No longer possible to ws as gold on certain dat (limited/no inventory on redemptions)
May 26, 2015, 1:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ *G, BA Gold, Bonvoy Ambassador Elite LFT Titanium , Hyatt Discoverist, ALL Diamond
Posts: 666
No longer possible to ws as gold on certain dat (limited/no inventory on redemptions)
I tried to redeem my TG 50% upgrade for this year and was surprised that almost a year in advance, I was not able to book my ticket. The fare class was showing full (2 of 4 flights) 330 days out.
My previous experience had been that we would be put on the ws and a chaser would be sent to BKK. I have over the past 10 years, always cleared the waitlist, usually after no more than a day wait. On this occasion, my local office told me that the ws was full and that they could not even put me on nor send a chaser to BKK.
My impression is that TG is no longer providing blanket availability for redemption. From a commercial stand point, this is probably only sensible and most other airlines do have mechanisms to ensure their revenue is protected (BA, NH have peak/non peak award, others do not release inventory on certain dates).
I was clearing up my ROP account on the basis of the outrageous fees on redemption (they want 998$ taxes for a return SIN-CDG in Biz) and the fact that using the UPG cost me only slightly less than buying an outright ticket on competitor airlines. Combined this with the very high burn rate, it seems TG is intending to make its program less attractive for its members.
This is only 1 data point and certainly not a distribution. So try for yourself. Looks like redeeming on TG is getting harder.
My previous experience had been that we would be put on the ws and a chaser would be sent to BKK. I have over the past 10 years, always cleared the waitlist, usually after no more than a day wait. On this occasion, my local office told me that the ws was full and that they could not even put me on nor send a chaser to BKK.
My impression is that TG is no longer providing blanket availability for redemption. From a commercial stand point, this is probably only sensible and most other airlines do have mechanisms to ensure their revenue is protected (BA, NH have peak/non peak award, others do not release inventory on certain dates).
I was clearing up my ROP account on the basis of the outrageous fees on redemption (they want 998$ taxes for a return SIN-CDG in Biz) and the fact that using the UPG cost me only slightly less than buying an outright ticket on competitor airlines. Combined this with the very high burn rate, it seems TG is intending to make its program less attractive for its members.
This is only 1 data point and certainly not a distribution. So try for yourself. Looks like redeeming on TG is getting harder.
May 26, 2015, 6:29 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BKK
Programs: TG ROP Platinum, M&M Senator, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 8,331
your observation is correct and tally with my experience. In a recent case I called TG and got what I want. So there flexibility and the positive surprises are still there!
May 26, 2015, 6:31 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ *G, BA Gold, Bonvoy Ambassador Elite LFT Titanium , Hyatt Discoverist, ALL Diamond
Posts: 666
Ah but BinSabai, one would need to be ROP Platinum to enjoy the flexibility. As a mere gold I feel... unloved.
May 26, 2015, 7:29 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BKK
Programs: TG ROP Platinum, M&M Senator, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 8,331
I sometimes wonder whether I should still keep two. I have no chance for LH Hon circle as I am living in Asia and am not German, but can still easy requalify for SEN in addition to the TG Platinum. But a third one?
coming back to your statement I am nor sure whether TG really loves Platinum but they pay some attention and try to give some good service. As for Gold it maybe more depend on how you ask...
May 28, 2015, 5:36 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: BKK
Programs: BRK-B
Posts: 580
I think it may be because of the local office, which may be different in different country. In similar way, I heard that FRA office often reject the Gold Upgrade, but BKK office regards the Gold Upgrade tickets as paid fare Business, hence depends on this availability. My guess is different office in different country get different redemption availability quota. But I need someone else to confirm.
May 28, 2015, 7:12 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ *G, BA Gold, Bonvoy Ambassador Elite LFT Titanium , Hyatt Discoverist, ALL Diamond
Posts: 666
This was no GUP but the 50% redemption.
The GUP I was told by my local office, was issued as long as there was availability in any fare categories in biz. So that is a lot easier to redeem but also a lot more expensive. A GUP last year from SIN to CDG did cost me 2300$, hardly a bargain.
Now for the 50% redemption, the bucket is definitely I, so if there is no availability there, no choice.
BinSabai, I asked very politely and the ladies of my local TG office see me regularly, so I don't think it is the reason. Tightening of the inventory, which considering where TG is at this juncture, is probably a good thing, except for those of us who were making the best of the benefits provided to us.
The GUP I was told by my local office, was issued as long as there was availability in any fare categories in biz. So that is a lot easier to redeem but also a lot more expensive. A GUP last year from SIN to CDG did cost me 2300$, hardly a bargain.
Now for the 50% redemption, the bucket is definitely I, so if there is no availability there, no choice.
BinSabai, I asked very politely and the ladies of my local TG office see me regularly, so I don't think it is the reason. Tightening of the inventory, which considering where TG is at this juncture, is probably a good thing, except for those of us who were making the best of the benefits provided to us.
May 28, 2015, 9:33 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: | *G | STE | HGP ♦ | SPG Au | MR Au
Posts: 3,772
Last I checked, SQ charges around $700 for taxes and fees to CDG for J.
So it is not only TG whose award redemption that are overly expensive. (I assume you are trying to redeem F)
As a data point, most US carriers charges below US$200 for taxes and fees for SIN-CDG RT award J.
As an aside, I wonder if this has anything to do with TG being too much in the red. I doubt it, but it is possible.
So it is not only TG whose award redemption that are overly expensive. (I assume you are trying to redeem F)
As a data point, most US carriers charges below US$200 for taxes and fees for SIN-CDG RT award J.
As an aside, I wonder if this has anything to do with TG being too much in the red. I doubt it, but it is possible.
Last edited by DHalltheway; May 28, 2015 at 9:44 am
May 31, 2015, 1:05 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: TG Plat, AF Lifetime Plat , QR plat , SPG Lifetime Plat
Posts: 83
Last I checked, SQ charges around $700 for taxes and fees to CDG for J.
So it is not only TG whose award redemption that are overly expensive. (I assume you are trying to redeem F)
As a data point, most US carriers charges below US$200 for taxes and fees for SIN-CDG RT award J.
As an aside, I wonder if this has anything to do with TG being too much in the red. I doubt it, but it is possible.
So it is not only TG whose award redemption that are overly expensive. (I assume you are trying to redeem F)
As a data point, most US carriers charges below US$200 for taxes and fees for SIN-CDG RT award J.
As an aside, I wonder if this has anything to do with TG being too much in the red. I doubt it, but it is possible.
I just redeemed an F award CDG-BKK-CDG and the taxes were 514 Euros .