ROP Program changes
Mar 23, 2019, 11:31 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 905
End of the ROP road for me . I’ll still fly Thai when it suits but only to credit elsewhere. It has been increasingly difficult to find decent Q and H fares for crediting to TG, almost everything with a competitive fare is W or worse. While it appears they’re not touching GUP or Birthday per se, ipso facto they are because of the devaluation, at least for the 50% deal. They now want to charge effectively double the Qantas requirement for Australia-Europe? They’re dreamin’
Mar 23, 2019, 6:02 pm
#50
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: KrisFlyer Elite Gold
Posts: 113
Mar 23, 2019, 7:24 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BKK
Programs: TG ROP Platinum, M&M Senator, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 8,324
you just have to book it before 1. Oct with the old mileage requirement and could also fly later, no problem!
Mar 23, 2019, 9:58 pm
#52
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AMEX Business Centurion
Posts: 418
This change clearly makes ROP much worse of a program. So my next challenge is, who do I switch to? Aside from a decent amount of domestic flying on TG I fly BKK - SEA and/or BKK - LAX several times a year, usually on EVA, plus *A airlines here and there. I really like having *A gold for the baggage help. I figured ROP made the most sense a few years ago because I have a home base here in Thailand, but really haven't redeemed any of my TG miles since, as pointed out, they are not the best value to spend.
Should I switch to EVA, since I fly their metal several times a year? I have a home base in the US but I really don't want to go back to earning on UA, because I try to avoid their metal entirely. Which *A carrier should I switch to if retaining my *A Gold with minimal effort and annual spend is my goal?
Should I switch to EVA, since I fly their metal several times a year? I have a home base in the US but I really don't want to go back to earning on UA, because I try to avoid their metal entirely. Which *A carrier should I switch to if retaining my *A Gold with minimal effort and annual spend is my goal?
Mar 23, 2019, 10:17 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,194
Should I switch to EVA, since I fly their metal several times a year? I have a home base in the US but I really don't want to go back to earning on UA, because I try to avoid their metal entirely. Which *A carrier should I switch to if retaining my *A Gold with minimal effort and annual spend is my goal?
Nonetheless, well worth plenty of discussion! Everyday I learn something new, or something I knew has changed or is changing...
Mar 25, 2019, 2:47 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: Thai Airways
Posts: 356
There are several things to consider including routings mainly flying, booking class(es) mainly booked, etc.
Mar 25, 2019, 6:53 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 905
As for where to go: it’s all part of a race to the bottom. TG held off longer than most, but these changes are so draconian that it’s hard to imagine a lot won’t jump. Maybe TK is the go: but perhaps more than a few Aussies and Kiwis won’t relish the thought of anything via IST, at least for a while.
Mar 25, 2019, 7:04 am
#59
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 13
I already moved to TK couple of years since TG announced incremental of redemption points previously, Never regret I did that. Since I moved to TK (year 2014), already earn and redeem more than 10xRT BKK-Tokyo tickets which 7-8 tickets are in Biz class, no problem with that. I contacted TK office in BKK, no need to call Istanbul. No problem, all smooth as Sink.
I do not see any value try to keep TG premium tier membership. Already been Gold with TK for 3 cycles.
Been flying TG for more than 10+ years, before they will come to ask Gold member sitting in Y-class to choose menu first, then this service disappeared for years and years, just recently see it comes back again. But that's it.
This moves showing TG does not appreciated their loyal customers credit to their program but rather selling mileage to bank/credit card companies. Why should be care? This also means even if I have credit card in Thailand like Citibank, my point also getting cheaper when convert to mile.
Not to mention that this moves make ROP worth lesser and the fee for redemption is still expensive as usual. One of the most expensive among *A members.
I do not see any value try to keep TG premium tier membership. Already been Gold with TK for 3 cycles.
Been flying TG for more than 10+ years, before they will come to ask Gold member sitting in Y-class to choose menu first, then this service disappeared for years and years, just recently see it comes back again. But that's it.
This moves showing TG does not appreciated their loyal customers credit to their program but rather selling mileage to bank/credit card companies. Why should be care? This also means even if I have credit card in Thailand like Citibank, my point also getting cheaper when convert to mile.
Not to mention that this moves make ROP worth lesser and the fee for redemption is still expensive as usual. One of the most expensive among *A members.
Last edited by leonjoel; Mar 25, 2019 at 7:15 am
Mar 27, 2019, 6:11 pm
#60
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Programs: Velocity Gold
Posts: 1,069
This was my email sent back in June 2014 when Thai tried this...
Hi,
I am just writing to check if there is a mistake on the new award chart? It seems all of the rates for business class travel has doubled? Should the table state they are for return flights?
I have just checked other airlines in the region and if the new table is correct Thai is on average 70% more expensive than all of these carriers, they are actually more than double the cost of Singapore Airlines which is a much better airline. Using United miles it is only 60,000 points, so Thai is 326% more expensive for the exact same flight on Thai Airways planes! How is this rewarding your own frequent flyers?
Refer to the table below. This is similar to places in Europe as well with Thai being the most expensive frequent flyer program in the world.Round Trip Miles Required
(Sydney to Bangkok Business Class)Thai (old chart)98000Thai (new chart)196000Singapore Airlines93500Qantas120000Cathay140000Malaysian1060 00Emirates120000United (On Thai Airways planes) 60000
I am hoping it is just an error and should state that the values listed are for return trips. On top of this Thai Airways charges very high fuel surcharges which other airlines do not (they charge only the legitimate taxes.)
I understand Thai Airways is struggling to attract passengers at the moment. This move will just force more people to start crediting towards your partner airlines and costing Thai more money, this will in no way attract new customers or keep the ones you already have happy.
Regards,
Hi,
I am just writing to check if there is a mistake on the new award chart? It seems all of the rates for business class travel has doubled? Should the table state they are for return flights?
I have just checked other airlines in the region and if the new table is correct Thai is on average 70% more expensive than all of these carriers, they are actually more than double the cost of Singapore Airlines which is a much better airline. Using United miles it is only 60,000 points, so Thai is 326% more expensive for the exact same flight on Thai Airways planes! How is this rewarding your own frequent flyers?
Refer to the table below. This is similar to places in Europe as well with Thai being the most expensive frequent flyer program in the world.Round Trip Miles Required
(Sydney to Bangkok Business Class)Thai (old chart)98000Thai (new chart)196000Singapore Airlines93500Qantas120000Cathay140000Malaysian1060 00Emirates120000United (On Thai Airways planes) 60000
I am hoping it is just an error and should state that the values listed are for return trips. On top of this Thai Airways charges very high fuel surcharges which other airlines do not (they charge only the legitimate taxes.)
I understand Thai Airways is struggling to attract passengers at the moment. This move will just force more people to start crediting towards your partner airlines and costing Thai more money, this will in no way attract new customers or keep the ones you already have happy.
Regards,