As the end of the year comes closer, there are numerous questions about MRs, etc...to get x number of status miles simply to re-qualify for status.
I hope someone from AC or AE is listening, because I have an idea, and I am certain that I am not the only one who has thought about this.
I am sure many of us would prefer to spend time at home than to fly simply to get status miles. If there is a way to pay AC or AE $x to x miles, I think many "potential MR's" could be eliminated, and in that process it could be a win-win benefit.
Benefits for AE members: many of us would prefer to be at home rather than flying, unnecessarily. Therefore, AC or AE should allow passengers to buy a maximum amount of status miles. UA and Turkish allow it at the moment. I think $1200 per 10,000 status miles would be very reasonable. (Before many of you jump, and start questioning me on the math...keep in mind you are not flying, and it's a very reasonable price, when compered to THY and UA). In addition, there could be a ceiling, maybe 24,000 status miles per year -- so that someone who doesn't fly at all, wouldn't even get P.
Benefits for AE and AC: numerous. You are getting revenue, and people are not even flying, thereby increasing your profitability and your shareholders. Isn't that your ultimate goal? AC can then sell these seats, at whatever price they wish. This would be particularly important as we are entering the Holiday Season, where many flights are already full, and/or very expensive. AE and/or AC could do whatever they want to do with this non-flying revenue. They could, for example, offer a percentage of their overall revenue to the Air Canada Foundation which helps "connect sick children to the medical care they need, alleviate child poverty, and make the wishes of ill kids come true." This would help publicize AC's CSR, and for a really good cause.
The timing could not be better, as we are entering the Holiday Season, where giving and donation are the real reasons for this season. You would help sick children, and you would help FFers who would rather spend their holidays with their family, than flying for no real reason -- simply to re-qualify their status.
I look forward to your thoughts, but I think it's about time for AC/AE to offer this benefit.
I don't believe in buying status miles, they should be earned flying. After all it is supposed to be a benefit for those that travel a lot.
Besides, you can buy your way to most of those same benefits, just buy a J ticket
In other words you want fewer people to have status.
I think the fact the other airlines let you get status miles for non flight activity or the option to buy additional status miles for flight activity (not coupled for fare class) is a signal that there is business opportunity here.
In other words you want fewer people to have status.
I think the fact the other airlines let you get status miles for non flight activity or the option to buy additional status miles for flight activity (not coupled for fare class) is a signal that there is business opportunity here.
In other words you want fewer people to have status.
I think the fact the other airlines let you get status miles for non flight activity or the option to buy additional status miles for flight activity (not coupled for fare class) is a signal that there is business opportunity here.
Yeah signal to keep watering down benefits; benefits should be for those who fly not those who buy!
With all these CC's pumping miles like no tomorrow into AE, do you not see the devaluation of the program? What do you think will happen when the same happens to the airline status miles?
As Luther said, if you want a quick way into lots of miles buy your self a J ticket!
A SYD-LHR ticket roundtrip will earn you 21076 miles; couple on J class of service and current 50% bonus status miles promo and thats 42152 miles in as little as 4 flight numbers! If you are cheap and want to go the T+ route, with some creativeness and status and luck you can ride up front for pretty cheap!
But if you are a businessman or woman, wouldn't you be happy if you got free money, without even offering service? What's wrong with that?
Status doesnt cost the airlines?
Do you think miles are free?
Do you think lounges are free?
Do you think manning priority CS lines are free?
Do you think the E/SE desk for priority calls are free?
What about paying airports for priority security?
What about paying to have concierges?
How about filling up J with free upgrades?
Lost earnings on baggage fees?
Lost earnins on prefered seat selection?
Programs: AC*E35, NEXUS, Marriott Rewards Gold, National Car Executive
Posts: 100
Quote:
Originally Posted by aircanada_loyal
As the end of the year comes closer, there are numerous questions about MRs, etc...to get x number of status miles simply to re-qualify for status.
I hope someone from AC or AE is listening, because I have an idea, and I am certain that I am not the only one who has thought about this.
I am sure many of us would prefer to spend time at home than to fly simply to get status miles. If there is a way to pay AC or AE $x to x miles, I think many "potential MR's" could be eliminated, and in that process it could be a win-win benefit.
Benefits for AE members: many of us would prefer to be at home rather than flying, unnecessarily. Therefore, AC or AE should allow passengers to buy a maximum amount of status miles. UA and Turkish allow it at the moment. I think $1200 per 10,000 status miles would be very reasonable. (Before many of you jump, and start questioning me on the math...keep in mind you are not flying, and it's a very reasonable price, when compered to THY and UA). In addition, there could be a ceiling, maybe 24,000 status miles per year -- so that someone who doesn't fly at all, wouldn't even get P.
Benefits for AE and AC: numerous. You are getting revenue, and people are not even flying, thereby increasing your profitability and your shareholders. Isn't that your ultimate goal? AC can then sell these seats, at whatever price they wish. This would be particularly important as we are entering the Holiday Season, where many flights are already full, and/or very expensive. AE and/or AC could do whatever they want to do with this non-flying revenue. They could, for example, offer a percentage of their overall revenue to the Air Canada Foundation which helps "connect sick children to the medical care they need, alleviate child poverty, and make the wishes of ill kids come true." This would help publicize AC's CSR, and for a really good cause.
