actually what I am concerned about is getting her a free ticket. with Asiana she needs around 85,000 miles for a free ticket to the US from Manila(r/t), compared to UA of 65,000 miles for a free ticket to the US from Manila(r/t)..actually we have been members of UA before, but because they dont service Manila anymore(they serve HK-LAX-LAS so we have to get a different carrier out of Manila for our connecting flight to the US), most times we take Asiana now(with the exception if the fares are really way expensive, then I choose whose cheaper then). Like for now, my ticket for economy under Kilo class for Asiana is 1600USD to Vegas(next week), kind of steep since when I based the fares out of US, they are only in the 900-1000 range, but out of Manila, it is quite different..
So correct me if I am wrong, since her being diamond last 2/08, she already banked 30T miles, starting from March '08 to present...by April 09 she would be reaching 40T miles(requalified already). Her diamond status expires 3/2011...Am I correct that they would be holding her diamond status till March of 2014 for Asiana as she already requalified under the old rules? That is what I planned for her, as I might be crediting her miles with UA after the 40T requalification, as she can get into the lounge after 2011 even with flying UA and have the extra baggage as well...
Thanks so much for the response.
Quote:
Originally Posted by A_Lee
In deciding to continue to bank her miles with OZ or another program you need to ask yourself what value would she get in a different program as opposed to OZ? If she already has *G, there's no need to get another *G with a different program. Will another program give her a better earn/burn ratio for her miles and is it significant enough to warrant adding another *A program or not? If she won't fly enough to earn Diamond+ then there's no clear benefit in continuing to bank her miles with OZ but if there's also no clear benefit in banking with a different program then she's probably best to just continue with OZ.
One more point to consider is that under the new rules status will be expire every two years at the end of each qualification/status period. For old members, their qualification start date under the new rules is Oct. 1, 2008, Oct. 1, 2010, etc. So for your mother the first period is Oct. 1, 2008 til Sep. 30 2010 and whatever status is earned during that period is good until Sep 30. 2012. But her Diamond status under the old rules expires in March 2011. So from March 2011 till Sept 2012 she won't have status unless she earns it in one of two ways, under the new rules - either now during her current qualifying period (fly a total of 40K miles), or early in her next qualifying period (Oct. 2010 till March 2011). If she can fly enough to make it under the second case then you can consider what to do with her miles from now till Sep. 30, 2010. If not, and if not losing her status is important to her, then bank at least 40K miles starting from Oct. 1 2008 so that her status will be continuous.
My quick personal recommendation, without knowing lots of details of your specific case - your mother travels roughly 35K per year based on what you've said. That's not much as far as frequent flyers are concerned. It's not a lot of miles to really worry about. If she can increase her flying up to 50K per year then she can get Diamond+ or possibly some real benefit in a different FFP.
I haven't really studied the old rules so cannot answer your question about requalification under the old rules.
Remember that as a Diamond member she'll get a 10% bonus when flying OZ flights. So if you're comparing 85K miles for an award using OZ miles vs. 65K for UA, by adding on the 10% bonus it becomes 77K for OZ, not 85K. That's assuming she continuously keeps her Diamond status and doesn't let it lapse.
Then there's the availability issue. I don't know have any first hand experience in either but have heard lots of complaints about UA MP members not being able to get the awards they want. Being UA no longer flies to Manila, as you pointed out, OZ is probably the most logical *A carrier to take, so most likely she'll have a much better chance of getting the award flights she wants as an OZ member rather than as a UA member.
Mileage expiration shouldn't be an issue for her with OZ's 5/7 year expiration and UA's no expiration with continued activity.
If she ever flies domestic in the US then OZ's *G card is more valuable than UA's *G because UA's *G card won't get you lounge access if not flying on an international itinerary.
What about earning miles by other means, such as a credit card? She's based in LAS I presume. OZ has a card that you can earn 2 miles per dollar charged to the card. Not sure about UA but most US based cards I think are only 1 mile per dollar. If she uses a credit card whenever possible and is able to charge a few hundred dollars a month that could add up to a sizeable difference over a two year period for the OZ card. Enough perhaps to make the mileage requirements almost equal. Of course that's assuming she can get and will use such a credit card.
