Side-Effects of Mileage Plus
 

Living overseas, but retaining my "frequent business traveler" designation, I have learned the pluses (few) and minuses (many) of being an intra-Asia traveler. Especially when compared to the relatively smooth experience I have always had in the U.S.

I find myself on FT more and more these days, looking for interesting topics. My significant other thinks I'm crazy, of course. (As do all of yours, I assume?) But I usually brush it off as classic "you don't travel enough, you don't understand it" kind of stuff.

I have a number of trips coming up.. on Dragon Air.. on Shanghai Airlines.. on other airlines that earn me a few points here and there in their FF programs. But only when I fly UA and, to a lesser extent, when I fly SQ/TG/LH, do I get the kind of "yay, I'm back on a plane!" feeling after a dry spell. I don't get that feeling on other airlines.

I've come to realize that lame-... FF programs like Cathay's (for example) simply don't give people a reason to get excited about earning miles / points / status / etc. That is, of course, unless you are to them what I am to United (1K/UGS). Then, I suppose, it's worth it. But I only care about Mileage Plus, and ensuring my 1K status, and hopefully, ensuring my UGS status, too.

Mileage Plus is kind of a drug. It's while we're all in this forum bantering. Yes, we're talking about CS issues.. and rude FAs.. and nice FAs.. and missed connections. But really, the only reason we care, is that we're getting a "fix" of points when we fly. At least, some of us are like that... I suspect most of us... and it's kind of silly and embarrassing.

But can we be blamed? Am I alone in this feeling? Should I be institutionalized? (At least I don't take pillows on board... or my own milk... although I do bring my own tea sometimes.)

You can get MP miles for FM (Shanghai Airlines). And shortly (sometime this year), you'll be able to get EQM as well.

I agree with the OP!

I recently got an award trip to Australia thanks to my MP miles.

And although I was stoked to not pay anything out of pocket, it did make me sad when they made the announcement of how many miles I *wouldve* gotten on a revenue ticket. :( ;)

You don't think CX is thrilling? I'd happily trade in the ability to easily earn miles on UA for immaculate state-of-the-art aircraft, top-notch cabin crews, good food (even in coach on 1.5 hour hops), the Wing/Pier lounges, ability to earn miles on AA (and still get 100% PLT/EXP bonuses)...I could go on.

That last part might be most critical for you. You won't get a UGS-type designation, but EXP does carry a OneWorld designation that's higher than PLT, which is more than can be said for Star Gold.

You mean the same lame-... programs that have fairly regular award availability because they don't employ mileage devaluing/inflating tactics such as giving away miles for using on-line check-in, signing up multiple times for what amounts to the same credit card, starting a NetFlix membership, etc. etc.?

Hmmm...when I flew CX lax-hkg last year, the 747 was in pretty sorry condition. Must have missed that state-of-art aircraft somewhere...

Yes, lounges are nice.

Cabin crews are standard intra-asia. Never wowed me.

Food is Alpo just like every other intra-asian airline (in coach).

I don't fly AA. Ever. Ever. Ever. Ever. Never. Ever. So I don't want to be in their program. So I'm earning Asia Miles. (See also: Terrible program comments in original post.)

I don't understand why everyone goes so gaga for CX! And I fly them a lot... just not HKG-SFO.

But unlike *A with its *S/*G status and various (thought limited) privileges when flying on a partner, OneWorld has been known to completely fack its partners' elites. I know an AA EXP/4MM who got bumped off a BA flight to South Africa and sat there in London for four days before they would accommodate him and his whole family.

Especially when you can do intra-Asian trips on SQ and TG.

true, but if you fly a lot in china, it's almost criminal to credit to a program that doesn't benefit you on those trips.

And I know an AA EXP who gets op-upped on CX regularly. I've also heard of a *A airline that "facked" a few people by leaving them stranded in southern Wyoming.

Please. Stuff like this can happen on any airline, on any alliance.

That was a breakdown in communication, not a breakdown in service. Buses came one day later to take them the whole 107 miles. A one-day delay, in the midst of massive cancelations and 4- to 5-day delays is nothing.

Regardless, on *A you have a specific status with specific rules when flying a partner. On OneWorld, as far as I know, you are at the mercy of the partner to give consideration or not to your status with the other airline's program.

:D :D ^
I'll add my own hearty ditto to that!

Your statement is inaccurate in two ways:

1) An anecdotal example does not disprove anything.
2) A B747-400 is a (relatively) state-of-the-art aircraft. Actual/perceived condition does not change that.

CX has long been known for very high standards when it comes to fleet maintenance and cleanliness. Not to mention they renew their fleet on a significantly faster schedule than most airlines. SQ is very similar in this respect, as well.

I also personally know a Star Gold member who was IDB'ed off a US flight despite checking in 75 minutes prior to flight and having a seat assignment. And, yes, their boarding pass definitely reflected the Star Gold status.

IMO, both OneWorld and Star Alliance have been making concerted efforts for a number of years to be high-quality alliances which add real value to their members (mostly at the top tier, but all the same). There are some differences between them, but I think they average out such that they are both approximately as good as the other. YMMV.