A new low? US drops 500 mile minimum
 

I feel the need to draw attention to this, as it seems to me to be a new low in the frequent flyer business, even for US Airways, which has become an industry leader when it comes to lows. The airline is dropping its 500 mile minimum for short-haul flights, and will soon begin awarding actual mileage only, for all flights.

Here is a thread in the US Airways forum on the topic.

Yes in Europe often this minimum "still exists" but is then multiplied by fare multiplier, meaning that on many Lufthansa and SAS flights (at least I know this for bmi ftv programme) you end up with .25 * 500 miles = 125 miles for their cheapest economy fares, or .5 * for many others. Actual miles may not be so bad in that case!

Yes, that's true, and an argument can certainly be made around the fare paid. In this case, however, US Airways short-haul flights are frequently among the most expensive per-mile tickets you can buy from the airline. And management has said themselves that the flights are among their most profitable.

So you can easily be buying among the most expensive fares, of all that US sells, providing the highest profit margin to the company -- and earning next to nothing for pleasure of it. All, according to the official release, in the interest of offsetting fuel prices. :confused:

I love US Enhancements...

Thank you for alerting us to this earthshaking news, for those of us who do not check the US Airways forum every day.

This is certainly something all frequent flyers should pay attention to, especially if they choose their routings on this basis, as I do with UA and SFO or LAX.

I wonder how this will affect short segments credited to the UA MileagePlus program, for example, IAD-CLT? [Don't bother answering; I should check the linked thread in Post #1.]

But here is a rhetorical question on point for this forum. I wonder if any other carriers will follow suit? :(

The way things are going, just wait 6 mo and it'll show up as part of the new DL/NW "SkyPerks" program ... its a race to the bottom folks!

The airline industry sometimes seems to be in a race to the bottom when it comes to the frequent flyer programs. :(

speaking to the airlines here.. becareful what you wish for you just may get it

there will come a time when your FF programs are virtually useless and one day we will all strictly go on price and that will include your biz travelers

I always knew there was a reason I let my US miles expire.. what a horse$hit airline

The airlines should be careful. Besides the frequent flyer program, they are largely a commodity business in the US. If a commodity business is all the airlines want to be, then they will be almost exclusively competing on price which will make their profit margins even worse than is currently the situation.

It is so very hard to underestimate airline (mis)management!

Quote of the Day!!! (bold lettering added by me)

When will this madness ever end? :confused:

Still searching for an airline to enter into a long-term, committed relationship with. Sooner or later they all back out of a close relationship. I think they all just like me for my money.

I wonder if I'll still get 500 miles credited to my LH account, if I should ever choose to step on a US plane...

My home airport is CLT, so I have no choice but to step on US quite often. I am not happy about this change at all...but also think:

FF programs are a bennie.

I am appreciative - perhaps even would use the word grateful - for the miles/points/awards/coupons/ecerts I DO get. I am appreciative when I get to sit in 1st and have not paid for it - or get to select an exit row seat for free. (My best friend is a teacher making bupkas -she pays $20 for an exit row on AT) I like bringing Mr. Sophie for free sometimes.

Yes, the reason I get these is because I travel a lot -which isn't always fun and certainly is not fun on US with some of their grumpy FA's. But I choose the job, knowing that travel (lots of it) was involved. So I am getting free points, etc for something I chose to do!

It is easy to complain about every change - but I remember when there were no programs at all - and I can promise you, some miles are better than no miles.

So now what will YOU do?????

Will you wring your hands and sigh, "Those poor souls over on US Airways, sure glad it's not me"

Well folks this is a Monkey See, Monkey do industry and you're next. Also consider that when several thousand Frequent Flyers flee US Airways they will be taking YOUR upgrades.

Think you're not involved? You will be when I get my status match and boot all of the Golds and Silvers out of the big seats.

If you've ever flown US Airways, this is your battle too. Stand quietly and be steamrolled one way or another OR get up, stand up and speak out in righteous indignation. Their YOUR upgrades at stake and you FF Program because rest assurewd if US makes this change stick, the rest are coming for you and your carriers FF Program.

United we stand, divided we fall, an injury to one is an injury to all.

This is a bad one!!!!!
USairways is the first.
but, often, other airlines follow.

Not good.
The best would be for other airlines not to do it.
Forcing USairways to bring back the 500 minimum.

About the only way for that, would be to boycott the airline.
I don't see that happening.
I'll do my part by not flying USairways, but the won't be enough, unless, their loads suddenly drop a ton.

FFOCUS is leading the protest. This will not stand. And we will make it clear to anyone else who follows suit that they will see loss of business as well.

While the UA move to charge for a second bag is not an ideal plan, at least it seeks to increase revenue from people who historically pay the lowest fares. For US to penalize those of us who historically pay the highest fares is just insane, and will cost them FAR more than it will save.

Please check out the FFOCUS home page for information on how to make your voice heard.

Again, if we have anything to say about this, THIS WILL NOT STAND.