latitudes, BearX220, swag and rayt -- You've Got Mail.

When FF miles were only earned by flying awards included hotel and car rental. As these programs opened up these awards evaporated, and opened up possibilites to non flyers. Thus award inflation and de valuation as more miles became available to non flyers. True million mile flyers watched as our benefits earned the hard way evaporated. Much like the old green stamp programs. Now price seems to be the new discriminator all others being equal.

Randy:

Devaluation to me means that today I earn as many miles as a few years ago but I cannot redeem any awards. I use CO as an example I fly into their hub (EWR) and you can no longer get any rewards. And definetly no Trancon (LAX or SNA or ONT-EWR)FC rewards.For the last 3 weeks I was trying to obtain a reward 331 days in advance and there is nothing but easypass available. Therefore, LACK OF AVAILABILTY AND EASYPASS MEANS DEVALUATION.

1. Award availability (By a loooong shot)
2. Not loading partner awards (330 days?)
3. Can't check availability on intl on web

1) Standard Award availability - Especially when trying to plan a trip well in advance. (6-10 months out.)

2) Devaluation. (Increasing the number of miles required to redeem an award.) Also, include the status miles being harder to come by with several airlines giving only 50% for the lowest fare classes.

3) Lots of bonus opportunities being thrown at FF members but then not considering that the FF member will one day want to cash them in for a free ticket. (Reverts back to complaint #1.) What a vicious cycle!

Promos which block out dates, cities, etc and thus make it impossible for some. For Example UA was advertising B class from US to NGO for 70,000 miles: neither we, our friends nor UA itself was able to find a single flight from NYC during the entire promo period.

In general, the rules are too complicated, too confusing, and change too often. Other than award availability, that is why all the other problems arise. The key irritation is the failure of these programs to meet the traveler's expectations. They dangle a carrot to get your loyalty and then pull it away.

This is also why Southwest Rapid Rewards gets such high marks. The rules are simple, seats are available, and one's expectations are met 99% of the time. They don't offer or promise something they can't deliver.

my biggest hatred has to be when miles are supposed to post and they fail to. For example, 6-8 weeks out, you are still waiting and you have to talk to 3 partnered marketers to get nowhere...

:(MM

Bingo! I spent close to $1000 for family members on NW's Fly Free Faster 3 promotion, and none of them ever got the 10K mile bonus. :td: :td: We've really cut back our NW flights as a result.

I have made it my quest (as many in here have seen me do before) to let these marketers and airlines know that they lose business when these things happen. It is bad enough it is harder to redeem than it used to be, but when I expect my miles, I want them when they say they will post! ok, so 6-8 weeks stinks, but if that 8th week passes, I want head to roll. In a fight with United about this as we speak. It is so wrong.

I have asked Conde Naste traveler to address this issue but they do not wish to because it does not focus on travel.

IT SURE DOES! If you use miles.

^ You rock MM! Keep it up and thanks for relentlessly fighting for all of us.

1,500 posts! Well done!

hmm, didnt realize I reached an even number benchmark! Yippie!

Well, I wonder how many "miles" 1500 posts would be worth if converted thru points.com?

Gee, at their excahnge rates, I'd be a newbie! ha ha ha

anyway, my newest tactic to get companies who run promos or partnerships to give me my due is something I call "guerilla fax & tackle response"

It is my answer to the big wall often found when calling into CS or trying to use those email response systems where you get a one line canned NO from someone who only has a first name and when you reply to it, you get a different person.

Fax them, email, US mail, email, fax, call again, fax again, email from different addresses, fax again, and again, write thick letters, keep all records...and show them how their lack of concern will affect their bottom line.

Rinse, lather, repeat. Eventually you will get the attention of the person on top who will give you miles. It just takes time. Pressure and time works in this world.

;)MM

The Top Ten Problems Members Have With Frequent Flyer Programs....

:o :( :rolleyes:

1) explaining to Gisela, why it is better to connect, add a segment, make a detour, etc. etc. than taking a direct non-stop flight
2) explaining to Gisela, why another (otherwise unnecessary) flight is necessary to maintain status
3) explaining to Gisela, why spending hours online on FlyerTalk, to learn the latest changements, possibilities, options in ff-program-rules is worth it
4) explaining to Gisela, why I plan staying in big towns over the weekend (reason: lower rates) and in resorts over the week (lower rates), when shopping options are better in big towns during weekdays.
5) explaining to Gisela, why (for maintaining hotel status with some chains) changing hotels every night is a good thing
6) explaining to Gisela, why voluntarily being bumped on flights are worth it
7) explaining to Gisela, why flying round the world is the better option (mileage earning wise and often price wise too) then 'just' a return ticket (Switzerland-Australia-Switzerland)
8) explaining to Gisela why, 'just for this time', even my mileage Knowledge, didn't get her upgraded on her flight, in first-class
9) explaining to Gisela why, 'just for this time', she wasn't upgraded to a Suite at her hotel
10) explaining to Gisela why being 'Senior' can be a good thing in life (UA Silver Wings, HHonors Senior, etc. etc.)
:o :( :rolleyes:

no offense mate, but it sounds to me the problem may be with Gisela, not FF programs.

;)MM

(well, someone had to say it)

Nothing else is close
 

Award availability. tls