Reciprocity in oneworld elite benefits
Apr 29, 2012 | 1:21 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 9,137
I think we always were in agreement on that, we're just clarifying some points.
Apr 29, 2012 | 1:28 am
#17
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
Apr 29, 2012 | 8:13 am
#18
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC & Iberia
Posts: 4,649
My guess is that if AA took 6 months to send out Platinum cards, there would be a riot on the AA forum.
November I flew BOG MIA DFW HNL LAX MIA BOG with AA and supposedly as a OW Sapphire. No seat selection for me because my status was not recognised by AA in that system, although they did have status "somewhere" in the system because they manually stamped my BP for priority access.
Re the miles I am waiting for, it simply sucks. It's looking like extending out to the full 90 days. How? I emailed AA myself and they got back to me within 1 day. Worth noting that had I flown those AA segments in Oct, Nov or Dec then they would slip into a different qualifying year so it is quite possible to fly the miles necessary to requalify in one year and a chunk of the miles count for the next year.
I will qualify for OW Emerald in August, on LAN so there should be no partner miles issues. But let's see if their fulfilment dept has upped the stakes and manages to send a card out this time.
Last edited by JohnnyColombia; Apr 29, 2012 at 8:21 am
Apr 29, 2012 | 8:20 am
#19
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC & Iberia
Posts: 4,649
My "new" Emerald card that I may or may not get in August doesn't make much difference over my "current" card in terms of lounges, only gives me access to First Class lounges, whether I will go to one and whether it will be honoured on my current card is anyone's guess.
I'm not really a lounge fan, I want the upgrades and the bonus miles, so in that respect, having a new Emerald card over having my current Sapphire one doesn't make much difference. Which is lucky, because I am unlikely to receive it in a timely manner.
Apr 29, 2012 | 9:09 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
I cannot think of how that would apply in my circumstances. My "old" card would theoretically have been a LAN OW Ruby which wouldn't entitle me to access. I say theoretically because LAN never sent me it. So my new card that entitled me to lounge access is the only one I ever got.
My "new" Emerald card that I may or may not get in August doesn't make much difference over my "current" card in terms of lounges, only gives me access to First Class lounges, whether I will go to one and whether it will be honoured on my current card is anyone's guess.
I'm not really a lounge fan, I want the upgrades and the bonus miles, so in that respect, having a new Emerald card over having my current Sapphire one doesn't make much difference. Which is lucky, because I am unlikely to receive it in a timely manner.
My "new" Emerald card that I may or may not get in August doesn't make much difference over my "current" card in terms of lounges, only gives me access to First Class lounges, whether I will go to one and whether it will be honoured on my current card is anyone's guess.
I'm not really a lounge fan, I want the upgrades and the bonus miles, so in that respect, having a new Emerald card over having my current Sapphire one doesn't make much difference. Which is lucky, because I am unlikely to receive it in a timely manner.
May 1, 2012 | 9:29 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: FLL
Programs: AA EXP 2 MM,MARRIOTT Prem Plat Elite,HH Gold,HERTZ Prez Circle,SONNY's Lunch Card club
Posts: 6
In terms of a truly seamless experience I think there are far more important ducks to get in a row before elite benefits parity.
Pricing they seem to have nailed if you look at BA/AA offerings and TATL codeshares (Not that it is OneWorld's doing), but what about consistency of product on such routes?
Customer service. You have a problem with AA or BA then you normally get it fixed, you at least get a sympathetic ear. LA and IB you may as well go and piss into the wind. Cancelled flights without warning, inability to fulfil elite packs, regular delays without caring, and pity the man that has IB or LA lose his bags. This I think devalues the OneWorld brand more than anything, particularly when OneWorld has no teeth and won't ensure a bit of brand consistency and fair play.
Reservation systems pick ONE so that passengers ticketed by one airline can manage their booking on the operating airlines. Now LAN is moving over to SABRE too so this will only be exacerbated, apart from LA/AA ticketing/operating scenarios.
AA has a policy that if you are travelling on separate PNRs for two different OneWorld carriers and AA causes you to miss your connection for whatever reason, AA will be accountable for rescheduling your connecting flights with the other carrier. Make this policy across the whole alliance and enforce it.
