When Will VX FFs Receive Promised AS Million Miler Credit?
May 29, 2019, 2:29 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,848
With over 300+ flights on VX metal before the merger, I am among that minority that is pretty keen on getting some VX miles credited towards my AS MM status, even if it's just those last VX flights in 2017 that Alaska said it would. That's still easily 100k+ miles for me, depending on how they're converting.
As a SFO-based loyal VX flier since 2010, I earned Gold every year that the Elevate program existed, since it launched in 2012 until that last farewell flight (with some of you lovely FTers), VX1948.
If AS needs help crediting my VX flights for MM status, I have every one of my VX flight confirmation emails saved in my Gmail
Some more info here:
Alaska’s Guest Loyalty Director Kevin Scott explains:
We understand Mileage Plan members value tracking their progression toward Million Miler status and the associated benefits unlocked upon reaching it and the question you and others raised prompted us to reevaluate
The solution we have landed on is that in early 2018 we’ll take a retrospective look at Elevate earn activity from the date of the Alaska Airlines – Virgin America deal close (Dec 14, 2016) through the end of the program (Dec 31, 2017) and credit such activity toward Mileage Plan Million Miler progression."
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/11/ele...nly-partially/
As a SFO-based loyal VX flier since 2010, I earned Gold every year that the Elevate program existed, since it launched in 2012 until that last farewell flight (with some of you lovely FTers), VX1948.
If AS needs help crediting my VX flights for MM status, I have every one of my VX flight confirmation emails saved in my Gmail
Some more info here:
Alaska’s Guest Loyalty Director Kevin Scott explains:
We understand Mileage Plan members value tracking their progression toward Million Miler status and the associated benefits unlocked upon reaching it and the question you and others raised prompted us to reevaluate
The solution we have landed on is that in early 2018 we’ll take a retrospective look at Elevate earn activity from the date of the Alaska Airlines – Virgin America deal close (Dec 14, 2016) through the end of the program (Dec 31, 2017) and credit such activity toward Mileage Plan Million Miler progression."
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/11/ele...nly-partially/
Aug 26, 2019, 8:27 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 7K, MARRIOTT PLAT PREMIER WITH AMBASSADOR
Posts: 164
Latest update from AS Customer Care:
"Regretfully, the accrual of Elevate miles into our Million Miler status has been a complicated process in our merge. Virgin America Elevate did not accumulate mileage credit the same way as our Mileage Plan program. As such, it has caused a delay in this being completed. I can assure you that our Management staff is working on this for our members. Unfortunately, I do not have a time frame to provide to you."
"Regretfully, the accrual of Elevate miles into our Million Miler status has been a complicated process in our merge. Virgin America Elevate did not accumulate mileage credit the same way as our Mileage Plan program. As such, it has caused a delay in this being completed. I can assure you that our Management staff is working on this for our members. Unfortunately, I do not have a time frame to provide to you."
Aug 26, 2019, 7:35 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,848
You haven't forgotten about this yet? Just as soon as you forget about it, this will be resolved by the AS IT department. It is about time to assume that this is never going to happen.
Aug 28, 2019, 5:42 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 7K, MARRIOTT PLAT PREMIER WITH AMBASSADOR
Posts: 164
Nov 17, 2019, 12:11 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
A few months ago, I was told the person responsible for this had recently left the company. Caveat: I heard this second hand, and from someone within the company I only see occasionally, so don't know if there is a new person on the case. Still, makes me doubt the promise of MM credit will ever be completed.
Based on on my experience with mergers, things fall through the cracks. If the people who made the promise leave the company, less likely it ever happens. I think it will require someone who cares about this getting a senior level exec involved to make this happen.
Based on on my experience with mergers, things fall through the cracks. If the people who made the promise leave the company, less likely it ever happens. I think it will require someone who cares about this getting a senior level exec involved to make this happen.
Nov 17, 2019, 4:09 pm
#37
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
A few months ago, I was told the person responsible for this had recently left the company. Caveat: I heard this second hand, and from someone within the company I only see occasionally, so don't know if there is a new person on the case. Still, makes me doubt the promise of MM credit will ever be completed.
I still think a block grant of lifetime miles would be the easiest for the single year of integration. Just make it essentially at the level of the next higher tier (if they actually hit it, they'd be at that level) with 100k lifetime miles for VX Gold. At most, it's a 10% discount towards lifetime AS MVPG.
Unfortunately AS has probably squandered any goodwill from their promise while engendering antipathy. Meanwhile pax have already made their own loyalty decisions.
Nov 17, 2019, 6:03 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,854
Don't know if it's the same person you're thinking of, but the AS director of loyalty quoted at the start above left back in March according to his public LinkedIn profile.
I still think a block grant of lifetime miles would be the easiest for the single year of integration. Just make it essentially at the level of the next higher tier (if they actually hit it, they'd be at that level) with 100k lifetime miles for VX Gold. At most, it's a 10% discount towards lifetime AS MVPG.
I still think a block grant of lifetime miles would be the easiest for the single year of integration. Just make it essentially at the level of the next higher tier (if they actually hit it, they'd be at that level) with 100k lifetime miles for VX Gold. At most, it's a 10% discount towards lifetime AS MVPG.
Nov 17, 2019, 8:33 pm
#39
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
You must not have come in from the UA side. One of the first things they did after the CO merger was to eliminate the two yearly regional upgrades that were previously provided to million milers. I wouldn't trust them to eliminate further benefits down the line that work against million milers.
Nov 17, 2019, 9:05 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,854
You must not have come in from the UA side. One of the first things they did after the CO merger was to eliminate the two yearly regional upgrades that were previously provided to million milers. I wouldn't trust them to eliminate further benefits down the line that work against million milers.
Regarding the regional upgrades, if you want to be fair, you should also mention that they introduced a partner status benefit that now enables my wife to have the same Gold status that I have, every year. I personally value that more than a couple of regional upgrades, but as with everything, YMMV. In any case, it’s a topic for another forum and has been debated to death there. This thread is about AS and how to merge lifetime miles balances (or not, apparently).
Nov 18, 2019, 10:15 am
#41
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
I still think a block grant of lifetime miles would be the easiest for the single year of integration. Just make it essentially at the level of the next higher tier (if they actually hit it, they'd be at that level) with 100k lifetime miles for VX Gold. At most, it's a 10% discount towards lifetime AS MVPG.
Unfortunately AS has probably squandered any goodwill from their promise while engendering antipathy. Meanwhile pax have already made their own loyalty decisions.
Unfortunately AS has probably squandered any goodwill from their promise while engendering antipathy. Meanwhile pax have already made their own loyalty decisions.
Nov 18, 2019, 10:32 am
#42
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
Not only that, but we're probably quickly approaching (if haven't already) a timeframe where they can claim they no longer have the travel records for flights taken anyhow.
Nov 18, 2019, 10:50 am
#43
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
Good point. I could see that excuse being used in April of next year, after the 24 month mark is passed.
Nov 18, 2019, 1:27 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,854
Perhaps people could submit their own documentation to MileagePlan for retro claim consideration. I have PDFs of boarding passes, itins and ticket purchasing receipts for virtually all flights taken in the last 10+ years.
Nov 18, 2019, 5:35 pm
#45
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: sometimes, strangely, I find myself at home
Programs: I need to do better in managing my affiliations. Oops, I overshot the runway for status next year.
Posts: 651
I could painstakingly comb through email accounts to put together receipts but I don't think that wouldn't be worth the effort. And I doubt AS would want to validate each of the submissions.
AS needs to keep it simple and ignoring it is ultimately simple.