Originally Posted by sosafan
Twelve weeks go by and a bonus doesn't post. So I send in an email
with all the details. I get one of those frustrating responses, that has my
email attached, and says "Please send us your frequent flyer number." The
number was in the message already. But I comply.
Now four weeks later, my bonus has posted threefold. Previously a similar situation has resulted in double miles. The first time I pointed it out,
and they didn't do anything. Two other times I didn't bother. I'd be
interested in the view of flyertalkers how to approach this.
1. Should I take the extra bonus as goodwill points for their mistake and let it ride?
2. Should I point out the extra miles mistake to them on the grounds that if the mistake was the other way, I'd still be bugging them?
3. Should I donate the points, or an equivalent number, to charity somehow?
4. Something else?
Thanks
Ahh, welcome to my world: I speak muchly on the world of airlines not posting what they promise...
'Tis the most common thing in FT, in my opinion:
Yup, the problem of mileage posting and offer integrity. I see it in one way or another in nearly every section of the entire site!
It kills me that the airlines and hotels still try to play the "rebate scam" mentaility on us all--every single day, knowingly or unknowingly! (mostly the former)
they need to fix this one and it costs everyone money as long as they do not. It is where custoomer service fell apart and everyone knows it. That being said, I used to have more faith but that, and the system of service itself, has seriously erroded over the past few years alone!
Where I would one day say that you should notify them about the overage and allow them to extract the extra mileage, I would now say: Screw it! Take the miles and F**k 'EM!
Once, AA did a big baggage no no to me. I told them, they eventually compensated--with the now unheard of CASH--and I was about to move on but they paid me twice! So I called them and told them this and the lady said, "well, thanks for being honest. Firstly, sir, it involves more paperwork than it's worth to take back the extra money from you now, and secondly, because you were upfront about this, I will personnaly allow you to keep the extra $200."
With that, I knew I liked AA.
But times have changed... OH have they ever! That CS lady was probably "let go" in the wake of huge post-9/11 layoffs, and the types of people currently employed at airlines who still have their jobs are the likes of the guy who is on tape telling a flight attendant on flight 11 to "keep this quiet and stay hush hush" about the terrorist hijackings! Yup, today it's all about masking the truth! (I have heard the FBI tapes and he actually said word to that affect, and actually did say "let's keep this quiet...")
And so now, as a result, this "good customer" has reacted with changes as well: Now I am all for grabbing and using every mile I can, and who cares if they screwed up in my favor, but I'll be darned if they ever miss posting on my account for 12 weeks! Esepcially when they claim it will post a lot sooner than that.
Yup, I am changed as well, but I am not bitter. I just play the system and I know the mindset of most players who currently run it the way they do.
(By the way, there are ways to PURPOSELY make them post double, but let's just say I am NOT promoting that kind of activity in this thread).
Keep the miles.
Say nothing.
Move on.
You win!
I am seriously glad to hear there's one who did win! If these airlines change the mindset or change the game, I will too. But I am only one guy trying to survive and you tell me how many fees and unavailable award seats you are willing to weather before you get a bit miffed as well. You NEED those extra miles.
In the end, of course, it could be possible that ONE good person remains at your airline who figured, "hey, this guy waited so long that we should give him something extra!"
Let's hope THAT'S it. (you see, I have hope in me too!) Either way, keep 'em! 
MM