Those are just some thoughts that come to mind off-hand. I don't really have any current experience with UA's MP so maybe someone else here will or if not maybe ask some questions on the UA forum for some advice.
anyhow I have not yet studied my moms case but I would do so in a few days.
I have a question though to the new lounge access given to new Gold members. as my status went back to Gold today since I havent flown out before(I took Asiana last night on board K class which has 100 percent mileage). I just want to know if Asiana would mail the lounge access coupons to my home address or is it automatically in the system that I can use those coupons when the Gold member shows his card. Do I need to request for those coupons to show for the lounge access then?
Also I am confused a bit with regards to my mileage. This are my details.
under the new rules old rules
starting from requalification date 10-1-08 (updated)
(MNL-LAX) 7,592 miles 92,000(upgraded back to gold)
+232 miles(LAX-LAS) 7,824 miles 92,232
+2000 miles(Canada trip) 9,824 94,232
(LAS-MNL)+7,824= 17,648 102,056 (diamond)
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does this mean when I reach 40,000 on my old rules, this would lead to requalification?
does that mean if I reach 40,000 miles in new rules, I dont need anymore to requalify on the old rules? Thaks for the answers...this is the part wherein I am confused..
Quote:
Originally Posted by A_Lee
I haven't really studied the old rules so cannot answer your question about requalification under the old rules.
Remember that as a Diamond member she'll get a 10% bonus when flying OZ flights. So if you're comparing 85K miles for an award using OZ miles vs. 65K for UA, by adding on the 10% bonus it becomes 77K for OZ, not 85K. That's assuming she continuously keeps her Diamond status and doesn't let it lapse.
Then there's the availability issue. I don't know have any first hand experience in either but have heard lots of complaints about UA MP members not being able to get the awards they want. Being UA no longer flies to Manila, as you pointed out, OZ is probably the most logical *A carrier to take, so most likely she'll have a much better chance of getting the award flights she wants as an OZ member rather than as a UA member.
Mileage expiration shouldn't be an issue for her with OZ's 5/7 year expiration and UA's no expiration with continued activity.
If she ever flies domestic in the US then OZ's *G card is more valuable than UA's *G because UA's *G card won't get you lounge access if not flying on an international itinerary.
What about earning miles by other means, such as a credit card? She's based in LAS I presume. OZ has a card that you can earn 2 miles per dollar charged to the card. Not sure about UA but most US based cards I think are only 1 mile per dollar. If she uses a credit card whenever possible and is able to charge a few hundred dollars a month that could add up to a sizeable difference over a two year period for the OZ card. Enough perhaps to make the mileage requirements almost equal. Of course that's assuming she can get and will use such a credit card.
Those are just some thoughts that come to mind off-hand. I don't really have any current experience with UA's MP so maybe someone else here will or if not maybe ask some questions on the UA forum for some advice.
I got my two lounge coupons via mail in my gold pack. You must present the actual coupon for lounge access. If you lose them, there's no replacement, so they are not stored electronically. In your case, I presume you soft landed to Gold from Diamond under the old rules? Whether you get the lounge coupons along with your gold card is anyone's guess. If you don't get them though, you may have a second chance to get them once you reach 20K under the new rules which would normally be the qualifying level for gold. If they don't give you the lounge coupons at either of those two points, you should ask about it, being it would be like they were giving you an inferior status because you were already a member as opposed to a new member qualifying for gold. Worth a try I'd say.
Once you hit 40K within the current qualifying period you should be diamond until November, 2012. So in your example when you hit 40,888 miles on your MNL-LAS trip you will be qualified for diamond under the new rules and don't need to concern yourself any more with the old rules. Basically during the transition period they'll award you status either under the old or the new rules, whichever is best for you.
Not just Asiana lounge only, but also only when flying on an Asiana flight and the lounge is their business lounge. However, if you happen to be already flying on OZ business class and so have access to the business lounge based on your board pass, some smooth talking may get you into the OZ F lounge with one of these coupons. Either that or it was my good looks (ha) that got me in.
