Fare changes 2015
 

What does that mean? Even higher prices if you want to earn 100%?

ok I can answer that myself

http://s15.postimg.cc/g5bxcb9gn/Scr...9_36_51_PM.jpg

If the flex plus gonna cost more than current flex, I guess this is will be my last year as my company is not gonna pay more than current W tickets :(

its fare families

I assume there will be a zero miles earning ticket in line with most other airlines...greater transparency is a good thing....

guess we have to wait for the ticket prices.. let's see. At least my trip in March is booked already ..

so continue to by flex not flex plus. Flex plus will be a Y full fare and probably very expensive.

Oh no, not another enhancement!!

Antinori was previously with Lufthansa. Whenever LH uses the line: "We will unveil a brand new range of fare types, based on valuable feedback from our members" (this is what the email I received says) it means that 90% of travellers will be screwed left, right and center.

Great. Another devaluation in the making... :(

So having a quick look for one of the sectors I fly in Y class, this is what the numbers are looking like:

KHI - DXB - LHR

Current

Saver = 1875 (one way)
Flex = 3750 (one way)

NEW

Special = 938 (one way)
Saver = 1312 (one way)
Flex = 2625 (one way)
Flex Plus = 3750 (one way)

I used to book most of my Y travel using the FLEX fares originating from KHI, mainly because of double TIER miles and also the flexibility to change. I will probably need to revisit.

By the looks of it, EK is making it harder to attain status flying economy.

Nice, 300k miles now sort of gonna go down the drain. I'll see if I can get 2x F one ways to burn them off then goodbye EK.

Did the same check for my routes, only FLEX PLUS keeps the mileage earning the same as in the current model. FLEX is less.

Let's wait what the ticket conditions will look like. If they also introduce change fees for FLEX, then I will just become opportunistic and fly whoever is cheapest on my route.

I am quite surprised about this move of Emirates, as I find the cheapest flex fares today already quite expensive relative to business fares. Also, why do they reduce mileage earnings even more if they already have one of the worse earn/burn ratios in the industry? Maybe Emirates is running out of additional landing rights in Europe, so they now try and milk the cow?

Before the moaning gets really underway, let's wait and see how the fares vs. miles earned works out. Remember that just being here on FT we are all atypical travellers - the large majority don't really care about miles, they care about price, schedule and/or service.

TaipeiWang, I'm interested to see that you've got an image of the new booking engine - I can't get that online yet. I took part in some user testing last year but didn't mention it here as it would break EK's confidentiality. The site then was a bit of a dog's dinner, trying to do too many things at once, but I'd like to see if it's been made easier.

There were also some other fare features tested in that session, which haven't emerged (yet) but might go down well with at least some of the people on this forum.

I'm not an EK apologist (quite the opposite really) but remember, nobody makes you fly Emirates or any other airline. So if you're not happy with the scheme, as part of all the factors you consider in choosing an airline... fly with someone else!

Something tells me that this enhancement was referred to internally as the shakedown. It aligns loyalty with revenue. If you do a couple return LAX-AKL to hit Gold on a 750 dollar fare then you'll be hit hard.

If you do F paid, little is changing. Although I'm not holding my breath for shakedown 1.1 when redemption levels will be 'brought into line' with earn levels.

Also gone are the days of upgrading a special fare onboard. There's almost 55% hike on those!!! AKL-SYD not showing (Sorry, information for this route is currently unavailable. Please try again later.)
SYD-AKL jumping to 16.5k instead of 12.5k

But upon checking BEY-DXB which is of similar cost, it shows 19.5k for onboard upgrade from saver vs 12.5k from flex/current!

This is misleading and inaccurate

Looks like another devaluation in earning miles. I decided right at the beginning of my tier that I am not going to be trying to achieve Plat again. Seems like a good call in hindsight....

Miles needed for upgrades have increased too....I'm sure we all saw this coming.
It's pretty much pointless to even try and redeem miles for flights anymore.

So looking at dxb man (my most frequent route) assuming the calculator is one way (not clear) a flex upgrade is 39k vs 25k and a saver is 57.5k vs 32.5k that's a whopping increase and a massive devaluation of the programme.

Christ :td: :mad: :rolleyes:

Upgrade Award currently in Flex from FRA to DXB 25.000
New Flex / Flex plus will cost 30.000, so 20% more miles.

Upgrade Award currently in Saver currently 32.000
New Safer will cost 57.500...

I would name it a systematic devaluation of the miles in our accounts.

However it was a question of time for this, many other airlines did the same in the last years. In the good old times 2 return flights from Europe to Asia in economy, cheapest fare bucket in one year gave you silver status / 4 returns gold status respective. This was one of the reasons why EK became attractive and could fill their planes easily (besides comfort, catering and entertainment). This was in 2009 / 2010. EK has grown enormous in the last years. I assume they have now enough passengers who are able and willing to pay more, so they try (and will) select those clients who will be worth it to be "rewarded", this will become in the end those ones, who spend more money for their tickets than the "average traveller".

