Gold-Flier Status Isn't What
It Used to Be as Perks Decline
THE MIDDLE SEAT
By SCOTT MCCARTNEY
My golden days are probably just about over.
Like many of you, my travel is down considerably this year. And as the end of the year approaches, it occurs to me that I likely won't re-qualify for elite status in the frequent-flier program of my local dominant hub carrier. That's OK -- gold status isn't what it used to be
More at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,the_middle_seat,00.html
GUWonder
Nov 13, 02, 3:36 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Centurion:
Wall Street Journal Nov 13, 2002
Gold-Flier Status Isn't What
It Used to Be as Perks Decline
THE MIDDLE SEAT
By SCOTT MCCARTNEY
My golden days are probably just about over.
Like many of you, my travel is down considerably this year. And as the end of the year approaches, it occurs to me that I likely won't re-qualify for elite status in the frequent-flier program of my local dominant hub carrier. That's OK -- gold status isn't what it used to be
More at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,the_middle_seat,00.html
</font>
It is only available to subscribers FWIW.
Centurion
Nov 13, 02, 3:40 am
sorry just trying to follow the suggested rules about posting news articles..
he just says the perks are not the same...less first class seats..harder to upgrade...fewer middle seats left empty if your in coach..you know the rest.
Warrenlm
Nov 13, 02, 4:15 am
Is the article about all elite levels or about Gold as a first tier (the give away level) or Gold as a mid tier?
Marathon Man
Nov 13, 02, 4:41 am
Centurion,
You could try to COPY/PASTE out the text of this WSJ (and any others you care to ever share with us all!) into here firectly, OR try something like the simple text editor on your PC or Mac, and then "clean it" up if its text-formatting gets messed up, and then paste it into here... If you tried to paste it first into something like MS Word, it might try to retain some of the article's own Web formats and boxes, etc. which would not be so easy to work with (and it becomes a huge doc file). So, if you do that, THEN save that file as TEXT ONLY to blow away all frames, and THEN copy/paste it once again into here. Sounds techie but it all works, and helps me a lot.
In fact this tip is something I've found useful in saving off or keeping my own more concise records on many things. AND it is priceless when trying to remember about some airline offer that flashed on the Web only to be taken down by the airline later on, but has no way to print! (I use screen shots to do this as well, and save or print those.)
Anyway, I just HAD to chime in once more before my short trip away for a little while and so thanks and have fun! (yes, even had one more chance to log on to this addicting miles site before heading to the Airport!)
I am GOLD on AA, but now... who knows!
See ya soon!
------------------
If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!
Rudi
Nov 13, 02, 5:31 am
in my opinion Centurion just followed correctly the official FlyerTalk tips/rules as posted in FAQ by not copying the whole article <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">What is your stand on the issue of posting news?
We understand that certain news is protected by copyright and would always suggest that any member posting news try to link to the original source of the information, give proper credit to the source of the information and/or give a brief recap of the news and provide the appropriate link. FlyerTalk has no commercial interest in any news posted on its Web site and would ask that members respect the origin of the news itself.</font>
blairvanhorn
Nov 13, 02, 6:34 am
Centurion and Rudi are right: not only is posting the entire article against the FlyerTalk guidelines, but it is also a breach of the WSJ Online's Terms of Use (http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/reprints-wsj-terms.html) for its subscribers:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Terms of Use
You may download, reformat and print a limited amount of WSJ.com content for your personal, non-commercial use. You may also include excerpts or limited portions of WSJ.com information in printed memos, reports and presentations. We only ask that you attribute this information to us by including "Used with permission from The Wall Street Journal, WSJ.com. Copyright 200__ Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved."
Any other reproduction of WSJ.com content requires permission from us, and some forms of reproduction will require you to pay a licensing fee. Please note: If the contents you request are the property of a third-party, we may not be able to grant permission.
* For information regarding hard copy reprints in bulk: Call Journal Reprints at 1-800-843-0008.
* To post articles on a Web site or distribute articles via e-mail: Visit Dow Jones WebReprintsm Service at http://www.djreprints.com or call 609-520-7214.
