It still would be nice if AS50 received some type of mileage particularly since you are still paying for it. From Anchorage, I just booked an AS50 for an Anchorage -LA flight that cut the rate from around $800.00 to just above $500.00. With this hefty cash outlay, you'd still think you'd get some sort of mileage credit. Otherwise, you might as well go for a free ticket which also earns no miles.
Still think Alaska Airlines is the best in the business but no miles for AS50 strikes me as a little severe.
It still would be nice if AS50 received some type of mileage particularly since you are still paying for it. From Anchorage, I just booked an AS50 for an Anchorage -LA flight that cut the rate from around $800.00 to just above $500.00. With this hefty cash outlay, you'd still think you'd get some sort of mileage credit. Otherwise, you might as well go for a free ticket which also earns no miles.
Still think Alaska Airlines is the best in the business but no miles for AS50 strikes me as a little severe.
I agree with this. For those of them who use them for a first class ticket that still costs over 500 dollars each way after the discount, I think we should at least get base miles.
We're still giving AS $500 smackers which is better than most of the people sitting in the back or the lucky slugs who managed to get U availability using certs by booking early.
AS & WN are the only carriers that allow 1-way awards
No. At least half a dozen airlines issue 1-way awards for less than the roundtrip award price in miles. My one-way awards redeemed cover all the Star Alliance carriers, all the OneWorld carriers and some SkyTeam carriers and those awards are priced at less than the roundtrip levels.
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This game is not as much fun as it used to be: 2008/2009 Frequent Flyer Program Fleecing Award goes to Delta Airlines
Management is being reduced first. I believe we'll be notified by mid-August, but I could be remembering that incorrectly. But AS also plans to reduce capacity and there will definitely be a reduction..albeit more gradual.. in the operational workforce as well.
Sorry to hear Missy.
Thread has been keeping you busy but I'll be one to say that I am OK with the MP changes. It is not that big a deal. The AS50 change is basically closing a loophole. The other changes are in-line with the industry - oh well. My fellow MVPG's - it could be A LOT WORSE. Look at USAir's Dividend Miles change - no bonus miles! (That is something to get upset about). I'm still a fan of AS!
It would make more sense to just raise redemption levels on saver and peak awards. The addition of Choice awards justs adds another layer of complexity that cost more money to administer.
...most of those trips don't happen because they're going to earn me miles. They're trips that had to be taken for one reason or another. Its just a matter of how you approach it. I certainly don't see it as an entitlement which is why, I suppose, I just don't get the rage that seems to be here for some of the changes.
For those of you dumping MP and moving to Rapid Rewards, enjoy your free tickets to Kansas City, Tulsa, and Baltimore. I'll stick to Mileage Plus. It will take a little bit longer, but I'll wave as my flight to CDG, HKG or SYD passes the blue and brown bombers on the taxiway.
(1) True, but most of those trips would not be flown on AS if I hadn't expressed a preference. Corp generally prefers UA. So AS has directly benefited and that was a direct result of its (formerly) generous program and excellent service (hopefully the latter will remain).
(2) Actually I've used WN award tix to fly to Vegas (multiple times) Seattle (on 1-day notice) New Orleans and many other places where last minute tix would have been very expensive. But you obviously never fly domestic for non-biz trips. Wish I had that kind of coin (given the $ exchange rate )
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango
It would make more sense to just raise redemption levels on saver and peak awards. The addition of Choice awards justs adds another layer of complexity that cost more money to administer.
That's the whole idea - to confuse the customer so that they don't realize how badly they've just been ***.
Quote:
Originally Posted by soitgoes
I do wonder if this is some sort of indication about an AS/DL merger, what with the 3 award levels and the partner airline surcharge...
Overlooked that point. This whole thread is really much ado about nothing, as AS will be bought in the next year and the whole mileage program will be merged into something worse.
So in the future we will be paying a partner award fee of $25 for both online and phone line bookings of award tixs and the use of a CSR on the partner desk will have the telephone booking fee of $15?
A couple of months ago I booked award tickets to Palm Springs. I had to phone twice, as the return seats weren't available yet when I booked the outgoing portion. I was charged $15.00 for each call, so paid $30.00 for a round trip, instead of $15.00.
