What happened to all the bonus offers?
Feb 22, 2003 | 12:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Brattleboro, VT
Posts: 706
What happened to all the bonus offers?
When I first arrived at FT about two years ago this forum and all the airline forums were filled with bonus offers of all kinds. Now it seems like a genuine, open enrollment, bonus miles/points offer is a dinosaur. I realize that there are many "targeted" offers (left handed, elite FF's, from Dubuque) but even those are the exception rather than the rule.
Is this another symptom of the decline of affinity programs? What do FTers think is behind the dissappearance of the bonus? Are airlines and others taking their members for granted?
Is this another symptom of the decline of affinity programs? What do FTers think is behind the dissappearance of the bonus? Are airlines and others taking their members for granted?
Feb 22, 2003 | 7:39 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: HHonors Gold since '02, Hertz President's Circle since '07
Posts: 3,228
September 11 has left the travel industry in an extended recession (depression?). Major airlines are going bankrupt, hotels are experiencing record low occupancy, and the impending war is likely to do a few travel related companies in for good.
Contrast that with "about two years ago". The sky was the limit. Economic expansion was neverending, the DOW was headed for 20,000, and we were all going to be billionaires from ourownwebsite.com.
Simple economics. The bubble burst.
Contrast that with "about two years ago". The sky was the limit. Economic expansion was neverending, the DOW was headed for 20,000, and we were all going to be billionaires from ourownwebsite.com.
Simple economics. The bubble burst.
Feb 23, 2003 | 10:36 am
#4
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Just because they are not listed here doesn't mean they are not out there. United is currently offering at least 14 different offers on their sites, I'm sure the other airlines have specials too. You just have to dig for them a bit.
1,000 extra for this route, double miles on that one, etc.
1,000 extra for this route, double miles on that one, etc.
Feb 23, 2003 | 10:52 am
#5
Used to be Sydneysider
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: CPH
Programs: AS MVP/Gold (and 75K aspirant)
Posts: 2,984
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rut Dog:
Simple economics. The bubble burst.</font>
Simple economics. The bubble burst.</font>
Instead, AA (for example) chisels away at my benefits, reducing the reasons (FF program wise) why I'm loyal to AA. I think it's a bad situation on all counts when I'm saying, "at least AA isn't as bad as UA, CO, DL..." (which I am thinking/saying at the moment!)
Feb 23, 2003 | 1:01 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: AA EXP, 1 MM and CX RULES!!
Posts: 1,341
And the service on AA and other US airlines is horrific. I think those FAs on US airlines want us to leave by treating us like animals just to fight upper mngt.
[This message has been edited by SHADO (edited 02-23-2003).]
[This message has been edited by SHADO (edited 02-23-2003).]