Write, publish and enforce an interline baggage policy between OneWorld carriers. Guarantee that bags can be interlined through separate PNRs on separate carriers and make it work. The only thing that is stopping this happening is miserable check in agents that refuse to do it.
I'd personally take any of the above over priority boarding.
Pricing they seem to have nailed if you look at BA/AA offerings and TATL codeshares (Not that it is OneWorld's doing), but what about consistency of product on such routes?
Customer service. You have a problem with AA or BA then you normally get it fixed, you at least get a sympathetic ear. LA and IB you may as well go and piss into the wind. Cancelled flights without warning, inability to fulfil elite packs, regular delays without caring, and pity the man that has IB or LA lose his bags. This I think devalues the OneWorld brand more than anything, particularly when OneWorld has no teeth and won't ensure a bit of brand consistency and fair play.
Reservation systems pick ONE so that passengers ticketed by one airline can manage their booking on the operating airlines. Now LAN is moving over to SABRE too so this will only be exacerbated, apart from LA/AA ticketing/operating scenarios.
AA has a policy that if you are travelling on separate PNRs for two different OneWorld carriers and AA causes you to miss your connection for whatever reason, AA will be accountable for rescheduling your connecting flights with the other carrier. Make this policy across the whole alliance and enforce it.
Write, publish and enforce an interline baggage policy between OneWorld carriers. Guarantee that bags can be interlined through separate PNRs on separate carriers and make it work. The only thing that is stopping this happening is miserable check in agents that refuse to do it.
I'd personally take any of the above over priority boarding.
On the outbound from JFK / MIA I was upgraded to Business (nice!!) on the return both times the desk at the BLR airport could not even upgrade me to World Traveller Plus (WTP hereafter). Half the seats in WTP we empty and get this the Business Class was completely empty (I kid you not!!). The BA agent told me that they were not allowed upgrade One World or any one unless they had BA status and or BA related upgrade materials. This I thought was ridiculous. I have been on quite a few flights in CONUS and I have seen BA elites getting upgrades at the airport, and I have confirmed the same with Gate Agents.
Hence when I got back I wrote a polite email to BA and informed them of the same. I have not heard back from them and it has been close to a year. So I am not entirely sure BA customer relations will lend a sympathetic year, did not in my case at least.
May 1, 2012 | 1:04 pm
#22
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC & Iberia
Posts: 4,649
I am not sure if BA/AA would lend you a sympathetic ear. I flew twice to from MIA / JFK to BLR last year and am an EXP (and was one then also). I had a Y class ticket and the ticket was split between AA and BA. It was issued at AA though.
On the outbound from JFK / MIA I was upgraded to Business (nice!!) on the return both times the desk at the BLR airport could not even upgrade me to World Traveller Plus (WTP hereafter). Half the seats in WTP we empty and get this the Business Class was completely empty (I kid you not!!). The BA agent told me that they were not allowed upgrade One World or any one unless they had BA status and or BA related upgrade materials. This I thought was ridiculous. I have been on quite a few flights in CONUS and I have seen BA elites getting upgrades at the airport, and I have confirmed the same with Gate Agents.
Hence when I got back I wrote a polite email to BA and informed them of the same. I have not heard back from them and it has been close to a year. So I am not entirely sure BA customer relations will lend a sympathetic year, did not in my case at least.
On the outbound from JFK / MIA I was upgraded to Business (nice!!) on the return both times the desk at the BLR airport could not even upgrade me to World Traveller Plus (WTP hereafter). Half the seats in WTP we empty and get this the Business Class was completely empty (I kid you not!!). The BA agent told me that they were not allowed upgrade One World or any one unless they had BA status and or BA related upgrade materials. This I thought was ridiculous. I have been on quite a few flights in CONUS and I have seen BA elites getting upgrades at the airport, and I have confirmed the same with Gate Agents.
Hence when I got back I wrote a polite email to BA and informed them of the same. I have not heard back from them and it has been close to a year. So I am not entirely sure BA customer relations will lend a sympathetic year, did not in my case at least.
