Originally Posted by Boraxo
I would have to agree with you. I am generally satisfied with UA's service but see no reason to throw any extra business to UA due to its unfair treatment of government travelers.
AA had a number of promotions last year, including the AANYC, AABOS and Fly3,FlyFree promos which permitted qualification on government-fare tickets.
Another AA perk: Assuming you have elite status, you can buy 500 mile e-upgrade "stickers" for roughly 1/2 of what UA charges, and can use them to upgrade travel on government-fare tickets.
Good. This makes me at least feel I'm not nuts in thinking this way.
I'll probably make Premier this year do to a trip to Europe where UA is the contract carrier, and a trip to Hawaii because they offered a pretty good deal. Throw in Christmas travel later this year and I'll have it.
But as you said AA even gives credit for the govie fares. My trip to Europe in March is in H class, and is at least anywhere from $100 to $200 more expensive than the Q class that qualifies for double milage and also for the Fly Around the World promotion out of the DC airports.
One of the biggest reasons I wanted status this year was so that I could at least have a chance at getting a bump to first class, but that's not going to happen govie fares.
Another weird thing is that I still get the 1.5x bonus in EQM and EQS on the govie Y fares. That doesn't make sense if I'm ineligible for other promos.
The other thing is I'm sure that at least some of the larger private corporations have similar deals for contract fares, yet they can get the perks.
I've generally gone to conferences where UA has the contract fare to that city as a matter of trying gaining status and enjoying their service. If they're going to be descriminating, maybe I should too the next time I get funding to go to a conference.
Oh well, I can always get status this year, then match to someone else next year that will hopefully offer better incentives to fly with them.
Super