Originally Posted by
sophiegirl
My home airport is CLT, so I have no choice but to step on US quite often. I am not happy about this change at all...but also think:
FF programs are a bennie.
I am appreciative - perhaps even would use the word grateful - for the miles/points/awards/coupons/ecerts I DO get. I am appreciative when I get to sit in 1st and have not paid for it - or get to select an exit row seat for free. (My best friend is a teacher making bupkas -she pays $20 for an exit row on AT) I like bringing Mr. Sophie for free sometimes.
Yes, the reason I get these is because I travel a lot -which isn't always fun and certainly is not fun on US with some of their grumpy FA's. But I choose the job, knowing that travel (lots of it) was involved. So I am getting free points, etc for something I chose to do!
It is easy to complain about every change - but I remember when there were no programs at all - and I can promise you, some miles are better than no miles.
FFP's are a bennie.. they are a bennie that I pay a premium for.. 1. I select (in my case) AA over the hometown UA.. I pay a premium in many cases to fly AA.. 2. do you think FFP's are free.. we pay for those programs in our fares.. we pay for those FFP's the way our names are sold to every marketer out there.. we pay for those FFP's in the way they keep most of us loyal to one airline over another whether we are 100K per year fliers or 1K per year fliers...
These are not free bennies in anyway shape or form.. that was a flat out inaccurate statement
CLT is your home but that doesn't force you to use US.. all the other majors fly to CLT.. now maybe your company forces you (but thats a different issue).. maybe you choose US due to non-stops.. thats your choice but it doesn't force you.. I live 8 miles from IAD.. and I avg < 3 RT's per year on UA and am EXP on AA.. IAD is not served well by AA either so I have to go out of my way to fly AA... however I am not forced to UA just by location.
Originally Posted by
Shareholder
Question to all the complainers out there... If it costs US -- or any other carrier -- 1¢ per mile the 500 minimum represents $5 out of its pocket. If most of this mileage is earned flying on fares that are in the $50-$100 range, does it make economic sense for US to be taking a 5%-10% hit on revenue just for FF miles? This is another cost that needs to be gotten control of, and this move is a very sensible one. COS bonus will raise the earnings for those paying F fares, and perhaps US will ultimately move in the direction of many other carriers who have a variable mileage return based on fare, where higher fares get full mileage, lower ones a discounted level.
Time to wake up and smell the coffee...
Short haul flights are always more profitable than domestic long hauls.. I'm guessing here but I have to believe that the median sub 500 mile flight segment has got to be in the $100 or more range.. thats at a minimum 20c per mile.. you say its 5$ out of its pocket or 5% of the flight.. well if US is giving actuals.. then say DCA-BOS (399 actual miles.. or thats what AA uses anyway on this route) would have 399 (or $3.99) miles it would still be giving out.. while the 101 miles ($1.01) would be the fluff.. that in turn would be what 1% as opposed to the 5% to 10% you are using above
Go ahead US try it.. if you get the others to follow.. you win.. if not.. you lose big time
no matter what.. my last flight on US was 2001.. and thats the way it will stay