Have you changed airlines due to FF changes?
Nov 4, 2003 | 3:47 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TPA
Programs: AA ExecPlat 2MM, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,217
I am also moving from CO. I have been OnePass Elite since 1996, but I've grown frustrated with the EUA games, the problems with redeeming miles, the uncaring attitude of customer care, and (the final straw) the new elite qualification rules.
UA comped me to Premier Exec, and I have already purchased over $1500 in travel on UA for the first couple of months of 2004.
I have a few more trips on CO, but the last one ends Dec 16. After that, the only time CO will see me is when I use my OnePass miles.
UA comped me to Premier Exec, and I have already purchased over $1500 in travel on UA for the first couple of months of 2004.
I have a few more trips on CO, but the last one ends Dec 16. After that, the only time CO will see me is when I use my OnePass miles.
Nov 4, 2003 | 4:45 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Hopkinton, MA
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 72
I primarily travel for leisure. I had been fairly loyal to NW and finally managed to achieve Silver in 2000 (with the help of FT). CO offered comp silver status and I took them up on it. After a year of dual silver with CO & NW (not especially helpful), I opted to stick w/CO, in part due to my frustration with DTW pre-McNamara. I achieved Gold last year and will again this year, albeit with more miles on NW metal. Being a cheap leisure traveler, with only occasional business trips, and no longer valued by CO, I'm headed back to NW for 2004.
Nov 5, 2003 | 5:00 am
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 13,344
I left Air Canada for Lufthansa last year. AC changed the redemption rules for Elites, eliminating instant access to reward tickets. Now an elite, Gold Level, has the same access to reward seats as the person who earned their miles solely through credit card use. In response they offered elites the opportunity to get seats for double miles. I said shove it, switched to LH and have not looked back.
Some of their lower fares don't earn status miles either, so count for squat.
Some of their lower fares don't earn status miles either, so count for squat.
Nov 5, 2003 | 3:19 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,036
I left Delta in the late 90s, largely in response to changes in their FF program (LUser fares, for example) after having been some level of Medallion, usually Royal (top-tier) in their earlier program, then mostly Gold (mid-tier) in SkyMiles, every year since about 1990.
What finally pushed me over the edge was, having mailed them a letter with suggestions for constructive changes to the new policies that would have still met their business objectives, I got a form-letter reply that missed or ignored my points and was full of platitudes about what "the majority of their frequent flyers want."
Maybe the majority did. I didn't.
What finally pushed me over the edge was, having mailed them a letter with suggestions for constructive changes to the new policies that would have still met their business objectives, I got a form-letter reply that missed or ignored my points and was full of platitudes about what "the majority of their frequent flyers want."
Maybe the majority did. I didn't.
Nov 5, 2003 | 5:44 pm
#21
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: ROA - UA 1K, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 176
I left DL in 9/2002 for UA. UA comp'd me 1P through 2/2004. This year alone on UA I'll finish with about 140k miles (real rump-in-the-seat miles) and had 1K back in July. I've been very happy with UA. I sadly miss the Crown Rooms but the RCC aren't too bad. Just a shame to pay for beers and have to buy the membership as a 1K.
Nov 5, 2003 | 6:23 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Eurozone
Programs: LH SEN, HH Gold
Posts: 3,017
Left BA because of Exec Club changes, redemption levels, and BA's general 'way of handling issues' -- cut up the BA VISA as well, so I could go cold turkey. Just burning up award tix now.
Switched primarily to LH, as well as Emirates. Also generally flying more, will reach LH top tier either this year or next for sure -- BA picked a good time to irritate me.
--Grog--
Switched primarily to LH, as well as Emirates. Also generally flying more, will reach LH top tier either this year or next for sure -- BA picked a good time to irritate me.
--Grog--
Nov 6, 2003 | 10:46 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA EXP 5MM
Posts: 399
I use my miles primarily for free international front cabin seats. For a long time I used CO as my secondary carrier (AA being the primary). I stopped flying them when it became impossible to book free businessFirst in planning a vacation.
Nov 6, 2003 | 2:44 pm
#26
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Delta PM, United Premier Executive, AirTran Elite, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold VIP, Her
Posts: 364
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by gleff:
Why don't you catch the USAirways Shuttle? You'll earn UA status miles.
Originally posted by dbk10:
I am a Platinum on Delta, unfortunately, I had already qualified for Gold for next year, but had I had my act together sooner, I would have jumped ship earlier. United comped me to Premier Executive...I used to take the Delta Shuttle every week, but to stay away from Delta, I now drive out to IAD so that I can fly United.</font>
I am a Platinum on Delta, unfortunately, I had already qualified for Gold for next year, but had I had my act together sooner, I would have jumped ship earlier. United comped me to Premier Executive...I used to take the Delta Shuttle every week, but to stay away from Delta, I now drive out to IAD so that I can fly United.</font>
Nov 6, 2003 | 6:40 pm
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: GSP (Greenville, SC)
Programs: DL Gold Medallion; UA Premier Executive; WN sub-CP; AA sub-Gold
Posts: 13,393
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Carolinian:
Have been DL gold for several years, and have moved to NW, thanks to Rob Borden's ax job on the Medallion program.</font>
Have been DL gold for several years, and have moved to NW, thanks to Rob Borden's ax job on the Medallion program.</font>
------------------
"Yippie-kay-yay, Mr. Falcon!" -- John McClane, Die Hard II As Seen on TV
[This message has been edited by JS (edited 11-06-2003).]
Nov 6, 2003 | 10:46 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Alexandria, VA
Programs: SPG Pref+, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Plat, BA Blue, AA Riff-Raff, UA Unwashed, Travel Anonymous Platinum
Posts: 1,469
I left UA for AA a year ago for several reasons:
- AA had more reasonable mileage redemption polices (no need to buy the more expensive fare to be able to upgrade).
- AA treats their elites (even PLT like me) better than UA.
- Service on UA had gotten more inconsistent.
- Their ACs are more pleasant to hang out than UA's RCC.
To be fair, UA has several things going for them such as:
- Better route network, especially in Asia.
- Much more comfortable F/J seats.
- 744s!
- Their on-ground Int'l First service were outstanding, especially in NRT. (At least before they apparently downgraded the on-ground service, have they?)
- AA had more reasonable mileage redemption polices (no need to buy the more expensive fare to be able to upgrade).
- AA treats their elites (even PLT like me) better than UA.
- Service on UA had gotten more inconsistent.
- Their ACs are more pleasant to hang out than UA's RCC.
To be fair, UA has several things going for them such as:
- Better route network, especially in Asia.
- Much more comfortable F/J seats.
- 744s!
- Their on-ground Int'l First service were outstanding, especially in NRT. (At least before they apparently downgraded the on-ground service, have they?)