A reader that didn’t want to be identified asked me why it’s so hard to get domestic upgrades as an elite frequent flyer? It used to be that 100,000 mile flyers found themselves in first class nearly all the time, and even mid-tier frequent flyers found themselves in first class most of the time. Some still do of course, it depends on the routes they fly — and when they fly them. But there’s little question that upgrades are harder than they were 5 years ago and 10 years ago.
Should Frequent Flyer Programs Be Regulated by the Federal Government?
The Department of Transportation is conducting an audit of frequent flyer programs, focused on disclosure of program rules and costs associated with redemptions. The audits are being conducted at the behest of Representative Alan Grayson (D-FL), who wants to protect his 10 million miles. Frequent-flyer programs need more federal oversight, contends a Florida congressman. Representative Alan Grayson, an Orlando-area Democrat who himself has amassed about 10 million miles, says the airlines have turned their loyalty programs into dishonest profit centers that cheat air travelers by devaluing their miles and changing program rules without proper notice. …“We’ve crossed the line from a series of programs throughout the industry that are honest and constrained by competition to programs that are no longer constrained by competition,” Grayson says. He accuses airlines of being “greedy and deceptive” in how…
The Hilton HHonors Hotels That Are About to Cost You More Points — and Those That Will Require Fewer
After Hilton’s dramatic award chart gutting of nearly two years ago, there weren’t huge changes again this year. And Hilton decided to change the way they made changes to how they re-assign hotels to award categories. Instead of an annual change to tons of hotels (a schedule they really weren’t wedded to in the past anyway) they decided they would make rolling changes throughout the year. And instead of informing all members proactively of these changes, they would just post them on a web page in the name of ‘transparency’. At least they are announcing the changes. And savvy members could create a change detection for the page. Moreover, they’re informing folks on frequent flyer forums as well: 21 hotels are going up in category (and thus points price) while 12 go down. Towards that…
How to Survive a Plane Crash
Scott Mayerowitz attended the British Airways flight safety awareness course (£162 to attend) and shares the key takeaways for how to survive a plane crash. It’s all obvious stuff, things we’ve heard a hundred times, but it bears repeating since none of us actually pay attention to the safety video (except when Deltaline used to wag her finger at us). But since even then, all we saw was that finger wag, here’s what you need to know: [T]he key to survival is getting into the proper brace position: Bend forward as far as possible, keep your head down. Place your feet flat on the floor and slide them back. Your dominant hand goes on the back of your head. Protect that hand by placing the other hand over it. Do not interlock fingers. The goal…
This Really is the Last Time You’ll Be Able to Buy US Airways Miles on the Cheap
US Airways is running a 100% bonus on purchased miles through September 30. For the past several years US Airways has been the industry leader in selling miles cheap. Offering a 100% bonus just meant, more or less, meant that it was a day of the week that ended in “day”. With this offer they sell 20,000 or more miles at 1.88 cents apiece. Of course US Airways miles aren’t as cheap as they used to be or even as cheap as they used to be. And you can’t get 90,000 mile Hong Kong awards in business class anymore. But now that those are 110,000 miles, you might as well go for first class which is just 120,000 miles roundtrip. Hard to argue first isn’t worth it, for just 5000 miles more each way. I’m…
American Expanding Asia Flying With Dallas – Beijing Announced for Next Year
American announced that it plans to begin Dallas – Beijing service next year, talking advantage of allowable frequencies between the US and China that aren’t currently being used. Beijing flying adds to the Hong Kong and Shanghai service from Dallas that began in June, and to the Seoul and Tokyo Narita service that’s already been in place. American is adding a more substantial Asia presence than before, a presence US Airways never had at all. The press release doesn’t mention a start date for the service, but does note that the route will be operated by a Boeing 777-200… which will mean their new business class product but no first class. What’s important here, I think, is that it’s a new Asia route announced by new management. Pre-merger American went forward with Dallas – Shanghai…
While Air Canada Warns Pilots About Porn, Other Airlines Use it in Their Ads
Air Canada is warning pilots to stop leaving porn in the cockpit. Because pornography is meant for airline advertising only. Here is VietJet’s sexy airline ads — a ‘leaked’ campaign with flight attendant models in bikinis. There are ‘complaints’. Which is the same thing as ‘buzz’ which is, after all, the point. I’m not sticking the photos on my blog, you can click through to the article if you’re looking for that. I’m more interested in the marketing angles here. VietJet has gotten in trouble – with government fines – for doing this before. But the fines were less than US$1000, so they were clearly worth the free advertising they got ’round the world and reputational effects — all free once they had done the deed and hired some PR folks to purposely get them…
This Airline Excuse Always Means Customers Are Getting Hosed
Earlier this week American changed its checked baggage policy effective October 1. Like US Airways, it will no longer interline bags on separate tickets although they’re a little more generous than legacy US Airways — because they’ll still do it if the flights involved are on oneworld airlines. They’ve at least now informed travel agents of the change, via the following message: Of course, most customers don’t know, and it’s a mere days away. Here’s what is just icing on top of the change — the purported reason, to align themselves with other airlines in the industry, as though that’s a value in and of itself. And what other airlines, exactly? United will still allow this. Delta will not, and the new American policy is similar to British Airways’. So it’s true that American isn’t…
The End of Lifetime Star Alliance Gold Disaster is Confirmed, Here’s What to Expect from a New Program
A couple of days ago I shared that it appeared Aegean Airlines Gold status would no longer be for life. The full details are out, and I — and many others — are about to get one last year of Star Alliance Gold status.
Emirates A380 First Class Award Space Wide Open This Winter – Act Fast!
The easiest way to search for award space is with the Alaska Airlines website, since Alaska is a partner of Emirates and allows searching their space online. They also show an award calendar. Historically they have only shown a subset of the space that Emirates makes available. Expertflyer shows space, at least as offered to Emirates’ own Skywards members (and Emirates Skywards is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards — but does add fuel surcharges where applicable). What’s interesting is that the Alaska Airlines website seems to be showing availability hat matches Expertflyer. Right now, even to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members there appears to be very very good award space this winter in first class for two passengers on several routes between the US and Dubai — routes served by Emirates Airbus…
