Today in mileslink
Jan 9, 2003 | 8:05 am
#1
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Today in mileslink
This morning in my copy of the mileslink email, I read the following paragraph:
"[W H A T' S N E W]
Question of the Week: How Are You Protecting Your Miles?
The rumor mill is churning uncontrollably with warnings that major airlines are about to cut or even eliminate their frequent flier programs. What are you doing to protect yourself? Are you moving your miles - or your business? Using up your points? Tell us about it. Your response might appear in a future story."
There are alot of rumors that float around the various boards here, but I have not yet heard about any major airline that is actually considering a complete cut or elimination of its FF program. Has anyone heard of any major airline that has this under consideration? We all know about some changes in various programs - some minor, some major...and some of the major ones have been rescinded (or possibly about to be)...but this little paragraph sent abit of a chill through me, to think that any of our major carriers would just cancel their programs totally and void out all the miles we have worked to accumulate. Anyone else have any insights?
"[W H A T' S N E W]
Question of the Week: How Are You Protecting Your Miles?
The rumor mill is churning uncontrollably with warnings that major airlines are about to cut or even eliminate their frequent flier programs. What are you doing to protect yourself? Are you moving your miles - or your business? Using up your points? Tell us about it. Your response might appear in a future story."
There are alot of rumors that float around the various boards here, but I have not yet heard about any major airline that is actually considering a complete cut or elimination of its FF program. Has anyone heard of any major airline that has this under consideration? We all know about some changes in various programs - some minor, some major...and some of the major ones have been rescinded (or possibly about to be)...but this little paragraph sent abit of a chill through me, to think that any of our major carriers would just cancel their programs totally and void out all the miles we have worked to accumulate. Anyone else have any insights?
Jan 9, 2003 | 8:59 am
#3
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If any airline were to enter Chapter 7 bankruptcy (as opposed to Chapter 11), it could potentially destroy a frequent-flyer program. (Didn't this happen to Midway Airlines?)
But as for an airline entering Chapter 11 and emerging under the same brand name, same general structure, etc. but without an FF program - that seems like such a death sentence that the creditors would throw and even larger hissyfit than the travelers.
If a major carrier like AA or DL were to cancel their FF program outside of bankruptcy proceedings, well, they'd quickly become very familiar with those proceedings. It would be devastating to those airlines and the economies of the cities in which they have their hubs to commit such a suicidal move.
But as for an airline entering Chapter 11 and emerging under the same brand name, same general structure, etc. but without an FF program - that seems like such a death sentence that the creditors would throw and even larger hissyfit than the travelers.
If a major carrier like AA or DL were to cancel their FF program outside of bankruptcy proceedings, well, they'd quickly become very familiar with those proceedings. It would be devastating to those airlines and the economies of the cities in which they have their hubs to commit such a suicidal move.