Originally Posted by SemiElite
I can't speak for others, but as for me, I already have!!! As a leisure flyer who has to pay out of pocket to climb the elite ladder, I've found it simply too much money today for too few benefits.
A few years ago when mid or top tier elite just about guaranteed free or low cost upgrades, I went out of my way to earn as much status as I could afford. But I'm not gonna pay my hard-earned dollars on more expensive premium fares and circuitous routes just to get "priority boarding" and luggage tags!
Today it seems that all the airlines are interested in are the full fare passengers, or those willing to pay a very hefty upgrade premium. Most airlines don't want to upgrade you unless you're flying an expensive fare, especially on international flights. And for those airlines that always charged for domestic upgrades, the prices have soared!
Well, today I've accepted that I now hafta sit in the Cattle Car. So now I look for the cheapest price, and maybe a few extra inches of pitch on UA or AA. And if UA and AA do away with the extra pitch, then I'll become a total "price whore," just like my Disney flyer friends!
<diatribe>
Damn straight.
This is why I have so many different frequent flyer accounts - I don't do corporate travel adn since I'm paying out of my own pocket when I hop on an plane, the price is the first thing I look at. If it isn't taking me too far out of my way or costing me more than $15 to go on a carrier that I'd rather rack up miles with, then I'll go for that, but otherwise price rules all nowadays.
The fact is that with the huge alliances out there, I can put all of my miles on one to three programs anyway no matter what company's plane I'm riding on.
To get me to really, really think about going to a specific carrier right off the bat, they have to have a really kickass program going on (like the one United is running for us lucky DC residents). Otherwise, its just not worth the extra $ at all. Sooner or later, I'll end up using all of those miles on the different partners and for me, those free flights matter a lot mroe than status.
For example, its really hard for me to think that being "Continental Elite" means anything at all when "Elite" pre-boarding consists of 50% of all passengers (DCA), one of whom may have been upgraded and one of whom may have scored a free seat with their mileage. Yeah - great perks there.
I for one fly on CO for about 3000 miles every single month and always forego their 1000 onepass miles for purchasing with a onepass number online because I'd rather rack them up on NW. Where I can actually use them. Continental OnePass Elite seems like it couldn't possibly mean any less.
I'm sure much the same could be said for a lot of other programs. In short (too late for that
), dizzam strizzaight, SemiElite. I'm with you all the way on those points.
</diatribe>
peace,
~Ben~