skywards audit
Nov 23, 2022 | 3:39 am
#31
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,663
A Friend of mine that is not really familiar with points is concerned because his emirates skyward is under audit and they are asking for his passport info to be sent over. A couple of years ago he transferred a million or so points to emirates from His amex account and then did not use them, so he gave the account to his son who ended up selling to a broker which caused his account to get locked. He is concerned about sending over his identification because he read online that emirates goes after people legally who sell points from their account. Is there any reassurance i can provide him that if he send over his passport to the auditing department nothing will happen and emirates only goes after people that are doing these type of selling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth not just a standard amex cardholder that decided to transfer his points had no use for them and had them sold to a broker? thank you in advance to whoever can respond much appreciated.
hilton closed my account with over a million points please help with your advice ty
Nov 23, 2022 | 9:09 am
#32
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,801
You think you (aka 'your friend') would have learnt the first time....
hilton closed my account with over a million points please help with your advice ty
hilton closed my account with over a million points please help with your advice ty
Nov 23, 2022 | 6:10 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 5
/QUOTE]
If I was asked to send my passport info to verify my account I never would have asked this question, I am just asking this question publicly in order so that I can show the person that asked me the answer I got from people that know about emirates accounts in order to make that person feel at ease to send emirates his passport info. If it was my account I wouldn't hesitate to send it over. why do you need to be condescending. just answer the question.
May 28, 2023 | 7:53 pm
#34
Join Date: Nov 2022
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 23
Based on what I read here and on various blogs, I can see where we were flagged, but it seemed ridiculous. I think there were two factors that triggered this audit:
1. Points were transferred into a relatively new account from two different Amex accounts, even though they were both under the same name and we actually had to call to get one unlinked and the other linked as it appears only one account can transfer into the EK account
2. Taxes/Surcharges were paid with an Amex card of one of the two passengers, but not the one owning the account
So, my spouse and I were on a single reservation, traveling together. Points from one person, credit card from the other person. However, single reservation, traveling together, same home address. Sure, if they want to trigger an audit or ask questions, verify data, etc. But for it to take 2.5 months? We felt uncomfortable with how it would turn out so we cancelled our award reservation and modified our trip to skip EK and Dubai.
1. Points were transferred into a relatively new account from two different Amex accounts, even though they were both under the same name and we actually had to call to get one unlinked and the other linked as it appears only one account can transfer into the EK account
2. Taxes/Surcharges were paid with an Amex card of one of the two passengers, but not the one owning the account
So, my spouse and I were on a single reservation, traveling together. Points from one person, credit card from the other person. However, single reservation, traveling together, same home address. Sure, if they want to trigger an audit or ask questions, verify data, etc. But for it to take 2.5 months? We felt uncomfortable with how it would turn out so we cancelled our award reservation and modified our trip to skip EK and Dubai.
May 31, 2023 | 10:41 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, Hilton, National
Posts: 863
A Friend of mine that is not really familiar with points is concerned because his emirates skyward is under audit and they are asking for his passport info to be sent over. A couple of years ago he transferred a million or so points to emirates from His amex account and then did not use them, so he gave the account to his son who ended up selling to a broker which caused his account to get locked. He is concerned about sending over his identification because he read online that emirates goes after people legally who sell points from their account. Is there any reassurance i can provide him that if he send over his passport to the auditing department nothing will happen and emirates only goes after people that are doing these type of selling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth not just a standard amex cardholder that decided to transfer his points had no use for them and had them sold to a broker? thank you in advance to whoever can respond much appreciated.
Nov 24, 2023 | 11:29 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 14
Mine and my SO's accounts were blocked for months by Skywards team.
The initial reason was SO transferring MRs to his newly created account and trying to book JFK-ATH in my name. His account got immediately blocked and then I proceeded to transfer MRs to my account and booking the said flight. It was last minute, took it the next day but then a couple of weeks later I noticed my account was blocked too. This might have been caused by my last name not matching on Amex & Skywards (name change)
Anyway, we reached to data integrity, sent all the documents and explanations, had to follow up a number of times, call in Emirates support and 4 months later my SO's account got reinstated with all MRs. Mine was still locked. Data integrity team stopped responding. After a couple of months of trying to contact them, I wrote another strongly worded e-mail with an intent of reaching out to DoT should my account issue is not going to be resolved. This time it seems like it went to the correct person who reviewed the documents and unblocked the account.
The initial reason was SO transferring MRs to his newly created account and trying to book JFK-ATH in my name. His account got immediately blocked and then I proceeded to transfer MRs to my account and booking the said flight. It was last minute, took it the next day but then a couple of weeks later I noticed my account was blocked too. This might have been caused by my last name not matching on Amex & Skywards (name change)
Anyway, we reached to data integrity, sent all the documents and explanations, had to follow up a number of times, call in Emirates support and 4 months later my SO's account got reinstated with all MRs. Mine was still locked. Data integrity team stopped responding. After a couple of months of trying to contact them, I wrote another strongly worded e-mail with an intent of reaching out to DoT should my account issue is not going to be resolved. This time it seems like it went to the correct person who reviewed the documents and unblocked the account.
Dec 13, 2023 | 6:23 am
#38
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: NYC -- UA 1K; SPG Platinum; HH Diamond.
Posts: 3,251
Any more facts that you wish to share? What happened, what did you try to do to fix it and what do you mean by "blacklisted" in your case (they won't sell you tickets/let you fly with them at all? Something else?)?
Dec 13, 2023 | 8:33 am
#39
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: UK
Programs: EK skywards Gold, BA, VS silver
Posts: 285
Dec 13, 2023 | 9:28 am
#40
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
So what's the best preventative (if any) method if you want to plan/book award travel with transferrable currencies (Chase UR, Citi TY, etc.)?
Open a Skywards account 2 years in advance, wait 6 months, transfer a few points, wait another 6 months, transfer the rest and then book?
Seems like if you do this 1 year out you'll be screwed and by the time they unlock your account, you won't be able to get award tickets unless you want to travel a year after they finally get things approved?
Open a Skywards account 2 years in advance, wait 6 months, transfer a few points, wait another 6 months, transfer the rest and then book?
Seems like if you do this 1 year out you'll be screwed and by the time they unlock your account, you won't be able to get award tickets unless you want to travel a year after they finally get things approved?
Dec 17, 2023 | 3:48 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2018
Location: AUH
Programs: TK Elite (*G), Etihad Gold, Royal Jordanian Gold (OW Sapphire), Accor Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 298
I was denied boarding at LAX last July. No recourse, no refund, my chargeback was denied by my card issuer. No reasons given, other than abuse of skywards program. Paid $3500+ for that ticket and transferred over a tonne of points from Marriott to make that upgrade happen. Didnt get the points back, and only got my money back after going to small claims court in California and opening a BBB complaint against the travel agent I got the ticket from. What a terrible experience, I will never see EK the same way.