dayone

If the fraud is material, the first step is to stop the fraud, then analyze the process for possible remedy.

missydarlin

I guess I wouldn't put this in the same category as QX pilot staffing (but I honestly don't know much about that topic)

Yes, this affected MP members. But in reality it affects very very few MP members. (you just all happen to be on FT )
On the surface, instead of 331 days to book an award, you have 328 days on 3 of the 15 partners.
Most MP members are redeeming miles for flights on Alaska. And most of the members who do redeem for partner awards are not continually monitoring availability and adjusting their reservations at the last minute.
The Hainan rules were changed a few weeks ago, and **crickets**, so I really don't think anyone expected that this was going to garner the public outcry that it did.

DoubleWidesFly

Per Twitter - this policy will be lifted for flights departing North American by EOD

TA

Sorry I am unfamiliar. Is Missydarlin someone with inside knowledge?

missydarlin

Is this where I finally get to say DYKWIA?

jinglish

​​​​​ Yes, an Alaska employee at headquarters.

rustykettel

tom911

Sounds reasonable. We don't know what financial hit Alaska has taken here nor have the details on the fraud been shared. I don't expect that to change as it will just encourage others, perhaps with different partners or even different airline alliances/carriers to commit the same fraud elsewhere.

I'm willing to give Alaska some time to sort this out and come up with a workaround, perhaps including waivers for Alaska elites versus those that drop miles into their Alaska accounts without ever setting foot on an Alaska aircraft. Looking forward to an update down the line.

Tom in the air between BWI and SFO

missydarlin

^

tom911

And host, for what seems like a good decade, of the now-retired Seattle Do. Many of us here have chatted with her in person over the years and know she loves working for Alaska.

callmedtop

Have we learned about if this also affects changing awards (i.e. changing from J -> F on same flight, or changing flights/dates), or only new bookings? I assume the former but you never know with AS.

missydarlin

All shopping and booking is inhibited within 3 days of the flight. But as posted a little earlier, this will only affect intra-Asia travel starting sometime tonight or tomorrow.

callmedtop

Phew - they revised the policy to make it just the case for intra-Asia awards. What a relief!

Alaska Revises 72 Hour Restriction On Partner Awards - One Mile at a Time

Orwaid

HI Missydarlin -

What I am referring to is not comparing the QX staffing to the TPAC award restrictions; rather, it is how AS management chooses to disseminate the information to AS stakeholders. Instead offering about it on some blog site, come out and say why this action is being taken, and how this action will address the issues you are facing.

Again, openness and transparency in communicating with all the stakeholders will go a long ways towards dealing with any ruffled feathers people might have.

As an aside --- Try this with the upgrade processor. What are the issues, what are the hurdles, explain why it is not as important as other IT issues (like issues with VX, for instance).

Another example --- The delays and issues with the SEA expansion.

I could go on - but you get the point.

dayone

Enough with throwing around the "transparency" buzzword. Customers are entitled to a clear explanation of the change and how it will be implemented. They are not entitled to know the specifics of the underlying issues that necessitated the change, or the details of the decision-making process that developed the change. AS can share as much or as little as it chooses.

This is especially true for fraud, security and competitive matters.