Programs: AA Platinum, UA 1K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Silver
Posts: 281
I think on of the worst awards is the KLM Award using Alaska miles. One round trip within Europe is 50,000 miles in coach or 140,000 miles in business class. Business class is coach with a curtain seperating you.
140k get my vote.
[This message has been edited by LA2CDG (edited 11-10-2002).]
I understand as of a few weeks ago the following is no longer the case, but anything with Thai using United miles was a rip-off. The U.S.-Bangkok award on Thai for coach/biz/first was 85,000, 125,000 and 170,000 miles respectively! This compares to 60,000, 90,000, and 120,000 miles using United.
When the United/Thai partnership was first announced a few years ago, I tried to get a United rep to explain what more I was getting by using Thai for the ticket ("are they a better airline than United?"), and they were at a loss for words. Last year I asked again and they just laughed and said almost no-one cashes in United miles for Thai awards.
Now I hear United has "streamlined" its partner awards so that all partners charge the same price. 'Bout time.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LA2CDG: I think on of the worst awards is the KLM Award using Alaska miles. One round trip within Europe is 50,000 miles in coach or 140,000 miles in business class. Business class is coach with a curtain seperating you.
140k get my vote.
[This message has been edited by LA2CDG (edited 11-10-2002).]</font>
I completely agree. When I saw this thread, this was the award that came to mind as the biggest rip off.
I can spend 140k AS Miles for an Intra-Europe Business Class trip on KLM. Or I can spend 140k AS Miles for a North America to India/South Africa Business Class trip on KLM.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LA2CDG: I think on of the worst awards is the KLM Award using Alaska miles. One round trip within Europe is 50,000 miles in coach or 140,000 miles in business class. Business class is coach with a curtain seperating you.
140k get my vote.
</font>
Yep .. pretty bad .. that beats my candidate.
Thanks,
-David
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poster child for not choosing a location-based FT name
I also am a OnePass basher. Get 70K miles for 2 RT tix CLE-HNL for 2/03 & called 78 times in 20 days & no CSR would take the booking. Some told me 60K per ticket, I tell them they advertise 35K. 330 days before the flight & they refuse to cook.
So I phone Corporate in Houston & get assistance & complaint filed with my list of dates, time & names Italked to. He then took my 70K booking flying CLE-Houston-HNL (then I got Aloha to OGG at their cost, as an apology. I fly home NWA OGG-DTW-CLE with Aloha getting us to HNL to meet the plane at their cost. Helps to ***** to corporate!
All 5K increments of miles are now going to HH foor 10K points. No more CO Onepass crap!
And we are their hub airline, noit good promotion from CLE.
while many FF programs and awards have their rules, etc, ing for me has been paper vouchers. UAL and AA love to give them. Oh sure, we begin by thinking that yeah, they have tried to make us happy with XYZ, but these things stink!
1) you cannot redeem a voucher on the internet unless it is an E-coupon of sorts and so far I think only NWA has these avail. If anyone else does, lemme know!
2) you have to usually go to an airline desk or airport which is not always easy (and stand in line) to redeem a paper voucher and pay the rest of whatever you are trying to do.
3)since you cannot use a paper voucher online, that means NO ORBITS or expedia or travelocity or airline's own site, which means no bonus points for booking online and getting the online only rates!
4) vouchers have more rules as to when and who can use them and other restrictions than anything!
they expire! BUT I have researched wasy to make them go on longer and it too is a hassle--more than the supposed "appeaser" would have been worth!
SOOOOO if someone tries to giv e you a voucher IT IS NOT WORTH IT!
Try to get them to give you money or miles instead!!
When you write a complaint letter, be sure to say something like this in the letter (it has worked for me):
"If you plan to compensate by mailing any coupons or vouchers, please know that I thank you for this gesture but since I do a lot of online bookings, I know I cannot use these. I prefer to fly with you again should our current issue be resolved but cannot do so with paper vouchers that cannot serve any real purpose to anyone. If you do wish to help me by compensating and monetary runds are not going to occur, then kindly consider awarding me miles instead. If miles sell for roughly $25 per thousand, then perhaphs crediting my FF acct with XXX miles will help us both. "
You can do with this as you wish. I got 10k once for saying that and have since used em!
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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!
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UP IN THE AIR had good mile & status nuances in it that we all completely understand. I feel validated somehow, don't you?
Programs: One Pass Plat, HH Gold, PC Plat Elite-RA, AR Plat
Posts: 88
Quote:
Originally Posted by cesco.g
Granted, almost 100% complementary upgrades are nice, as many top levels get on other airlines too. But, what does this all good, if you have such a hard time, cashing them in? I am especially referring to intercontinental flights; numerous stories abound here on FT.
Back when CO stepped into UAs position at ZRH/Switzerland I strongly considered to switch. Looking back, I am glad I did not.
I find that it is only really plausable to redeem miles for parties of 2 or more on routes that are brand new and likely empty. I have had success booking myself and 5 family members this way on saver awards
Programs: AC*A, former long running AC*SE and soon E;SPG Platinum;Marriott Silver;Hilton Silver;Hertz PC
Posts: 9,037
Quote:
Originally Posted by vietbet
I find that it is only really plausable to redeem miles for parties of 2 or more on routes that are brand new and likely empty. I have had success booking myself and 5 family members this way on saver awards
Why are you responding to a post that started was made in 2002?! Heck, the entire thread ended in 2002.
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Back to E soon.
Kuujjuarapik Esquimalt
Why are you responding to a post that started was made in 2002?! Heck, the entire thread ended in 2002.
I was thinking the exact same thing when I saw the post immediately after it was posted, but didn't bother mentioning it - why would someone pull up a more than 6 year old thread??
