A3 begins charging for advance seat reservations - limited discount for A3*G
Mar 3, 2018, 2:27 am
#181
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: LHR, ATH
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 114
So maybe a new top tier is coming which will then get access to these seats for free? I guess devaluing gold and adding platinum or similar would avoid putting up the qualification thresholds if they feel they have too many gold members. But I am not sure if I would be motivated to achieve a new top tier.
Mar 3, 2018, 2:31 am
#182
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,372
So I emailed A3, and included 'I understand that....' and points from f their standard response in my email, and stated that most carriers offered their top tier members access to free premium seating, and I expected this from A3. I received the following in reply:
"We would like to note that, by launching this new service, our goal is to facilitate our members and passengers and offer them the choice of preselecting the desired seat. This kind of service is offered by many International Air Carriers already and we do follow this example, hoping to provide extended care and a completely new level of information and control of our regular customers’ journey. n the Miles + Bonus program, at the moment, the top tier is Gold. However, considering the course and development of the Program so far and of course with your support, we believe that in the future we will be able to offer more and more opportunities matching your expectations and growing needs of our individual members like you."
So maybe a new top tier is coming which will then get access to these seats for free? I guess devaluing gold and adding platinum or similar would avoid putting up the qualification thresholds if they feel they have too many gold members. But I am not sure if I would be motivated to achieve a new top tier (most of my *A miles are going into Asiana as the moment as I am mid way to lifetime status).
As others have said, I think one of the worst things about *A is the lack of premium seating benefits for gold alliance-wide. The others are the basing of codeshare earning on the operating carrier's codes, and the the growing number if *A carriers using their own non *A LCC for connecting/regional flights.
"We would like to note that, by launching this new service, our goal is to facilitate our members and passengers and offer them the choice of preselecting the desired seat. This kind of service is offered by many International Air Carriers already and we do follow this example, hoping to provide extended care and a completely new level of information and control of our regular customers’ journey. n the Miles + Bonus program, at the moment, the top tier is Gold. However, considering the course and development of the Program so far and of course with your support, we believe that in the future we will be able to offer more and more opportunities matching your expectations and growing needs of our individual members like you."
So maybe a new top tier is coming which will then get access to these seats for free? I guess devaluing gold and adding platinum or similar would avoid putting up the qualification thresholds if they feel they have too many gold members. But I am not sure if I would be motivated to achieve a new top tier (most of my *A miles are going into Asiana as the moment as I am mid way to lifetime status).
As others have said, I think one of the worst things about *A is the lack of premium seating benefits for gold alliance-wide. The others are the basing of codeshare earning on the operating carrier's codes, and the the growing number if *A carriers using their own non *A LCC for connecting/regional flights.
I agree that this does hint of a possible 'Platinum' tier in future and I think that would be a good idea. Myself, I would probably not reach that and would stay Gold, but it at least would mean, as you say, that they might not raise the bar for Gold. At least such a new system would seem "fair" as it would no longer be the case that they were taking benefits from their top tier as we'd no longer BE "top" tier.
As for the off-topic 'worst thing about *A', my current bugbear is the lack of alliance-wide free checked bag, particularly now that SAS are following the lead of the LH group and removing this on their cheapest fares. I fly SAS quite often. Again, this might be something addressed by a higher tier than Gold - perhaps something like Platinum would work on an alliance-wide basis but I don't expect it to happen.
Mar 3, 2018, 2:47 am
#183
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,339
Very interesting development indeed. If they would introduce a platinum level, and if indeed that level would have free up front/legroom seating, that would be fine by me.
The people that have a right to complain about the current changes are the ones that over-qualify anyway (i.e. The ones that actually fly A3 a lot), and those would probably qualify for a platinum tier anyway. Even if that means that the platinum tier is not that much different from Gold, it takes away one of the main grievances (seat reservation fees) at this point. And of course they can make the level more interesting by offering a few more business upgrades, platinum call center number with higher priority, etc.
The people that have a right to complain about the current changes are the ones that over-qualify anyway (i.e. The ones that actually fly A3 a lot), and those would probably qualify for a platinum tier anyway. Even if that means that the platinum tier is not that much different from Gold, it takes away one of the main grievances (seat reservation fees) at this point. And of course they can make the level more interesting by offering a few more business upgrades, platinum call center number with higher priority, etc.
Mar 3, 2018, 3:40 am
#184
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON, ATH
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, OA Gold (in memoriam), Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 548
Platinum? on a regional airline? are we serious? They should just make gold more difficult for people who don't fly the airline (eg increase the requirement to 8 flights) rather than introducing a new tier. If they had long haul flights though it is a different league
Mar 3, 2018, 3:55 am
#185
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
It sounds to me as if someone at customer service was just being a little more creative at fobbing you off! You've got to praise them for their ingenuity at least!
