Feb 15, 2018, 4:03 pm
Last edit by: ashill
Alaska has disallowed new bookings or changes to bookings to intra-Asia award tickets less than 72 hours before departure on Cathay Pacific (CX), Japan Airlines (JL), and Hainan Airlines (HU) due to fraudulent bookings.
Initially (late January 2018 for HU; February 13, 2018 or so for CX and JL), this prohibition applied to all award bookings on these partners. On February 14, 2018, Alaska changed the rule to apply only to intra-Asia awards.
https://blog.wandr.me/2018/02/alaska...t-mileageplan/
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...artner-awards/
Initially (late January 2018 for HU; February 13, 2018 or so for CX and JL), this prohibition applied to all award bookings on these partners. On February 14, 2018, Alaska changed the rule to apply only to intra-Asia awards.
https://blog.wandr.me/2018/02/alaska...t-mileageplan/
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...artner-awards/
AS Limiting Award Bookings T-3 Days of Departure [Intra Asia Only] (CX, JL, HU)
Feb 14, 2018, 8:05 am
#46
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*If* Alaska's statement is true (and this isn't simply a cover to prevent AS from ever having to redeem CX F, since T-72 is where all of that action is), then hopefully it's a stopgap measure and AS will implement security that makes it much more difficult (or impossible) for the scenario the airline is using as justification from ever happening.
There are legitimate reasons I've redeemed my miles for another person the day prior to travel - I've done that probably 10 times over the years across many airlines for my wife or other family member - so I hope the permanent measure isn't that extreme. But in this case, I'd accept it as better than the outright ban on booking the awards.
The "Person B steals from Person A" suggests that it's too damn easy to hack into an Alaska account. Perhaps they should start there...
There are legitimate reasons I've redeemed my miles for another person the day prior to travel - I've done that probably 10 times over the years across many airlines for my wife or other family member - so I hope the permanent measure isn't that extreme. But in this case, I'd accept it as better than the outright ban on booking the awards.
The "Person B steals from Person A" suggests that it's too damn easy to hack into an Alaska account. Perhaps they should start there...
Feb 14, 2018, 8:53 am
#47
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Person B still has to produce travel documents for purchasing a ticket and then again at check in. And Person B is physically in a known location (that booked airline ticket) and can be apprehended either at departure or landing if AS (and to a lesser extent, the account holder) was cognizant of the fraud and wanted to get on top of it rather than use it as an excuse for a desired policy change.
Meanwhile AS is hawking another miles promo and I'm sure their annual/quarterly reports will continue to highlight the success of Mileage Plan.
Meanwhile AS is hawking another miles promo and I'm sure their annual/quarterly reports will continue to highlight the success of Mileage Plan.
Feb 14, 2018, 9:09 am
#48
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AS could just deny boarding if they suspect a violation of their award terms - perhaps with some defined path to establishing that the traveler hasn't. Regardless of whether you perceive buying/selling FF miles as fraud (we have long FT threads for that discussion), it's not a criminal thing that the police are going to "apprehend" anyone for.
Feb 14, 2018, 9:11 am
#49
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Even SMS is vulnerable--attackers have managed to get users' phone numbers transfered to new SIM cards to get into 2FA-protected accounts. But I agree that AS needs to adopt 2FA for accounts, period.
Feb 14, 2018, 9:16 am
#50
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AS could just deny boarding if they suspect a violation of their award terms - perhaps with some defined path to establishing that the traveler hasn't. Regardless of whether you perceive buying/selling FF miles as fraud (we have long FT threads for that discussion), it's not a criminal thing that the police are going to "apprehend" anyone for.
Feb 14, 2018, 9:20 am
#51
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Just want to point out the solution some have proposed by having a waiver for Golds and 75Ks will not work. This issue is due to fraud (hacking and stealing miles or acting as an imposter to transfer points and make bookings).