Also to consider is the fact of their saving in the books with reducing the value of the accumulated miles which are currently sitting in the accounts of the active members. Not really an enhancement for the traveller, but for sure a big enhancement for the company-profit.

I am sure many will cry in the next days, however, there is not much what we can do, except to decide, if the company who does not value my loyality anymore, still deserves my money. But as EK has already a huge market-share in many locations. I have my doubts that EK cares about those people who will now changing their business to competitors. This is already calculated and in many cases there is a lack of options in regards of fare / destination / avaliabilty. In my opinion the FFP´s are seen now as a cost factor, rather than a marketing instrument. So this will be for sure not the last change.

The real question is, when and what will be the next "enhancement" :D?

Happy flying

Yup, I am on the same boat. Since March 2014 and getting Plat, I have only flown between KWI and DXB on EK, an odd MLE, and one more flight at the end of this month to MAN (Total tier miles to date around 16K).

Not only have prices been at eye-watering levels for J and F, but miles are becoming worthless (even though I earn some through a CC). I have since moved most of my travel to QR who have more decent ticket prices, and bank my miles with BA.

Its been a great run with EK, and I do miss their A/C, service and experience, but unless they become a bit more "reasonable" with prices and mileage, it seems like not much is going to happen.

Will existing tickets be honoured at old redemption rates?

Time to j to f my existing bookings!!!

Dear Loyal Customers and Skywards Members

But we're too shame faced to say that so we'll pretend that we're dressing something up as being beneficial for you, but in actual fact we'll continue to devalue any benefit of showing us loyalty and charge you more for the privilege.

But seriously, we value your custom and loyalty.

All the best.

EK

*********

(and yes, testament to why I binned EK 2 years ago at the start of the Skywards enhancement and now sit pretty with OW and, if need arises, *A. Not forgetting EY of course which now offers an all around better solution).

Miles needed to upgrade have been substantially increased.

Currently:

DXB to JFK

Upgrade Business to First
Skywards Saver 57,500 Skywards Miles
Skywards Flex 45,000 Skywards Miles

Under the new system:


DXB to JFK

Business to First
Skywards Saver 70 200 Skywards Miles
Skywards Flex 54,000 Skywards Miles

Ouch
:mad::td:

A little more honesty upfront would have been nicer. Trying to sell this as an "enhancement" is hardly going to fly with their premium passengers ...

Not had a chance to go through it in depth, but Business Class Fares don't seem to have beeen hit so hard as Economy Class.

A Business Saver earns the same as before and the Upgrade increase is not as much as Economy.

I suppose we'll have to see how each level is priced before deciding whether it's very bad or just bad.

As above, I think it might be time to upgrade something just now, or will the "old" upgrade rates remain for tickets already purchased?

O well... guess time to look around for alternative carriers.

I was quite shocked at the jump in prices, and devaluation of miles. I spoke to my company's Travel Coordinator to confirm this. If true EK is going to lose a lot of business from my company (lots of Asia x US/South America flights).

Typical company policy is to go with cheapest flex flights (Eco & Biz). Looking at the new prices, some of the Alliance airlines are now cheaper...

Time to burn the few miles I have left and be done with EK. I'm hoping South African can pull its act together under the new CEO. If his 90-day rescue plan doesn't fare well I am off to QR. It hurts. I remember the good old days without saver fares!

Indeed I believe that they are going to be losing a lot of Y flyers and business flyers. This un-enhancement has really rubbed the wrong way, and the fact that they sell it to you as a great thing is disgusting.

I haven't read anything yet about prices for the new levels. What jump are you referring to?

That shouldn't be too haard given your recent post:

Whenever an airline improves an aspect of their service, they usually involve a group of their passengers/loyal customers in trials and/or studies. Examples are the smart device app, new seats, artwork design for the FF card, inflight meals/service. And they brag about it by saying something like: we listened to your feedback, our most valued customers were involved from the outset.

This announcement does not have any similar reference. Bean counters trying to better manage premium cabins inventory and increase revenue potential. It's not like the whole cabin was open for upgrades to begin with -like many years ago. They're hardly trimming the edges while at the same time ridding the airline from all those pesky low value but savvy frequent travellers.

If EK want to be fair about this, we should expect to see the annual limit for miles purchase/transfer increased along with a drop in the cost per mile. They should also increase the award inventory -especially in F. They should also revise their carrier-imposed surcharges. Lastly if what the LH dude is anything to go by, limit F to Skywards redemptions, though won't be surprised if they impose a 2-week rule as well.

