Is it true that Aeromexico tickets purchased via an OTA do not accrue SkyMiles?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: SJC/BUR
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Is it true that Aeromexico tickets purchased via an OTA do not accrue SkyMiles?
Two weeks ago I flew on aeromexico from GDL to TIJ on a ticket in economy that I had purchased the day before with the OTA Priceline. It was a full price ticket in M class. Not opaque or name your own price. My SkyMiles number was on the boarding pass and receipt but miles didnt post. When I submitted for retroactive miles, I got this response 8 days later:
Thank you for your email requesting mileage credit for your travel on Delta partner, Aeromexico. I apologize for the delay in responding to your message.
We appreciate your interest in adding miles to your SkyMiles account; however, the fare you traveled on is not eligible for mileage credit as the ticket was purchased from Priceline. Fares excluded from earning mileage credit frequently change, particularly on partner airlines. We encourage you to always check with Delta, the issuing carrier or your
travel agent at the time of booking to ensure the fare you are purchasing qualifies for mileage credit.
When did this policy change occur? Why is Priceline a disfavored OTA? (I only booked through them because they had all my information saved and I can earn ebates dollars. It was the same price everywhere.)
What other partners do not accrue miles via OTAs? I know jetblue awards more miles if you book direct, but Ill admit this is a new one for me.
Thank you for your email requesting mileage credit for your travel on Delta partner, Aeromexico. I apologize for the delay in responding to your message.
We appreciate your interest in adding miles to your SkyMiles account; however, the fare you traveled on is not eligible for mileage credit as the ticket was purchased from Priceline. Fares excluded from earning mileage credit frequently change, particularly on partner airlines. We encourage you to always check with Delta, the issuing carrier or your
travel agent at the time of booking to ensure the fare you are purchasing qualifies for mileage credit.
When did this policy change occur? Why is Priceline a disfavored OTA? (I only booked through them because they had all my information saved and I can earn ebates dollars. It was the same price everywhere.)
What other partners do not accrue miles via OTAs? I know jetblue awards more miles if you book direct, but Ill admit this is a new one for me.
#2
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium, AA PLT for Life
Posts: 398
There is no such rules posted on delta.com.
If it was an M-class fare, it earns 100% miles in economy, per the standard calculations. It earns 100% MQMs and 20% MQDs based on distance flown not amount spent.
The accrual rules are posted here:
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...-partners.html
If it was an M-class fare, it earns 100% miles in economy, per the standard calculations. It earns 100% MQMs and 20% MQDs based on distance flown not amount spent.
The accrual rules are posted here:
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...-partners.html
#3
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
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I suspect the agent misunderstood what was going on, and thought you'd booked an opaque fare (given Priceline's reputation for selling those)...
#4
Original Poster
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I called and spoke to another Delta SkyMiles agent in lieu of the email one. Here is what she said:
Priceline (any fare, opaque or not): Never earns SkyMiles.
Travelocity: Never earns SkyMiles.
Expedia: This one is okay because it's not a "budget" OTA.
These rules should be broadcast more widely!
Priceline (any fare, opaque or not): Never earns SkyMiles.
Travelocity: Never earns SkyMiles.
Expedia: This one is okay because it's not a "budget" OTA.
These rules should be broadcast more widely!
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,886
The agent was clearly confused and these most assuredly are not the "rules". Does Priceline include the fare code (not just the fare class) in the receipt? That would probably help in demonstrating it was a published fare as you could probably pull it up on ITA Matrix or ExpertFlyer. ITA is showing fare code MHNN0ACM at MX$4162.00 base fare for one-way M fare on this route. The fare code can be found in the fare construction section if they include it and would look like this -- GDL AM TIJ Q675 3487MHNN0ACM MXN 4162 END XT 167MX 348XV 13YR
#6
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: SEA once more (previously CDG and NRT)
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Posts: 2,450
The agents often don't know what is going on when miles don't post and one of their default excuses is that because of the where you bought the ticket, it is ineligible for mileage accrual.
