WEIGH IN: Leaving AC, Staying or ALREADY LEFT?
Nov 18, 2014, 2:29 pm
#376
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YYJ - Victoria
Programs: E50K
Posts: 453
Wants them to go away?? I don't get it. How you interpret their moves as hoping customers stop flying them?
....
But to believe that a company no longer wants you? Or worse WANTS you to go away??!? That is just unfathomable. I don't understand how you come to believe this.
....
But to believe that a company no longer wants you? Or worse WANTS you to go away??!? That is just unfathomable. I don't understand how you come to believe this.
Nov 18, 2014, 3:52 pm
#377
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz/ord
Programs: AC E50 UA1k 2MM AA EXP Royal Ambassador SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,516
Well, I have finally made my decision. Since I will definitely fly over 100K miles next year on Star, but less than 50K on AC, I have decided to stop chasing status.
I will fly as much free travel as I can ( I just booked CGK-TPE-YYZ-PVG-CGK in J on
AE reward), I just transferred 80K SPG =100 K AE plus 25% bonus - 125 AE for
another Asia trip. I have over 300K Amex points that can go to AC, or others, for more redemptions. And I will have until Feb 28, 2016 to enjoy my IKK.
In the meantime, for all other flights, I will now look at the cheapest, most direct
flights instead of always choosing AC/Star. Watch my signature for how my travel
patterns will change in 2015.
I will fly as much free travel as I can ( I just booked CGK-TPE-YYZ-PVG-CGK in J on
AE reward), I just transferred 80K SPG =100 K AE plus 25% bonus - 125 AE for
another Asia trip. I have over 300K Amex points that can go to AC, or others, for more redemptions. And I will have until Feb 28, 2016 to enjoy my IKK.
In the meantime, for all other flights, I will now look at the cheapest, most direct
flights instead of always choosing AC/Star. Watch my signature for how my travel
patterns will change in 2015.
Nov 18, 2014, 5:46 pm
#378
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: YQR
Programs: Nexus/GE, UA/MPG, Bonvoy Tit, LTP
Posts: 1,294
Wants them to go away?? I don't get it. How you interpret their moves as hoping customers stop flying them?
Consider it an indirect price increase that may have some mid tier frequent flyers to chose other airlines; OK, I'd accept.
Say that in your mind, it is no longer worth playing the game to attain this status level; fine. Yes I can understand that.
But to believe that a company no longer wants you? Or worse WANTS you to go away??!? That is just unfathomable. I don't understand how you come to believe this.
Consider it an indirect price increase that may have some mid tier frequent flyers to chose other airlines; OK, I'd accept.
Say that in your mind, it is no longer worth playing the game to attain this status level; fine. Yes I can understand that.
But to believe that a company no longer wants you? Or worse WANTS you to go away??!? That is just unfathomable. I don't understand how you come to believe this.
Very few of AC/ AP's actions in the last few years have clearly sent the message to customers " We value you and we want you to keep coming back to us". In fact, you could argue that the messages have been overwhelmingly the opposite, so by not showing that they wanted to keep you they have effectively confirmed the opposite have they not? Whether that was the intention is doubtful because if true it seems incredibly short sighted.
Human Relations 101. If you don't tell someone you love them by what you say and what you do AC, then don't be surprised if they feel that you don't love them ( even if say you still you do). Some might even look elsewhere.
Nov 18, 2014, 5:51 pm
#379
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
I'm really trying to be logical. I do strongly feel that AC no longer cares about mid tier elites. Not sure how others feel though. The message I got loud and clear was past loyalty doesn't matter, it's just your business going forward. And it's a clear message. Wanna sit in J? Pay for it. I'm not here saying that it's a bad message, but it just doesn't scream that "loyalty" is a two way street for me.
Nov 18, 2014, 5:52 pm
#380
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,287
J for longhauls, but I dare fly 50K miles a year on Star Alliance partners.
So they throw me out with the bathwater.
Nov 18, 2014, 5:54 pm
#381
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,287
I'm really trying to be logical. I do strongly feel that AC no longer cares about mid tier elites. Not sure how others feel though. The message I got loud and clear was past loyalty doesn't matter, it's just your business going forward. And it's a clear message. Wanna sit in J? Pay for it. I'm not here saying that it's a bad message, but it just doesn't scream that "loyalty" is a two way street for me.
Nov 18, 2014, 5:56 pm
#382
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
To be fair, they did revise the "game" for super elites offering X eupgrade credits per 40K miles flown (or something like that). There is now incentive to fly AC, but for anyone 75K and below...ppffffffft.
Nov 18, 2014, 6:09 pm
#384
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,799
What are they doing to keep me in AC / *A over their competitors?
Nov 18, 2014, 6:10 pm
#385
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Nov 18, 2014, 6:10 pm
#386
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,799
Very few of AC/ AP's actions in the last few years have clearly sent the message to customers " We value you and we want you to keep coming back to us". In fact, you could argue that the messages have been overwhelmingly the opposite, so by not showing that they wanted to keep you they have effectively confirmed the opposite have they not?
Nov 18, 2014, 6:13 pm
#387
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,723
You can always reverse the perspective on this. In other words what would a company do that wants you to keep patronizing them?
Very few of AC/ AP's actions in the last few years have clearly sent the message to customers " We value you and we want you to keep coming back to us". In fact, you could argue that the messages have been overwhelmingly the opposite, so by not showing that they wanted to keep you they have effectively confirmed the opposite have they not? Whether that was the intention is doubtful because if true it seems incredibly short sighted.
Human Relations 101. If you don't tell someone you love them by what you say and what you do AC, then don't be surprised if they feel that you don't love them ( even if say you still you do). Some might even look elsewhere.
Very few of AC/ AP's actions in the last few years have clearly sent the message to customers " We value you and we want you to keep coming back to us". In fact, you could argue that the messages have been overwhelmingly the opposite, so by not showing that they wanted to keep you they have effectively confirmed the opposite have they not? Whether that was the intention is doubtful because if true it seems incredibly short sighted.
Human Relations 101. If you don't tell someone you love them by what you say and what you do AC, then don't be surprised if they feel that you don't love them ( even if say you still you do). Some might even look elsewhere.
I relate the same message to current 'long-term' frequent flyers: A few years ago, AC could afford those perks. Now they can't.
Luckily, our retirement doesn't depend on this. As a flyer, you stil have THE CHOICE to move to another programme, if that programme better fits your needs.
So to say the AC does not want you as a customer is more than a little self deprecating.
To say AC can no longer afford to keep its mid tier flyers at the rate they used to is more of a reality.
My suggestion: If you find an airline that better meets your needs, for your dollar/miles pattern, then all the power to you. But to say that AC does not want you is you acting like a victim. And when you choose where to spend your money...are you really a victim?
Nov 18, 2014, 6:16 pm
#388
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
I literally jumped out of bed to write this message. Man, you and I have always been on the same side, but this is just incorrect. AC just posted record profits. They can't afford these perks? That's a load of bull. They may choose not to, but they certainly are not in a position where they cannot.
Nov 18, 2014, 6:21 pm
#389
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,861
Nov 18, 2014, 6:23 pm
#390
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877