A Gold or 75K’s account is as vulnerable as any member’s account. I am a gold with Marriott and I had fraudulent activity in my account a few years ago where someone made an award booking in my account but fortunately because Marriott emailed me to confirm whether I made that reservation I was able to block the transaction in matter of hours. It can happen to customers like me, uber super HVC or someone who only has an activity once every 24 months.
The best solution is implementing a two-step authentication process for bookings made under 72 hours (security question and sending a code via text/email or a verification call).
A Gold or 75K’s account is as vulnerable as any member’s account. I am a gold with Marriott and I had fraudulent activity in my account a few years ago where someone made an award booking in my account but fortunately because Marriott emailed me to confirm whether I made that reservation I was able to block the transaction in matter of hours. It can happen to customers like me, uber super HVC or someone who only has an activity once every 24 months.
The best solution is implementing a two-step authentication process for bookings made under 72 hours (security question and sending a code via text/email or a verification call).
Feb 14, 2018, 9:22 am
#52
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Feb 14, 2018, 9:25 am
#53
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We (Flyertalkers) know about these rules and also know it's freaking crazy to buy a cheap ticket online from an unknown source, but apparently people do it.
Feb 14, 2018, 9:27 am
#54
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this is ridiculous. passing this off as fraud protection is even more preposterous.
overall the value proposition for AS has taken a dramatic nosedive. several partners have been lost, others simply don't work as advertised (AM, EK) and now this.
i really need to burn down this pile, stat, and move on.
overall the value proposition for AS has taken a dramatic nosedive. several partners have been lost, others simply don't work as advertised (AM, EK) and now this.
i really need to burn down this pile, stat, and move on.
Feb 14, 2018, 10:01 am
#55
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I spoke to an agent last night before making some changes. The same was given by her - Fraud Protection.
Feb 14, 2018, 10:11 am
#57
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If those who are threatening to leave AS MP over this actually follow through, then I love this change. Weed out those who are just using the plan to buy or transfer in miles just to book CX F. Sure, it will affect some actual AS flyers as well, but for the most part, if it gets rid of those who just see it as a cheap currency to buy a premium award and have never sat their butts on an AS plane, bring it on.
Feb 14, 2018, 11:36 am
#58
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If those who are threatening to leave AS MP over this actually follow through, then I love this change. Weed out those who are just using the plan to buy or transfer in miles just to book CX F. Sure, it will affect some actual AS flyers as well, but for the most part, if it gets rid of those who just see it as a cheap currency to buy a premium award and have never sat their butts on an AS plane, bring it on.
And by fixing this problem in this way, are you suggesting that award travel is going to open up for you the rest of the year in advance?
Feb 14, 2018, 11:41 am
#59
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If those who are threatening to leave AS MP over this actually follow through, then I love this change. Weed out those who are just using the plan to buy or transfer in miles just to book CX F. Sure, it will affect some actual AS flyers as well, but for the most part, if it gets rid of those who just see it as a cheap currency to buy a premium award and have never sat their butts on an AS plane, bring it on.
- The changes referred to in this thread (and i'm sorry but the "fraud" thing is nothing but a front...and a terrible one at that)
- Rampant phantom award availability not just for EK but also QF, AA and others
- Loss of DL, KL, and AF as partners
- Severe curtailing of AA partnership
- Substantial hikes in EK award redemption cost
Feb 14, 2018, 11:47 am
#60
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If those who are threatening to leave AS MP over this actually follow through, then I love this change. Weed out those who are just using the plan to buy or transfer in miles just to book CX F. Sure, it will affect some actual AS flyers as well, but for the most part, if it gets rid of those who just see it as a cheap currency to buy a premium award and have never sat their butts on an AS plane, bring it on.
As it stands at the moment, an actual hardcore MP flyer who earned a gazillion BIS miles on AS would still be left unable to redeem CX 72 hours after all the mileage arbitragers leave. How's that a good thing?
