FRIAT 2024

[Chemtrailer]

Bi-Annual FRIAT attendee who travels from Western Canada with a group of 4.

Hate bugging Wendy this close after a show, and because we didn't attend this year I believe that is the reason we cant access the FRIAT member area online (like we have in the past) to see if any information is available. I'm wondering if anyone has any insight to the end dates for FRIAT 2023 members to rebook for 2024? or when non annual attendees (like us) may be able to confirm FRIAT for 2024?

[AndyXH558]

Probably because of the ammout of unsold tickets this year.

[Chemtrailer]

Probably because of the ammout of unsold tickets this year.

That's a shame to hear. Although a packed grandstand isn't that fun for actual attendees, so it not being packed works just fine for me. Not good for the business of RIAT though.

This loyalty thing is decent for locals but sets back folks who commit with airfare, car rentals, Air BnBs and cant justify an adventure overseas on a annual basis.

Discussion aside, Just wondering if any dates are formally out there yet, or if its just a wait and see for now.

[DeanW]

There’s a new renewal process in place where current year FRIAT members have their seat held until the end of September.

It may be that once that time has been and gone the FRIAT tickets will be available to all again.

[Chemtrailer]

There’s a new renewal process in place where current year FRIAT members have their seat held until the end of September.

It may be that once that time has been and gone the FRIAT tickets will be available to all again.

Appreciate that! We will look to book FRIAT early October.

[MiG_Eater]

Probably because of the ammout of unsold tickets this year.

I've never seen Monday so quiet! As a spectator it was a much nicer environment, but hopefully they didn't lose any money.

I think going back to the one-size-fits all ticket for FRIAT may be a good thing, as fewer more expensive tickets may mean FRIAT get the same, or more money but with a smaller outlay - and a more pleasant experience for the attendees.

I still think FRIAT is incredible value and will most definitely be doing it again next year.

[Berf]

The fact that it had sold less this year made it a far better experience for me. Next to me in my 'official' seat was a large person - the other side a medium person. There is no way I could have sat there for seven hours and hardly even move - obviously I did not try. In previous years it has been the grass area simply because I can't move the camera and have a camera bag in the small space and that also means bringing a chair. I did not have to this year. Having a seat but not being able to use it diminishes the experience. There are a significant number of large people - I am not knocking them at all - they are paying customers as well but FRIAT has to recognise that the product is significantly affected for some of the customers. I know this is an issue at any event but few last seven hours.

[spellow3010]

Yep, a full grandstand is no fun. I'm seriously thinking about taking a chair next year. If you've got people even one or two seats next to you, inevitably they are going to obstruct the view etc, especially us long lens types. The person sat next to you leans out to see around the person next to them to get their shots. If only people spread out a little more...

I won't say shocking, but more closely described as 'un-self-aware' behaviour was rife across the days where the grandstand was open. Perennial standing up whilst stuff is displaying/taking off/landing. I appreciate that people have to go to the loo, or purchase drinks etc. But the grandstand should operate like how Wimbledon manages it - any seat will do until there's a more natural break.

It's not as if there is no information about the dos and don'ts of the enclosure.

Next year, if there is the dreaded 'FRIAT sold out,' I am definitely taking a chair. As good as the view is from up high, it's not worth the aggro and bruised ribs.

[G-CVIX]

I won't say shocking, but more closely described as 'un-self-aware' behaviour was rife across the days where the grandstand was open. Perennial standing up whilst stuff is displaying/taking off/landing. I appreciate that people have to go to the loo, or purchase drinks etc. But the grandstand should operate like how Wimbledon manages it - any seat will do until there's a more natural break.

It's not as if there is no information about the dos and don'ts of the enclosure.

Where I was this year wasn't too bad but there were certainly some oblivious people there.

I wonder what the procedure is if you want to renew but don't want to keep your current seat? Presumably one would have to wait until they knew who was/wasn't going to renew and which seats were available.

One gripe was the amount of seat switching going on. Although in the run in to the show I said I couldn't see a problem with it, I take that back. In practice I think half of the movement in the stand near me was due to people sitting in other people seats, then moving when that person got to their seat, to a different persons seat, until that person came back, and so on... If you're sitting one or two seats away from your designated seat in order to stay spread out, fine, there's no sense in squashing together for no reason, but in a totally different part of the grandstand? It also devalues the "premium" seats if you can just buy the cheapest one, then try your luck in somebody else's.

In all reality, I'm not sure what they could do to enforce people sticking to their seats, but it was quite irritating having to turf people out of your seat each morning.

[spellow3010]

I might have been one of 'those' people CVIX. I returned to the stand after purchasing a drink, and noticed another display about to lift, so I sat down on the front row. As luck would have it, the person who had actually booked that 'actual seat' turned up about 3 minutes into the display and I then had to decide whether to go up to my own seat on row B, or leave the stand again and wait for another break.

Obviously, me being a considerate sort, I left the stand. But my principle of 'any seat will do until there's a natural gap to get back in place' should apply. They do it at Wimbledon to reduce kerfuffles and disturbance.

