Program changes - Platinum
Dec 28, 2002 | 4:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Westfield, IN NW bona fide platinum
Posts: 297
Program changes - Platinum
Received a letter today outlining four program changes and how they may benefit or be modified for Plats...
Segment Qualification...old news
WorldPerks administrative fees...referred to in another thread. Plats are exempt from these.
Enhanced Elite upgrades by preventing the lower caste, non-elites from upgrading cheap fares with miles. I've been nearly 100% anyway.
Circle trip awards. You can now book domestic only circle trip awards. They will cost 37,500 miles. In the example they gave they used MSP-NYC-DTW-MSP with allowed stopovers in NYC and DTW. No mention what happens if you live in IND and want to go to BOS and NYC. Does one of the stopovers have to be at a hub or connection point? We'll see.
I guess in a year when the airlines are struggling, it's difficult to expect much in the way of enhancements altho' the FF programs are one of the most profitable areas of the airline business.
The elite "improvements" will be that things won't get worse for us as fast as the non-elites. Kind of a left handed enhancement, but what the heck.
Segment Qualification...old news
WorldPerks administrative fees...referred to in another thread. Plats are exempt from these.
Enhanced Elite upgrades by preventing the lower caste, non-elites from upgrading cheap fares with miles. I've been nearly 100% anyway.
Circle trip awards. You can now book domestic only circle trip awards. They will cost 37,500 miles. In the example they gave they used MSP-NYC-DTW-MSP with allowed stopovers in NYC and DTW. No mention what happens if you live in IND and want to go to BOS and NYC. Does one of the stopovers have to be at a hub or connection point? We'll see.
I guess in a year when the airlines are struggling, it's difficult to expect much in the way of enhancements altho' the FF programs are one of the most profitable areas of the airline business.
The elite "improvements" will be that things won't get worse for us as fast as the non-elites. Kind of a left handed enhancement, but what the heck.
Dec 28, 2002 | 4:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: BSB
Programs: DL 2 MM
Posts: 4,998
I think it's nice that there are some "exemptions" being set aside for the most frequent flyers.
We all understand that when a business is losing money they have to cut costs.
We are being impact the least of all the passengers!
RC
[This message has been edited by Radiocycle (edited 12-28-2002).]
We all understand that when a business is losing money they have to cut costs.
We are being impact the least of all the passengers!
RC
[This message has been edited by Radiocycle (edited 12-28-2002).]
Dec 28, 2002 | 4:59 pm
#3
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Programs: AAdvantage EXP/1mm/Admirals,United Silver+Club (life),Marriott Titanium,Hilton & Accor Gold
Posts: 5,064
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Radiocycle:
We all understand that when a business is losing money they have to cut costs.
</font>
We all understand that when a business is losing money they have to cut costs.
</font>
How about raising revenues, restructuring the organization, overhauling the product, etc? Couldn't a business also do that?
Dec 28, 2002 | 5:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Everywhere
Posts: 758
i got the same email (more or less) a couple of days ago with a note at the bottom saying they would forward my comments to marketing. We shall see.
I am curious to hear what people think of Russ Hinckley saying that NW was going to role out ways to differentiate PLAT from GOLD then doing this (which in my mind is marginal in enhancing top tier status).
when CO lied last year about one pass I jumped ship, should I jump NW????
I am curious to hear what people think of Russ Hinckley saying that NW was going to role out ways to differentiate PLAT from GOLD then doing this (which in my mind is marginal in enhancing top tier status).
when CO lied last year about one pass I jumped ship, should I jump NW????
Dec 28, 2002 | 5:49 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL MM Plat, PC&HH Gold
Posts: 2,602
If that's the sum of it then I'm disappointed. The concensus of our online chats with Russ have been pretty unanimous - make it easier for top level elites to fly WBC.
Russ' answer is always - that's why Plat's get 125% bonus - to make it easier to buy Rulebusters.
Problem is there is no rulebuster that allows upgrading discount fares. And worse WBC rulebuster comes out of the C bucket which has dismal availability at best.
NW you can do better!
Dec 28, 2002 | 9:28 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: MCI ** UA Silver, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,297
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by d56auction:
Segment Qualification...old news</font>
Segment Qualification...old news</font>
Dec 28, 2002 | 9:40 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Land of 10,000 Upgrades
Posts: 9,459
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Or are they starting it up and I missed something?</font>
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/004793.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/004730.html
Dec 29, 2002 | 8:26 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Westfield, IN NW bona fide platinum
Posts: 297
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Radiocycle:
[B]I think it's nice that there are some "exemptions" being set aside for the most frequent flyers.
RC </font>
[B]I think it's nice that there are some "exemptions" being set aside for the most frequent flyers.
RC </font>
Yes, RC, I agree but it is somewhat sad when program improvements are simply "we're not degrading the program as quickly as others."
Sign of old age, I guess, but I have nostalgia for the days when three fly-write tickets (20K miles each for you youngsters) got two of us to Europe and back any time of the year.
Dec 29, 2002 | 6:15 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: BSB
Programs: DL 2 MM
Posts: 4,998
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by d56auction:
Yes, RC, I agree but it is somewhat sad when program improvements are simply "we're not degrading the program as quickly as others."
Sign of old age, I guess, but I have nostalgia for the days when three fly-write tickets (20K miles each for you youngsters) got two of us to Europe and back any time of the year.</font>
Yes, RC, I agree but it is somewhat sad when program improvements are simply "we're not degrading the program as quickly as others."
Sign of old age, I guess, but I have nostalgia for the days when three fly-write tickets (20K miles each for you youngsters) got two of us to Europe and back any time of the year.</font>
That was before NWA.COM.
Different times.
At least there is recognition that the the most active Plat Elite flyers shouldn't be restricted/penalized by7 the new rules as much as the "Joe Leisures" and less frequent flyer elites.
RC
[This message has been edited by Radiocycle (edited 12-29-2002).]