How much do you travel?
Jul 3, 2001 | 10:41 am
#31
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Valley of the Sun, AZ, USA
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Gold(working back up)
Posts: 608
"Same question for Flyin Mike. Why HP?"
A co-worker of mine doing the same route was wood over by CO. He's been pretty much just taking them for about 3 months now. I was gonna have them match my status, but never got around to it. I do find Continental's service to be a bit better than HP's though. My upgrade percentage on HP is much higher than his on CO (we're both PLAT on our respecitve carriers). Since I've had no non-blizard related problems this year, I decided to stick with them untill they really piss me off.
Another issue for me is that I usually spend 6 months on site and then change clients (I just finished off my last EWR trip last week). Before that, I was taking NWA to NRT (Upper deck BC - used to be FC), and before that HP to SFO for a whole year. At one point during the SF days, I was so sick of HP's problems that I called UA to get my PLAT status matched. They basically never responded after I sent in all the info they requested. I just assumed they didn't want my business. I called once, and they siad they received everything, but after that, I never really persued it. I would have tried them if they would have matched, but it's pretty hard to walk away from a near 100% upgrade percentage, and they never mathed my status. My only other choice from PHX to SFO at the time was SouthWest. I'm the type who likes to spend as little time as possible in the airport. Since SW does not have a Frequent Flier checkin line, I would have to get to the airport much earlier to wade through that huge line they always have in terminal 4. And then there's that no-first-class thing again.
HP does seem to bend over backwards for me sometimes. A couple of months back, I showed up for the wrong plane to go to EWR (I was booked on the 1:00, but showed up for the 4:00 - D'oh!), and ended up in 1st on that plane anyway. I also got them to cough up an extra reward seat on a plane without having to use double miles a few weeks ago - something that I didn't even know they would do untill the CSR said she could put in a request - it was approved.
I guess once I hit PLAT for next year (only 10k to go), I may try another airline depending on where my next client is. I'm really trying to find one here in town though.
So I guess to sum it up, 3 reasons why I've stuck with HP during the dark ages:
- Upgrades
- I can push them around sometimes
- Best flight selection out of PHX
Mike
A co-worker of mine doing the same route was wood over by CO. He's been pretty much just taking them for about 3 months now. I was gonna have them match my status, but never got around to it. I do find Continental's service to be a bit better than HP's though. My upgrade percentage on HP is much higher than his on CO (we're both PLAT on our respecitve carriers). Since I've had no non-blizard related problems this year, I decided to stick with them untill they really piss me off.
Another issue for me is that I usually spend 6 months on site and then change clients (I just finished off my last EWR trip last week). Before that, I was taking NWA to NRT (Upper deck BC - used to be FC), and before that HP to SFO for a whole year. At one point during the SF days, I was so sick of HP's problems that I called UA to get my PLAT status matched. They basically never responded after I sent in all the info they requested. I just assumed they didn't want my business. I called once, and they siad they received everything, but after that, I never really persued it. I would have tried them if they would have matched, but it's pretty hard to walk away from a near 100% upgrade percentage, and they never mathed my status. My only other choice from PHX to SFO at the time was SouthWest. I'm the type who likes to spend as little time as possible in the airport. Since SW does not have a Frequent Flier checkin line, I would have to get to the airport much earlier to wade through that huge line they always have in terminal 4. And then there's that no-first-class thing again.
HP does seem to bend over backwards for me sometimes. A couple of months back, I showed up for the wrong plane to go to EWR (I was booked on the 1:00, but showed up for the 4:00 - D'oh!), and ended up in 1st on that plane anyway. I also got them to cough up an extra reward seat on a plane without having to use double miles a few weeks ago - something that I didn't even know they would do untill the CSR said she could put in a request - it was approved.
I guess once I hit PLAT for next year (only 10k to go), I may try another airline depending on where my next client is. I'm really trying to find one here in town though.
So I guess to sum it up, 3 reasons why I've stuck with HP during the dark ages:
- Upgrades
- I can push them around sometimes
- Best flight selection out of PHX
Mike
Jul 3, 2001 | 1:08 pm
#33
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ DL PM, HP Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 43
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by tovaz:
And, as I'm sure you know if you traveled around there at all, you were in the cultural center of the area, LOL.
</font>
And, as I'm sure you know if you traveled around there at all, you were in the cultural center of the area, LOL.
</font>
Jul 3, 2001 | 1:47 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Valley of the Sun, AZ, USA
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Gold(working back up)
Posts: 608
"What upgrade % is your friend (CO PLAT)?? He should be at or near 100% if he's PLAT unless purchases his tix very close to flight time or on extremely heavy loaded flights. "
He's around 75% to 80% on them. I'm at 28 for 31 this year on HP. The PHX to EWR route has lots of full fare frequent fliers (FFFF's) that get those seats before people like myself and him who pay $400 do. Although he's been doing better lately - I assume bacause it's summer time and there is less business travel going on.
I don't know about CO, but HP holds 2 seats back untill 1 or 2 days before to give to people who pay full fare. This kind of defeats the purpose of having a platinum status. I have spoke with golds on flights who got upgraded before I did.
He's around 75% to 80% on them. I'm at 28 for 31 this year on HP. The PHX to EWR route has lots of full fare frequent fliers (FFFF's) that get those seats before people like myself and him who pay $400 do. Although he's been doing better lately - I assume bacause it's summer time and there is less business travel going on.
I don't know about CO, but HP holds 2 seats back untill 1 or 2 days before to give to people who pay full fare. This kind of defeats the purpose of having a platinum status. I have spoke with golds on flights who got upgraded before I did.