I've had numerous tickets for travel within Europe with Air France that didn't automatically post. I call in and provide them with the ticket numbers. Invariably, the agent says, oh, you bought those tickets through an agent/consolidator, and they aren't eligible for mileage. I explain that I bought them from Airfrance.com. Eventually, they put the ticket numbers in and say, they'll do it, but the system will likely reject them. And invariably, a couple days later, the miles post correctly.
I've had numerous tickets for travel within Europe with Air France that didn't automatically post. I call in and provide them with the ticket numbers. Invariably, the agent says, oh, you bought those tickets through an agent/consolidator, and they aren't eligible for mileage. I explain that I bought them from Airfrance.com. Eventually, they put the ticket numbers in and say, they'll do it, but the system will likely reject them. And invariably, a couple days later, the miles post correctly.
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
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Posts: 8,240
The agent is wrong. Sorry you have to deal with that.
There is a caveat to what others have said. Just because it is an M fare, doesn't mean that it earns according to the chart. It has to be a *published* M fare. However, it is very rare for an OTA to sell an unpublished fare. Unpublished fares are usually for consolidators or vacation packages. So it is almost certain that you should earn miles on your ticket.
I suggest pushing back by replying to the email and mentioning the fare class. If someone competent reviews this, it should go through.
There is a caveat to what others have said. Just because it is an M fare, doesn't mean that it earns according to the chart. It has to be a *published* M fare. However, it is very rare for an OTA to sell an unpublished fare. Unpublished fares are usually for consolidators or vacation packages. So it is almost certain that you should earn miles on your ticket.
I suggest pushing back by replying to the email and mentioning the fare class. If someone competent reviews this, it should go through.
#9
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If the Priceline receipt shows a fare, like
Fare 1: Carrier AM QLNN0QCM GDL to TIJ
or a fare construction line, like
GDL AM TIJ Q675 1437QLNN0QCM MXN 2112 END XT 85MX 348XV 13YR
this ought to be resolved pretty quickly.
Fare 1: Carrier AM QLNN0QCM GDL to TIJ
or a fare construction line, like
GDL AM TIJ Q675 1437QLNN0QCM MXN 2112 END XT 85MX 348XV 13YR
this ought to be resolved pretty quickly.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,886
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...ion-fares.html
However, for published, non-bulk fares, it should not matter where you bought the ticket.
#12
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I suspect they are reading this part of the T&Cs and applying it to this request.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...-rules.html#em
But as many have posted, a non-opaque bookings through Priceline do earn miles.
- Bookings made through some Internet sites as described at those sites, including without limitation tickets purchased through priceline.com and Hotwire.com.
But as many have posted, a non-opaque bookings through Priceline do earn miles.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: SJC/BUR
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How would one go about getting these miles posted if two levels of representatives have refused? Do they have an ombudsman? Write to the office of CEO?
#14
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
I bought a K fare for me and a companion all on DL via Priceline as a published fare in February. Everything posted fine no problem, and upgrades also worked seamlessly as if I bought via DL.com.
OP - you need to write back in and escalate and kindly but firmly tell them it was published and to attempt to requeue it for posting...
OP - you need to write back in and escalate and kindly but firmly tell them it was published and to attempt to requeue it for posting...
#15
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ZRH / SEA, DL PM
Posts: 1,142
I suspect they are reading this part of the T&Cs and applying it to this request.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...-rules.html#em
But as many have posted, a non-opaque bookings through Priceline do earn miles.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...-rules.html#em
But as many have posted, a non-opaque bookings through Priceline do earn miles.
With DL own fares they may have an easy way to tell difference between opaque and and published fare on Priceline. For other airline fares they may just look at issuing agent and reject miles based on that.
And note that not all non-opaque fares on Priceline are published. I recently bought a ticket for a friend on Qatar Airways on Priceline which was advertised as having $20 or so discount and indeed it was $20 cheaper than Expedia or Qatar online. I guess there is just no easy for Delta to tell published vs not published for all partner fares, so they go easy way and filter by issuing agent.
Next time avoid Priceline and Hotwire.
Last edited by AntonS; Mar 17, 2018 at 2:23 pm