Changes to Dividend Miles
#1
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Programs: AA2MM
Posts: 1,754
Changes to Dividend Miles
ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- In an array of changes to its Dividend Miles program announced today, US Airways said
that it is both enhancing benefits available to the business traveler and making frequent traveler awards more accessible to all program members.
In two key steps, US Airways will reduce the number of Dividend Miles needed for off-peak Coach Class travel in the U.S. and Canada, and for peak travel to and from Europe for reservations made after March 31, 1999, effective for travel originating Sept. 15,
1999, and beyond.
At the same time, US Airways introduced new domestic First Class upgrade awards and a new way for its Dividend Miles members to reach Preferred status.
"These Dividend Miles enhancements represent our continued commitment to being the airline of choice," said Rita M. Cuddihy, US
Airways' vice president -- customer products and service planning. "Our Dividend Miles program now offers our members more award
opportunities and a wider range of Preferred benefits."
A Dividend Miles member now can earn Preferred status after flying 30 segments, Preferred Plus status after flying 60 segments, and Chairman's Preferred, the highest level of the program, after flying 100 segments. Members can still fly 25,000, 50,000, or 100,000 miles to earn Preferred, Preferred Plus and Chairman's Preferred status.
Under the new award structure, a standard Coach Class award ticket will require only 20,000 miles, a 5,000 mile reduction, for travel in the U.S. and Canada during the off-peak period between Sept. 15 and the last day of February. Peak period travel remains at 25,000 miles. As part of these changes, US Airways will introduce a Saturday night stay requirement for travel within the U.S., and for travel between the U.S. and Canada, for reservations made after March 31, and for travel Sept. 15 and beyond.
At the same time, US Airways will reduce the number of miles needed from 60,000 to 50,000 miles for standard European peak Coach Class travel between May 1 and Sept. 30. European off-peak award travel remains 40,000 miles.
In addition to US Airways' Coach Class, First Class and Envoy Class standard awards, for reservations booked after March 31, and for
travel originating Sept. 15 and beyond, Dividend Miles members can use a higher number of miles to travel in all classes with no restrictions on the number of award seats available, and no minimum night stay requirement.
Effective April 1, 1999, Dividend Miles members will be able to upgrade using US Airways' new First Class upgrade awards. A
member can redeem 10,000 miles for a First Class upgrade when traveling round-trip within the U.S. using an unrestricted Coach
Class fare, and 20,000 miles when upgrading from a restricted Coach Class fare.
Other program enhancements effective immediately include:
-- Preferred members now earn a 50 percent mileage bonus on all US Airways flights, up from 25 percent.
-- Dividend Miles members now earn a 50 percent mileage bonus when traveling US Airways' Envoy Class service to and from Europe, up from 25 percent.
-- Blackout dates do not apply for award travel by Preferred members.
-- Two additional First Class upgrades for travel in North America will be awarded for each 20,000 miles earned after achieving Preferred status.
In a further change to the program, beginning Jan. 1, 2000, mileage will expire if a Dividend Miles member does not fly again on US Airways within three calendar years from the time that mileage initially is earned. Any miles earned prior to Jan. 1, 2000, will not expire.
US Airways' Dividend Miles program partners include Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts; Hyatt Hotels and Resorts; Four Points Hotels;
Hilton; Conrad International and Vista Hotels worldwide; Holiday Inn; Holiday Inn Express; The Luxury Collection by Sheraton; Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites; Radisson Hotels Worldwide; Renaissance Hotels and Resorts; Sheraton Hotels and Resorts; Westin
Hotels and Resorts; Alitalia; All Nippon Airways; American Airlines; Austrian Airlines; Northwest Airlines; Qantas Airways; Sabena; Swissair; LatinPass; Alamo; Hertz; National; MCI; NationsBank; The Flower Club; and Renaissance Cruises.
that it is both enhancing benefits available to the business traveler and making frequent traveler awards more accessible to all program members.
In two key steps, US Airways will reduce the number of Dividend Miles needed for off-peak Coach Class travel in the U.S. and Canada, and for peak travel to and from Europe for reservations made after March 31, 1999, effective for travel originating Sept. 15,
1999, and beyond.
At the same time, US Airways introduced new domestic First Class upgrade awards and a new way for its Dividend Miles members to reach Preferred status.
"These Dividend Miles enhancements represent our continued commitment to being the airline of choice," said Rita M. Cuddihy, US
Airways' vice president -- customer products and service planning. "Our Dividend Miles program now offers our members more award
opportunities and a wider range of Preferred benefits."
A Dividend Miles member now can earn Preferred status after flying 30 segments, Preferred Plus status after flying 60 segments, and Chairman's Preferred, the highest level of the program, after flying 100 segments. Members can still fly 25,000, 50,000, or 100,000 miles to earn Preferred, Preferred Plus and Chairman's Preferred status.
