Location: NYC (CT suburbs), Gulf Stream, FL, and Seattle
Programs: CO Infinite Plat, AirTran Elite, AS MVPG, Delta GM, US PLat.
Posts: 2,918
My bad on the fuel surcharge. That's another carrier I am fighting with. If history is any guide, however, if it sticks over there, it will find its way to the braintrust on Pacific Highway, who never met one of these rule changes it didn't like. As for the AS50, I know it has been around. But, being capped at $250, the skyrocketing fares have quite simply redefined it. Do the math. It's more like an AS20, on long trips. The MP office confirmed to me, today, that they have changed their minds, and decided to allow 50% mileage credit on those type awards, which is still baloney. Any diminution of miles earned should be made on the basis of fare paid. Why should someone pay $700-$1000 for a ticket, and only get half the miles, when excursion passengers on the same flight, paying a fraction of that, get full mileage? On other fronts, requiring two and three times the original, standard requirement for redemption, is nothing more than extortion, and while I am happy that regional flyers are finding U seats, those of us who use long haul services already know they don't ever put them into Boston, Newark, DC, or Miami. Why pretend? Tell us you don't have any intention. You bet I'm a rabble rouser, and if the customer base contiues to apologize for these characters, they will find what appeasers have always learned in the end. It just gets worse. They can be stopped, and the way they gave on the AS50, is an example of two things. Firstly, they are afraid of backlash, but secondly, they still think they can con you by keeping half what they took. That shows a lack of respect. In a business relationship, each side has to respect the other. I'm not seeing that in this one.
Programs: Various bits of plastic with names of noble metals on them
Posts: 1,977
Quote:
On other fronts, requiring two and three times the original, standard requirement for redemption, is nothing more than extortion
How is changing the terms of a program that an airline can change the terms of when they please "extortion"? Perhaps bad for customer goodwill, sure. But let's put it this way- if AS goes bankrupt and liquidates like Aloha did, what exactly is the value of your MP mileage account?
Your attitude seems to be "they already aren't giving me enough free stuff in the form of upgrades, discounts, and mileage redemptions for being a frequent customer, and it's unacceptable that they are making FURTHER cuts". Let's say that Alaska Airlines did what you apparently want: undid their Mileage Plan changes, added more U to their transcons (and, please note, if they do that they leave money on the table that they could have made selling F), made the AS50 a REAL AS50 again. There's obviously a cost in dollars to Alaska if they do that. Where should they make those costs up- in an environment where everyone is cutting corners, dropping service and adding fees because of super-expensive oil? Raise prices in coach for Ma and Pa Kettle so you can get more freebies? Remember, in a lot of their markets outside of Alaska, AS is running against WN- who's well positioned to eat anyone's lunch with a model that is oriented towards people who want nothing more than a clean, on time, safe coach seat at the lowest price they can get, with minimal hassles/weird pricing/fees... plus the B6s and VXs of the world who aren't saddled with the BS of the legacies and have simpler models.
I can't say I'm happy with the MP changes... but I expect airlines to try and be profitable, and in the end, profitability will trump customer loyalty (and what AS has done to their elites pales to what US is in the process of doing). When I don't like the deal I'm offered, I walk and take my dollars elsewhere. It's likely that as MP suffers I'll be more inclined to do so. -shrug-
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Jul 29, 08 at 5:36 pm.
Programs: HH Silver, US Silver, CO Nonepass, AS Non-MVP
Posts: 4,805
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seattlenerd
The more I think about this, the more I think there are two parts AS might want to rethink before implementation:
1) The mileage earning ability of the AS50. I wonder if there's a way to implement that it earns half the miles, for example (a logical way to reflect it counts for half the fare, up to $250, since I suspect tying the actual dollars spent to miles might be a nightmare).
Hey, I called the 50% idea first back in post #48 on this thread!
Programs: AA (EXP/1MM), AS (MVP), UA, SPG (Gold), HHonors (Gold), Fairmont PC (Plat)
Posts: 731
Quote:
Originally Posted by sxf24
I think its good news and from most perspectives, quite fair.
