Other European Frequent Flyer Programs - Cheap air fare without earning miles in rewards program.

We usually try to flight by one of the Star Alliance members due to its rewards program. Last time we did Rio-Madrid-Rio we had 3 options: TAM, TAP and Iberia. We readily dismissed Iberia for not scoring (both TAM and TAP are Star Alliance members).

So we choosen TAP (portuguese) over the more expensive TAM (brazilian) and when we arrived back we got surprised when TAP said us that by the class purchased it was not possible to earn points/miles.

As we were deliberately induced to purchase it due to the rewards program (and nothing was told about that "no miles ticket " before, except that microscopic words) we are planning to prosecute both companies in order to earn these miles. Is that fair?! What about the jurisprudence on that issue?

Thanks.

It's most likely listed very clearly on their website, as it is on all other websites. When you agree to be part of a ff program, you agree to abide by their terms and conditions.

I think prosecuting (indicating something criminal, not even civil) would be a quick way to be sued for attorney's fees when you lose.

Because you disagree with the way something works does not mean it is wrong.

"Microscopic" letters or not, I doubt that they will give you the miles if there was print anywhere.

I know it's frustrating, but it's their game and they write the rules. Sadly, you must have agreed to play by those rules when you joined the programme.

Most FFPs have shifted away from rewarding frequent flying to rewarding revenue contribution: meaning the cheapest fares get low points - or no points at all.

A letter to the airline explaining how disappointed you were that the trip earned no miles, just might get a goodwill sympathy contribution to your account. Threatening legal action will get you nowhere.

We usually try to flight by one of the Star Alliance members due to its rewards program. Last time we did Rio-Madrid-Rio we had 3 options: TAM, TAP and Iberia. We readily dismissed Iberia for not scoring (both TAM and TAP are Star Alliance members).

So we choosen TAP (portuguese) over the more expensive TAM (brazilian) and when we arrived back we got surprised when TAP said us that by the class purchased it was not possible to earn points/miles.

As we were deliberately induced to purchase it due to the rewards program (and nothing was told about that "no miles ticket " before, except that microscopic words) we are planning to prosecute both companies in order to earn these miles. Is that fair?! What about the jurisprudence on that issue?

Thanks.


Which airline were you attempting to earn miles on? Airlines typically post the rules for earning miles on each of their partners on their website. For example, United has the rules posted on their website regarding TAP: http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/marketing/custcomm/promotions/Pages/AirlinePartnerDetails.aspx?ItemId=319

I do not believe you have any recourse if the rules were readily available on their website.

Happened to me too a few years back, also with TAP. I had bought a cheap roundtrip BCN-LIS-BCN and credited the miles to my UA account. As it turned out, I received no miles. What really bothered me was both that there was no way to see the TAP booking code when buying the ticket and then the classes it booked in weren't listed at all on the UA MileagePlus page, either under Does Earn or Doesn't Earn.

the classes it booked in weren't listed at all on the UA MileagePlus page, either under Does Earn or Doesn't Earn.

How about "All other fare classes do not accrue mileage", which is shown the UA site? If you class isn't listed, it doesn't earn.

We usually try to flight by one of the Star Alliance members due to its rewards program. Last time we did Rio-Madrid-Rio we had 3 options: TAM, TAP and Iberia. We readily dismissed Iberia for not scoring (both TAM and TAP are Star Alliance members).

So we choosen TAP (portuguese) over the more expensive TAM (brazilian) and when we arrived back we got surprised when TAP said us that by the class purchased it was not possible to earn points/miles.

As we were deliberately induced to purchase it due to the rewards program (and nothing was told about that "no miles ticket " before, except that microscopic words) we are planning to prosecute both companies in order to earn these miles. Is that fair?! What about the jurisprudence on that issue?

Thanks.

Outside the United States, most low tier economy fares do not earn miles. Lufthansa is notorious for this...

How about "All other fare classes do not accrue mileage", which is shown the UA site? If you class isn't listed, it doesn't earn.

Like I said this was a couple years ago and I don't think it said anything like it. I wish I'd credited to US in retrospect, my brother did and he at least got 10% of flown miles.

Outside the United States, most low tier economy fares do not earn miles. Lufthansa is notorious for this...

To be fair every revenue fare on Lufthansa credits at at least 50% to M&M

To the OP: which Frequent Flyer program did you attempt to put the miles in?

My guess is that it was not TAP's own program. Airlines will tell you what mileage you would earn in their own program - but other programs operate on different rules, and you have to check the fare-earning classes and rates for the flights you are taking in your home program to determine whether they earn miles orn ot.

Outside the United States, most low tier economy fares do not earn miles. Lufthansa is notorious for this...

This is not true...most low tier economy fares will earn miles in SOME program - perhaps just not the US-based account you use.

Outside the United States, most low tier economy fares do not earn miles. Lufthansa is notorious for this...

Very sweeping statement. British Airways, for example, not only gives miles on cheap economy tickets, it gives full miles.

Thanks everybody for the helpful comments.

Whether or not it is in fine print or not, Small Claims Court actions rarely, if ever, have a representative from any large corporation attend...they count on you never following through on your threats...thus, they no-show, you win by default, and then you have the fun of executing your judgment.

Really not looking for fun and money... nor aiming to be the "king of the reasons"...

Just looking for some more experienced travelers' reports on that issue in order to know if it is a common claim or not, if it is fair or not, if there is any pre-existing jurisprudence or not about that and, fortunetely, I got it!

Unfortunetely, I've noticed that not all the posters are worried about friendship and kindness, as the "profet" above that advised me that "the fact of I disagree doesn't mean it is wrong" but...

... Anyway, I appreciated and I considered, in general, your comments very helpful... just, as a regular tripadvisor.com contributor, didn't expected to find an unfriendly behaviour here right on my first contact!

Many thaks, best regards!