Being dumped by the LH-maschine. Should status or paid fare decide the upgrade?
Oct 12, 2014, 8:21 am
#61
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
What I think LH group thinks they are doing with the status vs. paid fare is attempting to encourage a higher number of paid customers to actually pay higher fares. Will this happen? It is really difficult to imagine most rational customer groups saying "I will buy a B fare as I have a better chance of an operational upgrade" whereas it is quite rational to think of "I will choose to fly BA rather than LH as they treat their higher tier program customers better".
Oct 12, 2014, 10:46 am
#63
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: LH SEN, FB Plat., HH D.
Posts: 5,050
+2
Many do not even distinguish between Biz and First!
Many do not even distinguish between Biz and First!
Oct 12, 2014, 10:58 am
#64
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
But is that something for LH to worry about? If it works out that way take it up internally....
Oct 12, 2014, 12:27 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BSL/FRA or PHL
Programs: LH Miles and More, DL SkyMiles, Bonvoy, Hilton
Posts: 2,335
My wife is a classic case- she does not care what booking class means, her secretary books her tickets and only thing she knows is that if it is LH, it has to be C,D or J to upgrade with e-vouchers (the Z fares she gets are changeable/refundable, company policy is to go for cheapest flex ref fare). So there is a standing instruction to the secretary to book D or above. The difference between J and Z fare is a few hundred dollars as her company has a rock bottom negotiated fares with BA, LH and AF.
And she is not an infrequent traveller- 10+ years of LH and BA gold, AF plat for many years. Still knows only Biz/first/eco, nothing about fare rule/fare bucket etc.
And she is not an infrequent traveller- 10+ years of LH and BA gold, AF plat for many years. Still knows only Biz/first/eco, nothing about fare rule/fare bucket etc.
Oct 12, 2014, 3:10 pm
#66
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: Disgruntled HON**, Indifferent EK Gold, skeptical BA Silver
Posts: 1,734
If Holding wants to capture a rebate, they should go and negotiate a deal with other airlines.
In our (not uncommon) corporate scenario LH have three possibilities:
1) Incentive the buyer with perks (worked for me until recently)
2) Trust there is a strict procurement rule favoring LH (was killed because of lack of 1)
3) Have transparency on ticket prices and not operate with after the fact/year end rebates (might not happen with all companies, because these kickbacks are a nice way for a holdco to drain additional liquidity out of the opco and realize savings not being used by opco to fill budget gaps)
Oct 12, 2014, 4:23 pm
#67
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,257
So they help those who keep booking codeshares and other dumb stuff to select a seat? That is a great surrogate for the former inside tips to the system's flaws
.
Oct 12, 2014, 4:41 pm
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Point Place, Wisconsin
Programs: LH HON, BA Gold, EK Gold
Posts: 14,505
Oct 12, 2014, 5:14 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,257
But that's for SENs and SEN-- .
Plus the blocking does of course stay elusive but you can play around with a *G login yourself.
Oct 12, 2014, 5:23 pm
#70
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,257
This is exactly my point. Most people not paying for their own tickets are indeed ignorant, and that’s why these strategies work.
But yes OPMs are naturally a lot more tolerant with regard to price spikes and most of modern management and all of modern marketing is based on the formula that the customer is an ignorant fool who needs and deserved to be usurped.
Oct 12, 2014, 8:11 pm
#71
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: BAEC, M&L, Bonvoy
Posts: 1,339
Why should I? I am only looking at my P&L. With the preference on LH lifted I can look for the best street prize. All good for me.
If Holding wants to capture a rebate, they should go and negotiate a deal with other airlines.
In our (not uncommon) corporate scenario LH have three possibilities:
1) Incentive the buyer with perks (worked for me until recently)
2) Trust there is a strict procurement rule favoring LH (was killed because of lack of 1)
3) Have transparency on ticket prices and not operate with after the fact/year end rebates (might not happen with all companies, because these kickbacks are a nice way for a holdco to drain additional liquidity out of the opco and realize savings not being used by opco to fill budget gaps)
If Holding wants to capture a rebate, they should go and negotiate a deal with other airlines.
In our (not uncommon) corporate scenario LH have three possibilities:
1) Incentive the buyer with perks (worked for me until recently)
2) Trust there is a strict procurement rule favoring LH (was killed because of lack of 1)
3) Have transparency on ticket prices and not operate with after the fact/year end rebates (might not happen with all companies, because these kickbacks are a nice way for a holdco to drain additional liquidity out of the opco and realize savings not being used by opco to fill budget gaps)
Oct 12, 2014, 10:37 pm
#72
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,667
I could understand the argument that you don't realize that you are being screwed because your secretary is doing the rebooking, but that doesn't seem to be the case either.
HTB.
Last edited by htb; Oct 16, 2014 at 9:56 am Reason: you're --> your
Oct 16, 2014, 9:51 am
#73
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,257
Whichever angle you prefer, it always sound a lot nicer, more successful, and professional than simply stating "I could care less about my clients' expenses.." .
Oct 16, 2014, 12:16 pm
#74
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 361
However, I don't get the angle of "being screwed". We are in the same situation as another poster upthread: the price difference between Z-D-C-J in our corporate contract is quite small (e.g., <500 EUR on a TATL return between Z-J). Would I rather not pay these <500 EUR in case of a short-term rebooking and an empty C cabin? Of course. But as long as the price of the ticket is still OK vs. alternatives, figuring in our corporate rebate, why am I screwed?
Oct 16, 2014, 1:11 pm
#75
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,667
I've explained above why I consider LH's behavior to be fraudulent. In essence they sell you a fully flexible ticket (C, D) with no intention to ever let you change it free of charge (at short to medium short notice), even if the cabin is completely empty. That is intentional and hidden. Instead of consistently zeroing out C, D, Z, they could simply admit that the ticket is only flexible until xxx days before departure. Even less people would buy such tickets, however. So LH decides to go the sneaky route.
HTB.
