Boeing store.

The one thing that made both of those presentations – wasn’t the equipment, the Apple Keynote slide decks or even the room with lots of apples at each table.

Rather it was the people who joined in and contributed to the discussions, the talks and putting forward their views to the table – allowing people to learn from one another as well as what mad ideas are in my head. Especially when I was breaking down this slide for people

You’ll find out about this trip in the coming weeks…. 😉

Overall: Whilst the numbers weren’t massive, the quality was amazing. Good speakers talking in-depth about subjects they were passionate about (and a bluntness here), a considerable lack of credit card shilling and manufactured spend talking. Rather than talking about flying, earning and burning. And on top of this: Lots of chances to network, talk, drink and catch up with people and make new friends.

And to me – that’s an important part of these events. I’d love to see more FTUs in Europe, catering to European audiences and tastes – along with decent discussions that focus on European needs.

Next: Back to Schiphol Airport, LH997 Amsterdam to Frankfurt.

Disclosure: Frequent Traveler University paid for my entry into FTU Amsterdam 2014. This review is not influenced by the organisers, nor directed by them or their affiliates – and represents the authors views only.

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Comments

Joey says

30/12/2014 at 12:59 pm

I found your presentation on mileage runs quite educational and entertaining, actually. In addition to simply telling us what a mileage run is, I appreciated that slide of yours where you showed a recent mileage run example of yours. I was awake the entire time of your presentation and I hope you enjoyed FTU.
As someone who is based in the USA, I am a flying blue elite & virgin atlantic elite so I thought going to FTU amsterdam I’d learn a lot — and indeed I did! Beforehand I was hoping to go to a Flying Blue session but I easily learned more about Flying Blue by simply meeting FB platinums & chatting with them during the breaks. I hope to be able to finally fly La Premiere within the next 2 years.
Having gone to other FTU/FTU Advanced conferences in the USA, it was a nice breath of fresh air not to hear of manufactured spending & credit cards. I’ll admit that without all these loyalty programs I will still make the effort to travel — even if it is economy.

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