leroy:

Called Thrifty about the car rental ages, as I might be taking the trip in June with a friend who is 19. Certain Thrifty locations will rent to 18+. The agent I spoke with at central reservations said that from her experience the 18+ locations tended to be in the East Coast. When I called the Thrifty counter at SYR they verified that they would rent to 18+ with a surcharge, I believe it was $20 or $25 per day, for 18-20's.

I called latin pass and the person told me that "connecting flights" did not qualify as multiple segments. She did not know the definition for a connecting flight. I asked her if they were on different airlines she didn't seem to know. She said that have had a lot of questions, but not many answers. The "official rules" are those the same as those posted on the web site. I figured they would have a longer version, with all the legal stuff. Anyway it looks like the best bet is to have each "segment" ticketed seperate, or would this be a big difference in cost?
Anyone get any better answers?

**Also NATIONAL AIRLINES does NOT qualify for the partner airline as they added to the program after the promotion started**

**Where is the other latinpass thread?

[This message has been edited by fabsco (edited 02-14-2000).]

I would tend to avoid overnighting in Caracas these days due to the upheavals from the bad weather. Although I got assurances from a local that the road fm downtown to CCS is now open, be careful...

Also reason for cheap flights from UIO is probably currency weakness...

jl

To add to the "segment" issue: my CS rep said that a one-way flight from LAX to MIA would count as one segment on USAir, whether you had a direct flight or went through Pittsburgh. One ticket = one origin and destination, no matter how many stops in between. But what happens if you fly two qualifying airlines on one ticket? This is still a very murky topic.

It seems to me that judging from LP's attitude to this whole promotion that they will NOT post the miles if they can possibly avoid it. I do not want to give them any excuse not to post my miles. What is a $200 saving by booking multiple segments on one ticket when you risk losing 500,000 miles or a million miles - in relative terms, it's nominal. Be safe and book each segment separately, IMHO.

To any under 24s out there: a very good way of getting the partner segments is to buy a US Airways Youth Flight Pak on the US Shuttle. It's about $230 for four coupons. Yes - I know it's more expensive than just 2 round-trips, but it's flexible. You just tip up when you want to at off-peak times. They do qualify for ff credit. I don't know about US, but on the DL Shuttle, you can stand-by at other times. Given that they're in direct competition with each other, this will probably be the same on US.

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Cheers.

Leo.

I'm surprised the LP reps are sowing confusion on the issue of what qualifies as a segment. The mileage accrual rules on the website seem pretty clear:

But I guess it would be prudent to confirm everything with LP before actually ticketing a trip.

Hi there. I really would like to know who started the confusion with "what is a segment?". ANY frequent flyer program counts a "segment" as a flight for wich you require a separate flight coupon. Regardles if is a conecting flight /one way / round trip.......

I will be flying from MEX to CCS. Connecting in SAL / MGA / SJO / BOG / CSS it is a thru fare that means on the TKT next to each of the conecting cities there is an X indicating a conection, each of the segments is on a diferent airlines and I don't see the reason why each of the segments should not be posted on my account. The promotion reads: "fly an international SEGMENT on at least 6 of the airlines", Doesn't say: buy and fly at least one tkt for a one way fare on ...........

Well its not quite true that "ANY frequent flyer program counts a "segment" as a flight for wich you require a separate flight coupon. Regardles if is a conecting flight /one way / round trip......."

QANTAS FF credits Ansett NZ connecting flights made on the same day as a single segment regardless of changes in flight number or different flight coupons.

They can define it however they want but once they have defined it in there program guide (as LatinPass have) I don't think that they can then use the term in one of their promotions and rely on a different definition. Personally I don't think that they are trying to change the rules I just think that they haven't set things out clearly but that is not unique to LatinPass - Oneworld's promotion was equally lacking in detail and open to misinterpretation.

Have some concerns about the LatinPass organization and their rules. 3 issues are of concern to me at the moment.
1) Here is what the LatinPass website has to say about their program:
"LatinPass acts as an agent of the frequent traveler programs of the Latin American airlines stated in this document. LatinPass is not responsible for the failure of LatinPass airlines or partners to provide travel or services as indicated, or deficiencies in travel and services provided. Travel on any LatinPass airline will be subject to the appropriate airline's filed tariffs and standard contract of carriage. LatinPass airlines reserve the right to change award level mileage and conditions required without previous notice, and may cancel the program with six months notice. Participating airlines within the LatinPass frequent traveler program are subject to change at any time without notice. All travel award conditions may be subject to government regulations."
I'd hate to have to try and burn 1,000,000 miles in 6 months! Could this promotion break them?
2)Flights on TWA, USAir, and KLM must be booked through LatinPass. Their ticket agents can do nothing but refer you to LatinPass if you want to redeem LP miles. THese airlines recognize tickets bought through LatinPass using LP miles, but do not recognize the LatinPass mileage. If LP does go under (its a program that is less than 5 years old), what confidence can we have that any of the partner carriers would honor our miles.
3) Jesse, at LatinPass, says that to extend the expiration of your miles past 3 years, you must fly on a LatinPass MEMBER airline. Partners, hotels, car rentals will not do.

3) As usual, LP is contradicting itself!! From the web-site:

Mileage Expiration
Mileage does not expire for LatinPass members who remain active. If your account does not have at least one qualifying activity in a 36 month period, all mileage earned will expire. Qualifying activity is defined as accruing mileage credit on any LatinPass participating airline, as well as accruing mileage credit with participating hotels, car rental companies, and other service providers offering LatinPass mileage credits. Transfering mileage to a LatinPass account is not considered a qualifying activity.

My husband and I will be trying for the 500K promo. We plan to travel in late Mar-early April, starting and ending in MEX, connecting to a TWA flight (SFO-ST. Louis- Mex). We plan to use the miles pretty fast too http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'm beginning to grow a bit weary and leary of this entire program! Rules may well not be made to be broken, but what the heck are they?!

I'm going to go for the full 1,000,000, but will transfer all of them to HHonors except for 150,000 miles - enough for 2 Biz. Class Europe --> Australia.

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Cheers.

Leo.

Hey Leroy11! I thought the last word was that we CAN'T transfer the miles to Hilton Honors!! Did I miss something?

leroy11, I get it. You're going to try to hold them to the original post of the rules, right?