Delta ends stopovers on award tkts. eff. 1 Jan. 15. WHEN will UA follow?
Nov 18, 2014, 10:17 am
#1
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Delta ends stopovers on award tkts. eff. 1 Jan. 15. WHEN will UA follow?
Stopovers will no longer be permitted for Award Travel booked on or after January 1, 2015.
For Award Travel ticketed on or after January 1, 2015, all open jaw itineraries will be priced based on One-way Award Travel pricing rules.
For Award Travel ticketed on or after January 1, 2015, all open jaw itineraries will be priced based on One-way Award Travel pricing rules.
Nov 18, 2014, 10:30 am
#2
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that's the ONE aspect that UA still retains value and hasn't blindly copied DL
UA has one-way awards, partner F, open jaw, stopovers, last minute changes/cancellation, only 2-tier pricing .... before accounting for award availability
The only thing that DL will have is one-way awards.
UA has one-way awards, partner F, open jaw, stopovers, last minute changes/cancellation, only 2-tier pricing .... before accounting for award availability
The only thing that DL will have is one-way awards.
Nov 18, 2014, 11:12 am
#3
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The next DL/UA frequent-flyer program match to watch out for is "how will partner flights earn miles in 2015?".
Delta hasn't said yet ( http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...ir-france.html , "The chart below is effective for travel through December 31, 2014. Details about mileage earn for travel beginning January 1, 2015 will be available later this year." ). I assume they have the announcement ready to go but are just playing "chicken" with UA to see if United will ever publish something of their own.
Delta hasn't said yet ( http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...ir-france.html , "The chart below is effective for travel through December 31, 2014. Details about mileage earn for travel beginning January 1, 2015 will be available later this year." ). I assume they have the announcement ready to go but are just playing "chicken" with UA to see if United will ever publish something of their own.
Nov 18, 2014, 11:32 am
#5
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Misleading thread title. DL changed its routing rules. While this may affect value of miles for some pax, it is not a "devaluation" in the sense that word is commonly used. Further it was accompanied by a significant enhancement, namely DL will allow one-way redemptions for the first time.
There have always been significant differences between and among the various mileage plan award routing rules. DL has historically not allowed one-way tickets, for example. I would not expect UA to blindly follow DL on the details of award routing.
There have always been significant differences between and among the various mileage plan award routing rules. DL has historically not allowed one-way tickets, for example. I would not expect UA to blindly follow DL on the details of award routing.
Nov 18, 2014, 1:13 pm
#6
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He got cookies in coach class. With no status.
What do mid-tier elites get on UA? Nothing.
So far, UA has followed DL on everything except enhancements to passenger service, so I wouldn't be surprised at more devaluations of MileagePlus and Premier benefits next year.
The only good thing for the mid-tier elite is that Smisek and the rest of the UA management are getting greedy and starting to make changes too fast - witness the PQD change this year followed by 20% PQD bumps for 2016. If Smisek and company had made changes to the program more slowly, idiots like me would actually try to catch up to them and spend more money. (I did this year but the recent 20% PQD bump announcement stopped me from purchasing a 20CPM dollar run flight next month.)
Nov 18, 2014, 1:24 pm
#7
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For starters they get access to premium economy for free. They also get a chance to be upgraded to first class. They also get early boarding, priority baggage handling, etc. etc.
But if the comparison is about getting handed cookies in coach, then yep, you are right, no cookies. WN gives peanuts too, but that is not a reason for someone to want to fly them.
Nov 18, 2014, 1:42 pm
#8
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Uh, a mid-tier elite gets all sorts of things on UA. I am certain the answer is not "nothing".
For starters they get access to premium economy for free. They also get a chance to be upgraded to first class. They also get early boarding, priority baggage handling, etc. etc.
But if the comparison is about getting handed cookies in coach, then yep, you are right, no cookies. WN gives peanuts too, but that is not a reason for someone to want to fly them.
For starters they get access to premium economy for free. They also get a chance to be upgraded to first class. They also get early boarding, priority baggage handling, etc. etc.
But if the comparison is about getting handed cookies in coach, then yep, you are right, no cookies. WN gives peanuts too, but that is not a reason for someone to want to fly them.
Nov 18, 2014, 1:48 pm
#9
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I'm going to move to Delta's less convenient (for me) network and schedule so I can get some crummy commercially-manufactured cookies in coach and it's industry-leading SkyRuble program. 
Ruble's giving the Argentine peso a run for it's money...
...and don't call me Shirley.
Roger.
Over.
Ruble's giving the Argentine peso a run for it's money...
...and don't call me Shirley.
Roger.
Over.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Nov 18, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Nov 18, 2014, 2:15 pm
#10
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I remember that cookie. But my point was not than United does or does not offer a cookie, but that the earlier post said that mid-tier elites got "nothing". The use of "nothing" was what I said was not accurate or defendable. But it is correct that United nor UX no longer offers a cookie in coach. In fact, often the only free food item I get in first class on short flights is a cookie (or a scone, I guess). But even in coach, UA still provides things to passengers. And for Mid-tier elites, they get benefits that non-elites do not get at all.
Nov 18, 2014, 6:14 pm
#13
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AA ended free domestic award stopovers ~5 years ago when it introduced one-way/half price award tickets. It eliminated the remaining/limited 'North American gateway' stopover on intercontinental tickets in April '14. Delta's rules that bring in one-way awards look to follow AA pretty closely.
Nov 18, 2014, 6:20 pm
#14
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AA ended free domestic award stopovers ~5 years ago when it introduced one-way/half price award tickets. It eliminated the remaining/limited 'North American gateway' stopover on intercontinental tickets in April '14. Delta's rules that bring in one-way awards look to follow AA pretty closely.