FRIAT 2025 Renewals

[Dreadnought]

Not overly impressed with this but it is what it is, I'll give 2025 a go and see what happens from there.

[bishbashbosh]

"We have now reviewed all comments..." and ignored them.

Genuinely undecided what to do. Might use the money and annual leave to go do some non-UK shows I've wanted to do for a while. Given it didn't sell out last year I guess there's no rush.

[rockfordstone]

I think the whole thing is a big 2 fingers up to FRIAT members. there is literally nothing in there to sweeten the blow.

massive downgrade. after the last show i was pretty decided i'd do next year and see how it goes. now i'm torn as whether to bother or not

[iainpeden]

The only perk now for FRIAT is departure day in the grandstand; I have a few weeks to consider if it is worth it, especially as the Phantoms are getting close to their OSD.

[Nwalch]

"We have now reviewed all comments..." and ignored them.

Genuinely undecided what to do. Might use the money and annual leave to go do some non-UK shows I've wanted to do for a while. Given it didn't sell out last year I guess there's no rush.

My thoughts exactly.

[Wrexham Mackem]

This is so demoralising. As if they've taken the feedback and actually doubled down on the original proposal.

Surely DBH must look at this and think, "if I was a customer, would I want to buy this?"

"Friends" of RIAT indeed. Thanks very much RIAT.

The Viewing Village is now better than FRIAT. Who would have thought that could be a thing?

[Spotty_Jag]

The Viewing Village is now better than FRIAT. Who would have thought that could be a thing?

FRIAT ticket price (assuming they freeze it after this news) is £315. 3x days of Viewing Village is £305. I'd say FRIAT is still far better value, considering it also includes Wednesday, Thursday & Monday, plus a Souvenir Programme.

[linco33]

Not sure what I'm going to do either. I'm baffled with the public view area. Makes no sense. I feel like a bit of a fraud complaining seeing as this year was my first ever visit.

But, the stand being moved back by 45m may well be the deal clincher for me.

[microlight]

Disgraceful response towards loyal enthusiasts who have paid a premium for years to support the charity with the expected reward of a unique vantage point being the reason to purchase the package The price needs to be reviewed and reduced , not withstanding If this Labour Govt imposes the pay per mile taxation system as proposed for vehicle owners - just imagine the extra cost to attend the event for some , in some cases making it unviable due to distances to be travelled. Seems like the event organiser is turning against loyal FRIAT members the deal doesn't seem as good as in the past. The grandstand relocation is a major issue

Also don't get me started on the fact that those under 18 get in for free , no objection to little kids being free , but
teenagers ? why are others expected to subsidise them all I find that ridiculous ....don't see any age checks for any ticket holders at the entrance ?

[Tommy]

Perhaps I’m just a dirty great cynic, but I had come to peace with the FRIAT stand proposal last July when announced? I don’t think there was any serious or realistic grounds to hope it’ll change.

I’ve not looked it over in detail, but I can’t see anything in there that wasn’t already announced in July.

Idk. Whilst I’m not exactly excited about it, I’ve come to peace with it. I don’t think it’ll be *that* bad, but my main concern is speakers. Not just in front of the stand, but along the public crowdline east and west. With the stand set back, those speakers will put paid to a lot of take off/taxy/landing shots.

At least if the AAC Apache demo comes back we’re better aligned for the pyro!

[Tommy]

One of the thoughts I had, and I’m happy to collate and make the case to DBH, is what sort of things would FRIATers like to suggest as perks they could give to sweeten things back up?

Perhaps rather than leave it with DBH to consider what additional value they can add, we can make suggestions? The worst DBH can say is “no”, but we might be able to suggest stuff that they missed/didn’t think of.

My suggestion:

• would be a live updates page (on an app or in the members area, and on a screen in the FRIAT tent). And this *not* at the expense of the sheets of lies.
• a random lottery for a few back-seat rides in a “Follow Me” car on an arrivals day
• one daily hot meal ticket from a FRIAT enclosure catering van Fri - Sun

DM me if you don’t want it public.

[iainpeden]

Hi Tommy ,in response to your suggestions I'm afraid I'm not interested in the APP or even live updates (partly because it would put already busy ATC staff under further pressure), not everyone can make every arrivals day, and the food isn't overly palatable anyway. But good idea for trying.

I think I'd rather go back to a Mach 1,2 or 3 offer and no public in front of the stand (and no free gift).

