Dormant US airways account (and resulting loss of miles toward million-miler status)
#106
Join Date: Aug 2004
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But I'd try at least the letter before that, not just the call centre employee.
At a macro level, airline loyalty is almost unnecessary anymore. The value of elite status diminishes every cycle. There are tons of choices that you can make based on quality of the experience and service....
Also the raise of true Premium Economy products made the more and more hopeless upgrade lottery from a terminally crappy E+ to a too-good Business entirely worthless to me.
#107
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
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#108
Suspended
Original Poster
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This is so true. The Premium Economy products from the likes of AF, LH, and BA (much as I despise BA for other reasons) are really hitting a sweet spot. The added comfort and space is enough to make a difference in long-haul. And while I do enjoy Business Class, the fact is that I am not looking for a gourmet meal on a plane, and lounges are less and less important as airports improve their amenities. I'd rather sit and sip some wine at a Vino Volo than hang out in a lounge.
#109
Join Date: Aug 2004
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..The added comfort and space is enough to make a difference in long-haul. And while I do enjoy Business Class, the fact is that I am not looking for a gourmet meal on a plane, and lounges are less and less important as airports improve their amenities. I'd rather sit and sip some wine at a Vino Volo than hang out in a lounge.
No, I meant what I wrote.
Coach products are too shabby these days and the Biz products are so excessively upgraded - with cradles, fully flat beds, direct aisle access - that airlines then rightfully remove their F product as there is no true distinction anymore.
#110
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Originally Posted by oenophilist;25291938[B
Wrong[/B]. They made my account dormant. I didn't "allow" the account to do anything. I didn't want the account to go dormant. No one told me the account would go dormant. That was entirely the decision of the airline.
You are being a corporate apologist.
Does the airline have the right to do this? Possibly, depends on whether or not someone is willing to subject it to litigation. Is is wrong? Absolutely. Lifetime miles are lifetime. Period. Deleting lifetime miles for lack of activity negates the entire concept of lifetime miles.
Your opinion on this issue is dead wrong.
You are being a corporate apologist.
Does the airline have the right to do this? Possibly, depends on whether or not someone is willing to subject it to litigation. Is is wrong? Absolutely. Lifetime miles are lifetime. Period. Deleting lifetime miles for lack of activity negates the entire concept of lifetime miles.
Your opinion on this issue is dead wrong.
They're entitled to change the rules at will. They're not entitled to lie about them.
#111
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
If the airline claims to provide benefit for "lifetime miles" then they're guilty of False Advertising when they claim that some miles the passenger flew during his lifetime "don't count".
They're entitled to change the rules at will. They're not entitled to lie about them.
They're entitled to change the rules at will. They're not entitled to lie about them.
They did. Their lawyers have made sure those kinds of decisions are pretty much incontestable.
This isn't much different. A frequent flyer stops flying. The account cancels. The miles and record of lifetime miles disappear.
You rant on FlyerTalk, call everyone who disagrees with you wrong, apologists, whatever. Water under the bridge. No change. It is what it is, not what you want it to be.
#112
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Chicago Illinois
Programs: 1MM UA
Posts: 1,753
And you still haven't offered your opinion of the asymmetry between someone whose miles on US had expired and someone whose miles on AA had expired.
But flyertalk is an appropriate place to praise goodness, fairness, justice and the American way.
#113
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: South Coast, UK
Programs: Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 2,069
For what it's worth, this is the KLM /AF approach to 'Lifers'.
"Become Platinum for Life
Of course, as a Platinum member you can carry over your Level Miles to the next year, making it easier to maintain your Platinum membership. After 10 consecutive years of being a Platinum member, you are rewarded with a Platinum for Life card. This means that you no longer have to reach the required threshold and that you will continue to enjoy all privileges you are used to, every time you travel."
I guess I will run my miles down to Zero eventually, but still retain the card I've had for a few years now for the rest of my life, unless they change the rules or maybe are taken over or disappear.
ps And you do not have to take anymore flights at all, once you achieve the Lifetime card.
"Become Platinum for Life
Of course, as a Platinum member you can carry over your Level Miles to the next year, making it easier to maintain your Platinum membership. After 10 consecutive years of being a Platinum member, you are rewarded with a Platinum for Life card. This means that you no longer have to reach the required threshold and that you will continue to enjoy all privileges you are used to, every time you travel."
I guess I will run my miles down to Zero eventually, but still retain the card I've had for a few years now for the rest of my life, unless they change the rules or maybe are taken over or disappear.
ps And you do not have to take anymore flights at all, once you achieve the Lifetime card.
Last edited by mike turnbull; Sep 28, 2015 at 2:29 pm
#114
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
For what it's worth, this is the KLM /AF approach to 'Lifers'.
"Become Platinum for Life
Of course, as a Platinum member you can carry over your Level Miles to the next year, making it easier to maintain your Platinum membership. After 10 consecutive years of being a Platinum member, you are rewarded with a Platinum for Life card. This means that you no longer have to reach the required threshold and that you will continue to enjoy all privileges you are used to, every time you travel."
