ATT Program Terminates Again!
 

Got a letter from the head of ATT loyalty Marketing saying the ATT Rewards Program is ending yet again, this time to be replaced by one tht focuses on rebates or retail certificates based on long distance usuage. They say it is due to "customer feedback". What customers would want to give up the chance to earn FT miles/pts.? Do MCI or Sprint have loyalty programs? ATT is concerned about their program costs, but this change is costing them my business.

I just talked to them a couple weeks ago. They are eliminating their own point system but you can still get Starpoints which are better and translate into all major airline miles.

Are you sure about this??...I spoke to them also and they seemed to be quite "cloudy" on the issue themselves.

I called them as well and they don't seem to know the difference between the "new" program to launch in July and the existing one. Maybe they haven't figured out what the rewards are going to be in July and our input would actually make some (wishful thinking??)

Well, I'm sure they signed me up for Starpoints, which I also had through the old program. Not sure what the future holds.

Sprint had a loyalty program as well (Sprint Rewards), but when I cashed in an award recently the CSR mentioned that come September they'll be dropping people whose average long distance is under $50/month (i.e., including me) and cancelling our points! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif. I wonder if they planned on ever making an announcement to that effect (I certainly haven't seen one), or just dropping the bomb when members called in after September?

And yes, I'll be in the market for a new carrier once my August activity posts and puts me over the next award level.

Very suspicious - here's my take. I'm willing to bet that they give real frequent flyer miles another chance. While they voluntarily exited the programs a few years back, I have to believe that it's a constant question. Which program and when, I don't know, but that funny frequent flyer bone in my head tells me there's more bonus miles ahead for us with AT&T. Bet anyone?

[This message has been edited by Randy Petersen (edited 06-07-2000).]

I posted on this a while ago under the AT&T forum...

AT&T will have to do something Frequent Flyer mile related to compete with MCI. I am hoping it's United (like they did in the past.)

I don't know what I'll do with my AT&T points. Maybe to Starwood and then to United or into Marriott (which I think is the best exchange rate.)

Well, now after 6 months to get my BA miles, I hope they have the system in place to handle it...

I would never bet against Randy! Maybe I'll just hang in there a couple of months and see how it shakes out--you'd think it would not be that hard to put a program together and stick w/ it. Tks Catman for the note on the ATT thread--I mistakenly didn't even see it listed. Maybe for now I'll just transfer everything to Starwood--the no blacout/cash in pts for one night in midweek is nice--just used it in NY for a Monday night stay and saved $425. All the other hotel programs would make me burn pts for a 3 night award if i was going mid-week just for one night.

Don't know if this is the right place but here goes. Switched to AT&T the begining of April. Said they would give me $100 check in my name. Weeks later, no check. Called & was told I couldn't get the check but they would give me $80 certs for Home Depot. Weeks later, no certs. Called again, said they would reissue the Home Depot certs. Still no certs. So, 2 & 1/2 mos. later no welcome kit that was supposed to include the certs and nothing else either. Want to get something for this switch! What to do?

Pumpkin, I'm sorry to say this is very much the standard policy with AT&T. Check out the AT&T forum for lots of horror stories (see Sprint & MCI, too !!)

In hindsight, the best tactic I have heard of is to put a block on your phoneline with your local phone company. Then ask AT&T/MCI/Sprint to fax or mail you the offer you agree to accept to change long distance carriers. When you receive the offer in writing, call your local phone company and authorize the switch. Then, it is no longer your word against theirs !

(FlyerTalk wisdom courtesy of other posters !)