UA is just asking for trouble with its new mileage accrual policies
Mar 4, 2013, 10:10 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
Programs: COdbaUA 1K MM, AA EXP, Bonbon Gold, GHA Titanium, Hertz PC, NEXUS and GE
Posts: 5,839
UA is just asking for trouble with its new mileage accrual policies
Take a look at the language in this:
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=317
"Mileage accrual is subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus program and, as provided therein, mileage will be credited in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MileagePlus Program in effect at the time of travel, not at the time air travel is purchased, booked or reserved, and accordingly miles may not be awarded for some tickets or miles may be awarded in an amount fewer than shown."
They are setting themselves up for all kinds of pain here.
Any comment UAInsider? Why so hostile toward frequent fliers? You would think that after all the attacks on FFers, they wouldn't be pulling stuff like this.
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=317
"Mileage accrual is subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus program and, as provided therein, mileage will be credited in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MileagePlus Program in effect at the time of travel, not at the time air travel is purchased, booked or reserved, and accordingly miles may not be awarded for some tickets or miles may be awarded in an amount fewer than shown."
They are setting themselves up for all kinds of pain here.
Any comment UAInsider? Why so hostile toward frequent fliers? You would think that after all the attacks on FFers, they wouldn't be pulling stuff like this.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:14 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 292
That really does suck, and is one of the biggest reasons why I avoid partner air travel whenever possible. Even closely knit programs like LH have dropped earnings for low-fares, and after the SAA and Turkish cuts last month I have no desire to find out that a trip that I bought is no longer going to earn miles. Only time I travel on partners now is when there is no other choice or I'm on an award ticket.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:16 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Take a look at the language in this:
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=317
"Mileage accrual is subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus program and, as provided therein, mileage will be credited in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MileagePlus Program in effect at the time of travel, not at the time air travel is purchased, booked or reserved, and accordingly miles may not be awarded for some tickets or miles may be awarded in an amount fewer than shown."
They are setting themselves up for all kinds of pain here.
Any comment UAInsider? Why so hostile toward frequent fliers? You would think that after all the attacks on FFers, they wouldn't be pulling stuff like this.
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=317
"Mileage accrual is subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus program and, as provided therein, mileage will be credited in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MileagePlus Program in effect at the time of travel, not at the time air travel is purchased, booked or reserved, and accordingly miles may not be awarded for some tickets or miles may be awarded in an amount fewer than shown."
They are setting themselves up for all kinds of pain here.
Any comment UAInsider? Why so hostile toward frequent fliers? You would think that after all the attacks on FFers, they wouldn't be pulling stuff like this.
This kind of shenanigans is incredibly anti-consumer - no two ways about it.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:16 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MCO, DCA, IAD
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,134
Take a look at the language in this:
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=317
"Mileage accrual is subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus program and, as provided therein, mileage will be credited in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MileagePlus Program in effect at the time of travel, not at the time air travel is purchased, booked or reserved, and accordingly miles may not be awarded for some tickets or miles may be awarded in an amount fewer than shown."
They are setting themselves up for all kinds of pain here.
Any comment UAInsider? Why so hostile toward frequent fliers? You would think that after all the attacks on FFers, they wouldn't be pulling stuff like this.
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=317
"Mileage accrual is subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus program and, as provided therein, mileage will be credited in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MileagePlus Program in effect at the time of travel, not at the time air travel is purchased, booked or reserved, and accordingly miles may not be awarded for some tickets or miles may be awarded in an amount fewer than shown."
They are setting themselves up for all kinds of pain here.
Any comment UAInsider? Why so hostile toward frequent fliers? You would think that after all the attacks on FFers, they wouldn't be pulling stuff like this.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:17 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 697
Take a look at the language in this:
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=317
"Mileage accrual is subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus program and, as provided therein, mileage will be credited in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MileagePlus Program in effect at the time of travel, not at the time air travel is purchased, booked or reserved, and accordingly miles may not be awarded for some tickets or miles may be awarded in an amount fewer than shown."
They are setting themselves up for all kinds of pain here.
Any comment UAInsider? Why so hostile toward frequent fliers? You would think that after all the attacks on FFers, they wouldn't be pulling stuff like this.
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=317
"Mileage accrual is subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus program and, as provided therein, mileage will be credited in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MileagePlus Program in effect at the time of travel, not at the time air travel is purchased, booked or reserved, and accordingly miles may not be awarded for some tickets or miles may be awarded in an amount fewer than shown."
They are setting themselves up for all kinds of pain here.
Any comment UAInsider? Why so hostile toward frequent fliers? You would think that after all the attacks on FFers, they wouldn't be pulling stuff like this.
If this is new or just newly added wording to the website then I would expect a change in mileage accrual rates very soon and could be quite drastic. That is just the doomsdayist in me
Mar 4, 2013, 10:18 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
Will DOT let them do this? When some carrier tried to change the free bag allowance after tickets had been purchased, DOT took the side of consumers and said that the rules in effect when tickets were purchased must be honored. However, DOT seems more likely to protect kettles than FFers.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:19 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
Is this even lawful? In UK law this may fall foul of the unfair terms in consumer contracts regulations, and I'd be surprise if it didn't in certain US jurisdictions too. Essentially UA is saying that they can unilaterally change the terms of their agreement even after you've entered into a purchase, that seems very anti-consumer to me.
Could someone clarify who actually sets the earning rules for partners, is it UA or the partner (or is it a joint agreement)? I know that UA state that TK (or whomever) have "denied your request", but usually its been pretty clear that its a UA IT cock-up in misreading the fare class.
Could someone clarify who actually sets the earning rules for partners, is it UA or the partner (or is it a joint agreement)? I know that UA state that TK (or whomever) have "denied your request", but usually its been pretty clear that its a UA IT cock-up in misreading the fare class.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:23 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
Is this even lawful? In UK law this may fall foul of the unfair terms in consumer contracts regulations, and I'd be surprise if it didn't in certain US jurisdictions too. Essentially UA is saying that they can unilaterally change the terms of their agreement even after you've entered into a purchase, that seems very anti-consumer to me.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:25 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MCO, DCA, IAD
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,134
In any other industry, this is called "bait and switch" and it's not only unethical, but usually illegal too. UA probably tries to make it legal by putting it into the terms and conditions. Not sure how enforceable it is. This is no different from all the other shenanigans they have been pulling on the overall war against elites, no different from all the promised benefits they pulled away after taking control, no different from the misleading upgrade promises, and so forth. Same story, just another variation.
It's just a way for UA to pretect itself if other *A carriers decided to change the miles earnings for some fares.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:28 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
But do the other *A carriers actually set the accruals and have the ability to unilaterally change them? It's often stated here as if it's established fact, but I've never seen anything that says that's the case.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:29 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
The actions of alliance partners is merely an excuse to decline responsibility for what they do with the program.
So if it was a policy it was certainly not enforced.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:34 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
It's been this way for a long time - not new. And is in line with all other *A carriers.
I've never had it enforced, though, as a quick call to MP fixes it.
I laugh at concept of "bait and switch", when the caveat is clearly disclosed.
Mar 4, 2013, 10:35 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Compensation according to EU 261? Hotel nights during MX or WX? No way - just pull a silly excuse why that cannot be offered...
Mar 4, 2013, 10:42 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
So if a mail order company said "two day shipping", provided they disclaimed that with "shipping times can change as we see fit" and then didn't send it for three weeks, you'd be happy with that? If United don't want to promise partner miles then fine, I'll move my business to AA/One World but to be half-pregnant with this weasel wording is unacceptable.