How about an elite level over 100K?
 

Should elite programs offer an elite level over 100K. It seems that there are a lot of frequent fliers who fly over 150,000 or 200,000 miles on a single airline, yet they get the same benefits as someone who barely makes 100,000.

UAL has a lot of 1Ks. For this reason, it is hard to offer some benefits that other airlines with fewer top-tier members can offer. Eg. free upgrades, guaranteed reservations, membership in club, etc. But, if UAL introduced a 150K or 200K level, the numbers would be much smaller, so they could offer more benefits.

What do you think? Is a higher tier level good? What benefits should be offered?

Looking forward to hearing your opinions,
BizJet

Well, on the surface as a 200K flyer on United, I'd like to see something like this. But after reflection...let's face it...many folks aren't happy unless they are in the top elite level. I think it would give 100K's a reason to try another airline if they knew they wouldn't be in the top tier. I remember when the highest was Premier Executive. PE's got the greatest service and there were even "Gold Tie" PE service reps at every airport! When 100K came about, the Gold Ties went away and agents were suddenly non-plussed unless you were a 100K. So, I don't think it would be in the airline's best interest to create another level. But I do think something like a major Plateau Bonus or other bag of goodies for 200K's would be something for the 150K plus flyer to stretch for. So my vote would be no new level, but some sort of major perk for breaking each 100K mark.

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 12-12-1999).]

Next time you see a special service rep (AA

red jacket, clipboard, near gate) ask if

really high mileage flyers are identified. Answer is, or was,that their name is high-

lighted on computer screen lists. So carriers know who has 150K or more; at least that was the level about 5 years ago at which a name was so identified. PremEx is 100% correct about devaluing 100K or ExecPlat

but carriers do know who is boarding. And they also know passengers revenue base, dollars paid to carrier.

After thinking about it again, PremEx is probably right. There is something about status, not benefits, that will make people angry if they're aren't at the tops. Some AA Platinum fliers were angry with the introducing on EP, always someone better than them...

I think that there should be some benefits, though, either offical or (more likely) unofficial. Special confirmed upgrades, and maybe even those elusive international upgrades.

BizJet

I agree.. for airlines with electronic upgrades.. if you go over 140,000 or 150,000 or whatever, you get a credit of Upgrades. (ie 15 one ways for getting to 150 K).... Or... ($150.00 off Airport club for 150,000 in one year..) but one thing to consider... seriously, is the alliances.

The alliances make life easier, but I believe some of these perks would be based off of UNITED only or AMERICAN only miles... but it is kinda neat..

They know who you are. In the case of AA and CO, there are unpublished features that these folks get. If you are unhappy with current plan limits, when you hit the minimum qualification number, switch to somebody else and work on your status with a second carrier.

What are these unpublished "perks" that the high flyers get from the airlines? Also, someone mentioned that high flyers names are highlighted on the airlines computers. Does thim mean that when I check in at the gate my name has a special notation next to it, or is this at AAdvantage reservations or at the CTO when I call/visit to make a reservation that my itinerary is highlighted as that of a high flyer?

I am working on ~90 segments with AA this year (would be a lot higher if I hadn't spent 1st 1/4 of the year w/ Southwest. Next year, maybe 100+ segments?). 90% of those segments were spent LAX to SJC and so I have really had to earn Platinum status @ 500 miles per segment. I know there is another thread going on discussing the merits/value of a frequent flyer vs. full fare flyer, but for purposes of this thread, are the high flyers for whom the airlines highlight their itineraries and provide unpublished perks the freqent flyers like me, or the full fare flyers or the low frequency but high mileage flyers? I am not trying to ascertain who SHOULD get the perks, but who in actually DOES get these unpublished perk (as well as what these perks are http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif )

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by onedog (edited 12-13-1999).]

I don't know about AA, but on United's reservation and departure management screens, it flashes in red "1K Million Mile Flyer" surrounded by dollar signs. I've never seen anything related to revenue.

Premex, at least somebody at UA has a sense of humour http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Not sure what appears at gate desk computer

but flight screen in operations shows "high

flyers" and that's where special services reps are before gate check-in. Unmentioneds

include (with AA) greeting by name, usually in gate area (that's worth something?- never was to Nathan), discreet invitation to "come

foreward," personal attention to personal requests for "assistance." This is dated information, at least 3 years old, and things may have changed but it is a reasonable bet that if you are a 200K passenger, what you see is not all you get. As to revenue code, that is, or was, in profile available to AC

concierge staff - and probably others. But don't doubt it: they know who and where you are if you are on of the high flyers. And Exec Plat AA is just a public name for what AA referred to earlier as "Top Platinum."

I mentioned this before in another thread in the United area, but there are people in each airport that track the 1K flyers and where they are going, and how they are flying there.

