You guys are waaaaay overestimating the impact of mileage runners. Their simply aren't enough of them for it to matter. The arguement would be valid if it was even 1% of our business. It is not. 25% of our Premiers don't even know they are premier, or what it means. The majority of our 1p/1k folks make it based on real business travel. I understand the arguement, but it simply isin't an issue.

HELP WANTED

Company ??? has current opening for mileage runners. The newly created part-time position is open to anyone who is willing to travel. Verbal and spoken English skills are not required. Successful applicants will be allowed to play games, chat on the phone (be warn that the company will not reimburse the cost), and even sleep during the working hours. Paid $7 per hour with over time. Equal opportunity employer.

the fine print

1) All frequent flyer mileage and perks such as upgrade coupons earned are company property.
2) Limit for meal reimbursement: $4 breakfast, $6 lunch, $8 dinner. Employees are encouraged to enjoy their airline food on board.
3) No reimbursement for hotel stay. Employees are expected to sleep in the airport lounges.
4) Mileage runners are required to fly anytime to anywhere on coach upon request by the company. If the airlines upgrade the seat to business class, thank them.

the close door meeting between the upper management

CEO: Geez, even with the money and benefit we pay for the extra employees, we come out ahead when we redeem their miles for our first class tickets.

CFO: Right on the nose. It makes my job so much easier.

CEO: Make sure the tickets are paid by the corporate mileage earning credit card.

CFO: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif Wow. No wonder you are the CEO.

CEO: We can even make them to expedite some mail delivery too.

CFO: Saving money and creating job opportunity... I think you should consider running for the presdient.

CEO: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by FT wannabe (edited 08-25-2002).]

ft wannabee

...your 'employment' scenario, I believe, has already been done. Sawadee! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

This is why CEO's get thrown off their jobs. Airlines will not allow you to redeem miles from someone else's account to give you free First Class travel if they suspect there was renumeration involved. A professional mileage runner who is paid a salary and has tickets paid for by the corporation certainly qualifies.

A business-plan fit for Enron or Worldcom or a dot-com.

Has FT wannabe read this thread?: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum.../007112-2.html

Also, read about it in USAToday from 2 years back: http://www.usatoday.com/life/travel/...000/ltl259.htm

Hehehehe...I did get a chuckle out of it, though (mileage running as employment). I quit my job to travel using a lot of the miles I had built up (only problem was that I was 33 and may still have to get another job one of these days).

My favorite mileage run was one last year on a $188 ticket to Portland that had four different special offers tied in, plus elite bonuses, and earned 31,000 total miles. Best so far this year was $156 to Seattle and 21K, and I've got a $108 Kansas City coming up for a measly 12K. The award of choice is a RT to Asia (50-80K, best with Hawaii stopover) to take a month or two off from the frantic mileage running. It's worse than you thought! So, hate me.

As for 1:1 conversions, that's so...primitive. But many foreign carriers that were johnny-come-latelys to FF programs and don't really understand them still do it that way. They get to say they have a program, though it doesn't exactly drive traffic like having a promotion-laden one like WorldPerks does.

Back to the original topic: "How about changing the rules for earning miles?"

It is coming,

Effective January 1, 2003, Dividend Miles members will not receive miles or segment credit toward Preferred status for tickets purchased in H, K, V, Q and L nonrefundable fare classes.

Since US airways are planning to codeshare will UAL, do you think UAL is far from a similar announcement? That is an unofficial announcement for the end of mileage run as of March 2004 as very few will be qualified next year.

I have no idea which source you quote from. But according to more reliable info, change in US Airways preferred mileage accural rules will result in 37% fewer elites for 2004. I am not suggesting that all 37% are mileage runners. However, these 37% seems to be mainly leisure traverlers as business travelers are more likely to buy Y fares.

BTW, after reading through more than 100 posts already from mostly fuming mileage runners about the US Airways news, I am even more convinced than last night that the airlines (assuming all majors will follow) have made the right move!!!

My argument is that it is more economical for the airlines to cut capacity than to keep feeding off these mileage run fancies.

Let's see.. mileage runners are maybe .001% of all travelers? Sounds like a great reason for a pejorative strike. At the same time, USAir is kissing off 36.999% of its frequent travelers (non-mileage runners).

I hope USAir now goes Chapter 7 for this action. The rest of the traveling public is better off without them, even though it means decreased competition.

FT wannabe, I think you are wrong that most business travellers by Y tickets. I have been top tier on United and US Air the last 3 years on business (mostly) and a few personnal trips. Very few have been Y tickets, I plan ahead on my business trips and get low fares in most cases. I suspect I am not alone. I think impact of this will be to reward the carriers with the most non-stops serving the most people and to generally dissapate loyalty to any one carrier by any customer. I skip on non-stops to stay with my favorite carrier, now it will be all shcedule based. In addition, I think a lot of people will simply travel less. Its tough enough to travel as CP or 1K, without would really be draining. None of those things seem good for the majors

This might be true for execs of Enron or Worldcom.... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif but I think I have flown on a Y fare once for biz. Its either H,K,V fares on short hops or F/B trans-*. If im paying for F/B I don't need status to upgrade, I already am. If I'm flying on the cheap.... US isn't gona be it. And if I'm flying up front... it will be on AA, laptop power in a FC seat.. what a novel concept...

[This message has been edited by jcrb (edited 08-27-2002).]

Maybe US Air finally figures out the math they can cut 37% customer (which translate to a much lower percentage of revenue) and 37% capacity and still come out ahead...

For biz travelers on cheap fares, now the perks are gone. I guess they will compete on the schedule and route system instead. If all majors follow suit, the effect will be just even out...

After all, business travelers will still travel. Leisure travelers will still go places. The only ones who got screwed are just mileage runners...

I dont think it is that simple. Yes, if they all do it there will be an evening out. I think this might be good for American or others but bad for US Air. US Air doesnt serve as many markets with direct flights it seems to me. Also, I think a real impact will be to fly less and to consolidate. I fly two airlines, if all airlines do this I will consolidate to one, and it wont be US Air because I cant fly non-stop to the west coast and only limited to Asia and Europe. I do enough M and Y to be elite on 1 carrier and that will be United or American so I can fly to Asia and Europe in business. Also, flying is becoming a generally horrible experience, and videoconferencing is improving a lot. Business people will more and more decide to not take that trip. That is a lot bigger problem than mileage runners and this doesnt address it, it makes it worse. Simple, reasonable fares and decent service are what they need. I would pay 400 for a ticket instead of 200 for good service, but I cant pay 2000, and fewer and fewer people or companies will

This biz traveler now flies AirTran more often then any other airline. I get a cheap business class seat (no fighting for upgrades), an incredible award promo (buy 3 RTs - get 2 free with your Amex), free drinks and a growing number of cities that they fly to.

Gee, you don't happen to work for an airline, do you?

All this is going to do is push people toward the discount carriers at a time when no carrier can afford to lose business.

I honestly don't know what your beef is with mileage runners or those who somehow earn their status on the cheap but it seems extremely petty and directed towards only a tiny percentage of the population. I sincerely hope that USAir and any other airline that adopts this policy ends up filing for Chapter 7. After all, the whole world with be WN as far as most of us are concerned.