Dear SWISS Lurker LX to enhance away SEN/HON booking guarantees on high yield routes?
Nov 29, 2011, 3:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX HON Circle
Posts: 3,254
LX to enhance away SEN/HON booking guarantees on high yield routes?
On a recent call to the SEN line I asked to be upgraded with e-vouchers (on LX288 ZRH-JNB). We talked about the load factors on this sector and that a friend of mine only managed to get on the flight with the booking guarantee (in J). She told me that LX is thinking about enhancing away those booking guarantees for SEN/HON on specific sectors which are most of the time sold out (or even oversold) in Business, sometimes many weeks in advance. Those booking guaranttes are a "a problem" for such flights she/he said.
It has not been confirmed by now but if LX (or LH?) are seriously going to implement this we would see another big devaluation of the program IMO. The booking guarantee is typically used for high load routes such as JNB and GRU. We do not need a booking guarantee for flights who have a half-empty C cabin anyway. And as you know, to make use of the booking guarantee we already need to book at least C (HON) or J (SEN) which are rather expensive...
Maybe someone knows more?
It has not been confirmed by now but if LX (or LH?) are seriously going to implement this we would see another big devaluation of the program IMO. The booking guarantee is typically used for high load routes such as JNB and GRU. We do not need a booking guarantee for flights who have a half-empty C cabin anyway. And as you know, to make use of the booking guarantee we already need to book at least C (HON) or J (SEN) which are rather expensive...
Maybe someone knows more?
Nov 29, 2011, 8:10 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
On a recent call to the SEN line I asked to be upgraded with e-vouchers (on LX288 ZRH-JNB). We talked about the load factors on this sector and that a friend of mine only managed to get on the flight with the booking guarantee (in J). She told me that LX is thinking about enhancing away those booking guarantees for SEN/HON on specific sectors which are most of the time sold out (or even oversold) in Business, sometimes many weeks in advance. Those booking guaranttes are a "a problem" for such flights she/he said.
It has not been confirmed by now but if LX (or LH?) are seriously going to implement this we would see another big devaluation of the program IMO. The booking guarantee is typically used for high load routes such as JNB and GRU. We do not need a booking guarantee for flights who have a half-empty C cabin anyway. And as you know, to make use of the booking guarantee we already need to book at least C (HON) or J (SEN) which are rather expensive...
Maybe someone knows more?
It has not been confirmed by now but if LX (or LH?) are seriously going to implement this we would see another big devaluation of the program IMO. The booking guarantee is typically used for high load routes such as JNB and GRU. We do not need a booking guarantee for flights who have a half-empty C cabin anyway. And as you know, to make use of the booking guarantee we already need to book at least C (HON) or J (SEN) which are rather expensive...
Maybe someone knows more?
Nov 29, 2011, 12:37 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ZRH, Switzerland
Programs: M&M, Fan of MO, Shangri-La.
Posts: 687
How hard can it be to file higher J and C Fares?
That and and not too stupidly programmed revenue management computer is probably what it would take to solve the "problem" of too high demand.
I do hope that an airline run by an ex network management guy finds a bit smarter solutions than preventing or restricting full fare business sales to its best customers.
That and and not too stupidly programmed revenue management computer is probably what it would take to solve the "problem" of too high demand.
I do hope that an airline run by an ex network management guy finds a bit smarter solutions than preventing or restricting full fare business sales to its best customers.
Nov 30, 2011, 2:30 am
#6
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,182
Regards Oliver2002
Mod M&M forum
Nov 30, 2011, 4:41 am
#7
Company Representative - Swiss Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Zurich / Switzerland
Programs: Miles & More (LX)
Posts: 888
On a recent call to the SEN line I asked to be upgraded with e-vouchers (on LX288 ZRH-JNB). We talked about the load factors on this sector and that a friend of mine only managed to get on the flight with the booking guarantee (in J). She told me that LX is thinking about enhancing away those booking guarantees for SEN/HON on specific sectors which are most of the time sold out (or even oversold) in Business, sometimes many weeks in advance. Those booking guaranttes are a "a problem" for such flights she/he said.
It has not been confirmed by now but if LX (or LH?) are seriously going to implement this we would see another big devaluation of the program IMO. The booking guarantee is typically used for high load routes such as JNB and GRU. We do not need a booking guarantee for flights who have a half-empty C cabin anyway. And as you know, to make use of the booking guarantee we already need to book at least C (HON) or J (SEN) which are rather expensive...
Maybe someone knows more?
It has not been confirmed by now but if LX (or LH?) are seriously going to implement this we would see another big devaluation of the program IMO. The booking guarantee is typically used for high load routes such as JNB and GRU. We do not need a booking guarantee for flights who have a half-empty C cabin anyway. And as you know, to make use of the booking guarantee we already need to book at least C (HON) or J (SEN) which are rather expensive...
Maybe someone knows more?
I have not heard of such a thing, but I'm double checking, just to be sure.
Thank you for your patience.
Kind regards,
Gianrico
Nov 30, 2011, 9:36 am
#8
Company Representative - Swiss Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Zurich / Switzerland
Programs: Miles & More (LX)
Posts: 888
I am glad to confirm that SWISS is not currently planning any changes to the booking guarantees.
Kind regards,
Gianrico
Nov 30, 2011, 1:30 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
Apr 30, 2013, 10:17 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX HON Circle
Posts: 3,254
I just wanted to highlight a recent statement dated April 04, 2013 from our LX representative which confirms that my assumption in the first post was actually correct
link
So basically, you can no longer rely on the booking guarantee.
link
In very rare, exceptional cases of severe overbooking of entire flights, which unfortunately is also a consequence of the booking guarantee, this benefit can be restricted for certain single flights. This cannot be generalized to certain peak times, routes or black-out dates, but is a measure that can be taken for single flights in such a severe overbooking situation. Once again, this is a very rare case, and I am sorry that this seems to have happend on one of your flights.