harryhv

Not in my case it just added 12500 miles based on nonSW booked flights. That's my lifetime allowance of course, so no reason to renew. Where next? Ameniti?

Firewind

Um... You're already in Ameniti. Look at the fine print...

RickR

IMHO this program, like Ameniti, is basically a scam. The objective is getting cash from you up front in return for marginal benefits - sort of like the original fur traders with their beads.

A few years ago I was sucked in by the promotion - and did get some value one-time. I also got some expiring coupons that were hard for me to use, and like a lot of promo travel coupons wound up throwing them away. I am a lifetime member, I think, but that did not prevent them from inactivating my account. (It is now reactivated.) i suppose if you are sure you can immediately benefit from their offier go for it.

Some things I do not like about programs like this:
- 'special fares' that are usually easy to beat on the web (e.g. zone fares)
- 'coupons' with restrictions and that are not transferrable and thus hard to use - or provide marginal benefit
- gviing my money up front
- complex and changing membership levels and fees and corresponding uncertain benefits
- continual attempts to get us to 'upgrade' memberships for more money
- no useful web reserving function and charges for using real people
- it is another example of a 'loyalty program' designed more to tie you in to the provider and to give them another channel to market 'deals' than to give you real benefits
- the initial value goes away quickly and getting any ongoing value requires ongoing investment with marginal paybacks

Since I do not plan to throw more money into it, the wonderful lifetime program to which I subscribed now has no value that I can find for me. Again, if it works for you go for it - but look closely at what you get for the money and make sure it is worth it to you.

itsme

Was the one-time value you allude to the 25K of RDM on enrollment and double miles for up to 12.5K of flying, producing 37.5K of extra RDM along with the $300 in credits usable $100 at a time in return for the $240 to join?

If that is a "scam," then I earnestly hope those fur traders with their beads will be back again soon, since I am eager to be "scammed" in that manner many more times.

ChgoBob

I'll agree with you about this being a good deal, if you use the credits by phone. Until I learned that, I went through much frustration trying to use the credits on the web site.

The agents on the phone are well trained, efficient, and NOT outsourced! Besides using the SW credits, you can use them to book any United flights, at good prices. If the fares are in the computer, and not web only, they will find them. I use them for all my flights now.

Another big advantage, which I confirmed by email, might be their phone support during irregular ops. I have not had to use it, but they said that they would do their best to reschedule during problems. If true, this alone could be worth membership.

Firewind

Two issues I have encountered recently:

I am told by Silver Wings that the SW double miles do not apply to 1K or 1P as we are already getting double miles.

Second, if we book through the SW desk, we pay the $10 booking fee, unless we are using a travel credit. Does this jibe with others' experiences?

By the way, my previous allusion to Ameniti was because, if you check the fine print, you'll see that Silver Wings is administered by Ameniti.

Fly16

I had not seen this in any of the materials and agree it could be a deal-breaker. Anybody know anything official on this?

mahasamatman

I don't see how they could possibly do this.

gfowler-ord-1k

I am a 1K and I got the double miles, a year ago. Here is an example of how it posted.I reached the limit quickly.

gfowler-ord-1k

https://www.silverwingsplus.com/swho...ol/helpPVT#q23BTW, unless there is a great offer to renew this year, I will not be. The travel credits are such a pain to use and the phone hours of operation are limited. I have never found a case where the zone fares are a better deal that what can be found online. There may be some, but I have not seen any yet.I think that is better than it used to be.

RickR

This goes back quite a ways now, but I don't think the "beads" they gave out were nearly that rich at the time. There may have been some miles, but I don't think any 2x miles. There were some (companion?) coupons that were too hard to use - and of course, access to those fantastic zone fares, using which one can pay more than via any travel agent. This is my fault, of course, for being gullible and too optimistic about my situation, but I wound up with a net loss on the buy-in to the program.

BTW, the miles and credits are cheaper by signing up for a credit card.

sf4dfish

Unless the SW policies have changed, as gfowler-ord-1k, posted, I also am a 1K and I also got my double miles as promised, plus my 1K bonus.

I signed up a few years back when they were still offering lifetime memberships. In my case, the $$$ Off certs, double miles, etc... made it worth the money I spent for my membership.

I have not used SW to purchase any of my tickets since the year of my joining because their fares are not very competitive. I can buy cheaper fares from a consolidator.

mahasamatman

No credits for a credit card. As for the miles, why not sign up for both?

Firewind

Thank you for the answers.

Two SW reservationists told me no, but I'll be looking for the bonus miles based on the experiences here.

gfowler-ord-1k

SilverWings customer service appears now to be outsourced to poorly trained/unexperienced offshore staff. They used to have people in USA that were well trained and knew what they were doing. Be aware of this if you are considering renewing or signing up.