Devaluation of Frequent Flyer Programs
Jun 8, 2003 | 9:16 am
#1
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 74,154
Devaluation of Frequent Flyer Programs
This link was in gleff's newsletter. Orange County CA newspaper - pretty interesting reading.
http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/oc...month=5&day=25
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Sharon
http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/oc...month=5&day=25
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Sharon
Jun 8, 2003 | 2:18 pm
#3
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 74,154
I think this still works:
http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/oc...month=5&day=25
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Sharon
http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/oc...month=5&day=25
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Sharon
Jun 9, 2003 | 2:12 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hollywood, California, USA
Programs: WN Companion Pass, former HP Gold and AA Gold
Posts: 271
Jun 9, 2003 | 12:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,293
Although I was unable to read this particular story, there have been others in various periodicals, and they all remind me of the story of the Three Blind Men and the Elephant.
They all seem to focus on only one aspect of the situation - some particular airline or group of airlines has raised the # of miles for a particular award.
What they all seem to ignore is that the opportunities to earn miles have increased dramatically, as the airlines seek revenue from more and more partners. As an example, affinity credit cards used to offer at most 5000 miles to sign up - now most offer 15, 20, or even 25K. And LD and wireless phone offers have also increased (remember the 40K offer from Sprint last year?).
That is why this Board has become even more valuable to all of us - there are so many offers we need each other to keep track.
In my opinion, then, the bottom line is that the increased miles required are at least balanced, if not more so, by the increased ability to earn miles.
They all seem to focus on only one aspect of the situation - some particular airline or group of airlines has raised the # of miles for a particular award.
What they all seem to ignore is that the opportunities to earn miles have increased dramatically, as the airlines seek revenue from more and more partners. As an example, affinity credit cards used to offer at most 5000 miles to sign up - now most offer 15, 20, or even 25K. And LD and wireless phone offers have also increased (remember the 40K offer from Sprint last year?).
That is why this Board has become even more valuable to all of us - there are so many offers we need each other to keep track.
In my opinion, then, the bottom line is that the increased miles required are at least balanced, if not more so, by the increased ability to earn miles.
Jun 9, 2003 | 3:49 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2001
Location: NWA Platinum, PC Platinum, HH Gold, Radisson elite, Hertz #1 Gold; National Emerald, Wausau, WI
Posts: 1,482
A very valid point! Thus far, I have to agree that whatever devaluation I've experienced has been more than offset by new earnings opportunities.
Jun 10, 2003 | 12:05 am
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CH-3823 Wengen Switzerland
Programs: miles&more, MileagePlus
Posts: 27,043
while it is true, that many more mileage earning possibilities are available/offered now than a few years ago, that doesn't help regarding:
* devaluation of miles earned in the past
* upgrade awards paid with miles (and 'complimentary' upgrade vouchers like SWU with UA) only valid on higher priced fares
AS in the past, I highly recommend to spend miles (reasonably) the earlier the better .
* devaluation of miles earned in the past
* upgrade awards paid with miles (and 'complimentary' upgrade vouchers like SWU with UA) only valid on higher priced fares
AS in the past, I highly recommend to spend miles (reasonably) the earlier the better .