Will DC Follow This Eliminating Award Fuel Charge Precedent??
Dec 5, 2009, 6:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Cleveland
Programs: AF/KLM Plat For Life/UA Million Miler-PremEx For Life/SPG Gold
Posts: 5,054
Will DC Follow This Eliminating Award Fuel Charge Precedent??
http://www.flysas.com/en/EuroBonus/N...arge/?vst=true
Its time to return some sanity into award travel economics
Its time to return some sanity into award travel economics
Dec 5, 2009, 7:14 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,682
Note! Some of our airline partners impose fuel surcharge on award flights and it will be collected at time of ticketing.
you mean, will DC remove fuel surcharges from BMI flights?
or are you hoping/dreaming/fantasizing of something more?
you mean, will DC remove fuel surcharges from BMI flights?
or are you hoping/dreaming/fantasizing of something more?
Dec 6, 2009, 3:28 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HKG
Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Titanium Lifetime), BA Gold, Ex-Hertz 5* PC, Ex-HH Diamond, Ex-BD*G
Posts: 3,062
They already don't charge a surcharge on British flights.... I suspect no more than that is going to be expected though, too profitable to leave the charges on there.
Dec 6, 2009, 3:33 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London, England
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 3,772
At best they would remove the YQ from their own operated flights to DC members which is what SK have done with their flights to EB members. If they did there wouldn't be a great deal of benefit to most of us here. After all there is already no YQ on European routes, so it would only really help those flying on redemptions to places like DME, JED, CAI etc. I think the majority here redeem on *A partners and there is no chance BD would absorb YQ charges on other carriers (not any more!)
Dec 6, 2009, 4:58 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: RBKC
Programs: MUCCI Diamante- that's all that matters
Posts: 546
But I wonder, if they would remove YQ charges, then perhaps we would be more incentivised to book award travel. Therefore we would be increasing our travel, shopping just so we get more BMI points, which is still a big revenue to BMI. Didn't AA raise 1 billion buy selling points to Citi, recently? If we're not spending, Citi is not going to buy points either.
I am sitting on loads of BMI points, but not much interested in spending them. And not interested in gaining any more either. But if YQ would be dropped, I'd be rushing to book more flights, shop more, etc.
Similar psychology games as BOGOF. We don't necessarily need 96 tablets of dishwasher tablets, but we'd probably buy it, just because its BOGOF.
I am sitting on loads of BMI points, but not much interested in spending them. And not interested in gaining any more either. But if YQ would be dropped, I'd be rushing to book more flights, shop more, etc.
Similar psychology games as BOGOF. We don't necessarily need 96 tablets of dishwasher tablets, but we'd probably buy it, just because its BOGOF.
Dec 6, 2009, 5:11 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,021
I can't see BD removing YQ from partner tickets unless SK specifically waive the costs to BD. At the moment they are only willing to waive these costs to their own members. BD covering the cost of SK's YQ would be commercial suicide.
Dec 6, 2009, 9:03 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PMI
Programs: BA,LH,CX,EK SPG,IC mainly and a few others
Posts: 1,862
I doubt CO will be booking losses on redemption by absorbing YQ- I think it is more like BD making a profit which it does not want to give up.
Last edited by LonLH; Dec 6, 2009 at 9:08 am
Dec 6, 2009, 10:08 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,021
Dec 6, 2009, 1:04 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PMI
Programs: BA,LH,CX,EK SPG,IC mainly and a few others
Posts: 1,862
Dec 6, 2009, 1:36 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,021
That said, it costs a lot more miles on CO to redeem, hence I'd rather put up with a bit of YQ as the cost of earning / buying the miles is a lot higher.
Last edited by RAPC; Dec 6, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Dec 7, 2009, 1:47 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PMI
Programs: BA,LH,CX,EK SPG,IC mainly and a few others
Posts: 1,862
For example, an F redemption to South East Asia from Europe cost 200K miles with BD. It is only 160K with CO.
To south Asia, 125K with BD, 120 K with CO.
To Middle East, 100K with BD, 80K with CO.
I have a lot of CO miles to burn from their SkyTeam days when as a plat I used to get 2x miles on their transatlantic bizz fares (plus 1.25 Plat bonus)- now it does not make any sense to earn one pass miles. That said, redemptions are cheaper and taxes usually lower (and never higher).
Dec 7, 2009, 2:22 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,021
Very true, but the main reason why many of us use DC is for C&M.
All good valid comparisons you make though. I notice you didn't add Europe to North or South America in there. That is very much in favour of Diamond Club even at full miles.
That said, using both programs for what suits best is key.
All good valid comparisons you make though. I notice you didn't add Europe to North or South America in there. That is very much in favour of Diamond Club even at full miles.
That said, using both programs for what suits best is key.