I think we
LANPASS members have to complain to LAN about this. Email address for complaining at the end of this post.
First change (available in english
here):
Base (cheapest) fares accumulate only 25% miles on flights less than 7 hours long. This includes practically any combination inside southamerica.
Second change (not even available in english, spanish version
here):
Kilometers flown on fare families that accumulate 25% (see above) or 0%
do not apply as elite qualifying kilometers (not even the discounted kilometers).
Changes apply to LAN flights. AA flights still accumulate 100% even flying Q, no matter flight duration.
Examples on how this impacts your pocket
- EZE-LIM. Cheapest fare: $228; First elite qualifying fare: $504; you are paying $276++ more to get 3910 EQM. This change adds an extra $0.07++ per EQM to the cheapest EQM cost. (++ means taxes calculated as percentage of fare).
- EZE-SCL. Cheapest $138; Cheapest or EQK: $269; You pay $131++ more for only 1418 EQM. An extra $0.09++/EQM.
- EZE-GRU. $132; $274; You pay $142++ extra for the 2140 EQM (miles, not km). An extra $0.066++/EQM.
- EZE-BOG. $635; $853; You pay $218++ extra for the 6244 EQM. An extra $0.035++/EQM.
Same rules apply to AAdvatage members flying LAN.
This confirms I will never ever fly LAN anymore for the EZE-SCL route choosing either AR or Gol. Most
EZE-GRU would go to TAM as it accumulates 50% of the flown KM for most of the discounted fares.
EZE-LIM will be based strictly on price and UPG opportunities, and some of it would probably go to TA.
Choosing other airlines for south america will not change my chaces to regain COMODORO, but will get less business to LAN. I will just probably need to do an "extension" (aka MR) to some originally shorter AA routes. Like EZE-MIA-DFW-JFK-SJU, instead of EZE-MIA-SJU; or something similar.
Final thought... This only punishes frequent travelers.
WHERE TO COMPLAIN
Please send your complain to LANPASS Management.
LR