It was kind of amazing to know there are these people watching and tracking you. That may be a reason some people do not get there good upgrades (or unofficial upgrades).

nathan detroit:

"but flight screen in operations shows "high
flyers" and that's where special services reps are before gate check-in...discreet invitation to "come foreward,"

Pardon my ignorance, but where is "operations"? Is this like the staff room where special services reps check in prior to their day's shift and look over their assignments for the day? Do the special services reps have a special/different dress code (ie different name tag, red sweater etc) which differentiates them from the rest of the gate personel?

At LAX Terminal 3 (SFO and SJC flights are served out of a separate terminal than all the other AA flights), a few of the gate people know me by sight, and they are now starting to know me by name, but I don't know if any of them are "special operations", or just regular operations.

I guess I am too naive/ignorant to have noticed any type of "discreet" invitation to come forward. Come forward to where? There is only one line at the gate and Platinum already gets you to the 1st class/Platinum check-in at the counter. Could this be the gate agent/special operations working at a specific pace with their current customer so that they insure that THEY will be the one to help you check in?

Since getting the most "perks" out of flying seems to be as just as much the old standard of knowing the unwritten (as well as the written) rules of the game and the old "who you know, not just what you know", I could use as much help in learning as possible http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks.

Onedog: the doors with security code locks along the corridors, doors which we see crew and others entering, are "operations" areas.

Special service agents, AA at least, are usually in red jackets and carry clip boards. I think UA reps are in blue jackets, at least that's so at FRA and LHR. They are almost always near desk during final 20 or 30 minutes before final boarding. These reps have wide, very wide authority, far more thancheck-in staff, and can do just about anything. If you see someone board plane just before doors close and "invite" someone to "come foreward," you can assume that said person is a spec rep. If a VIP, real or imagined, is greeted by someone as plane doors open, that's a spec rep. Nathan knew several reps in FRA and TXL some time ago and they were nice enough to explain a few of the facts of life to him. He continues to see them there and at ORD and he has from time to time asked for "assistance" which has almost always been given. Key to success: be nice,polite, never demanding; fair enough to let them know one is "elite" (Nate doesn't like this word) but in a humble way.



Top Plat was an internal designation, like Napoleon brandy not for general consumption.



Best way to learn ropes: develop inside contacts, keep ears open, watch others, and, above all, be nice.

Ahh, now I see a bit more of the picture... the invitation to "come forward" means to the cherished seats at the front of the plane.

I have to admit that the other day, when I checked in at the gate (on a thursday, so the LAX-SJC flights are very empty), I was checking in for my usual flight with one of the gate agents whith whom I chit chat and am friendly with (she's one of the few who know me by name). She gave me my boarding pass, but it was in the front of the plane? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif She made a comment that she "remembered that she owed me one." I am not sure what she meant that she owed me one, as I hadn't done anything special or done any favors that I remember. Maybe since the LAX to SJC is always so busy and overbooked, and I always volunteer to be bumped to free up space (plus the AA vouchers aren't bad either http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif )?

On the boarding pass, she hand wrote in big print a few letters that I think were something like "PPP"? This has never written on my boarding pass before, and this time I was only given small stub when I boarded. The boarding agent kept the other part of my boarding pass. Was this some code that she needed to write to justify why I was upgraded? This was the first (and only so far) time that I have ever been provided a complimentary upgrade.

I read a lot of threads where individuals talk about getting upgrades etc. for flights at the last minute or at the gate or at the admirals club/RCC etc. Is my recent experience at LAX what everyone is talking about, or are people talking about using miles and/or stickers, or both? Is it common to get complimentary upgrades when you check in for a flight? Is it polite to you ask for them, and if you do, how do you discreetly broach the subject?

Needless to say, I was very pleased that I was upgraded and I definately believe that being friendly goes a LONG way in this world.

Sorry for such a long winded post, but reading about the nuances of being a frequent flyer (upgrades, mileage runs, *A or OW benefits etc.) on FlyerTalk is very interesting (almost like reading the inside secrets of a private club/fraternity etc.).

I believe that many times being given a complementary upgrade is "hit and miss". On several ocassions I have checked in at LHR w/AA and have been given my pre-assigned coach seat. This is usually at least 45 minutes prior to departure as getting through security can sometimes be a nightmare. Three times during the last three months I have arrived at the boarding gate to find out that I have been upgraded (LHR-EWR or JFK). My assumption was that coach had been overbooked, but I was told by the person at the gate that they did not know why I was upgraded. Of course, I did not ask a lot of questions just in case there had been a mistake. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Of course the only problem will be my expectation next month of a gratis upgrade from LHR-EWR. Can I hope for 4 out of 4?