Rate Gulf Air Falconflyer
May 11, 2012, 12:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 106
Rate Gulf Air Falconflyer
InsideFlyer magazine is reviewing Gulf Air Falconflyer in our July issue and would like your input.
If you would like to participate, please post your response in the thread with the pros and cons of membership in Falconflyer and grade the program from A to F (A being the highest grade). You can include a plus or minus with the rating.
Aspects of the program to consider: earning ability, award choices, partnerships, elite-level program, rules & conditions, service support, online services and the general plus and minus features of being a member of the program. Comments on any or all of these aspects are welcomed, but please be sure to grade the program overall from A to F.
You can also respond directly to the editors at InsideFlyer at [email protected] if you would prefer.
Thank you!
If you would like to participate, please post your response in the thread with the pros and cons of membership in Falconflyer and grade the program from A to F (A being the highest grade). You can include a plus or minus with the rating.
Aspects of the program to consider: earning ability, award choices, partnerships, elite-level program, rules & conditions, service support, online services and the general plus and minus features of being a member of the program. Comments on any or all of these aspects are welcomed, but please be sure to grade the program overall from A to F.
You can also respond directly to the editors at InsideFlyer at [email protected] if you would prefer.
Thank you!
May 11, 2012, 11:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
I have bounced from silver to gold the last 4 years in the program and use it because of ease of getting to Bahrain from where I am in KSA as well as their network out of Bahrain.
In terms of their FF program I have the following pros/cons
Pros
Lounge access as a silver member
Lounge access + 1 guest as a gold member
Ability to use the business/first check in que's as silver/gold
I have had several complimentary op ups based on my status
Cons
Their status is based on loyalty points awarding a higher amount of points for each segment based on fare class/cabin/ and zone from and to. Hard to accrue Gold if flying coach all the time.
No alliance thus you are limited to basically GF flights when redeeming (never booked a AA/BA codeshare, thus not sure they allow it).
Lousy earn rate of miles (no minimum earned for short hops), status only gives 25% silver bump and 50% bump for gold.
Status is only for a year from when you qualify, not Jan/Feb of following year as in US based programs.
No seating blocked for elites such as exit rows/bulkheads.
No upgrade instruments to earn or use and using miles for upgrades cannot be done online. Inventory for upgrades comes out of award space IME as well. I forget the minimum fare class they allow for upgrades.
The fuel surcharges/taxes on awards are high IME.
Their awards are based on segments thus anything but a non stop will cost you more miles/money.
No escorts or transport given from lounge to plane and from plane to immigration etc.
Overall I would give the program a D.
They have much competition in Emirates/Etihad/Qatar and the only reason I tolerate their crappy customer service and substandard service and planes is because of their network and schedule which gets me to where I want to go quickest and for the most part at a reasonable price.
My suggestions would be to instantly go to 50% silver and 100% gold RDM bonus. Also to give golds some type of upgrade instruments to use. I need a way to upgrade well in advance as that would push some more of my travel to them. If they could price awards based on origin/destination and not per segment that would also help.
In terms of their FF program I have the following pros/cons
Pros
Lounge access as a silver member
Lounge access + 1 guest as a gold member
Ability to use the business/first check in que's as silver/gold
I have had several complimentary op ups based on my status
Cons
Their status is based on loyalty points awarding a higher amount of points for each segment based on fare class/cabin/ and zone from and to. Hard to accrue Gold if flying coach all the time.
No alliance thus you are limited to basically GF flights when redeeming (never booked a AA/BA codeshare, thus not sure they allow it).
Lousy earn rate of miles (no minimum earned for short hops), status only gives 25% silver bump and 50% bump for gold.
Status is only for a year from when you qualify, not Jan/Feb of following year as in US based programs.
No seating blocked for elites such as exit rows/bulkheads.
No upgrade instruments to earn or use and using miles for upgrades cannot be done online. Inventory for upgrades comes out of award space IME as well. I forget the minimum fare class they allow for upgrades.
The fuel surcharges/taxes on awards are high IME.
Their awards are based on segments thus anything but a non stop will cost you more miles/money.
No escorts or transport given from lounge to plane and from plane to immigration etc.
Overall I would give the program a D.
They have much competition in Emirates/Etihad/Qatar and the only reason I tolerate their crappy customer service and substandard service and planes is because of their network and schedule which gets me to where I want to go quickest and for the most part at a reasonable price.
My suggestions would be to instantly go to 50% silver and 100% gold RDM bonus. Also to give golds some type of upgrade instruments to use. I need a way to upgrade well in advance as that would push some more of my travel to them. If they could price awards based on origin/destination and not per segment that would also help.