I was referring to customer service responses for operational screw ups, lost bags, bumps, cancellations etc
For what its worth, you also wouldn't get an upgrade on LAN in that circumstance, nor would I unless I was prepared to use a coupon and abide by the rules
May 1, 2012 | 2:04 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: BA GfL, Marriott LTS
Posts: 2,303
On the outbound from JFK / MIA I was upgraded to Business (nice!!) on the return both times the desk at the BLR airport could not even upgrade me to World Traveller Plus (WTP hereafter). Half the seats in WTP we empty and get this the Business Class was completely empty (I kid you not!!). The BA agent told me that they were not allowed upgrade One World or any one unless they had BA status and or BA related upgrade materials. This I thought was ridiculous. I have been on quite a few flights in CONUS and I have seen BA elites getting upgrades at the airport, and I have confirmed the same with Gate Agents.
Hence when I got back I wrote a polite email to BA and informed them of the same. I have not heard back from them and it has been close to a year. So I am not entirely sure BA customer relations will lend a sympathetic year, did not in my case at least.
Hence when I got back I wrote a polite email to BA and informed them of the same. I have not heard back from them and it has been close to a year. So I am not entirely sure BA customer relations will lend a sympathetic year, did not in my case at least.
US carriers devalued their premium cabins long ago by dishing out upgrades to all and sundry and the result is that the "premium" product is far from premium. Airlines in the rest of the world have wisely resisted following the American example.
Oh, and I wouldn't be holding my breath on a response from BA on the matter.....
May 1, 2012 | 2:29 pm
#24
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF LTG / P1 , LH LT SEN / HON, OZ LT Diamond +, Marriott LT PT, HH Diamond,
Posts: 15,149
I am not sure if BA/AA would lend you a sympathetic ear. I flew twice to from MIA / JFK to BLR last year and am an EXP (and was one then also). I had a Y class ticket and the ticket was split between AA and BA. It was issued at AA though.
On the outbound from JFK / MIA I was upgraded to Business (nice!!) on the return both times the desk at the BLR airport could not even upgrade me to World Traveller Plus (WTP hereafter). Half the seats in WTP we empty and get this the Business Class was completely empty (I kid you not!!). The BA agent told me that they were not allowed upgrade One World or any one unless they had BA status and or BA related upgrade materials. This I thought was ridiculous. I have been on quite a few flights in CONUS and I have seen BA elites getting upgrades at the airport, and I have confirmed the same with Gate Agents.
Hence when I got back I wrote a polite email to BA and informed them of the same. I have not heard back from them and it has been close to a year. So I am not entirely sure BA customer relations will lend a sympathetic year, did not in my case at least.
On the outbound from JFK / MIA I was upgraded to Business (nice!!) on the return both times the desk at the BLR airport could not even upgrade me to World Traveller Plus (WTP hereafter). Half the seats in WTP we empty and get this the Business Class was completely empty (I kid you not!!). The BA agent told me that they were not allowed upgrade One World or any one unless they had BA status and or BA related upgrade materials. This I thought was ridiculous. I have been on quite a few flights in CONUS and I have seen BA elites getting upgrades at the airport, and I have confirmed the same with Gate Agents.
Hence when I got back I wrote a polite email to BA and informed them of the same. I have not heard back from them and it has been close to a year. So I am not entirely sure BA customer relations will lend a sympathetic year, did not in my case at least.
I have been a Qantas Platinum for 10 years or so and have never received an upgrade on any international flight with QF or any other oneworld Airline ever. I think I total 2 domestic op ups for a flight of 75 minutes or so.
May 3, 2012 | 9:39 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DCA
Posts: 303
If you spent 5 minutes perusing the BA forum zoo would know that BA protects the integrity of its premium cabins and does not hand out upgrades unless it actually needs to, so despite me being BA Gold/OW Sapphire, had I been on the same return flight as you and booked into Y, that is exactly where I would have flown and exactly where I would have expected to fly.
US carriers devalued their premium cabins long ago by dishing out upgrades to all and sundry and the result is that the "premium" product is far from premium. Airlines in the rest of the world have wisely resisted following the American example.
And for international long haul, I actually consider BA's premium classes to be easier to get into. BA lets you upgrade from WT+ to CW for a mere 20,000 avios roundtrip. American carriers charge more miles and a hefty co-pay of $700+ round trip to upgrade to business class. While BA does require you to be WT+ to get an upgrade, WT+ is often available for only slightly more than WT, and you can get the upgrade confirmed at booking.
I do think that BA's long haul premium cabins are superior to their U.S. equivalents, but I don't think your explanation is the reason, although it may have been the case in the past.