I agree with Plato90s, we FTers just happen to know what is happening first. Many people won't realize there has been a change until either 10/1 or 1/03.

Unfortunetly the newmedia does even know about us, or they would be on-top of this story.

Give it a few weeks, this will make news--especially in the middle of an election campaign. No doubt that AARP will announce that this hurts the senior traveller more then the general public.

Right on. That is the main reason I joined FT.

Again right. But I would like to add on to it to say that most of us fly on cheap tickets. When was the last time any

one of us paid $1700+ for a transpacific 'Y'.

Absolutely Correct.

Yes, we know the details and react earlier. To say that our reactions will be indicative of the feedback the airlines will receive would be incorrect.

Let me explain.

We are a good statistical sampling of elite frequent flyers buying el cheapo fares. ( atleast 70-80% fares bought are in that category ). On level 1, we are not a good statistical sample of the "regular traveller"(read non-elite). This is because we fly more and know the system better. On Level 2, we are also not a good statistical sample of the "elite traveller". This is because we know how to beat the system.

Like I said before, it creates a situation where a lot of high paying customers are feeling left out (upgrades, standbys, priority seating etc).

Yes they would know. Would their reaction be the same as ours. Yes and No.

Yes, in the sense that they would go with the airline that gives them the max flexibility on tickets as a reasonable price.

No, because they would not care about fares not earning base miles or any other sops. All they would care about is the fare. Long live the bean counters. Thats the businees motto

For example sake, lets take my company. It books around 1000+ tickets from ORD-SFO/LAX every month. The two preferred carriers are AA and UA. If UA does not give elite base miles on discounted fares but beats AA fares by 10-15% consistently, do you think they would still go with AA.

Just about every airline and hotel keeps an eye on Flyertalk. Though it gives them an idea of what the reaction would be, decisions cannot be based on it. Remember, we are not a preferred statistical sampling. Not the kinds airlines/hotels want.

What they do get out of Flyertalk is positive criticism. We as a group push the envelope. A tiny link broken on the website. We find it. If there is a hole in the system, we manipulate it. Post a wrong fare and we would make you pay for it.
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Mileage programs are marketing tools. If the airlines do not get the targeted result out of it, they are bound to make changes. And that's happening right now. Even if you have 1 million miles or top tier elite ststus, you don't own anything. Some of us think we do. IMHO, that group is the spoiled group. And they are the ones who would walk out of the game when the going gets tough. Stick around and you would always reap the benefits.


[This message has been edited by Bourne (edited 09-03-2002).]

In addition to the low percentage of flyers FTers comprise, remember that many of the new customers flying US every week have no concept of FF benefits/changes. They are only on a US flight because US gave them the best price.

When we read FT every day we may start assuming that all airline customers are as outraged as us. But unfortunately that's not the case.

Thanks for the giving voice to commonsense, clubercp.

Someone reading these boards over the past week would conclude that we were still living in '82 -- and people could still take their business to Braniff, or Pan Am, or Eastern, etc.

"Which airlines will be left to go to?" is the most sensible question posted in a while. On the CO, DL, AA and UA boards, you can read endless squawks and threats from FTrs declaring that they'll 'divorce' their airline if it doesn't restore XYZ amenity or if it dares to implement ABC rule change.

"I hate HoKeY, I'm going to UA."
"Use it or lose it is awful, I'm jumping to DL"
"SGB is an abomination, I'm jumping to CO."

But at the end of the day, it's sounding like the passenger who cried wolf.

Facts: AA and CO are cutting schedules, CO is hyping 'no waivers, no favors,' UA is tightening all the screws it can find, USAir is closing in fast on 'beyond hope.'

Time for a reality intervention: Southwest and JetBlue simply don't have enough planes to accommodate all the people threatening to switch to them.

Nor do they have the route system in place to accomodate everyone. Remind me again -- exactly how many international routes do those guys do? And that's just for starters.

You guys are right -- everyone is going to quietly return to paying full fares next week.

How could anyone be so silly as to think otherwise?

Now there's a thought. There have been copies of many well written letters and emails posted. Why not send some of them to AARP, AAA, Consumer's Union (Travel Letter), BTN, IAPA, Air Travelers Assoc, and any other travel newsletters/publications.

I'm circulating my stuff to where-ever it makes sense. Not just this forum. But I need actual e-mail addresses...

Anyone who'd like to should feel free to send a copy of any of my stuff to whoever they think needs to hear it.