If that makes logical sense to you, then they should eliminate the miles earned on all companion fare tickets, and all deeply discounted fares should only earn 25% base miles.
From a financial perspective, that makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure how the competitive environment in the U.S. would support such a move.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango
If that makes logical sense to you, then they should eliminate the miles earned on all companion fare tickets, and all deeply discounted fares should only earn 25% base miles.
They're not prepaid seats though. Award reservations are a gift for a certain volume of patronage.
I have to disagree with you on this. Airlines sell billions of dollars in miles each year and in exchange, there is an expectation that a percentage of the seats on each flight will be exchanged for miles. If airlines did not sell miles and used them only as a "green stamp" program, I would agree with you but this is not the case.
No need, There are lots of examples out there already. You need to look no further then British to get all sorts of ideas on how to enhance mileage plan.
From a financial perspective, that makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure how the competitive environment in the U.S. would support such a move.
If this were to happen, I will guarantee you that many people would move to Southwest who used flight segments as their sole criteria in their rapid rewards program.
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An interesting point on the sale of miles. With redemption inflation, those miles you have, especially older ones, have been devalued. Accrued with the expectation of being used at traditional redemption levels, they are no longer enough. Your airline of choice hasn't mentioned loss of value in all this.
I have to disagree with you on this. Airlines sell billions of dollars in miles each year and in exchange, there is an expectation that a percentage of the seats on each flight will be exchanged for miles. If airlines did not sell miles and used them only as a "green stamp" program, I would agree with you but this is not the case.
For most airlines, every seat on every flight is available for redemption. It just might cost more than you want...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by makin'miles
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.
Money & Miles Award Money & 15,000 Miles Round Trip and 7,500 Miles One Way
Valid on itineraries with flights operated only by Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Receive up to a 50% discount on most fares. Maximum discount allowed is $250 (USD) Round Trip and $125 (USD) One Way off of the base fare. Earn Mileage Plan Miles when traveling on this award. Complimentary upgrades not allowed.
I've always thought that meant a coach ticket with an AS50 means you're stuck in coach, no coupons/upgrades/whatever, and the way you get to F is to buy an F ticket with an AS50. Was I wrong?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deelmakur
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.
You're sort of eliding the question I raised, which is: assuming that what Alaska has done in the past (not making U widely available on transcons) and is going to do (jacking up redemption levels and devaluing the AS50) represents an increase in revenue for them, what do you propose as the alternative to replace that revenue?
You may be quite right in that the cost in customer goodwill and loyalty won't be worth the revenue- but it doesn't obscure the fact that customer goodwill does nothing for you if you end up in Chapter 7 liquidation.
And yeah, I pointed out on page 1 of the thread that this was effectively a 30%+ devaluation of MP miles (on AS/QX routes- I imagine the other shoes will drop for partners soon enough).
For most airlines, every seat on every flight is available for redemption. It just might cost more than you want...
Most awards redeemed by airlines are saver awards or upgrades and these are capacity controlled and cost the airlines very little to redeem (you are talking $20 to $40 per coach domestic award).
Over half of all miles issued each year are sold so even peak award redemption bring in revenue.
The whole issue is becoming mute as Delta was the first to announce that they would no longer guarantee peak awards seats on "selected flights.
I've always thought that meant a coach ticket with an AS50 means you're stuck in coach, no coupons/upgrades/whatever, and the way you get to F is to buy an F ticket with an AS50. Was I wrong?
I have never had a problem getting upgrades on tickets issued with AS50's.
The booking class used is the main criteria on allowing you to upgrade or not.
That was a temporary change. They will be rolling out a three-tier structure with guaranteed availability at the top level.
370k for a last minute first class seat to Asia!
60k for a last minute seat within the lower 48!
Throw in the $25/$50 fuel surcharge and roughly half of all miles issued are "sold" miles, it is hard to paint a picture that Delta is loosing money on these types of award seats.