Obviously the above is pure speculation. But what EK did deserves to be thumbed down, despite the advance warning (remember how they made sudden changes in the past, effective immediately) :td::td:

Also posted that I canceled a Y-J upgrade on EK10 (which, in hindsight, was the stupidest thing I've ever done). I also got credited with the miles for flying Y Flex LGW-DUR and my Gold Bonus. Up to around 33,000 now I think. Good enough for a one-way upgrade...

Is the raffle up yet?

EDIT: ft101, you can see that post here. Look at #25.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emira...changes-2.html

Rough envelope calculations:
Gold is moving from about 5k-7k USD spend to about 7.5k-10k USD minimums.
Platinum is moving from around 15-20k USD to about 25-30k USD minimums.

Haven't really gone into too much detail about what comparable top tier status can be had for on other airlines, but it's possible OWE for around 2k USD and definitely no more than 5k USD...!

Should comment properly when I find some time!

As my flight needs are changing (from mainly SE and S S Asia to Southern Africa) and EK are a less direct option I'm likely to shift to BA or SAA becuase of this. Usually manage to get to gold (although not last year) in economy saver only but won't with this change.

Having done a few quick calculations across the various routes I travel, and compared the upgrade costs from Economy pre and post Feb, it appears that EKs intentions regarding the new 'enhanced' fares, when compared to the old fares, is as follows:

Old Special Fares Pre Feb: - Low cost, reasonable tier miles and we'll give you a shot at an upgrade at check-in

New Special Fare post Feb: - Low cost, crap tier miles, no upgrade possible so you'll stay in cattle class mate.

Old Saver Fares pre Feb: - more expensive than Special, reasonable tier miles, same access to D bucket as everyone else except 'specials' with reasonable cost to upgrade

New Saver Fare post Feb: - similar cost to pre-Feb, same tier miles, no access to D bucket seats for upgrade until check-in, and we'll now charge you an insanely huge increase in miles if you're silly enough to do it.

Why? Because if you want to upgrade we want you to book flex fares instead. Why is that? Because the old Flex Fare upgrade rules are now pretty much the new Flex Plus rules, and the new Flex Fare upgrade rules are effectively what was the upper echelon of Saver rules, but at higher ticket prices of course.

To put it another way, virtually everyone has had their rewards pushed down one level (or more in the case of Saver) but will be charged the same price or more. The most dishonest redefinition of 'enhancement' I have seen in 30 years of marketing.

So if we buy a ticket before Jan 31 for travel after Feb 1, will the "old" upgrade levels still apply? The website FAQ is unclear IMO

If I can do a check-in upgrade for the original level of miles after Feb 1 for tickets bought before Jan 31 it might be worth it to buy some of my upcoming trips ahead.

Yes sadiqhassan - Buy now and upgrade before Jan 31 and you can do it at the old rates, assuming inventory available of course.

We all know d won't be available by 31 jan for most of us the question is if you buy now do the old upgrade rules apply ie flex man dxb will be 25k to upgrade not 39k (y to j).

The only bright spot I found on this new calculator of my previous trips is if you fly F from CPT to LAX (which I will not be doing)...then even as a lowly blue you earn 500 more skywards miles than before! Otherwise its a net loss across the board for earning alone, unless Flex Plus just happens to be the same price as old flex...which isn't going to happen. But don't worry we get to use more miles to upgrade... Delta Skymiles 2015 is actually looking good comparatively....

This is from QF update to their programme for earning on EK flights.

Flex Plus is actually ERY. W gets pushed down to Flex. BGMU become flex (if they aren't already that).
Since Skywards and QFF are well aligned in terms of earning structure, it's safe assume that the changes aren't THAT dramatic (save for the inability to upgrade special fares, and the massive increase in upgrade cost for savers/flex)

http://i.imgur.com/ZI7wdQS.png

U, B & M were all standard saver fares last week but W was economy flex, so no change on that last one.

edy4eva - you and I are regular trans-tasman travellers...considering that there are almost always empty sets in J on those flights, I can't see this new policy doing anything but increasing the number of empty seats in that cabin on that sector, unless the new price of BGMUW is dropped considerably from where W used to be.

I think I'm going to be disappointed at the cost of flex plus!

Need to book a f/j to japan still not sure whether to buy now or wait until after these rules start.

If you book now and get say a flex out in f and a savers return will it be the miles at the time of booking or the new miles?

I can't help but worry special j will be the current saver and the saver will be more.

I'm guessing this will free up space in j to sell as revenue as people won't have this amount of miles to burn and the cost is prohibitive.

39k to man from 25k ouch!

Fares posted earlier this year have not decreased. One of the routes I am used to booking one way is actually now up to almost 600 dollars (to get into flex plus) -used to book W class which is now around 400.

My circumstances have changed drastically so I doubt I'll rejoin EK in the near future, save for F either using points or through some creative routings ;)