America West FlightFund (Pre-2005 US Airways merger) - Gold status on eBay. How?

How can gold status be sold?

America West GoldElite Membership exp: 02/06 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1310&item=6535049595&rd=1)

That's pretty shady. I'm sure it can't be transferred.

This has been discussed thoroughly in the CO or NW forums. Basically sounds like a corporate TA that gets a certain number of elite memberships and is selling them on eBay. Seems to have a good rating so far. I wouldn't buy them myselves, as if the airline finds out they may revoke the membership.

How can gold status be sold?

America West GoldElite Membership exp: 02/06 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1310&item=6535049595&rd=1)

I've reported these twice to America West. It aggravates me when this type of shenanigans happens, all of us who actually have our rear ends in the seats and earn it the old fashioned way get screwed by these characters.

Both times I've gotten a generic reply saying it'll be forwarded to corporate investigations.

Looks like she/he also sold a Premier Executive membership to United... that for $660 and America West at $330... alot of money... I am sure this is quite against the rules.. even if they are "selling a ticket jacket with a gift of the the membership..."

Looks like she/he also sold a Premier Executive membership to United... that for $660 and America West at $330... alot of money... I am sure this is quite against the rules.. even if they are "selling a ticket jacket with a gift of the the membership..."

This is the second time I've reported this joker to HP's offices. Perhaps we'd have a better shot at eliminating this if we reported it to UA in addition?

This is rediculous. :td:

If I was her employer I'd be a bit angry - one could look at it as theft from the company and all.

Edited to add: I noted multiple sales of US mid tier status also. Have reported to them as well.

I was going to report that auction to HP as well, but I don't think they'll do anything immediate.

I was going to report that auction to HP as well, but I don't think they'll do anything immediate.

If you could that would be great. That would make it harder for them to ignore.

Obviously my first reports to them didn't do much to keep it continuing.

I'm sure if it involved DL status they'd be all over it, what with their stories I've heard about their much maligned Revenue Protection Unit.

Mr. AgtMulder,

Thank you for your email and for alerting us to your discovery on ebay. We have many checks in place that would prohibit someone from using an account belonging to another member. Should a person purchase a Gold status, they would find that they had just thrown their money away.

Jean ******
Dividend Miles Supervisor


I don't think she understood. I explained in the e-mail that due to the fact that the person had sold status at least twice to US customers and gotten positive feedback from both that it was probably a rogue corporate travel agent or somebody giving unneeded status comps out.

Oh well, I'm glad I won't have to fly US anytime soon. :rolleyes:

I don't think she understood. I explained in the e-mail that due to the fact that the person had sold status at least twice to US customers and gotten positive feedback from both that it was probably a rogue corporate travel agent or somebody giving unneeded status comps out.

Oh well, I'm glad I won't have to fly US anytime soon. :rolleyes:



Guess you won't be flying UNITED either since this same travel agent is now selling a UNITED Premier Executive membership. Oh wait?! You're already a UA PE member. Better write/email UNITED too. This just devalues your membership there doesn't it?!


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1310&item=6536858273&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Guess you won't be flying UNITED either since this same travel agent is now selling a UNITED Premier Executive membership. Oh wait?! You're already a UA PE member. Better write/email UNITED too. This just devalues your membership there doesn't it?!


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1310&item=6536858273&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Yes, it does.

Also, my commentary re: not flying US was in a joking manner due to the pending merger.

I reported this person to FlightFund last week and rec'd the following reply today:

Dear royiv,

Thank you for the information, it has been forwarded to our Internal
Investgations department for review.
Do you happen to have the sellers name, or how they process the offer
once the bid has been accepted?


Sincerely,
********
FlightFund Representative
America West Airlines

I reported this person to FlightFund last week and rec'd the following reply today:

Dear royiv,

Thank you for the information, it has been forwarded to our Internal
Investgations department for review.
Do you happen to have the sellers name, or how they process the offer
once the bid has been accepted?


Sincerely,
********
FlightFund Representative
America West Airlines


Interesting. I got a similar e-mail w/o the 2nd sentence. I wonder if they could get the seller's info via the request info function on e-bay -- same as any other user. Although, I'm sure their web access at the customer service letter response center is probably limited or fire-walled.

I believe that it should be reported to eBay.

Dear royiv,
.
.

Do you happen to have the sellers name, or how they process the offer
once the bid has been accepted?
.
.
.


You mean to tell me that HP doesn't know how they're doing this? :eek:

Guess you won't be flying UNITED either since this same travel agent is now selling a UNITED Premier Executive membership. Oh wait?! You're already a UA PE member. Better write/email UNITED too. This just devalues your membership there doesn't it?!


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1310&item=6536858273&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Actually - not really. The Mid-tier memberships are given out with corporate contracts - large ones. The PE status and the like are supposed to be given out to executives. Selling them is wrong but it hurts the company most of all, the airline second and the rest of us third as the membership would end up in someone's hands anyways.

You mean to tell me that HP doesn't know how they're doing this? :eek:

Yeah, that struck me as a little strange. You would think they could figure out how their own comp status upgrades work and how to track someone down on eBay. For grins, I actually replied and gave them a remedial lesson in eBay. And as another poster suggested, I did report the seller directly to eBay last week.

Winning bid: US $355.00



They chose to hide the bidders identities...... Im sure EBAY has access to them but I bet they wont care. They got a healthy commission from the seller....