Delta slashes mileage earning on unpublished and group fares: 01 September 2012
May 16, 2013, 12:38 pm
#406
Original Member
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I had a situation that was about the opposite. We had an overseas project our company put people in business class but had a guy who wanted miles. We used a consolidator add it saved 35-65%. He called and made such an issue that his boss was called and it was explained that the trouble he was causing was not worth it and they were dropped from the contract. They list a multi million dollar deal list over ff miles. Be careful you don't alienate the customer or worse. Sometimes we forget it is the clients money and choice unless previously negotiated.
May 16, 2013, 2:35 pm
#407
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
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I had a situation that was about the opposite. We had an overseas project our company put people in business class but had a guy who wanted miles. We used a consolidator add it saved 35-65%. He called and made such an issue that his boss was called and it was explained that the trouble he was causing was not worth it and they were dropped from the contract. They list a multi million dollar deal list over ff miles. Be careful you don't alienate the customer or worse. Sometimes we forget it is the clients money and choice unless previously negotiated.
May 16, 2013, 3:28 pm
#408
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Tundra Land (MSP)
Programs: DL Plat, DL SkyClub, SPG Plat, HH Diamond, National Emerald Exec
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Totally, completely, absolutely, without question agree--especially when dealing with overseas companies whose sensitivity to such things runs higher than that here at home.
May 16, 2013, 4:09 pm
#409
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Amsterdam
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Just FYI, CA is Air China, a Star Alliance carrier based in Beijing. China Airlines (Skyteam and based in Taipei) is CI.
May 16, 2013, 7:56 pm
#410
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: AUS, ATL
Programs: UA Premier Gold, SPG/Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 111
At some point, cost will trump all. For the right price, I'd drop the elite race altogether.
May 16, 2013, 11:53 pm
#411
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: DL DM; Hertz Gold PC
Posts: 267
As always, FlyerTalk members are amazing. 
If, however, the price is close (or the same), I'll insist on published fares. Sure, it's nice to get a trip to Taipei on someone else's dime, but if that dime costs me 7,000+ MQMs, I might be "inspired" to noodge a bit harder.
This really stinks.
If, however, the price is close (or the same), I'll insist on published fares. Sure, it's nice to get a trip to Taipei on someone else's dime, but if that dime costs me 7,000+ MQMs, I might be "inspired" to noodge a bit harder.
This really stinks.
Client didn't say. They're (client) an Asian organization, so there's only so far I can question things without risking stepped on toes (or worse, burned bridges).
My guess is this wasn't one of the big national chains--most likely a NY-area consolidator with a handful of offices that specializes in Asian travel.
My guess is this wasn't one of the big national chains--most likely a NY-area consolidator with a handful of offices that specializes in Asian travel.
Special / unpublished Fares purchased in the Asia Pacific Region are excluded and will continue to earn full mileage based on
SkyMiles program rules. See terms and conditions for the definition of the Asia Pacific Region.
SkyMiles program rules. See terms and conditions for the definition of the Asia Pacific Region.
May 20, 2013, 3:31 pm
#412
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: DL, AS, Marriott, Hyatt, National
Posts: 862
...
It might be a consolidator fare, but it might also be a contract that the agency has with the airline (Delta in this case) for override commissions. The belief by most of the (uninformed) traveling public, including many on FT, is that travel agency commissions from airlines stopped years ago. That is absolutely not true, especially for international flights.
...
It might be a consolidator fare, but it might also be a contract that the agency has with the airline (Delta in this case) for override commissions. The belief by most of the (uninformed) traveling public, including many on FT, is that travel agency commissions from airlines stopped years ago. That is absolutely not true, especially for international flights.
...
May 20, 2013, 6:35 pm
#413
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
Often it is just not worth the cost (monetary, or worse product, schedule, etc.) to earn one's preferred FF miles. And plus, any serious traveller will likely have an active FF account in all three major alliances. FF miles are same as any other investment, and it pays to diversify. (Combined with miles earned in some programs such as SPG, Chase UR and AmEx MR via CC spend (vs. any airline specific CC spend earn), that can be transferred, among the three combined, to any major airline, and then any program that is short of the required miles can be easily topped off.) The "perks" of status are rapidly eroding accross all programs and the value of such, while different for different travellers, of course, should not be over-estimated.