I mean, really, what could a Platinum status actually offer that was of any value? A Platinum Lounge at Athens!?
I mean, really, what could a Platinum status actually offer that was of any value? A Platinum Lounge at Athens!?
Mar 3, 2018, 9:09 am
#186
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,899
I see it going on a revenue based system similar to other airlines have introduced. Also to cater for the Greek Domestic business market maybe 40 segs a year to get Gold.
Mar 3, 2018, 3:07 pm
#187
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: LHR, ATH
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 114
Mar 3, 2018, 4:07 pm
#188
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: A3, BA, OZ,
Posts: 1,099
It sounds to me as if someone at customer service was just being a little more creative at fobbing you off! You've got to praise them for their ingenuity at least!
I mean, really, what could a Platinum status actually offer that was of any value? A Platinum Lounge at Athens!?
I mean, really, what could a Platinum status actually offer that was of any value? A Platinum Lounge at Athens!?
I mean, not that I imagine this is happening, just that is the only way I could imagine a new higher tier making any sense.
Certainly not unprecedented. It's what they did a few years ago to the blue members.
Mar 3, 2018, 5:00 pm
#190
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,476
Folks, we are experiencing thread drift. The subject is A3’s decision to charge for preferred seats. Let’s not get distracted please.
/mod
/mod
Mar 5, 2018, 6:42 am
#191
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: TLV/ATH/LON/EZE/NYC/UIP
Programs: BA*GGL, A3*G, AF*P, VS*S
Posts: 1,011
Do A3 publish how many Golds and Silvers they have (like BA do in their annual report)? Might be helpful to construct a better argument with them if we understand the quantum of members affected.
Mar 5, 2018, 10:30 am
#192
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,339
Another data point: AMS-ATH last week was fully booked in Economy, as is almost always the case. Kind of impressive if you consider that this is winter and there is hardly any tourist traffic towards Greece. The (very) low fares may have something to do with that perhaps..
However that also means that most of the people in Economy 'Up Front' were upgraded for free. No empty middle seat when buying the up front seats on this route.
However that also means that most of the people in Economy 'Up Front' were upgraded for free. No empty middle seat when buying the up front seats on this route.
Mar 5, 2018, 12:45 pm
#193
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Miles & Bonus (A3), Miles & More (LH)
Posts: 225
Does EF show seat mas right up until departure? Does it retrieve the seat map data from the airport (who controls the seats during check in), or the airline reservation system (Who controls the bookings).
Very few flights nowadays have empty seats by the way - somehow A3 seems to be getting very high loads. I'm expecting that most flights will be too full to use this tactic.
Very few flights nowadays have empty seats by the way - somehow A3 seems to be getting very high loads. I'm expecting that most flights will be too full to use this tactic.
Mar 5, 2018, 1:57 pm
#194
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: PRG
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 10
Another data point: AMS-ATH last week was fully booked in Economy, as is almost always the case. Kind of impressive if you consider that this is winter and there is hardly any tourist traffic towards Greece. The (very) low fares may have something to do with that perhaps..
However that also means that most of the people in Economy 'Up Front' were upgraded for free. No empty middle seat when buying the up front seats on this route.
However that also means that most of the people in Economy 'Up Front' were upgraded for free. No empty middle seat when buying the up front seats on this route.
As I stated earlier, after my 8 upcoming segments, I have and shall further halt my A3 bookings until the policy has been adjusted. I shall primarily miss the LH lounge at ATH and am looking forward to less remote stands (except for TLV bound flights and very sporadic incoming Schengen flights) and having to beg for enough tea poured into the cup / another cup.
Mar 6, 2018, 1:35 am
#195
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON, ATH
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, OA Gold (in memoriam), Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 548
Flew LHR-ATH yesterday. Most upfront seats taken with the middle seat empty. I don't know if these were people who were upgraded at check-in, paid for their seats or were pre-seated before the changes.
Two old boys (who were both golds, I saw them at the lounge before) tried to self-upgrade to an exit row after boarding was completed but the cabin manager did not let them. Quite interesting, felt a bit like united.
Not good A3, not good, you should make those seats free at check-in for your valued customers
Two old boys (who were both golds, I saw them at the lounge before) tried to self-upgrade to an exit row after boarding was completed but the cabin manager did not let them. Quite interesting, felt a bit like united.
Not good A3, not good, you should make those seats free at check-in for your valued customers