Under the new award structure, a standard Coach Class award ticket will require only 20,000 miles, a 5,000 mile reduction, for travel in the U.S. and Canada during the off-peak period between Sept. 15 and the last day of February. Peak period travel remains at 25,000 miles. As part of these changes, US Airways will introduce a Saturday night stay requirement for travel within the U.S., and for travel between the U.S. and Canada, for reservations made after March 31, and for travel Sept. 15 and beyond.
At the same time, US Airways will reduce the number of miles needed from 60,000 to 50,000 miles for standard European peak Coach Class travel between May 1 and Sept. 30. European off-peak award travel remains 40,000 miles.
In addition to US Airways' Coach Class, First Class and Envoy Class standard awards, for reservations booked after March 31, and for
travel originating Sept. 15 and beyond, Dividend Miles members can use a higher number of miles to travel in all classes with no restrictions on the number of award seats available, and no minimum night stay requirement.
Effective April 1, 1999, Dividend Miles members will be able to upgrade using US Airways' new First Class upgrade awards. A
member can redeem 10,000 miles for a First Class upgrade when traveling round-trip within the U.S. using an unrestricted Coach
Class fare, and 20,000 miles when upgrading from a restricted Coach Class fare.
Other program enhancements effective immediately include:
-- Preferred members now earn a 50 percent mileage bonus on all US Airways flights, up from 25 percent.
-- Dividend Miles members now earn a 50 percent mileage bonus when traveling US Airways' Envoy Class service to and from Europe, up from 25 percent.
-- Blackout dates do not apply for award travel by Preferred members.
-- Two additional First Class upgrades for travel in North America will be awarded for each 20,000 miles earned after achieving Preferred status.
In a further change to the program, beginning Jan. 1, 2000, mileage will expire if a Dividend Miles member does not fly again on US Airways within three calendar years from the time that mileage initially is earned. Any miles earned prior to Jan. 1, 2000, will not expire.
US Airways' Dividend Miles program partners include Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts; Hyatt Hotels and Resorts; Four Points Hotels;
Hilton; Conrad International and Vista Hotels worldwide; Holiday Inn; Holiday Inn Express; The Luxury Collection by Sheraton; Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites; Radisson Hotels Worldwide; Renaissance Hotels and Resorts; Sheraton Hotels and Resorts; Westin
Hotels and Resorts; Alitalia; All Nippon Airways; American Airlines; Austrian Airlines; Northwest Airlines; Qantas Airways; Sabena; Swissair; LatinPass; Alamo; Hertz; National; MCI; NationsBank; The Flower Club; and Renaissance Cruises.
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Reno, NV (RNO)
Programs: AA Platinum, AS, UA, DL, HHonors Gold, Marriott LTP, Hyatt, IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,707
Here's my assessment:
There is nothing earth-shattering about these changes. They basically bring the US Airways program up to the same level with the rest of their competitors.
1. The reduced award mileage for off-season travel matches NW/CO except US ends the off-season in February rather than May (ouch!)
2. The increase to a 50% bonus for Preferred members (from 25%) is nice but again, it follows what others have already done.
3. The new mileage expiration policy (miles expire if no flights in 3 years) matches Delta but is still not as good as no expiration (NW/CO). Not if AA, US ally, will follow suit, this would be a good thing.
4. The 10,000 miles for a roundtrip upgrade is nice, but I'm wondering if the 800 mile segment upgrades are still available. Preferred members could get those for 2000 miles each under existing rules. So, if these are gone the 10,000 mile award only makes sense on flights over 1600 miles. Upgrading on shorthauls would be less desireable.
The rest is fluff - no originality. This keeps US a run of the mill program. I was expecting more.
There is nothing earth-shattering about these changes. They basically bring the US Airways program up to the same level with the rest of their competitors.
1. The reduced award mileage for off-season travel matches NW/CO except US ends the off-season in February rather than May (ouch!)
2. The increase to a 50% bonus for Preferred members (from 25%) is nice but again, it follows what others have already done.
3. The new mileage expiration policy (miles expire if no flights in 3 years) matches Delta but is still not as good as no expiration (NW/CO). Not if AA, US ally, will follow suit, this would be a good thing.
4. The 10,000 miles for a roundtrip upgrade is nice, but I'm wondering if the 800 mile segment upgrades are still available. Preferred members could get those for 2000 miles each under existing rules. So, if these are gone the 10,000 mile award only makes sense on flights over 1600 miles. Upgrading on shorthauls would be less desireable.
The rest is fluff - no originality. This keeps US a run of the mill program. I was expecting more.
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
As a Preffered plus with U I'm getting twice the upgrades I received last year. Nice addition to the elite flyers. My real hope is that this is an attempt to bring U's FF program up to par with American's so U can enter OneWorld. Any thought on this happening?????