May 12, 2012, 11:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Kuwait
Programs: GF Black
Posts: 350
Pros
Lounge access as a silver member
Lounge access + 1 guest as a gold member
Very low miles figure for short-haul business class upgrade (only 3000 per segment)
Cons
Their status is based on loyalty points awarding a higher amount of points for each segment based on fare class/cabin/ and zone from and to. Hard to accrue Gold if flying coach all the time.
No alliance thus you are limited to basically GF flights when redeeming (never booked a AA/BA codeshare, thus not sure they allow it).
Lousy earn rate of miles (no minimum earned for short hops), status only gives 25% silver bump and 50% bump for gold.
No upgrade instruments to earn or use and using miles for upgrades cannot be done online. Inventory for upgrades comes out of award space IME as well. I forget the minimum fare class they allow for upgrades.
The fuel surcharges/taxes on awards are high IME.
Overall I would give the program a D.
Also to give golds some type of upgrade instruments to use. I need a way to upgrade well in advance as that would push some more of my travel to them. If they could price awards based on origin/destination and not per segment that would also help.
Lounge access as a silver member
Lounge access + 1 guest as a gold member
Very low miles figure for short-haul business class upgrade (only 3000 per segment)
Cons
Their status is based on loyalty points awarding a higher amount of points for each segment based on fare class/cabin/ and zone from and to. Hard to accrue Gold if flying coach all the time.
No alliance thus you are limited to basically GF flights when redeeming (never booked a AA/BA codeshare, thus not sure they allow it).
Lousy earn rate of miles (no minimum earned for short hops), status only gives 25% silver bump and 50% bump for gold.
No upgrade instruments to earn or use and using miles for upgrades cannot be done online. Inventory for upgrades comes out of award space IME as well. I forget the minimum fare class they allow for upgrades.
The fuel surcharges/taxes on awards are high IME.
Overall I would give the program a D.
Also to give golds some type of upgrade instruments to use. I need a way to upgrade well in advance as that would push some more of my travel to them. If they could price awards based on origin/destination and not per segment that would also help.
-Amenities when traveling on Falcon Gold
-Alliance with other airlines for miles redemption
-Ability to upgrade online and anywhere. Usually I can only upgrade at BAH and at their lounge, but for example I can't upgrade on the return leg from KWI.
-Priority luggage handling. No, really. We're only a few on business class and we are usually the last to get our luggage!!!
-Priority boarding. This is what truly pisses me off. One time I had to point it out to the boarding agent and he reached out for me and let me cut in line. This needs attention ASAP.
-Improvements to the meals in all GF classes. I've been seeing the same sandwiches (cheese/veggie/chicken) in short-haul economy for the last 5 years.
-Redemption of miles for award tickets is very awful. The selection of flights are too restrictive and are at the worst time schedules.
May 13, 2012, 7:00 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: SYD
Programs: QF Platinum (LTG), OW Emerald, Accor Platinum; Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 2,165
Gold For Life
Why do I need to requalify(take 2 paid flights anywhere in network per year) for 'Gold for Life' when its "for Life?"
Gulf Air have never been able to provide me with a logical response. I have raised this ad nauseum at all levels from FF, facebook, Gold Desk etc to no avail. They simply don't care. I have 'Lifetime Silver' with Qantas, for example, and I don't ever have to take another flight with them yet will still retain that status. Typically, GF would never respond to this example despite many airlines honouring 'Life time' status for life - unconditionally.
I would have scored them a B- but because of the above issue they get a C- from me.
Gulf Air have never been able to provide me with a logical response. I have raised this ad nauseum at all levels from FF, facebook, Gold Desk etc to no avail. They simply don't care. I have 'Lifetime Silver' with Qantas, for example, and I don't ever have to take another flight with them yet will still retain that status. Typically, GF would never respond to this example despite many airlines honouring 'Life time' status for life - unconditionally.
I would have scored them a B- but because of the above issue they get a C- from me.
Last edited by Cedar Jet; May 14, 2012 at 12:14 am
Jul 20, 2012, 3:38 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
Award availability is very tough to find at any saver level and then you have the huge fuel surcharges to pay. They did a recent promo to redeem with 50% off miles but it was very limited availabity and on some routes zero for an entire month. Oh well, I only fly them for non stops and ease to get there over flying out of DMM.
Aug 8, 2012, 5:36 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Vana-Antsla, Estonia
Programs: Free at last!
Posts: 387
In comparison, BD was A- and I never took one flight with them.
Aug 11, 2012, 4:44 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Kuwait
Programs: GF Black
Posts: 350
Award availability is very tough to find at any saver level and then you have the huge fuel surcharges to pay. They did a recent promo to redeem with 50% off miles but it was very limited availabity and on some routes zero for an entire month. Oh well, I only fly them for non stops and ease to get there over flying out of DMM.