Yep, they're turning it back into a commodity business. Well, it was a commodity business in 1990 when I first started flying, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I'm really suprised that they didn't comp EXPs on this fee.
While I reacted harshly at first, I have to give this one a lot of thought in the next week. Everybody's putting the screws on these mileage balances. For example UA folks cannot book on partners out far in advance on LH.
In high season say ORD-LHR-VIE, for example, these four choices look pretty messy for a platinum:
- Pay 90k and have an award ticket that can be redeposited for $100, earn no status miles.
- Pay $800-$1100 for nonrefundable Q fare plus $500 upgrade fee plus 50k
- Pay $2100 for a refundable B fare plus 20k, earn 18k
- Pay $2045 for a non-refundable I fare in business, earn 18k