Award tickets have never earned miles or segments so it makes sense that 1/2 price award tickets would earn 50% of the total miles. A slightly better compromise would be to grant 100% EQMs while keeping 50% redeemable miles.
Yes, I am reasonably satisfied with this change to the change in the AS50.
__________________ Flights Since 1 Nov 2007 AA comp upg: 26/29 (2 irrop) AS comp upg: 8/11 UA upg: 0/0
Flying from Alaska you rarely get a 1/2 price ticket since the AS50 is capped at $250.00 but this is certainly better than nothing at all even if your outlay is still $500.00 or more even with the discount.
The Money and Miles program gives frequent business travelers steep discounts on round-trip flights
I guess their definition of "steep discounts" is a lot different than mine is! 50% miles ok I can deal with that! Just basically means on a RT you only get credit for OW.. I do think an F fare should get 100% flight miles but I dont wanna be too nit picky. Or could you earn 50% plus the 50% bonus? Or do you get 50% and 25%? Seems like they are having a difficult time selling F seats right now so that might be an incentive to entice some to buy them
After many, many years of MVP Gold, flying ONLY Alaska, I signed up today for Virgin America's FF program, "elevate." Loyalty is a two way street and this recent Alaska AS50 change is the last straw. Amazing how AS execs say they need to "burn miles off their books" but then give away 20,000 points for a Visa card.
Loyalty is a two way street and this recent Alaska AS50 change is the last straw. Amazing how AS execs say they need to "burn miles off their books" but then give away 20,000 points for a Visa card.
AS gets big money from the credit card partner for those bonus miles being offered as part of a new credit card, so of course such offers (from the credit card company in conjunction with AS) are going to be offering such bonuses (and maybe even more) to attract customers.
Quote:
The AS50 Money and Miles award will continue to offer a 50 percent discount up to $250 for 15,000 miles round-trip; however, these awards will earn 50% of the mileage they earn today. These miles and 100% of the segments flown will count toward MVP/MVP Gold qualification. The change will apply to all Money and Miles awards booked on or after November 1, 2008.
I didn't see this mentioned elsewhere, but terrible news. AF awards to Asia and the BA Award to Australia (via London) will be discontinued just one month from now, after August 31.
This is really a loss... the game is really less fun.
I didn't see this mentioned elsewhere, but terrible news. AF awards to Asia and the BA Award to Australia (via London) will be discontinued just one month from now, after August 31.
This is really a loss... the game is really less fun.
Location: NYC (CT suburbs), Gulf Stream, FL, and Seattle
Programs: CO Infinite Plat, AirTran Elite, AS MVPG, Delta GM, US PLat.
Posts: 2,918
It would appear that, at least based on the posts I am looking at, that MP members think raising mileage requirements, not offering advance purchase upgrading, cutting mileage credit, is all OK, and comes under the heading of tough times. Well, it's fine to offer higher cost options, such as more miles, to clear a seat, but when that results in the virtual disappearance of awards at "normal" redemption levels, then I call that unfair. Ditto the disappearing U seat on transcons. I am simply saying that to do that, and pretend those options still exist, is not fair play. To say it is being done to "burn off" too many acumulated miles, which pose a serious liability, is not correct. If you peruse the annual report of most pubicly traded airlines, they will recognize that liability, as required by GAAP, but then insert some convoluted language which basically says, "they can't use 'em if we don't let 'em". Admitedly, I am an unusual customer, in that I fly, almost exclusively, transcons. My average segment on AS is 2400 miles. Thus, my interests, and experiences may be different. On the other hand, I don't believe the culture of a company is that dynamic. If the thought process is to diminish customer importance, like replacing an upgrade with a free drink, and a handshake, you better start looking for a guard rail. If I were a manager at MP, and read some of the stuff here, I'd be feeling pretty bold about continuing to cut. Presumably, in addition to a higher than average belief in the tooth fairy, many Alaska customers also prefer to do their shopping in airports and hotel lobbies.
January came early!!! 
Or do you get 50% and 25%? 
