An interesting sample of AC defectors?
Mar 18, 2013, 12:11 pm
#76
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: YVR
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I honestly believe the only people they haven't pissed of (yet) are those once a year (or two years) ultra discount Flight Centre leisure travelers that don't care about status, just Disney World. They get pissed off on that trip, but forget by next vacation.
Mar 18, 2013, 12:53 pm
#77
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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In reading FT, it seems to me the SEs don't leave - They have a pretty good experience with AC (regular upgrades, concierges, front of waitlists, reward availability). They like it and they're not going anywhere.
It's the Es (and 'formerly E now-Ses') who leave, and frankly, I think that's AC's goal. AC doesn't mind losing them.
As others have said, AC seems to dividing itself into two tiers -
- A top tier, for those passengers who regularly fly paid Executive or Latitude. They provide services and programs to support them. This is where the SEs (now 100Ks) live.
- A bottom tier, for leisure travellers who might otherwise be on Transat, Sunwing, WestJet etc (aka Rouge & Tango fares).
The "in between" traveller (of which I'm one) isn't of much interest to AC any more.
The senior-tier FTers seem to be happy about this as well - Witness 'bottom feeder,' 'don't let the door hit you on the way out' comments etc. Can't blame them, I suppose, as it makes for emptier lounges, better chances for upgrades etc.
That may be true in general but plenty of SEs have left, me included.
Originally Posted by gglave
It's the Es (and 'formerly E now-Ses') who leave, and frankly, I think that's AC's goal. AC doesn't mind losing them.
As others have said, AC seems to dividing itself into two tiers -
- A top tier, for those passengers who regularly fly paid Executive or Latitude. They provide services and programs to support them. This is where the SEs (now 100Ks) live.
- A bottom tier, for leisure travellers who might otherwise be on Transat, Sunwing, WestJet etc (aka Rouge & Tango fares).
The "in between" traveller (of which I'm one) isn't of much interest to AC any more.
The senior-tier FTers seem to be happy about this as well - Witness 'bottom feeder,' 'don't let the door hit you on the way out' comments etc. Can't blame them, I suppose, as it makes for emptier lounges, better chances for upgrades etc.
Mar 19, 2013, 2:39 pm
#78
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Earth
Programs: AC S100K (formerly AC*SE), AC 2MM, AMEX Plat, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 1,469
Some of us are "prisoners of our own device" as the song says.
Too vested and frankly, late in the age game to start over......but, when pushed, may have to reconsider....
Too vested and frankly, late in the age game to start over......but, when pushed, may have to reconsider....
Mar 19, 2013, 3:22 pm
#79
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 283
I just found out that my own brother defected to OW.
He is a professional who flies J for leisure/conference purposes only, been AC*E the last few years, annually 2 J trips to Asia, and 2 J trips to Europe type thing. Just found out that he flew to LHR via BA and HKG via CX this year instead of AC. I can't really comment, I don't fly those two airlines but he swears by the CX services over AC.
He is a professional who flies J for leisure/conference purposes only, been AC*E the last few years, annually 2 J trips to Asia, and 2 J trips to Europe type thing. Just found out that he flew to LHR via BA and HKG via CX this year instead of AC. I can't really comment, I don't fly those two airlines but he swears by the CX services over AC.
Mar 19, 2013, 3:27 pm
#80
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Mar 19, 2013, 4:00 pm
#82
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
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Posts: 23,297
Just gotta be smart.
Mar 19, 2013, 4:11 pm
#83
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
Mar 19, 2013, 4:16 pm
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 12,068
Mar 19, 2013, 4:44 pm
#85
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Many FTers rack up hundreds of thousands of miles each year on company paid travel, and then use those miles for leisure travel.
Before I left the corporate world, we (wife and two kids) flew F/J to Hawaii every year for 10 years, with flights and hotels paid in miles, all earned on flights paid by my Fortune 500 employer.
Mar 19, 2013, 4:48 pm
#86
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I'm with rankourabu on this one.
Many FTers rack up hundreds of thousands of miles each year on company paid travel, and then use those miles for leisure travel. Before I left the corporate world, we (wife and two kids) flew F/J to Hawaii every year for 10 years, with flights and hotels paid in miles, all earned on flights paid by my Fortune 500 employer.
Many FTers rack up hundreds of thousands of miles each year on company paid travel, and then use those miles for leisure travel. Before I left the corporate world, we (wife and two kids) flew F/J to Hawaii every year for 10 years, with flights and hotels paid in miles, all earned on flights paid by my Fortune 500 employer.
Mar 19, 2013, 4:48 pm
#87
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K, Amex Plat, NEXUS, Aman-user (not really a -junkie)
Posts: 1,721
Mar 19, 2013, 4:54 pm
#88
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
I'm with rankourabu on this one.
Many FTers rack up hundreds of thousands of miles each year on company paid travel, and then use those miles for leisure travel.
Before I left the corporate world, we (wife and two kids) flew F/J to Hawaii every year for 10 years, with flights and hotels paid in miles, all earned on flights paid by my Fortune 500 employer.
Many FTers rack up hundreds of thousands of miles each year on company paid travel, and then use those miles for leisure travel.
Before I left the corporate world, we (wife and two kids) flew F/J to Hawaii every year for 10 years, with flights and hotels paid in miles, all earned on flights paid by my Fortune 500 employer.
Also, explain to me how you ever FIND four J-class reward tickets on one flight to Hawaii?
Even if you did find four tickets how many points would you need? 400,000? Who does that much flying? Even with credit cards adding to the mix it's pretty tough.
You need disposable income for the scam charges and some kind of magic beans to find four J tickets.
Colour me a skeptic.
Mar 19, 2013, 4:58 pm
#89
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I spend 12-15 weeks out of the country annually on vacations, I work part time, which doesnt really translate into a lot of disposable income, dont have a corporation bankrolling my points earning, and yet still manage to fly upfront about 60% of the time. It is doable.
While I understand why AE keeps making sense to some people who are corporate bankrolled, and receive unpublished perks, Aeroplan makes ZERO sense for anyone paying for their flights out of pocket, and looking to maximize rewards on their hard earned points.
I know plenty of Aeroplan E's and SE's who spend over $10k on personal travel a year, who have defected from Aeroplan. I guess these are what corporate drone high rollers who fly from Winnipeg to Moose Jaw weekly would call bottom feeders.
Last edited by rankourabu; Mar 19, 2013 at 5:08 pm