New Lumo in da house!
Jan 14, 2019, 1:42 am
#346
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
Send a small gift instead, something that fits in your mail box. A small bar of high-quality chocolate, a tie or scarf, a nice ballpoint pen, a leather folder that initially includes the card and letter but that can be used for other things later, or whatever.
And the idea of a metallic card is a good one!
And the idea of a metallic card is a good one!
The first time I flew LX F, after the flight I got a letter to my home address with two Lindt chocolate hearts and a thank you note for flying their F.
Even when I bought some mid-fi headphone cables, in the letter-package the seller sent a small piece of cookie (the ones you often get with your espresso) thanking for my business. Cost? Maybe 5p. Goodwill value? Tremendous.
Last edited by WilcoRoger; Jan 14, 2019 at 1:48 am
Jan 14, 2019, 1:43 am
#347
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: AY Plat Lumo, LX SEN, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 464
I am curious about this part. Why was Finnair your best choice until 150k?
Not trying to pick anything apart, just want to understand. Finnair obviously is a part of your mix for some reason and fulfils your needs for some trips. Was that reason mainly to get platinum perks *) or was there other major reasons too?
And flying other airlines and credit other programs - was that mainly to get status on those programs or were there other reasons? Like niksal said, Schedule, price, destinations, contracts, et.c?
And with introduction of Lumo (and I totally get the Clooney thing) you switched *A flights to AY. I assume you lost/will lose perks with airlines/programs - did you feel that it was a minor loss? ie you look to have most of your future travel on AY/OW and don't see the need for other alliances anymore?
*) And believe me I see nothing wrong with that - I credit 150k to Finnair solely for status reasons.
Not trying to pick anything apart, just want to understand. Finnair obviously is a part of your mix for some reason and fulfils your needs for some trips. Was that reason mainly to get platinum perks *) or was there other major reasons too?
And flying other airlines and credit other programs - was that mainly to get status on those programs or were there other reasons? Like niksal said, Schedule, price, destinations, contracts, et.c?
And with introduction of Lumo (and I totally get the Clooney thing) you switched *A flights to AY. I assume you lost/will lose perks with airlines/programs - did you feel that it was a minor loss? ie you look to have most of your future travel on AY/OW and don't see the need for other alliances anymore?
*) And believe me I see nothing wrong with that - I credit 150k to Finnair solely for status reasons.
I probably won't renew Lumo anytime soon, but since it was within reach I figured let's try it once. This year I need to do some *A runs to keep my status as well so I'll just quietly drop back to ordinary platinum.
Jan 14, 2019, 2:29 am
#348
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,170
Jan 14, 2019, 10:38 am
#349
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,783
This 4+ hour before flight rule for buying tickets online is another weird way to encourage passengers to buy from somewhere else. Why would an airline make it so difficult to buy a ticket when competitors are happy to sell you a ticket online even an hour before departure? It's not once or twice that I have due to this flown SAS from ARN or CPH to HEL. I believe that the 4 hour rule doesn't concern flight changes online however, does it?
Jan 14, 2019, 1:39 pm
#350
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: AY+ Lumo (LTG), LH SEN
Posts: 318
This 4+ hour before flight rule for buying tickets online is another weird way to encourage passengers to buy from somewhere else. Why would an airline make it so difficult to buy a ticket when competitors are happy to sell you a ticket online even an hour before departure? It's not once or twice that I have due to this flown SAS from ARN or CPH to HEL. I believe that the 4 hour rule doesn't concern flight changes online however, does it?
Jan 21, 2019, 1:56 am
#351
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: AY Plat Lumo, LX SEN, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 464
Arriving in HEL this Friday on a Norra-operated E90. But the arrival time is at 22:55, so if we park on the tarmac, is that too late for a BMW ride? Has anyone experienced them operating still at that hour?
Jan 21, 2019, 3:08 am
#352
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: C2
Programs: AY ex-Lumo, TK Elite, BT VIP, ITA Executive
Posts: 1,157
Nowadays, BMW drivers work until 10pm-12am, so you might get lucky.
Jan 21, 2019, 4:19 am
#353
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: AY Plat Lumo, LX SEN, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 464
Jan 24, 2019, 3:02 am
#354
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
Very nice surprise to DUS.
Chock-full flight (seat block didn't work, I was 11A, a Plat in 11C, still a pax in 11B - though 11E was empty). When the doors were closed, the purser came up to me and asked "would you like to sit in the front, it's empty and would be much more comfy? Unfortunately though we have no biz food loaded" ^ The tapas plate works well in lieu of breakfast with a bubbly
I stole a look at her iPad, the screen showed seats until row 16 or so, 9 plats (!), 5 golds and yours truly.