I guess I will run my miles down to Zero eventually, but still retain the card I've had for a few years now for the rest of my life, unless they change the rules or maybe are taken over or disappear.
ps And you do not have to take anymore flights at all, once you achieve the Lifetime card.
"Become Platinum for Life
Of course, as a Platinum member you can carry over your Level Miles to the next year, making it easier to maintain your Platinum membership. After 10 consecutive years of being a Platinum member, you are rewarded with a Platinum for Life card. This means that you no longer have to reach the required threshold and that you will continue to enjoy all privileges you are used to, every time you travel."
I guess I will run my miles down to Zero eventually, but still retain the card I've had for a few years now for the rest of my life, unless they change the rules or maybe are taken over or disappear.
ps And you do not have to take anymore flights at all, once you achieve the Lifetime card.
The other way, or at least one, is to notify FFP members you are entitled to make changes with or without notice and then make them.
#115
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
In our case the miles disappeared (as they should). The account was still there. The record of the lifetime miles on US was still there.
And you still haven't offered your opinion of the asymmetry between someone whose miles on US had expired and someone whose miles on AA had expired.
I'm not sure who you are addressing here, but the poster you quoted was giving their first post on this subject. Maybe I'm ranting. I don't think sethb or I called anyone any names.
But flyertalk is an appropriate place to praise goodness, fairness, justice and the American way.
And you still haven't offered your opinion of the asymmetry between someone whose miles on US had expired and someone whose miles on AA had expired.
I'm not sure who you are addressing here, but the poster you quoted was giving their first post on this subject. Maybe I'm ranting. I don't think sethb or I called anyone any names.
But flyertalk is an appropriate place to praise goodness, fairness, justice and the American way.
If you read up thread, there are rant posts, accusations of members being corporate aplogogist, etc. I don't think I said you did, but it all appears upthread.
I'm afraid you take my comments about these issues, stating that the airlines write t&c that give them one-sided rights, contracts of adhesion, etc. as approval. Stating what they are doesn't state endorsement, or even imply that. If you had read many of my posts over the years, you'd have understood I abhor what the airlines have gotten away with since, at least, the original Warsaw Convention, where the cabal gathered, wrote one sided rules and got the various nations to endorse them. And that I'm one of those who create threads and wikis sharing how members can address IROPS, wrongs, etc. presumably constructively and more effectively.
Blowing off steam on FlyerTalk is a time-honored tradition, but that by itself accomplishes nothing but possible catharsis for some. If anyone wants to try reversing a significant loss of miles, benefits, etc. I'd suggest they've not really done their work until they document the facts and relevant details, put together a dispassionate and somewhat terse letter and FedEx it to Doug Parker's (or Sean Bentel's) office. (Yes, he'll never read it, but an executive assistant may give it a better look over than the group at Customer Relations.)
#116
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,438
If the airline claims to provide benefit for "lifetime miles" then they're guilty of False Advertising when they claim that some miles the passenger flew during his lifetime "don't count".
They're entitled to change the rules at will. They're not entitled to lie about them.
They're entitled to change the rules at will. They're not entitled to lie about them.
Lifetime miles lasted for the lifetime of the US Dividend Miles Programme
The Programme has ended
USDM no longer exists
No one has lifetine niles in the non existent scheme
There is nothing that stated that , should the scheme end, that another scheme would take it on.
#117
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The rules didn't change
Lifetime miles lasted for the lifetime of the US Dividend Miles Programme
The Programme has ended
USDM no longer exists
No one has lifetine niles in the non existent scheme
There is nothing that stated that , should the scheme end, that another scheme would take it on.
Lifetime miles lasted for the lifetime of the US Dividend Miles Programme
The Programme has ended
USDM no longer exists
No one has lifetine niles in the non existent scheme
There is nothing that stated that , should the scheme end, that another scheme would take it on.
#118
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,438
Is it factually incorrect?
Lifetime is for lifetime of member or lifetime of the programme
There was no obligation on the part of US to take over anything from USDM to AAdvantage. It did however take over details of active accounts
There was not, as stated by the post being replied to, any false advertising
Lifetime is for lifetime of member or lifetime of the programme
There was no obligation on the part of US to take over anything from USDM to AAdvantage. It did however take over details of active accounts
There was not, as stated by the post being replied to, any false advertising
#119
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I apparently had a Delta account back in the 1980s or so that I'd totally forgotten about.
I had another Delta account.
For about 10 years starting in 2002, I flew NW exclusively (living in Mpls does that) until they merged with DL. After the merger, my lifetime miles were the sum of the DL and NW miles.
A couple of years later, my other DL account came to light. I asked DL to merge it into my existing one. Any redeemable miles had long since disappeared, but the lifetime miles were still there and were most of the ones I still needed to make MM.
Just a data point on how an apparently more legitimate airline handles a similar issue.
I had another Delta account.
For about 10 years starting in 2002, I flew NW exclusively (living in Mpls does that) until they merged with DL. After the merger, my lifetime miles were the sum of the DL and NW miles.
A couple of years later, my other DL account came to light. I asked DL to merge it into my existing one. Any redeemable miles had long since disappeared, but the lifetime miles were still there and were most of the ones I still needed to make MM.
Just a data point on how an apparently more legitimate airline handles a similar issue.