Originally Posted by
airbus320
I don't wish to get into a controversy about this outstanding recognition of long time loyalty to AC but shouldn't there be openness and transparency about this recognition program. If FF knew the details, they could direct their business to AC metal if they were interested in the benefits of this loyalty recognition.
The million mile recognition program has more than one facet than public recognition. It is also a marketing tool to attract flying business on AC. By being upfront on this recognition program, FF flyers could direct their business to AC when they have the choice.
I tend to agree, though I'm not really concerned about the "openness and transparency."
Fact is, I've always seen some sort of "lifetime status" reward as a marketing opportunity. I for one am not at all surprised by the number of people in this thread who are now suddenly reevaluating their plans with an eye to now concentrating on Air Canada. I always knew that would be the case.
When CP first started their Executive Platinum level they were very secretive about it. Because of that I didn't qualify the first year it existed -- I simply did not know about it. But the next year, and every year since then, I've made the top tier. That has often meant incurring additional expense by talking mileage runs. In the end, CP and then AC were both money ahead because of their top-tier programs, and more importantly that I knew about them.
This could be a great marketing opportunity to sell Air Canada and its FF program, in so many ways. If nothing else, it's a way to incenitivize flyers to fly AC as much as possible. And when and if they get the lifetime status, they will have further incentive to continue flying AC. (Though given the 3 levels of lifetime status, there's even more incentive.)
It would be unfortunate if someone in the future were to say, "gee, if I had only known about the lifetime status."
And I don't really think there is any downside to making it publicly known.