Chock-full flight (seat block didn't work, I was 11A, a Plat in 11C, still a pax in 11B - though 11E was empty). When the doors were closed, the purser came up to me and asked "would you like to sit in the front, it's empty and would be much more comfy? Unfortunately though we have no biz food loaded" ^ The tapas plate works well in lieu of breakfast with a bubbly
I stole a look at her iPad, the screen showed seats until row 16 or so, 9 plats (!), 5 golds and yours truly.
Jan 25, 2019, 3:04 pm
#355
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 87
Oh, change in plans.
As I wrote you fellows the other day, I’ve found myself preferring AY just as there’s a reason to go beyond Bruce’s CD collection (or how was it?) after hitting 150k easily. Honestly, I’ve thought ticketing AY on any OW metal would be no harm but found out that is not the case.
I’m about to fly out to US on Sunday and had HEL - LHR - EWR on AY (J/C). Roughly an hour back I got a message from BA telling my LHR - EWR had been cancelled (it is a sh*tty connection anyways, always deprioritized when in the need of planes elsewhere, shouldn’t go with it). The message contained a link to BA MyBookings where the only message was an encouragement to find my own way to re-route or contact my travel agency.
Well, while fully aware of BA being the one causing troubles, decided still to give AY a call as I indeed was their customer with my AY code share tickets. The message was brief: you need to contact BA. Apparently, the only BA call center available in the evening was in the US. The moment they saw AY printed on my itinerary they kindly asked me to turn to Finnair. I decided to give my assistant a call instead. Needless to mention, my UK based colleague sharing the cancelled flight (and traveling with BA tickets and status) had been re-routed automatically.
After the Sunday trip, I have 4 more US visits scheduled before end May and would assume one or two more to pop up into my calendar. One is clear AY5 gig as I’m going to Manhattan but the others are either via LHR (BA or code share) or with *A. Must say today’s experience reminded me about some at least minor challenges related to preferring AY at full.
As I wrote you fellows the other day, I’ve found myself preferring AY just as there’s a reason to go beyond Bruce’s CD collection (or how was it?) after hitting 150k easily. Honestly, I’ve thought ticketing AY on any OW metal would be no harm but found out that is not the case.
I’m about to fly out to US on Sunday and had HEL - LHR - EWR on AY (J/C). Roughly an hour back I got a message from BA telling my LHR - EWR had been cancelled (it is a sh*tty connection anyways, always deprioritized when in the need of planes elsewhere, shouldn’t go with it). The message contained a link to BA MyBookings where the only message was an encouragement to find my own way to re-route or contact my travel agency.
Well, while fully aware of BA being the one causing troubles, decided still to give AY a call as I indeed was their customer with my AY code share tickets. The message was brief: you need to contact BA. Apparently, the only BA call center available in the evening was in the US. The moment they saw AY printed on my itinerary they kindly asked me to turn to Finnair. I decided to give my assistant a call instead. Needless to mention, my UK based colleague sharing the cancelled flight (and traveling with BA tickets and status) had been re-routed automatically.
After the Sunday trip, I have 4 more US visits scheduled before end May and would assume one or two more to pop up into my calendar. One is clear AY5 gig as I’m going to Manhattan but the others are either via LHR (BA or code share) or with *A. Must say today’s experience reminded me about some at least minor challenges related to preferring AY at full.
Jan 25, 2019, 3:29 pm
#356
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,745
Codeshares definitely are a PITA, but I would have assumed a last minute cancellation to be straightforward and handled by BA in this case.
If you just fly to LHR and go to the BA desk, I wonder what they'll do.
If you just fly to LHR and go to the BA desk, I wonder what they'll do.
Jan 25, 2019, 3:45 pm
#357
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 87
Me too. Will take AY5 instead and arrive 5+ hrs late eventually. Would be good fun to fly over and see how it goes but have some work to do...
Jan 25, 2019, 3:49 pm
#358
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,016
I wonder why they don't act on this. It could cost BA a lot of money in EU 261 compensation, so I'd have thought that they would want to act fast.
Jan 25, 2019, 3:50 pm
#359
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Helsinki-Vantaa APT, Finland
Programs: AY LUMO
Posts: 6,055
Jan 25, 2019, 3:55 pm
#360
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 87
It’s actually an interesting question if they have any liability left given it was my assistant / travel agency taking care of the re-routing. Could send BA my coming JFK-EWR limo bill and a request for delay :-) Well, there must be a flight to JFK for them to offer me. For me a whole lot easier to catch AY5, spend Sun morning with the family, leave later, and most importantly without the need to fly through LHR. Will miss a meeting in New Jersey though.