Massive Skyward Miles Devaluation Coming
Sep 14, 2009 | 1:32 am
#16
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 66
I have tried to get a first class award seat anywhere on the network for next year trying from NOV/DEC/JAN/FEB/MAR/APR/MAY/JUN/JUL/AUG and you cannot get any seat for First on any sector .
I contacted the Skywards centre in DXb via email and pasted a copy of a newspaper article re their awards programme and how impossible I was finding it .
Yesterday they called me from DXB and offered to waitlist me for a Standard First class award , which is something they have never done for me before .
Has anyone else been offered a waitlist for an award ??
I do think their progamme is going the way of so many others and becoming less attractive .
Its great to earn all the wonderful points but then try and use them and its becoming more and more difficult and yu only have 3 years to do so as well.
I understand that revenue must come first but how about a Loyalty seat for some loyalty. I spend alot of money obviously to get the points and then cant get a seat for being a loyal patron on their own scheme.
its getting a bit too much take and no give.
I shall use mine on their partner airlines and then probably change over to a programme that at least does not have an expiry date on the points.
I contacted the Skywards centre in DXb via email and pasted a copy of a newspaper article re their awards programme and how impossible I was finding it .
Yesterday they called me from DXB and offered to waitlist me for a Standard First class award , which is something they have never done for me before .
Has anyone else been offered a waitlist for an award ??
I do think their progamme is going the way of so many others and becoming less attractive .
Its great to earn all the wonderful points but then try and use them and its becoming more and more difficult and yu only have 3 years to do so as well.
I understand that revenue must come first but how about a Loyalty seat for some loyalty. I spend alot of money obviously to get the points and then cant get a seat for being a loyal patron on their own scheme.
its getting a bit too much take and no give.
I shall use mine on their partner airlines and then probably change over to a programme that at least does not have an expiry date on the points.
Sep 14, 2009 | 2:53 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: DXB
Posts: 71
On a positive note, there is the fact that upgrading has not changed! We managed to secure 3, Upgrades from J to F on EK001 the 2nd week of August, giving only 3 weeks notice, we all came back on different flights and all mangaged to get the seats confirmed in F before we left the UAE.
Doing one this weekend, BOM-DXB-BHX-DXB-BOM Y-J, 2 of us out and 3 of us back, again, we all got the upgrades!
I still say, with all this said and done, that EK have one of the best programs going, however, I have never brought a reward ticket, only ever used miles for upgrades.
Doing one this weekend, BOM-DXB-BHX-DXB-BOM Y-J, 2 of us out and 3 of us back, again, we all got the upgrades!
I still say, with all this said and done, that EK have one of the best programs going, however, I have never brought a reward ticket, only ever used miles for upgrades.
Sep 14, 2009 | 6:49 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,159
Sep 14, 2009 | 9:48 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 21 mls sw of ABZ
Programs: EK Siver, Dusit Gold, Cycling Proficiency Test, Tufty Club Member and Le Club Accorhotels Platinum
Posts: 312
yes, I can confirm that first upgrades are now out of Z. That was my recent problem some of you are aware of.
Sep 14, 2009 | 11:14 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Dubai
Programs: EK Gold, , FB Gold, Jet Platinum, ICH Royal Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Sheraton Platinum
Posts: 421
On a positive note, there is the fact that upgrading has not changed! We managed to secure 3, Upgrades from J to F on EK001 the 2nd week of August, giving only 3 weeks notice, we all came back on different flights and all managed to get the seats confirmed in F before we left the UAE.
Doing one this weekend, BOM-DXB-BHX-DXB-BOM Y-J, 2 of us out and 3 of us back, again, we all got the upgrades!
I still say, with all this said and done, that EK have one of the best programs going, however, I have never brought a reward ticket, only ever used miles for upgrades.
Doing one this weekend, BOM-DXB-BHX-DXB-BOM Y-J, 2 of us out and 3 of us back, again, we all got the upgrades!
I still say, with all this said and done, that EK have one of the best programs going, however, I have never brought a reward ticket, only ever used miles for upgrades.
Sep 14, 2009 | 1:53 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Do they clear waitlisted upgrades at the gate as long as there are seats available in C/F?
Sep 14, 2009 | 10:07 pm
#22
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: EK
Posts: 358
First - Peak Award (A)
Business - Award (D)
Business - Peak Award (C)
Business - Upgrade (I)
Economy - Award (N)
Economy - Partner Award (X)
Economy - Peak Award (W)
Sep 17, 2009 | 7:47 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: EK Gold, BA Silver, IHC Plat, HERTZ gold, GF Gold, SAS Silver
Posts: 752
We also have to remember that with the recent "tripple" miles offer EK have had of late (where no one complained) many skywards members have had an abundence of extra miles than they would have normally collected - I managed to collate over 400'000 miles during the offer alone, I am sure that many used them up, rather quickly during the Credit Crisis, maybe this is one of the reasons, we are now finding it harder to book premuim seats.. as I did on 5 future upgrades, (i still have a decent balance),Just a thought! @:-)