Oh well, there go the surcharge-less BA tickets using US miles.
Apr 30, 2014, 4:18 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: JFK
Programs: AA LT Plat
Posts: 453
Source: http://hub.aa.com/en/nr/pressrelease...ia-and-finnair
Apr 30, 2014, 6:17 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
I can tell you've never made a US partner award booking. Phone only for partner awards (no ability to do it online), and it's a PITA with US phone agents who are very uneven in training level and ability, and the only way you can do find out cost is go all the way through booking the award and either book it or hold it, which takes the award out of inventory (no guarantee that it returns if you let the hold expire or cancel the hold), and is kind of a slimey thing to do just to find out if there's YQ or not.
Anyways... I don't see that this "kills the deal". News Flash: US DM is on death row anyways. They'll kill it off soon enough and merge it to AAdvantage, with all the
rules about published fare/no transiting certain zones. So why is it so bad that a bunch of folks get a chance to save some bucks when they fly BA F? What makes FTers more deserving of "the deal" than blog readers?
Oh, and as I pointed out elsewhere... US isn't part of the AA/BA/IB TATL JV. So there may be a good reason why they're not charging YQ.
Anyways... I don't see that this "kills the deal". News Flash: US DM is on death row anyways. They'll kill it off soon enough and merge it to AAdvantage, with all the
rules about published fare/no transiting certain zones. So why is it so bad that a bunch of folks get a chance to save some bucks when they fly BA F? What makes FTers more deserving of "the deal" than blog readers?Oh, and as I pointed out elsewhere... US isn't part of the AA/BA/IB TATL JV. So there may be a good reason why they're not charging YQ.
It's a PITA compared to others but how many people are (1) aware of BA YQ, (2) are seeking redemptions on BA metal, and (3) wouldn't otherwise think to try this route if they have Dividend Miles to burn? The point is, this isn't something that masses of poor 'ole blog readers need "help" on. And the folks for whom this is of interest should be bright enough to try this venue for their bookings if the so desire. Many other incidents like this are even more straightforward. I never stated that FT readers deserve the deal more than blog readers.
Apr 30, 2014, 11:27 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ONT
Programs: AGR, UA, AA
Posts: 476
It would also make sense that Gary and Ben would know quickly about the lack of fuel surcharges on BA since they run award booking services and would fairly quickly recognize the advantage there. TPG, as far as I know, only pimps credit cards and does not make money elsewhere.
May 1, 2014, 3:46 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
It would also make sense that Gary and Ben would know quickly about the lack of fuel surcharges on BA since they run award booking services and would fairly quickly recognize the advantage there. TPG, as far as I know, only pimps credit cards and does not make money elsewhere.
May 1, 2014, 6:33 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™
Programs: TK/SQ Gold, QR Plat, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, HH Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,706
I'm just glad the best kept secret about surcharges on BA hasn't come out on any of the blogs so far, mainly because they are all so USA-centric.
May 1, 2014, 6:37 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
Probably because the bloggers use it themselves - some of them own award booking businesses, and it might hurt their cash flow if people suddenly were hit with having to pay more.
May 1, 2014, 5:31 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,386
Yes I have made US partner award bookings It's a PITA compared to others but how many people are (1) aware of BA YQ, (2) are seeking redemptions on BA metal, and (3) wouldn't otherwise think to try this route if they have Dividend Miles to burn? The point is, this isn't something that masses of poor 'ole blog readers need "help" on. And the folks for whom this is of interest should be bright enough to try this venue for their bookings if the so desire. Many other incidents like this are even more straightforward.
I never stated that FT readers deserve the deal more than blog readers.
It's a PITA compared to others but how many people are (1) aware of BA YQ, (2) are seeking redemptions on BA metal, and (3) wouldn't otherwise think to try this route if they have Dividend Miles to burn? The point is, this isn't something that masses of poor 'ole blog readers need "help" on. And the folks for whom this is of interest should be bright enough to try this venue for their bookings if the so desire. Many other incidents like this are even more straightforward. I never stated that FT readers deserve the deal more than blog readers.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; May 2, 2014 at 10:54 am
May 1, 2014, 7:54 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
The problem is that dummy bookings through US on BA DO tie up inventory. Which is kind of a (expletive deleted) move. I don't see what the problem is with this being common knowledge instead of a serious inside game kind of thing; US will dies as an airline soon enough anyways.
May 1, 2014, 8:44 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
Has this deal died yet? Because, from the screaming here, the deal should already be dead rather than, perhaps, a prearranged deal regarding US's entry into OneWorld. But, I wouldn't want facts getting in the way of a good story.
Especially one that justifies the existence of this sub-forum.
Especially one that justifies the existence of this sub-forum.
May 1, 2014, 9:16 pm
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
Has this deal died yet? Because, from the screaming here, the deal should already be dead rather than, perhaps, a prearranged deal regarding US's entry into OneWorld. But, I wouldn't want facts getting in the way of a good story.
Especially one that justifies the existence of this sub-forum.
Especially one that justifies the existence of this sub-forum.
May 2, 2014, 9:06 am
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: check swarm
Programs: DL DM & 2MM, SPG/Bonvoid LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, $tarbucks Titanium
Posts: 14,404
Did I translate the above to say: fly like earn blog for the day of flying make money points?
May 2, 2014, 11:47 am
#29
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BNA
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Ex Plat, DL Dropout from Skymiles 2015
Posts: 42
Posted a deal? I didn't know you had unique deals between all of your 'Rookie' Posts and 'Fireside Chats'.
May 2, 2014, 12:32 pm
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174