Originally Posted by themicah
To generate an elite BP, you need an actual ticket booked in the name of somebody who is elite AND you need their number. And to use that BP (i.e., to derive any benefit from the status printed on it) you have to show ID to the airline contractor to get to security (or else submit to inSSSSpection).
If all you needed to access elite phone lines was an elite FF# and not a PIN, I think there would be rampant abuse of the elite phone lines.
Again, I'm all for your proposal. Just playing devil's advocate with you.
I do not agree that there would be rampant abuse of elite phone lines... for one thing, the casual and occaisional flyer is probably unaware that elite phone lines even exist, and they do not fly or call enough to have it matter to them. There may be scattered abuse, and that would simply be handled by the reservation agent when the abuse was discovered by transferring the call to the regular reservation lines. As I stated previously, most elites tend to be more careful about guarding their FF# and their BPs.
I wonder what the best approach would be to "lobby" for such a benefit? Ideas, anyone?