At first it seemed to me that that the mid-level would just be between 25K and 50K. But they're actually putting the mid-level at the old Peak level and upping Peak by quite a bit too this is a triple whammy.
1) Saver get's more expensive
2) Mid-Level costs what peak used to with less availability.
3) Peak is now 15K more RT than it used to be.
There is no way you can spin this, it's a 30% devaluation. Man, I have 2 account with 20K or so now.... and upset about this. Those of you with 500K+ must be fuming.
There is no way you can spin this, it's a 30% devaluation. Man, I have 2 account with 20K or so now.... and upset about this. Those of you with 500K+ must be fuming.
Personally, I'm not. I have just over 800K and my spouse has 400K. I'm not happy, but I'm not fuming, either. I fully understand the industry-wide reasons for this and think Alaska been more fair than other programs which have seen increases.
The underlying cost and the price of the product have gone up, in the case of the former, dramatically. Miles are a currency and the amount required to buy the product/service has been adjusted to reflect the higher price. It may not be a perfect adjustment, but it's hardly a devaluation. More currency is required to buy a higher priced product.
You might call that inflation, but not devaluation.
There is no way you can spin this, it's a 30% devaluation. Man, I have 2 account with 20K or so now.... and upset about this. Those of you with 500K+ must be fuming.
These changes definitely hit the occasional customer harder. But, does AS (or any other airlines) really want to spend a lot of money to retain the loyalty of the occasional customer?
I think most frequent or high value customers will say they can't spend their miles fast enough (or they could spend them if they had the time).
These changes definitely hit the occasional customer harder. But, does AS (or any other airlines) really want to spend a lot of money to retain the loyalty of the occasional customer?
I think most frequent or high value customers will say they can't spend their miles fast enough (or they could spend them if they had the time).
I prefer not to disclose my mileage in "inventory" but it is VERY significant.
At the end of the day, I agree that the modifications reflect the new "reality" of the industry, and indeed, relative to the "inflation" of fares, the elevated point levels do not necessarily constitute "devaluation."
However, the great "unknown" (and arguably the most significant factor) is going to be the availability (or perceived availabilty) of the "entry" level award.
If they become very problematic then I suggest there is cause for legitmate concern.
I'm one of those loyal AS customers that does everything I can to ensure that I'm riding AS metal whenever I fly and I've been very happy with AS/QX in the past and knew this change had to be coming. 20K RT on AS was quite the bargain.
Here's my question/comment: This is all fine and well, oil prices are through the roof. It's a fact of life...presently. Now if oil prices ever get back out of the range they've been in (and I know that's a very hypothetical IF since they may never), I'd just hope that they'd roll back to where things were before. I certainly understand the justification for these changes, but if things get back to pre-2006 oil price range, it would be a great gesture to make to AS's customers.
That's one reason I don't mind seeing a 'fuel surcharge' instead of an overall price increase on any number of consumer products and services we receive everyday. In the event that prices diminish, the vendor is pressured to make the surcharge go away. In the end, neither AS nor their customers wins with oil prices where they are.
Programs: AS MVPG, DL GM, UA 3P, PriorityClub Platinum, Marriott Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,673
Quote:
Originally Posted by nerdboytodd
I'm one of those loyal AS customers that does everything I can to ensure that I'm riding AS metal whenever I fly and I've been very happy with AS/QX in the past and knew this change had to be coming. 20K RT on AS was quite the bargain.
Here's my question/comment: This is all fine and well, oil prices are through the roof. It's a fact of life...presently. Now if oil prices ever get back out of the range they've been in (and I know that's a very hypothetical IF since they may never), I'd just hope that they'd roll back to where things were before. I certainly understand the justification for these changes, but if things get back to pre-2006 oil price range, it would be a great gesture to make to AS's customers.
That's one reason I don't mind seeing a 'fuel surcharge' instead of an overall price increase on any number of consumer products and services we receive everyday. In the event that prices diminish, the vendor is pressured to make the surcharge go away. In the end, neither AS nor their customers wins with oil prices where they are.
Great points.
My guess is that if oil goes down to $60/barrel, they will NOT roll back the price on award tickets.
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