When do the 09 top program get announced??
 

Just wondering cause I think our status now goes until March if I am not mistaken

Last year it was Dec 14. Your current status will expire on Feb 28/09.

I think the 2009 program details should have been announced at the beginning of 2008. This would allow people to decide whether they want to post their miles on AP or other programs.

Now they don't announce the details until everybody has already committed to AP. They could strip as many important benefits from next year's program as they wish with little repercussion.

For example, they removed B and H fares from the eligible fares of SWU in the 2008 program. But if they announced that at the beginning of 2007, it would be fairer as some of the Es or SEs might opt to put their miles somewhere else.

Now all of us who have collected enough miles to be SE, E, or P in 2009 would be at the mercy of AP or AC to give us the same benefits as in 2008.:rolleyes:

IIRC, the only thing that was announced at the beginning of 2008 was the qualifying miles required in 2009. Details of the program (e.g. selection options) won't be announced until the end of the year.

In other words, earn your status first. Only then will we tell you what you've earned.

One thing you can probably be certain of is that if you look at this year's program, next year's will probably have fewer/lesser benefits.

The benefits are too slim now...
How much more fat can they cut?

It seems SWU are the main problem and the change was not warranted this year. In Dec, if it is the same bs with YMU fares on the SWU, over to UA I go.

It seems SWU are the main problem FOR YOU. For many of us, the only problem is we don't have enough of them.

Simon

It's not like everyone has announced their programs already and AC is the only who hasn't. If everyone had and AC hadn't, then you would have a case in point.

But right now, (I believe) no one has announced their programs yet (and many made changes, read chopping throughout the year, like abolishing minimums, etc.) so why get all worked up?

Over to UA you go and good luck because they may not be around at the end of next year.

Then again, the same could be said of AC.

Pick your poison.

(Oh, and enjoy the UA's crappier version of AC*E. I'm sure you will love it!)

Everyone complains about benefits and stuff, but in reality, we get to where we need to go. Whether we fly in seat 31, or seat 2. Our suitcases will get lost with or without the orange priority sticker. We'll still have a chance to sit down and relax before our flight if we're in a lounge or not, and we'll all get on the airplane before the door slams shut if we're the first ones called to board, or the last ones to board........

Having an Award system for when we fly is a Privelage not our right. :) Be happy with what you get, is what I say.

Before you all go saying "Then why are you doing a MR to get Elite?" That's a choice I'm making, not something the airline is forcing me to do, so I'm not gonna get mad if they change their reward system.

The point is that with no effective competition in this area, AC/Aeroplan have significantly degraded the benefits for frequent flyers every single year, for the past 8 years.

On the other hand, the closest comparable airlines (US carriers) primarily due to true competition, have tinkered with their programs, but generally have improved benefits for their most frequent flyers, and not spectacularly degraded benefits for less frequent flyers -- certainly not to the degree that AC/AP have implemented a policy of slash and burn.

My expectations are the AC will:

1. Further reduce the number of or eliminate altogether SSWUs
2. Reduce further I space on many flights/routes
3. Further reduce the number of SWUs in circulation by changing threshold ug certs to every 20,000 miles (at least until well past 100,000)
4. Reduce MLL benefits, possibly by implementing fees or further restrictions (i.e. no guests)
5. Reduce or eliminate renewal "bonus" miles
6. Implement further restrictions on the use of ug certificates (by changing eligible fares and/or ug windows)
7. Implementing further IKK restrictions (possibly by imposing the same restrictions on gifting IKK for NA flights)

While I don't think they will try to push all of these through (at least not all in a single year) this is at least a partial list of things they are considering. And of course they'll use the "times are tough" line to justify many of them.

One thing you'll have noticed about my list are that there are no improvements. They might try to spin some change or other as an improvement, but it will either be so insignificant as to be meaningless, or upon closer inspection will actually be a degradation of a benefit to the vast majority of AP members.

I'm told by a reliable source (i.e. absolutely infallible) that United Airlines will guaranteed be out of business by the end of 2004. And 2005. And 2006. And 2007. And 2008. And 2009.

Actually, some of us get where we need to go in "seat 2" or we don't go at all.

A key word is flyers.

In other words, getting on a plane and going somewhere.

Which in the case of the US carriers generally involves getting on a steaming heap of rotten tripe with wings.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Zorn, I think you'll hear that your last statement is "demonstrably false" :D