[Domvickery]

Tea/coffee/hot drink facilities and a continental style breakfast on show days in the FRIAT tent

How good would a cuppa have been on Friday last year

[Tommy]

It’s just a suggestion. Even if it were implemented, just because you’re not interested, others will be? You don’t have to use an app, or a website, or look at a screen in the FRIAT tent. No-one’s forcing you.

The FRIAT package has changed. And the stand location has changed. I doubt there’s much that can be done about that, and I reckon we ought to come to peace with it.

So, once we’ve done that we want to just sit here and moan and flap gums online about how things aren’t the way they were, or at least try and spitball a couple of ways that FRIAT experience could be improved?

If we’re immediately divided amongst ourselves, how on earth can we expect DBH to come up with anything decent for us?

[Nwalch]

Simple. Get rid of the public area like most of the feedback said.

Sorry but I haven’t come to terms with it, today’s email has just made me angry and they won’t be getting my money unless things change (which I doubt). What’s next to be removed.

[JW22]

One of the thoughts I had, and I’m happy to collate and make the case to DBH, is what sort of things would FRIATers like to suggest as perks they could give to sweeten things back up?

Perhaps rather than leave it with DBH to consider what additional value they can add, we can make suggestions? The worst DBH can say is “no”, but we might be able to suggest stuff that they missed/didn’t think of.

My suggestion:

• would be a live updates page (on an app or in the members area, and on a screen in the FRIAT tent). And this *not* at the expense of the sheets of lies.
• a random lottery for a few back-seat rides in a “Follow Me” car on an arrivals day
• one daily hot meal ticket from a FRIAT enclosure catering van Fri - Sun

DM me if you don’t want it public.

I think there’s a lot of things FRIAT could look at what they do at AirPower on the spotter ticket as that is an excellent experience. (Not referring to the spotter points on the live side)

I wonder whether there’s any potential for maybe a smaller area down towards the 27 end where you could walk down and photograph from there without jostling for position.

Something like a meal ticket would be brilliant even if it was just a small bite to eat for lunch.

And I also think it would be better received if that public area in front of the stand was to become purely FRIAT.

[IP1960]

And then there is the inclusion of the first class lounge in what was the forward, eastern corner of the area previously given over to FRIAT when we specifically told there were no plans to put a higher value enclosure there.

First class lounge was already in that position.

thanks, bloody bonkers layout, i mean we pay allot of money for this grandstand and membership, why can they not give us that whole space is beyond me, whereby the punters in the viewing village get the whole area?

Viewing Village is sold as two separate areas - garden and grandstand.

I've only sat in FRIAT since 2017, Mach 2 until the 6-day change, sadly the move along with the ticket price that goes with a 6-day package means I'll be elsewhere next year, having now purchased tickets for Friday to Sunday. Perhaps I'll come and sit in front of FRIAT on one of the days

[bishbashbosh]

I’m not inclined to keep handing over money and simply being grateful for what is offered in return. There’s too many other things I want to experience and do in life.

When compared to rival shows like AirPower, what makes the Spotter ticket truly appealing is the complete package for enthusiasts—not just a single vantage point. Unfortunately, the FRIAT offering has been watered down so much that it’s now reduced to the grandstand and departures. Even the grandstand has suffered, moving further back and increasing the chances of cluttered shots, heat haze, and other issues.

If FRIAT wants to attract and retain members, they need to offer real perks again. Here’s a few ideas:

• VIP route/parking and priority entrance to avoid us standing in long queues for hours before gates open. The dedicated FRIAT gate is gone, and there seems to be no will to bring it back, but VIP parking is already available for other enclosures.

• Reserved space in P&V.

• Perhaps open the Yellow Zone to FRIAT on show days or a small section of the Red Zone could be reserved for FRIAT members, especially given that the general public now enjoys a large, prime section crowd-centre in front of and around FRIAT.

• Guided tours of the aircraft parked crowdside at the end of the flying display.

• Open the grandstand on a Wednesday.

These changes would make me reconsider my membership. Personally I don’t think there’s any chance of it happening given the general apathy.