I called Asiana Club just now and they told me that the coupons are stored already in the card. The problem sometimes with Asiana club(no offense) is that they are hard of speaking in English, that I have to repeat my queries several times. Thank you for the clarification that you need the actual coupons as I would be asking them for the actual coupons.
Actually I was Gold before, soft landed to Silver because of a problem before with Asiana that they had a 2 month strike in 2005 I think(I should have been diamond now but they didnt have a flight then)..I went back to Gold again just now and verified it with them. When I go back to Manila, I would be upgraded to diamond from the 100,000 rule from the old book.
Quote:
Originally Posted by A_Lee
I got my two lounge coupons via mail in my gold pack. You must present the actual coupon for lounge access. If you lose them, there's no replacement, so they are not stored electronically. In your case, I presume you soft landed to Gold from Diamond under the old rules? Whether you get the lounge coupons along with your gold card is anyone's guess. If you don't get them though, you may have a second chance to get them once you reach 20K under the new rules which would normally be the qualifying level for gold. If they don't give you the lounge coupons at either of those two points, you should ask about it, being it would be like they were giving you an inferior status because you were already a member as opposed to a new member qualifying for gold. Worth a try I'd say.
Once you hit 40K within the current qualifying period you should be diamond until November, 2012. So in your example when you hit 40,888 miles on your MNL-LAS trip you will be qualified for diamond under the new rules and don't need to concern yourself any more with the old rules. Basically during the transition period they'll award you status either under the old or the new rules, whichever is best for you.
Probably about a month. It took them that long to send out a replacement card too. But if you're in ICN anytime soon they can print you a card on the spot.
__________________
"About this time, they tell you you'll be landing shortly. Does that sound to you like we're gonna miss the runway?"
I spoke with Asiana club just a while ago and am clarifying the 2 business lounge coupons that they offer for gold card members. They told me that its already in my card, and that I would just inform the agent upon check in if I want to use the lounge access then(no more gift certificates). But surprisingly, Gold card members can only use the US Lounge(huh???) operated by Asiana airlines, as I spoke with Sarah from Asiana club and she told me that Gold members are not allowed to use the business lounge in Incheon(their home city), only in the US...in the website it didnt say it is exclusively for use for lounges "operated in the US"....it says there 2 business club lounges operated by Asiana airlines(whereever Asiana has a lounge)...am I correct on this?
I spoke with Asiana club just a while ago and am clarifying the 2 business lounge coupons that they offer for gold card members. They told me that its already in my card, and that I would just inform the agent upon check in if I want to use the lounge access then(no more gift certificates). But surprisingly, Gold card members can only use the US Lounge(huh???) operated by Asiana airlines, as I spoke with Sarah from Asiana club and she told me that Gold members are not allowed to use the business lounge in Incheon(their home city), only in the US...in the website it didnt say it is exclusively for use for lounges "operated in the US"....it says there 2 business club lounges operated by Asiana airlines(whereever Asiana has a lounge)...am I correct on this?
That's very strange. When I tried to use one to get into the F lounge at ICN (I already was flying C and had access to the C lounge) I was told that I could use it only for the C lounge and she motioned to the lounge next door, and only if I was flying on OZ. I wasn't flying OZ that day and being I already had access to that lounge based on my C boarding pass I put my coupon away and went into the C lounge. So the OZ lounge dragons definitely thought it was usable at the C lounge at ICN.
The only thing I can think of as to why OZ is telling you that you can't use the coupon in ICN is because I assume you're just in transit at ICN and maybe for some strange reason they have to process your lounge access at the check-in counter and not at the lounge (being you don't have the coupon but rather it's stored in your card). If that's the case and if you are able to exit through immigration at ICN, just do that and then go to the check-in counter and explain that you'd like to use the lounge. There's also an Asiana Club counter landside at ICN which might be of some help in your case. If you can't exit immigration, then I'd check with the OZ transfer counter which is located on the 4th floor, just as you go up the escalators nearby the OZ lounges.
I qualified for Gold several months ago soon after the new rules went into effect and at that time they gave me the physical coupons. I guess they must have changed it since then and now just store them electronically on your card.
Well done!
