Attention: US to eliminate Preferred Mileage Bonus! (Merged thread for this topic)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA 1K, *G, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 185
Attention: US to eliminate Preferred Mileage Bonus! (Merged thread for this topic)
The title says it all. I just received an email informing me of the change.
http://usairways.com/awa/Content/FAQ...edmileage.aspx
http://usairways.com/awa/Content/FAQ...edmileage.aspx
#2
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Washington, DC (DCA)
Programs: UA, AA, AS, SPG.
Posts: 3,463
Even with all the cut backs that is truly shocking
#3
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: CLT
Programs: FT Member #8119 F & J Free Agent
Posts: 6,550
The title says it all. I just received an email informing me of the change.
http://usairways.com/awa/Content/FAQ...edmileage.aspx
http://usairways.com/awa/Content/FAQ...edmileage.aspx
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,012
"Now that Preferred bonus miles are being eliminated, what are the key benefits of the Preferred program?
Dividend Miles Preferred benefits make your traveling experience as convenient and enjoyable as possible. They include:
* The richest upgrade program in the industry
* Access to Choice Seats and the ability to confirm standby travel
* Priority check-in/security lines/boarding/standby
* First & second checked bag fee exemptions
While these benefits also represent a significant cost to US Airways, most members tell us that they place greater value on them than on bonus miles."
Seems to me all of these benefits are available at all levels. Looks like moving from 10 years as CP down to Silver was the right move.
btw, how many of you received the "what's more important, bonus miles or other benefits" suvey? Aparently 50% of the total FF membership not only was surveyed, but responded that bonus miles were least important. I must have missed it.
If you're still shocked by anything US does, you haven't been paying close enough attention.
Dividend Miles Preferred benefits make your traveling experience as convenient and enjoyable as possible. They include:
* The richest upgrade program in the industry
* Access to Choice Seats and the ability to confirm standby travel
* Priority check-in/security lines/boarding/standby
* First & second checked bag fee exemptions
While these benefits also represent a significant cost to US Airways, most members tell us that they place greater value on them than on bonus miles."
Seems to me all of these benefits are available at all levels. Looks like moving from 10 years as CP down to Silver was the right move.
btw, how many of you received the "what's more important, bonus miles or other benefits" suvey? Aparently 50% of the total FF membership not only was surveyed, but responded that bonus miles were least important. I must have missed it.
If you're still shocked by anything US does, you haven't been paying close enough attention.
Last edited by CPRich; Jun 12, 2008 at 7:20 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Liverpool, England
Posts: 1,080
A surprise?
With oil expected to hit $150 a barrel soon, I'd watch the other US carriers because this will hit them all. They will continue to cut and cut until they are forced to merge to remain profitable. I'm sure UA, DL etc will follow. There are too many competing carriers in the US domestic market - surely it can't continue in this economic climate?
Just my thoughts.
Just my thoughts.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Programs: CO/DL:Gold, UA:PremExec; Marriott:Gold, Hilton:Silver
Posts: 312
warbo,
I respect your insight and opinion, but I truly hope you're wrong.
I respect your insight and opinion, but I truly hope you're wrong.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The Right Creek, AZ
Programs: UA Silver, AA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 593
Wow. And just more wow.
On the plus side, maybe now as Elites, we can get our upgrades more regularly, since there will be less DM award tickets issued... lol
WN is looking prettier as we go...
On the plus side, maybe now as Elites, we can get our upgrades more regularly, since there will be less DM award tickets issued... lol
WN is looking prettier as we go...
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
With oil expected to hit $150 a barrel soon, I'd watch the other US carriers because this will hit them all. They will continue to cut and cut until they are forced to merge to remain profitable. I'm sure UA, DL etc will follow. There are too many competing carriers in the US domestic market - surely it can't continue in this economic climate?
Just my thoughts.
Just my thoughts.
In Europe - there are different types of airlines which charge different types of fares and provide different service levels and even fly into different airports. Why no CEO in the US Airline industry has thought if this is grounds to be removed by the Board of Directors IMHO.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 6
I have been chairman for 4 years now
after August, I will stop flying US Airways if they continue to end the bonus program
what's worse is the implication that if/when they merge with united, they will do the same thing!
what's worse is the implication that if/when they merge with united, they will do the same thing!
#11
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix AZ
Programs: US UA AA DL CO
Posts: 326
maybe I'm confused, but...
How does eliminating the mileage bonus bring MORE revenue into USAirways bank account? I would think the IMMEDIATE effect would be to iritate it's most loyal customers. The benefit the airline would receive would be less free tickets, but they do that anyway by capacity controlled seats.
#12
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Seattle area
Programs: Peasant at large
Posts: 595
How does eliminating the mileage bonus bring MORE revenue into USAirways bank account? I would think the IMMEDIATE effect would be to iritate it's most loyal customers. The benefit the airline would receive would be less free tickets, but they do that anyway by capacity controlled seats.
The long term effect (like most outsourcing project) is very likely to be negative but in the short term, the management team can pat themselves on the back with fat bonuses because on paper, it looks like the trimmed a chunk of their liabilities.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ZRH
Posts: 659
You can thank MBAs and CPAs for that. Like most outsourcing projects, this will look good on paper.
The long term effect (like most outsourcing project) is very likely to be negative but in the short term, the management team can pat themselves on the back with fat bonuses because on paper, it looks like the trimmed a chunk of their liabilities.
The long term effect (like most outsourcing project) is very likely to be negative but in the short term, the management team can pat themselves on the back with fat bonuses because on paper, it looks like the trimmed a chunk of their liabilities.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Doylestown, PA, USA
Programs: UA Platinum Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 549
I would have thought the preferred solution would have been to double the number of miles needed for redemption---
This would still protect your FF'rs
I think miles, in the current price climate, are overvalued... A 50,000 mile RT TA is a tremendous value in the age of $140 oil and $1500 TA trips.
And you can get that with a credit card and very minimal effort. In other words, just because the price of oil is up, the "acquisition bonus" for a credit card (1/2 a RT TA ticket) has gone from maybe $800/2 = $400 to more like $1400/2 = $700...... $700 to sign up for a Credit Card-- hell that's baseball card signing money, it's so silly! Line 'em up!
Cutting the bonus will just make people fly other airlines-- and to some extent will make people try to redeem other Star A miles on US, no??
Also, I can't see other airlines matching the no bonus move.
They would have matched a devaluation, in my opinion....
ytjk
This would still protect your FF'rs
I think miles, in the current price climate, are overvalued... A 50,000 mile RT TA is a tremendous value in the age of $140 oil and $1500 TA trips.
And you can get that with a credit card and very minimal effort. In other words, just because the price of oil is up, the "acquisition bonus" for a credit card (1/2 a RT TA ticket) has gone from maybe $800/2 = $400 to more like $1400/2 = $700...... $700 to sign up for a Credit Card-- hell that's baseball card signing money, it's so silly! Line 'em up!
Cutting the bonus will just make people fly other airlines-- and to some extent will make people try to redeem other Star A miles on US, no??
Also, I can't see other airlines matching the no bonus move.
They would have matched a devaluation, in my opinion....
ytjk
#15
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The Right Creek, AZ
Programs: UA Silver, AA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 593
How does eliminating the mileage bonus bring MORE revenue into USAirways bank account? I would think the IMMEDIATE effect would be to iritate it's most loyal customers. The benefit the airline would receive would be less free tickets, but they do that anyway by capacity controlled seats.