Award policy changes re: cancellation and no on-board upgrades
Feb 26, 2013, 4:24 pm
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
Not sure why you quoted me in this response.
My initial point was that a reasonable cancellation fee was fine (I wasn't disagreeing with his post), but it should be waived for elites (as, in general, loyalty programs do things like that for their loyal customers).
His response (a month later?) was then that waiving fees for elites would necessitate the program being overhauled to capacity-control award space.
I was simply commenting that there is no reason waiving a cancellation fee for elites would force awards to be capacity controlled and that his post was a logical fallacy.
My initial point was that a reasonable cancellation fee was fine (I wasn't disagreeing with his post), but it should be waived for elites (as, in general, loyalty programs do things like that for their loyal customers).
His response (a month later?) was then that waiving fees for elites would necessitate the program being overhauled to capacity-control award space.
I was simply commenting that there is no reason waiving a cancellation fee for elites would force awards to be capacity controlled and that his post was a logical fallacy.
Feb 26, 2013, 11:37 pm
#77
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,222
Not sure why you quoted me in this response.
My initial point was that a reasonable cancellation fee was fine (I wasn't disagreeing with his post), but it should be waived for elites (as, in general, loyalty programs do things like that for their loyal customers).
His response (a month later?) was then that waiving fees for elites would necessitate the program being overhauled to capacity-control award space.
I was simply commenting that there is no reason waiving a cancellation fee for elites would force awards to be capacity controlled and that his post was a logical fallacy.
My initial point was that a reasonable cancellation fee was fine (I wasn't disagreeing with his post), but it should be waived for elites (as, in general, loyalty programs do things like that for their loyal customers).
His response (a month later?) was then that waiving fees for elites would necessitate the program being overhauled to capacity-control award space.
I was simply commenting that there is no reason waiving a cancellation fee for elites would force awards to be capacity controlled and that his post was a logical fallacy.
Rather I think it was a warning to be careful what you wish for. You suggested that cancellation fees "should be waived for elites (as, in general, loyalty programs do things like that for their loyal customers)."
But if you're going to suggest that AGR should be more like airline programs, then you shouldn't be surprised if award space became capacity controlled "as, in general, loyalty programs do".
Feb 27, 2013, 6:59 am
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: n.y.c.
Posts: 13,988
I don't think he suggested that there would be a "necessity" for anything.
Rather I think it was a warning to be careful what you wish for. You suggested that cancellation fees "should be waived for elites (as, in general, loyalty programs do things like that for their loyal customers)."
But if you're going to suggest that AGR should be more like airline programs, then you shouldn't be surprised if award space became capacity controlled "as, in general, loyalty programs do".
Rather I think it was a warning to be careful what you wish for. You suggested that cancellation fees "should be waived for elites (as, in general, loyalty programs do things like that for their loyal customers)."
But if you're going to suggest that AGR should be more like airline programs, then you shouldn't be surprised if award space became capacity controlled "as, in general, loyalty programs do".
May 20, 2013, 8:39 am
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
I'm not sure why you would make the statement you did above.
You may want to review the FlyerTalk Rules before assuming such things--I see nothing in your post that is in violation of these rules, so I cannot see any reason why your post would be deleted. FlyerTalk is not managed by Amtrak, so we have no vested interest in protecting management.
If you think that what you said is harsh, just go take a look at the United forum and read what several people are saying about that management team. I think you'll learn that FlyerTalk is quite tolerant of anti-management posts.
Many of us have long known that Amtrak suffers from a pretty messed up corporate culture, although I believe I've heard that things have gotten better under Joe Boardman. But it would help if you could post some constructive ideas or, at the least, help us understand the reasoning behind your points--without having that, I have no reason to believe that it would be a positive thing for Amtrak to die and will continue to hope and assume Amtrak can be reformed.