[rockfordstone]

Like Tommy, i think i've come to terms with this change. I don't like it, but I am going to give them one last chance.

i like the idea of a meal ticket, or even just cheap tea and coffee facilities in the tent.

i think RIAT should have a decent app anyway with accurate timings as an option, and it wouldn't be hard for RIAT to effectively show the sheet of lies on a screen in the tent.

early entry. i also see no reason why you can't be filtered into a separate lane at blue entrance after having your bag checked so you can get in a few minutes earlier, similarly having a lane for FRIAT at both park and views so you can get in and beat the rush.

extended opening, maybe even zonally so photographers can get shots without the public cramming in, maybe red on a friday, blue saturday, green sunday etc. probably impossible but would be nice.

having the grandstand open all 6 days would be a winner i think for some, but i can understand the logistics that may make wednesday opening an issue.

maybe the free gift could be something more like a patch or coin that is only available to FRIAT members. a unique farewell to the DC-10 patch or coin would have gone down a treat this year

[Skyflash]

At an absolute minimum, if they are further reducing our perks by buggering about with the location of the grandstand then they should definitely be bringing back priority entry lanes for FRIAT... quite why these were ever done away with in the first place is mystifying.

I think I am also in the 'one last chance' brigade... I'll give it a whirl next year and if it truly is rubbish then my 20+ year association with FRIAT will be at an end.

[frank]

One of the thoughts I had, and I’m happy to collate and make the case to DBH, is what sort of things would FRIATers like to suggest as perks they could give to sweeten things back up?

Perhaps rather than leave it with DBH to consider what additional value they can add, we can make suggestions? The worst DBH can say is “no”, but we might be able to suggest stuff that they missed/didn’t think of.

My suggestion:

• would be a live updates page (on an app or in the members area, and on a screen in the FRIAT tent). And this *not* at the expense of the sheets of lies.
• a random lottery for a few back-seat rides in a “Follow Me” car on an arrivals day
• one daily hot meal ticket from a FRIAT enclosure catering van Fri - Sun

DM me if you don’t want it public.

Sorry Tommy, just cant see the point of what your suggestion. It sound like "now you`ve shafted us, it will be all right if you give us some silly trinkets and bauble". Kind of gives legitimacy to what they have done. Not in my name please.

[frank]

Looking again at the diagram it just feels like RIAT grudge every inch of area that the FRIAT stand covers. As many have said it just looks plain wrong to have a public area interfering and distracting with a (and I mean any) grandstand view.
It reminds of the old grandstand that Farnboro had and looking at my pictures of that time it is obvious that people just got in the picture of anything on the runway. And as of photos looking down the runway they are just not worth keeping due to banners, brollies and peoples heads.
Will we all scrum to the front of the crowdline and crush into 20m - I can see that being a bundle of fun.

[spellow3010]

Will be elsewhere next year. Thanks for the memories though... There is a big world out there beyond RIAT (FRIAT). Maybe time to spend more time at Totterdown. Probably time to re-engage with my other photographic passions too.

Not interested in apps (can't get a signal on O2 after 9am on show days anyway) or free teas. I'm not really that interested in free gifts either.

It was all about the grandstand and the nice tent for keeping dry when it's raining... Sadly though, the pooch has been screwed.

[capercaillie]

Tommy, to be fair, I don't think you can dress this up with pretty little gifts.

This is the "Friends" grandstand, the reason people buy into FRIAT, a comfortable grandstand with a close uninterupted view of the runway and close access to departures.

Moving left is fine, I've always said that will be more beneficial, getting rid of some crap now built opposite.

But moving it back to 200 feet from the crowdline and putting the public in front is a monumental slap in the face to very loyal customers.

Its not what "Friends" are for?

They asked for opinions in the survey, I believe most on here voiced that and the concerns they had. What have they done. Sweet nothing.

The trouble is in a show which in their own minds "sells out" every year, do they really care about their "Friends" anymore?

[Tommy]

Tommy, to be fair, I don't think you can dress this up with pretty little gifts.

I agree. I hope I’m not considered to be supporting or even defending the decision.

I suppose the fact of the matter is that RIAT have put their marker down, and they haven’t listened (as I didn’t think they would). There may be very good or very stupid reasons for this, but one way or other, the decision is made. FRIAT next year will happen in the new position as advertised, so the way I see it, we have a choice:

1) vote with your feet and don’t do FRIAT (as I probably won’t in 2026 if it’s as bad as everyone here thinks it shall be);
2) continue doing FRIAT as it currently is; or,
3) my preferred choice - option 2) above, but also try and at least do *something* to improve the experience. Even if you only improve the experience 1%, you’ve still improved it.

Otherwise, I suppose the question is; what are we doing here? We’re letting perfect be the enemy of the good and uselessly flapping our gums online? Nothing wrong with venting, but ultimately what will it achieve?

(Side note, but if RIAT is watching, and they want to nominate someone for me to interview and to allow them to explain the changes on the UKAR podcast, I’d love the opportunity - floor’s open, DBH!)