Why Doesn't AS Offer Filtering of Mixed Cabin Awards?
Jul 22, 2019, 12:37 pm
#1
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Why Doesn't AS Offer Filtering of Mixed Cabin Awards?
The best part of AS's FF program has always been the vast number of routings on different partner carriers. That said, every time I try to book a business/ first reward, all I'm given is mixed itineraries. It makes actually finding good flights impossible.
Search SEA to Paris. You get a business flight to PDX onto coach to Paris for 100k miles. Similarly search Sea to SYD. Business to LAX to 15 hours of coach hell to SYD for a bunch of miles.
I've complained about this a number of times and I have gotten answers of we'll pass it on to the IT team said that the fares returned can't filter out mixed awards. Of course, it takes probably 20 lines of HTML/javascript to do this.
Is AS's web team this incompetent? I can't figure out if its laziness, complacency or lack of competence.
Search SEA to Paris. You get a business flight to PDX onto coach to Paris for 100k miles. Similarly search Sea to SYD. Business to LAX to 15 hours of coach hell to SYD for a bunch of miles.
I've complained about this a number of times and I have gotten answers of we'll pass it on to the IT team said that the fares returned can't filter out mixed awards. Of course, it takes probably 20 lines of HTML/javascript to do this.
Is AS's web team this incompetent? I can't figure out if its laziness, complacency or lack of competence.
Jul 22, 2019, 12:47 pm
#2
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Jul 22, 2019, 1:29 pm
#3
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Is AS's web team this incompetent? I can't figure out if its laziness, complacency or lack of competence.
My guess is that some product manager simply doesn’t agree with your priority for this feature (vs other items on their todo list). As a software engineer I have seen that countless times. Limited resources, unlimited todo items, differing opinions about the relative priority. And yes, this issue bugs me, too.
Jul 22, 2019, 1:38 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2008
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There could be other reasons they don't want to do this. Maybe they don't want to make it easier for mileage brokers, or show much less award availability. Given how easy it would be to find the limited space if they did this, I think many of us here may not want the change.
Jul 22, 2019, 1:49 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 659
Having a filter that hides all "mixed cabin" awards would be nice for sure... but the problem is not all "mixed cabins" are created equally.
I just booked SEA-YVR-NRT in a mixed cabin award. Coach from SEA-YVR, business from YVR-NRT.
Would I prefer being in first on the short hop to YVR? Of course. But not a deal breaker.
However most are of course like, SEA-LAX in First, LAX-NRT in Coach.... and the only way to know is to click on the stupid little pop-up.
Just put the results in-line in the search results so we don't have to click the popups!
I just booked SEA-YVR-NRT in a mixed cabin award. Coach from SEA-YVR, business from YVR-NRT.
Would I prefer being in first on the short hop to YVR? Of course. But not a deal breaker.
However most are of course like, SEA-LAX in First, LAX-NRT in Coach.... and the only way to know is to click on the stupid little pop-up.
Just put the results in-line in the search results so we don't have to click the popups!
Jul 22, 2019, 4:16 pm
#7
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I dunno why you're assuming they're unintelligent. There are feature requests likely out the wazoo, and someone is prioritizing them.
When they look at the metrics (probably 90%+ of awards are booked in Economy), it's not exactly a high priority for them.
When they look at the metrics (probably 90%+ of awards are booked in Economy), it's not exactly a high priority for them.
Jul 22, 2019, 4:20 pm
#8
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Part of the problem must be that the best we can do on some itineraries would be domestic FC and international business class, which is a mixed cabin itinerary technically even though it's all premium cabin.
Jul 22, 2019, 4:36 pm
#9
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The problem is inept, or at least impractical IT, at least on the customer facing end. This is not an issue with other airlines where I am a member and attempt award searching.
Jul 22, 2019, 6:45 pm
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Jul 22, 2019, 7:03 pm
#12
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James
Jul 22, 2019, 7:39 pm
#13
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Of course, no one wants mixed award if there is a choice, not just with AS, but every other program as well. I see your anger by how you trash AS's IT. But the reality is AS does not have any obligations at all to do whatever to please you. While you are entitled to your opinion and suggestion, AS is under no obligation to take your word into work.
Perhaps this may be a good idea to adjust your POV for/against AS?
Jul 22, 2019, 9:12 pm
#14
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Could perhaps be done in a 20 line greasemonkey script. If you think you are more competent and motivated, give it a try.
My guess is that some product manager simply doesn’t agree with your priority for this feature (vs other items on their todo list). As a software engineer I have seen that countless times. Limited resources, unlimited todo items, differing opinions about the relative priority. And yes, this issue bugs me, too.
My guess is that some product manager simply doesn’t agree with your priority for this feature (vs other items on their todo list). As a software engineer I have seen that countless times. Limited resources, unlimited todo items, differing opinions about the relative priority. And yes, this issue bugs me, too.
Jul 22, 2019, 9:14 pm
#15
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I would say this is more likely your own problem rather than AS.
Of course, no one wants mixed award if there is a choice, not just with AS, but every other program as well. I see your anger by how you trash AS's IT. But the reality is AS does not have any obligations at all to do whatever to please you. While you are entitled to your opinion and suggestion, AS is under no obligation to take your word into work.
Perhaps this may be a good idea to adjust your POV for/against AS?
Of course, no one wants mixed award if there is a choice, not just with AS, but every other program as well. I see your anger by how you trash AS's IT. But the reality is AS does not have any obligations at all to do whatever to please you. While you are entitled to your opinion and suggestion, AS is under no obligation to take your word into work.
Perhaps this may be a good idea to adjust your POV for/against AS?