Originally Posted by
Thai-Kiwi
I am but one customer here in NZ and wasn't going to write to THAI over the changes. But now I am motivated to lay out the 'before and after' of my travel patterns in terms of increase in cost and mileage to achieve the same flying pattern - simply to quantify the magnitude of the change. I'll be curious how ROP can possibly respond in a positive way......
You will likely get a selection of quotes taken from the THAI corporate spin sheet.
Apologies for the length of this....
I wrote to Bangkok when the changes were proposed, giving examples of mileage increases and pointing out the drastic changes being proposed.
The reply started with "
Since Royal Orchid Plus have not made any adjustments in our Air Award Charts for more than 20 years" (which is not true).
The changes were justified with these comments, no doubt all taken from the company spin sheet:
"Moreover, the other reasons may also be explained as follows :
-To enable Royal Orchid Plus members to obtain more miles when travelling TG, according to *the booking classes ( RBD) / * paid fare chosen and their own Royal Orchid Plus membership Status .
( Royal Orchid Plus members who, for example, purchase TG Economy Class tickets with higher fares will be able to obtain higher amount of miles)
-To increase members’ possibilities in securing award seats.
-To provide more convenience for ‘One-Way Air Award Redemptions ’ .
-In conclusion, the increase in amount of Royal Orchid Plus miles required for air award redemptions comes hand in hand with the increase in opportunities to earn more miles as well."
- As we know, the best opportunities to earn "more miles" are predominantly just increased percentages for the most expensive Royal Silk and First Class fares, probably affecting about 3 percent of the passengers.
- It is perhaps correct that there will be greater award seat availability, but only because many fewer members are able to afford them.
- It's not a convenience to buy one-way award redemptions, It simply costs more by having to pay cash for a high price one-way flight to get back home. What percentage of passengers currently buy one-way tickets or want one-way award tickets?
- The conclusion, "the increase in amount of Royal Orchid Plus miles required for air award redemptions comes hand in hand with the increase in opportunities to earn more miles as well" statement just doesn't stand up to scrutiny.
In my experience Bangkok will spin a reply, and then when you take them up on the facts of their reply, they will ignore you.
Remember the original announcement was trailed with “exciting changes…more miles…more choices and more convenience” That's not how I would describe the changes.