But these are aviation fans, not the Tennis set

[Gt5500]

Maybe they could get some of the COVID traffic lights that are all laying around the country unused now and put them on the grandstand entrance, red during a display green in between

[Stagger2]

FRIAT could introduce Guard Towers with snipers armed with tranquiliser darts to suppress unwarranted movements, but I think the towers may themselves interfere with the perfect shot of the Hangars & Corporate logo's?
Probably best to avoid the whole experience on health grounds alone.

[G-CVIX]

I might have been one of 'those' people CVIX. I returned to the stand after purchasing a drink, and noticed another display about to lift, so I sat down on the front row. As luck would have it, the person who had actually booked that 'actual seat' turned up about 3 minutes into the display and I then had to decide whether to go up to my own seat on row B, or leave the stand again and wait for another break.

Obviously, me being a considerate sort, I left the stand. But my principle of 'any seat will do until there's a natural gap to get back in place' should apply. They do it at Wimbledon to reduce kerfuffles and disturbance.

But these are aviation fans, not the Tennis set

Ah no definitely not the people I'm talking about, you were being considerate by getting out of the way wherever you could. I'm more referring to the people I saw trying to get themselves as far up the stand as possible.

It's a minor issue, to be honest. It was a bit of a nuisance sometimes but didn't have a particularly negative affect on the experience in the long run.

[rockfordstone]

FRIAT could introduce Guard Towers with snipers armed with tranquiliser darts to suppress unwarranted movements, but I think the towers may themselves interfere with the perfect shot of the Hangars & Corporate logo's?
Probably best to avoid the whole experience on health grounds alone.

could they put tannoy speakers on them so we can hear the commentary?

[Wes_Howes]

Having done FRIAT for the first time this year, I'm not sure what the renewal process is? I know we've got until the end of September to keep our seats but how do you go about confirming your renewal?

thanks in advance

[iainpeden]

Wes, the plan is that you will be contacted to confirm, or otherwise, your wish to book your seat for next year. Wendy (face to face conversation) said she hoped to start the process mid August and complete by end of September.
They were also looking at a way to spread payment rather than have to pay in one lump but that process was being worked on so I have no further details at this time.

[Wes_Howes]

Thanks Iain!

[iainpeden]

I have just received my email with a) the option to confirm attendance next year, b) the fee structure and c) the time scale to pay.

No standing order facility for this time around but a few months to pay.

Here's to 2024

[microlight]

Personally , was hoping for the standing order option , talk about squeezing folk for money under the current financial climate. Would have been better off making the final option to pay for FRIAT as Jan 2024 not Nov 2023 , at least it gives you 6 months to budget and takes away the "grabbing money" perception .We are only one month since the show and early birds are on sale and bombarding social media , absolutely ridiculous , talk about hard sell and promoting panic buying. The email doesn't state what your "loyalty discount" is worth , after all the empty seats this year the pricing structure hasn't even been reviewed !!

[Domvickery]

The no monthly payment option will probably force me away, asking me for hundreds of pounds one month before christmas and not even telling me how much my actual ticket (with loyalty discount) will be, thats shocking.

[iainpeden]

The no monthly payment option will probably force me away, asking me for hundreds of pounds one month before Christmas and not even telling me how much my actual ticket (with loyalty discount) will be, thats shocking.

Point 1. on historical practice you're probably going to get a maximum of £30 discount if you have done 3 years - so do the maths yourself
Pont 2. if you get paid at the end of the month you have had July, August, September, and October to put money away and then the final payment due by 1st December gives you 5 paydays - rather than the 6 standing orders. Surely not a huge deal.

Anyway - if you don't like it it's not compulsory and my accommodation costs (for 3 nights) are going to be about the same as my membership - weekend either side and accommodation would be half the price and that's what annoys me.

[jalfrezi]

They've had a standing order option for years and now have taken it away, that's a problem for quite a few people I expect. It's all well and good saying people have had from July to start saving, but they weren't aware they had to, as there was an installment option in previous years!

[iainpeden]

They've had a standing order option for years and now have taken it away, that's a problem for quite a few people I expect. It's all well and good saying people have had from July to start saving, but they weren't aware they had to, as there was an installment option in previous years!

IIRC it went from being a direct debit option (administration by DBH) to a self administered standing order, thereby saving DBH fees, or maybe more importantly staff time, for the dd option so the writing was on the wall to some extent; I will admit I’m a bit surprised the SO option hasn’t been continued but again the team is significantly smaller than pre-covid so it’s probably down to staff capacity.

Still really good value at c.£50 a day though.

[microlight]

Depending on people's circumstances 6 , 4 and 2 day FRIAT tickets would have been a better option than compulsory 6 day tickets. Majority would probably use 4 and 2 day with absolute die hards doing 6.

[jasonT1981]

Depending on people's circumstances 6 , 4 and 2 day FRIAT tickets would have been a better option than compulsory 6 day tickets. Majority would probably use 4 and 2 day with absolute die hards doing 6.

I would have gone for FRIAT on the 2 day ticket, maybe even 4 day (even if I am missing 1 day) but having to fully buy for 6 days when I can only get there for 3 days (shuttle bus) I can't justify.