Originally Posted by Randy Petersen

there's quite a few things that are not being addressed here:

- space in J that the Federal Sky Marshal program takes from inventory as last minute. Usually 2 J per flight, last minute and almost all desirable destinations.

*** If a flight has 'Maverick award' pax, and 2 J seats are used by the Federal Marshalls last minute, the 'Maverick award' pax are simply the first to be reaccomodated with the other routing/COS options.

- Block space where partner has ownership of partial inventory making it look unsold, but responsibility of the partner, not first access of the airline.

*** Same principal is at work; if a partner needs to access their 'ownership' of inventory within 7 days of the flight, after 'Maverick awards' have been redeemed, then on the day of departure, the 'Maverick award' pax are simply the first to be reaccomodated.

Two things - the industry needs to re-educate us that the "double miles" award that some of us seem to get hung up on is really not double miles. It is the standard award. When programs invented some 25 years ago, the no capacity controls award was never referred to as "double miles." Reality is that the saver awards are just that - something on sale with limited quantities apply. Just like a store, great if they have any left, shop another store to see if they have any left (alliance partners) but if not any sale stuff left in our size, we either purchase stuff that's not on sale (trying to remember if i think that Target or Dillard's or Macy's charges double money for things not on sale?

*** As you well know, I am well adept at being vigilant in getting premium class awards at 'Saver' rates, so this proposal is not meant to be self-serving per se. Rather, its precisely to reduce the cynicism, at least for the top-tier of members that the programs should presumably a bit more concerned about their attitudes and morale when it comes to some kind of preferential award redemption policy.

Further, it's clear that historicals and inventory mngt. are not cure-alls for optimizing premium class loads with either award or revenue pax. On the last 8 intl. J flights I've taken, there have been EMPTY seats:
Feb: CDG-ATL on AF
Jan: JFK-CDG on AF
Dec: YYZ-CDG on AC; AMS-ATL on KL
Nov: ATL-CDG on AF; CDG-ATL on AF
July: KUL-AMS on KL; AMS-MSP on NW
June: LAX-KUL on MH

I trust this is more than anecdotal!!


Now, I do think the industry has failed bad in their communication of what is available and what is not. But that is also free competition. I'd say even here on FlyerTalk that some airlines are clearly better than others when it comes to award redemption. What would actually resolve this is for an airline to step forward and actually say that we are reserving 10% of available seats or minimum of 10 Saver awards per flight each and every day. At least we would all know that there is a chance we can get a Saver award with planning, etc. If we can't then get it, well, we then can't say they didn't offer it which is what some are saying today.

***I'm fine with this in principle. If the airlines advertise that DISCOUNT awards start at 25K, then they are setting a reasonable set of expectations. But the truth is they don't accurately advertise their discount awards as such; discount awards are subtly, but persistently marketed as the 'standard'.
Anyhow, separate conversation!

I'd be comfortable with any airline that established a bottom line for Saver redemption and then knowing the other seats were available for the standard award. Problem already is that some airlines don't make all seats available even for Anytime awards. As some of us know, it's the inconsistency of terms and availability that drives us wild.

I'm just trying to fit in a few comments on a busy Monday but will re-read the Maverick idea and post better comments later on.

Bottom line: points for thinking.....