sassamanlaw

You hit that right in the head. Why don't they just get it over with and paint the planes mustard with red bellies.

longing4piedmont

They don't paint 'em baby poop brown any more. They are now tidy bowl blue.

DeacDiggler

My 2 cents:

* I just made Gold, so the cut to 50% bonus is really irritating.
* The crowd of people heading to Europe on US, UA, and LH just grew by a lot, and the other *A FFs are the ones that are going to be hurting, since I don't think anyone is adding flights to Europe to accomodate more FFs.

N93109

Why is everyone being so negative, including with the threats about walking to other airlines? Does everyone realize that the new US Airways has the best elite program and upgrade policy of any airline, especially compared to United?

CHP can clear anytime in advance on US/HP on full Coach fares, or w/in 7 days before departure on other Coach fareswhich is better than any other airline.

Platinum get the same on full-fare, and on other Coach can clear 4 days before departure.

Gold get the same on full-fare, but on other Coach can clear 3 days before departure.

Silver -- also the best of breed -- full fare the same, and on other Coach
can clear 2 days before departure. This is better than all other airlines.

This is most the important aspect of the new US Airways to me. I am a lowly Silver Preferred and UA Premier, and I am switching all my business over to US Airways!

bigred93

C'mon, Parker, you run the airline and all you got was silver pref out of the deal?

GUWonder

Given these changes, my US Gold will not be getting renewed. Time to plow the trips into another program and book away from US.

EWC-JMU

Anyone have any idea whether Gold or Platnium in the new program (or both, ideally) will receive Star Alliance Gold status? Hopefully "new" Gold status won't be demoted to Star Alliance Silver status -- there's a world of difference (no lounge access on international itineraries, etc.).

Who's got the 411?

Regards, EWC-JMU

GUWonder

Pulling of * Gold status for US Golds while making it a Platinum and CP benefit would be yet another indicator that US/HP's frequent flyer mileage program is a really bad deal for far more people than already evident by the disseminated revisions.

jcooke

I'm going to assume that GP's will still get *G status, as they've re-vamped the Preferred benefits page and it shows *G there.

-JC

jagadheep

Ok, I am not going to complain about upgrades (I have had good luck upgrading while traveling to SJU), but what really upset me was the reduction in the bonus miles. 25% for Silver, and 50% for Gold? I will be making it to Gold this year (the old way), and naturally, when I saw this announcement, I was chagrined. The new FF program does not make such a difference for one who travels more than 120K per year, but for other people who are borderline for any other tier, the new FF program sucks. If as GP, I get 100% bonus on other airlines, but only 50% in US, why would I fly on US?

In any case, it is not as if the service in first class is that great anyway in US (especially after US went into the second bankruptcy), in part because of the not-so-good relation between employees and management.

I am going to switch when I can. Right now, only US and NW serves my airport, and so I am stuck, but once I am out of here, I will be looking at other FF programs. The disadvantage of AA is that it is not part of *A, and that makes a big difference to me. UA is probably the best bet.

FCYTravis

I couldn't see them ever getting rid of Star Gold for GPs because you'd instantly see any international-flying GP bail out for UA 1P.

And those other airlines offer higher bonuses for 50k tier status, but no free upgrades - Gotta fork over.

Tradeoffs are everywhere.

jaymay

It is distincly possible that I am missing something here, but on that page, it still shows GP with a 100 percent bonus...

Mhttoanywhere

Yes, that is not the updated page.

MikeM6090

My two cents:

As a very frequent business traveler over the last 10 years, I have noticed differences between the east coast business traveler and the west cost traveler. Granted, I have down-graded my butt-in-seat miles the last 18 months, but speaking anecdotally here is what I noticed over the years.

The east coast business person expects upgrades and perks more than the west coast person. I have seen this time after time. The west coast mentality is more often than not, “get me to my destination.” Maybe it’s because the run times between west coast cities is shorter, maybe it is just their expectations in life all together different. I lived out west for many years. I have done the LAX-CLT-PIT-PHL. I have also done the PHX-LAX-SEA & SFO routes too many times. Perks were just not as important in general.

On the east coast, I see more elites hang at the gate to jump up at the first sign of the doors opening to get inline and then there is the loud complaining at the gate about not getting upgraded. And this is for flights from BWI-CLT or CLT-DCI.

My point is that if the new HP/US management thinks that the west coast perks will pacify east coast travelers they made a very serious mistake. The HP FF/Elite model is not going to be acceptable to many of the experienced US travelers. And they WILL switch carriers to get what they THINK they deserve.

Ok, maybe that is more than 2 cents worth. And yes, I know many of you will think I’m all wet. Guess we will have to wait and see…or not.

EWC-JMU

It also shows just three tiers. So I tend to think its not updated.

I tend to agree with those who say that Golds will keep * Gold status. But is that a US decision or a Star Alliance decision? And is there any precedent for this? Put another way, what other * carriers have a four-tier elite system?

Regards, EWC