The timing could not be better, as we are entering the Holiday Season, where giving and donation are the real reasons for this season. You would help sick children, and you would help FFers who would rather spend their holidays with their family, than flying for no real reason -- simply to re-qualify their status.
I look forward to your thoughts, but I think it's about time for AC/AE to offer this benefit.
I think it's a good idea. I don't think people should be able to buy status outright, but if you need a top-up to reach status (i.e. you're or a couple thousand miles short), I think that it would be better to have the option to purchase a mileage top-up rather than go on a mileage run.
I think a limit of the number of miles you could buy as a top-up (i.e. 5,000 or 10,000) would help limit any appreciable dilution, but would provide those who may be a couple thousand miles short of a status tier with an option besides doing a mileage run.
Programs: AP*SE, HH*G, SPG*G, Delta Privilege P+, Avis First
Posts: 1,782
Quote:
Originally Posted by aircanada_loyal
As the end of the year comes closer, there are numerous questions about MRs, etc...to get x number of status miles simply to re-qualify for status.
I hope someone from AC or AE is listening, because I have an idea, and I am certain that I am not the only one who has thought about this.
I am sure many of us would prefer to spend time at home than to fly simply to get status miles. If there is a way to pay AC or AE $x to x miles, I think many "potential MR's" could be eliminated, and in that process it could be a win-win benefit.
Benefits for AE members: many of us would prefer to be at home rather than flying, unnecessarily. Therefore, AC or AE should allow passengers to buy a maximum amount of status miles. UA and Turkish allow it at the moment. I think $1200 per 10,000 status miles would be very reasonable. (Before many of you jump, and start questioning me on the math...keep in mind you are not flying, and it's a very reasonable price, when compered to THY and UA). In addition, there could be a ceiling, maybe 24,000 status miles per year -- so that someone who doesn't fly at all, wouldn't even get P.
Benefits for AE and AC: numerous. You are getting revenue, and people are not even flying, thereby increasing your profitability and your shareholders. Isn't that your ultimate goal? AC can then sell these seats, at whatever price they wish. This would be particularly important as we are entering the Holiday Season, where many flights are already full, and/or very expensive. AE and/or AC could do whatever they want to do with this non-flying revenue. They could, for example, offer a percentage of their overall revenue to the Air Canada Foundation which helps "connect sick children to the medical care they need, alleviate child poverty, and make the wishes of ill kids come true." This would help publicize AC's CSR, and for a really good cause.
The timing could not be better, as we are entering the Holiday Season, where giving and donation are the real reasons for this season. You would help sick children, and you would help FFers who would rather spend their holidays with their family, than flying for no real reason -- simply to re-qualify their status.
I look forward to your thoughts, but I think it's about time for AC/AE to offer this benefit.
You bring up some good points, however IMHO I am one of those old fasion flyers that beleives the program is based on flyers earning their way into the benefits. I know in the US many companies allow you to buy extra points etc. With so many ways to earn non status miles with AP, there are billions of points out which are a liability to the airlines, not AC as AC does not have a F/F program.
If I want extra miles like others have stated, I can fly on a route that provides bonus status miles or simply do a mileage run as I am doing next week for $219US. Would I rather stay home and buy the miles, sure but that takes the whole purpose of a Frequent flyer program away and creates a frequent buyer program.
Not all of us are rich or have company paid trips, so the current system allows those who are creative and talented to make things happen!
__________________
2013: 69,659 AQM with 73 AQS
2012:181,353 status miles with 155 segments
I think it's a good idea. I don't think people should be able to buy status outright, but if you need a top-up to reach status (i.e. you're or a couple thousand miles short), I think that it would be better to have the option to purchase a mileage top-up rather than go on a mileage run.
I think a limit of the number of miles you could buy as a top-up (i.e. 5,000 or 10,000) would help limit any appreciable dilution, but would provide those who may be a couple thousand miles short of a status tier with an option besides doing a mileage run.
This exists, and best part about it, ITS FREE!!
As part of your benefits you can requalify at a lower rate, and you can also choose bonus status miles! :O
I've thought this would be a good way to go things, even if the purchase rate is horrendous. I'm sitting at 96k miles right now, so I'm looking at a quick/cheap MR out of SEA to make it over 100k. It would be very nice if I could just buy the ticket, cancel it, not take the refund, and still get the miles. That way I'd still get my status, the airline would be able to sell an extra seat, and I'd not have to waste a day doing the run.
Do you think miles are free?
Do you think lounges are free?
Do you think manning priority CS lines are free?
Do you think the E/SE desk for priority calls are free?
What about paying airports for priority security?
What about paying to have concierges?
How about filling up J with free upgrades?
Lost earnings on baggage fees?
Lost earnins on prefered seat selection?
Need me to continue?
All those things costs money, but think of it this way. Assume I spend $1200 on 10,000 miles, most if not all goes to AC bottom line. i spend it on a TATL flight for about 10,000 mile RT. most of that is eaten up by operating costs. either way i have an incoming revenue of $1200 but with far less profitability if i have a bum in a seat. Worse if i took that flight with United, AC still awarding status miles at AC and get a fraction of the revenue from $1200
I can earn status miles at 4cpm, easily, by flying. Maybe not on AC, but I can credit them to AC. But in that case, AC is getting less than 4cpm. So if they charge 12cpm (as was mentioned above), they get the full 12cpm. So they get more money than if I were to do a MR on another airline, and they deliver no service for that money.
The service they have to deliver for having status is the same either way.
