Originally Posted by
craz
You could have said the same when PMCO was giving free PC membership to Golds+ with an Overseas address.Then they cracked down and 1 by 1 put an end to those who were using a non-US address on their PMCO acct yet always flying r/t out of the US
I cant but think that whatever they used to audit the accts back when, they will reuse now to see what a persons flying pattern is and if they have a non-US address listed are they flying r/t into the US or vice versa. If they dont do the audit till near the end of '14 and if a person was relying on the Wavier well they just might end several levels below what they wanted to end as.
Personally its too big a gamble for me to risk. As its very possible to fly 100k and end up as a Silver
if they audit and catch a person who was trying to game the system
If PMCO never audited their accts to catch those who were using an Overseas address to get the free PC membership, maybe I would have given it a try, but since they already have the software and used it and after all its Shares that is being used. It will take no effort on COdbaUAs part to audit all the Overseas addresses once again to make sure you live Overseas and simply arent gaming the system
They need to establish some criteria and make it part of the T+C - I don't remember the CO situation, but taking away someone's free club membership is quite a bit different than making an arbitrary ruling that you don't legitimately live overseas based on travel patterns when the customer can provide evidence that they do in fact have a legitimate overseas address, and then surprising the customer with Gold or Silver status (instead of 1K) after the fact.
Ideally UA should clear this up right now by stating upfront what documentation is needed to support the foreign address and coding that requirement into the T+C - it will protect both the customer and the airline and prevent them from making arbitrary rulings that will only create a headache for both sides.
If I have a foreign passport, drivers license and utility bills, UA cannot prove where I am living (I could be using another airline to fly to/within the other country) and does not have the right to make an arbitrary claim without establishing the ground rules.
I think the number of people who have a legitimate foreign address they can prove with a lease, mortgage, license or utility bill is really a tiny blip on the radar of the entire 1K population.