makfan

At least ex-SFO, many UA flyers have jumped over to AA (at least based on elite numbers boarding my flights most of the time). Unfortunately, AA has far fewer flights so they can't capture everyone.

My upgrade rate this year is 85%, down from 92-95% all other years. Almost every missed upgrade has been ex-SFO. F cabins are filling up before the upgrade window opens up. Much like SFO-SEA trips on AS many days.

makfan

I have had the same experience with Concur. My boss is reasonable about stuff like this, and understands that if I pay $10 more on an airline where I have status, I save the company potential baggage fees and food expense and is happy to approve my ticket if the system sends him a policy alert. Not all managers are that way, however. I think Concur wanted to flag a $3 difference one time, even though the $3 cheaper fare took two hours longer. My boss said book the shorter flying time.

To try and avoid problems, sometimes I will narrow the time window so that it picks what I want, but even that feels like I'm pushing things. I had to do it one time on the outbound leg because I had commitments of my own and only one departure time worked, even though it wasn't the cheapest that day. I discussed it with him first.

edgewood49

I for one love it. Reminds me of the "old days" but then I'm older as well! So for me I welcome this as I am getting "rewarded" for the money I spent. Sorry all but I pay full Gold Upgrade or full FC. so why wouldn't I be entitled to more points.

I take it miles flown is still used for qual.

keitherson

Most people who fly with Delta will stay with Delta. Delta is a very good airline and most fliers do not base their flying on their FFP. Even business or frequent fliers. FT is more an exception than the rule.

3Cforme

It won't be known until DL publishes partner earnings but while DL changed redeemable miles earning on its own metal to be purchase price-based, elite miles qualification on all DL-operated fare codes (even E) are still 1 mile per mile flown.

AKLifetimeFlyer

Traveling to BDL. Now I would rather fly into BOS and drive down.

CDKing

You're right it wont change for those crediting to DL unless DL gets the idea to deval further. The airline wants to get you on their own metal so they will usually give better benefits when you don't stray. AS members still get 1 EQM per mile flown on many of its partners and a few with reduced with lower fares. It will be interesting to see which partners, DL keeps up at the top with 1:1 I doubt it will be AS.

BearX220

Not most, but many. FFPs don't affect the lower, cost-driven tier of customers, and the top tier just wants nonstops that suit their schedule at whatever cost. But the whole middle cohort of moderately profitable frequent flyers does take FF status, perks, etc. into account. If FF programs didn't strongly influence buying behavior they would have run their course by now.

AS is a good airline with a still-pretty-good FF program; DL is a good airline with a bad one. The new -- and IMO stupid -- vogue at DL and UA for concentrating FF rewards on a few super-flyers is short-sighted if you ask me. Those airlines are shoving a large cohort of customers back into the "consideration pool" to shop for the lowest price, which hurts all the players in the long run.

Points Scrounger

I think folks who travel regularly on 25%/50% fares will start noticing.

Waitlisted

Just to clarify, I want to be sure I have this right. If I fly the approx 5,000 mile trip of PDX/JFK/PDX at a reduced rate of 25% mileage credit then I only get 1,250 miles. But - as an MVP/G do I also only get 1,250 EQM or the 5,000 as EQM? I'm thinking it's 1,250 but want to be clear as I am about to book several trips. Thinking now AS to Newark via Seattle is best but it adds two hours to the trip and I always prefer nonstops, but I do get 6,000 miles out of it.

CDKing

I heard back on my inquiry of flight date vs booking date. It will be based on flight date unfortunate


I sure hope E fares are not on PDX-JFK. But IF you are on E fare (25%) 5000 mile flight will earn 1250 EQM. RDM will be 1250 + 1250 for MVPG. Most markets will be 50% earning at the least

Kieron

1250 EQM.

Waitlisted

You are correct CDKing. I just did 4 dummy flights in Feb and March and all were "V" class. So 50% EQM. Still sucks, but sucks less :-). I am thinking PDX/SEA/EWR at 6,000 EQM R/T miles vs 3,000 on DL nonstop is worth the 2 plus hours each way.

Either way, my plan is do all I can on AS (as I already do, but its so limited from PDX unless SEA is in the itinerary), then the rest on AA. Just wish we had a chance of an F upgrade on AA, who knows maybe with this DL fight and the US merger this too will happen!

formeraa

Wow, some companies are very strict! We also use Concur, but our company gives us much more latitude. My company allows a 20-25% percent differrence in fares before it "flags" a flight. On the other hand, my company does not allow managers to override the flag (you would have to go to a VP and nobody would dare do that )

Back to the DL miles issue, this really doesn't surprise me.

ryanthekiwi

I wonder when E class is actually used? I checked and both my upcoming SEA-SAN flight for $79 o/w and my previous YVR-HKG which was priced at $400 all in return were both V class.