* In all cases, if permission is granted, stories must be reproduced in their entirety, unedited, and accompanied by the above-listed copyright statement and credit. Our Reference Services group will provide you with more specifics or you can receive information automatically by fax (1-800-888-9530).</font>
onedog
Nov 13, 02, 11:31 am
Decent article. Most of the commentary and observations made by WSJ are straight out of FT.
Hopefully (I doubt it though), the airlines will read and understand what the article has to say before they screw themselves even more.
juanvaldez
Nov 13, 02, 11:46 am
I read the article this morning and pretty much agree that elite status is losing its value.
I am a United Premier Exec and I might not even make basic Premier status this year, but oh well....
At least now I will seriously consider cheapies like jetBlue, or by using carriers such as AA and NW if I am flying into their hubs, versus making a connection in DEN or ORD by flying UAL.
It might make my life easier in the long run...
TravelManKen
Nov 20, 02, 9:54 am
The Wall Street Journal allows you to reproduce their articles in their unedited entirety as long as it is for personal, non-commercial purposes. Additionally you are allowed to e-mail an unlimited number of people the entire article as long as you are a subscriber. If you're citing your source and giving credit, I don't see the problem.
classy
Nov 20, 02, 3:42 pm
As a Platinum, I feel better about making only Silver for next year! But thinking of flying in Coach makes me a little sick to my stomach, especially on a redeye transcon in Feb. So there is less liesure flying being planned. Moreso, since I saw some of the fares for next year! Paying more for less! As stated above, the low fare airlines are looking better and better at this time.
rtpflyer
Nov 20, 02, 3:58 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TravelManKen:
The Wall Street Journal allows you to reproduce their articles in their unedited entirety as long as it is for personal, non-commercial purposes. Additionally you are allowed to e-mail an unlimited number of people the entire article as long as you are a subscriber. If you're citing your source and giving credit, I don't see the problem.</font>I'm not at all convinced that the WSJ would consider that adding the content of it's article to FlyerTalk (argueably part of a commercial web site) would be considered "personal use".
[This message has been edited by rtpflyer (edited 11-20-2002).]
Quokka
Nov 20, 02, 4:25 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TravelManKen:
If you're citing your source and giving credit, I don't see the problem.</font>
What you see or don't isn't relevant. Posting the article is contrary to both Flyertalk's guidelines and the WSJ Online's subscriber agreement:
c. You agree not to create abstracts from, scrape or display headlines from our content for use on another web site or service. You agree not to post any content from WSJ.com to newsgroups, mail lists or electronic bulletin boards, without our written consent.
Marathon Man
Nov 20, 02, 8:23 pm
based on tons of talk over whether or not to paste in the article, somebody kindly EMAIL IT to me? And anyone here who wants it. It's becoming a tease now. I now need to see it even if I know its summary.
I promise only to read it once, and then recycle the pages. I actually get the paper daily at work but must have missed that one.
LTLizard@Yahoo.com
thanks.
------------------
If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!
cesco.g
Nov 21, 02, 11:12 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by juanvaldez:
At least now I will seriously consider cheapies like jetBlue, or by using carriers such as AA and NW if I am flying into their hubs, versus making a connection in DEN or ORD by flying UAL.
</font>
Do the majors finally see the handwriting on the wall ??
toadman
Nov 21, 02, 4:57 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cesco.g:
Do the majors finally see the handwriting on the wall ??</font>
Yes. And it's written in lots of RED INK.
jwalkabout
Nov 21, 02, 7:37 pm
If the moderator cares to remove this then do so.
********************************************
FROM THE ARCHIVES: November 13, 2002
Gold-Flier Status Isn't What
It Used to Be as Perks Decline
My golden days are probably just about over.
Like many of you, my travel is down considerably this year. And as the end of the year approaches, it occurs to me that I likely won't re-qualify for elite status in the frequent- flier program of my local dominant hub carrier. That's OK -- gold status isn't what it used to be.
