Unless they've recently eliminated it, Alaska has an award like that. I believe it's 50% off whatever fare you can get, and you still earn the miles.

A practical Elite status perk...
 

I was just thinking that with all of the eilte perks:
upgrades, check in, luggage, etc.

What about something more practical:

A DISCOUNT!!!

Maybe between 5-10%

Alaska still has that kind of program. You can turn in 1st class upgrade coupons in exchange for discounts. I don't remember right now how many coupons it takes, but you can get a 25%, 50% or 75% discount off any fair. It seems like it takes 12 coupons for a 75% discount. Actually for those of us who fly Dash-8 planes twice a week, the coupons build up faster thatn we cna use them. So accumulating 12 coupons doesnt really take all that long.

Fine with me but I wouln't hold my breath waiting! I understand some credit cards do offer a rebate on "favored" ailines, hotels, cruise ships etc but don't use them so can't provide the details!

In past years, in addition to the standard free tickets, United's Mileage Plus program had mileage awards that provided discounts at 25%, 50% and 75% levels. And when using these discounts, your flight still qualified for earning miles! Ah, the good old days!

Yes- US Airways just eliminated their 25% and 50% discount awards. It was a great way to book a "full fare" for half price, upgrade immediately, and still get miles (both elite & bonus miles) for the flights. I miss them already.

Must take an OOOOLLLLLDDDD person to remember the "Good Ole Days".

UA silver wings (must be over 55 to join, over 60 to get the rebate): 10% any UA fare - you still earn miles.

What I'd like to see, and I don't know why no airline has done it yet, is free drinks and/or headsets in coach for elite members. Maybe they could mail you a book of coupons when you qualify and every 25,000 miles thereafter. That would be a real loyalty-builder, especially if you could use the coupons for your traveling companions as well.

That's a great idea, Efrem.

It would be easy to accomplish, and wouldn't add to the workload of the flight attendants.

It does seem like some airline would have thought of this, but sometimes it takes true genius to think of the "obvious" as you have done.

UA regularly sends me (1K) vouchers for free drinks and headsets in eco (for inner US-flights)

Sure, the return of the discounts would be nice, but I'd prefer the return of the transferable upgrade certificates. Delta used to issue a "TZ" award for reaching certain mileage levels. I enjoyed using these to upgrade coworkers or friends that I might be traveling with.

Same with the drink / headset coupons. I remember (dating myself) that a full fare coach ticket *always* had a couple of coupons with it, if they couldn't upgrade you. This can't cost a whole lot, but sure would improve the "customer satisfaction". I wonder if the airlines really care about us!

Grins http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I admit I don't fly Coach often, but when I have as a United 1K, the flight attendant often comes down the aisle with a slip of paper, checks my seat number and asks if I'm Mr. Love and hands me a free headset cord. Also on the slip of paper are the names of any United employees onboard. They also comp my drinks. If they don't do the list thing, when I hand them my special 1K drink/headset coupon they hand it back, and comp everything. I asked about this unwritten "perk" and was advised that it was the Purser's choice if they did this or not, so this is a bit spotty if you get it or not. But as Rudi said, they send 1K's a bunch of coupons anyway, so in effect they are free for 1K's.

I'm not talking about using miles to redeem for a discount award. I mean that once you reach Elite status, you should automatically be entitled to a discount on all tickets without redeeming miles. Something like:

Low level: 5%
Mid-level: 7%
Highest level: 10%

It would definitely go over great with me!