When I have flown on business this year, I've frequently ended up on an airline other than the one where I have gold status. Discount carriers have gotten more of my business; so has a rival hub carrier that has a preferred provider relationship with my company. Corporate travel policies are tightening these days, you know, and that's OK. When fellow employees are being laid off, who has the stomach to blow thousands of dollars just to avoid a connection?
In years past I have watched the point total closely and have even taken steps to ensure I get over the magical mileage or flight minimums for the lowest rung of the elite ladder. Many business travelers live on the same bubble each year -- the average business traveler takes 5.4 trips per year, according to InsideFlyer Magazine. I've had friends and colleagues who have devised cheap schemes to get either the miles or the segments they need. For some, it was worth spending $250 for a quick trip to California, or a couple of roundtrips to Kansas City.
Last year, realizing that many of their best customers wouldn't re-qualify because of the Sept. 11 shutdown of travel and its aftermath, airlines automatically extended elite-level program status, whether the customer topped the minimums or not. It was a goodwill gesture and a smart business move -- airlines badly needed those business customers, and badly needed them to remain loyal.
Many didn't remain loyal, however, and that's why I think this year will be different.
For many business travelers -- not the road warriors who have Super Titanium Plus status on multiple carriers, but the once-a-month, bread-and-butter business traveler -- there is something liberating about not being roped into one carrier. You can pick the cheapest fare or the silliest schedule you want and not worry about losing your gold card. You can avoid the carrier teetering on financial ruin or, if you like, support the carrier teetering on financial ruin.
What's more, what are us lowly gold folks really giving up? A lot less than in years past.
First-class upgrades? Airlines are removing first-class seats here and there, making upgrades harder to come by. Some are pushing automatic upgrades for full-fare tickets, regardless of frequent-flier status. Take away a few seats to full-fare passengers, give a couple more to the platinum and premier fliers, and best of luck to those of us on the low end of the elite ladder.
What about early boarding? I've always thought that was one of the better benefits of premium-level frequent-flier status, but at the moment, even that has diminished value. The crackdown on the number of carry-on bags, combined with the hassles of getting a bag through Checkpoint Charlie, have left a lot more space in overhead bins. Late-boarding passengers even on full flights seem to be able to find space.
Besides, airlines are doing a lot better with checked luggage. Through the first nine months of this year, there have been only 3.87 reports of mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers in domestic air travel. Two years ago, that number was 5.14 per 1,000 passengers. That improvement is the result of less-frenetic operations -- fewer flights have helped the system run better. And it's probably also the byproduct of security requirements to match bags to travelers onboard the plane.
The baggage balance may change come Dec. 31, by the way, when all checked bags have to be electronically scanned or otherwise checked for bombs. Since the machines to be used are both slow and inaccurate, gridlock may be looming ahead in baggage rooms, and carry-on bags may quickly be a lot more numerous.
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Other perks? Most airlines try to block the middle seat next to an elite-level frequent flier in the coach cabin, offering more personal space. That's great, except planes are actually running very full these days, what with flight schedules reduced and leisure fares quite low. When load factors are up, middle seats are filled.
Most airlines used to grant "waivers and favors" -- advance-purchase perks, generous upgrades, booking on over-booked flights, etc. -- to both big corporate clients, and premium-level fliers. But the word from headquarters at most carriers now is that there will be no "waivers and favors" for anyone. Period.
Again and again, carriers are pinching the very people they so badly need to please. The best example is the fare mess: Road warriors aren't paying full fare, so airlines made it harder to use cheap tickets, rather than making it easier to buy unrestricted tickets by cutting the price.
Full-service airlines stand to lose a large number of premium-level fliers at the end of the year when the re-qualifying period ends. Undoubtedly, they'll hope that customers will miss the perks and be more loyal with their travel spending next year in order to get back in the elite ranks. And maybe they will.
More likely, even though elite status isn't as good as it used to be, losing it will just add to airline alienation in its own little way for many business travelers.
Write to Scott McCartney at scott.mccartney@wsj.com2
URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1036677291532429188.djm,00.html