Fliers Cashing In Miles

[tadjr]

Article

Did anyone lose their miles the last time we went Chapter 11? Has anyone lost their UA miles since they've been in bankruptcy? I realize there is always that possibility, but it sounds like this has never happened before according to the paper.

Also like the part about US having to cancel a lot of flights because of the hurricane. Ya know this is only happening at the US terminal in MCO/MIA/FLL/PBI dont you? 😛

 

[Dog Wonder]

If you work for U, are you burning all of your banked vacation days so you don't lose them?

 

[US1YFARE]

Article

Did anyone lose their miles the last time we went Chapter 11? Has anyone lost their UA miles since they've been in bankruptcy? I realize there is always that possibility, but it sounds like this has never happened before according to the paper.

Also like the part about US having to cancel a lot of flights because of the hurricane. Ya know this is only happening at the US terminal in MCO/MIA/FLL/PBI dont you? 😛

[post="175848"][/post]​

Miles have not yet disappeared in bankruptcy--on US, UA, Continental, or any other carrier. Theoretically, they could disappear at any time. I still think that the DM program is too valuable, even if the airline went into liquidation, for another airline not to purchase it--particularly the US1's and probably even US2's and US3's.

I thought all airports in those areas were closing as of Noon today--at least that is what I thought US was saying on its website.

 

[KCFlyer]

Miles have not yet disappeared in bankruptcy--on US, UA, Continental, or any other carrier. Theoretically, they could disappear at any time. I still think that the DM program is too valuable, even if the airline went into liquidation, for another airline not to purchase it--particularly the US1's and probably even US2's and US3's.

I thought all airports in those areas were closing as of Noon today--at least that is what I thought US was saying on its website.

[post="175863"][/post]​

Why would another airline want to purchase a liability? If US folds, and I hope it does not, are the "elites" that are flying going to stop travelling? Doubtful. IMHO, if US folds, the divident miles are gone...elites will return to plebian class and have to wait in line to check in, wait in line to board, and be just about like 90% of the rest of the passengers. Eventually, they'll build up miles and status on the other carrier. But if the other airlines were smart, they'd pass on taking on the miles. But the other airlines aren't very smart, so one of them might take on the DM program. FWIW, the miles of other airlines haven't disappeared in Chapter 11 - but we haven't seen a major airline make it to Chapter 7.

 

[Bohica]

No miles left from Pan Am, Eastern, Western Pacific, or Midway.

And no the miles were "Bought" buy any other airlines. No airline would take on the expense, They know the NAMES of the platinums and will offer them similar status, but they wouldn't say, oh by the way have 30 or 40 free tickets on us....


Bohica

 

[sfb]

No miles left from Pan Am, Eastern, Western Pacific, or Midway.

And no the miles were "Bought" buy any other airlines. No airline would take on the expense, They know the NAMES of the platinums and will offer them similar status, but they wouldn't say, oh by the way have 30 or 40 free tickets on us....
Bohica

[post="175871"][/post]​

Not true, as least regarding Eastern and Pan Am. Eastern and Continental had merged their frequent traveler programs into OnePass (part of the reason for the name) so their miles survived the end of the airline. As far as I recall, Delta picked up many (if not all) of Pan Am's frequent flyer program members. And, moreover, AA chose to pick up TWA's Aviator members and honored their miles to boot, even though their purchase of TWA only included certain assets.

In any case, I expect that there will be airlines who would want access to US Airways' database of elite-level travelers. While some make preferred status on cheapo tickets, there are a good number who are flying regularly on high-dollar fares as well.

 

[jimntx]

Frequent fliers--particularly loyal ones--are an asset to any airline. However, their accrued FF miles are a liability as stated above. It's why most airlines hate to redeem the miles once you have them. It's almost impossible to go anywhere on reward tickets at a decent time. Forget taking the family skiing in Colorado in winter or to Orlando or Europe in the summer. The seats are not available.

All the other airlines have their own set of FF liabilities. Why should they take on US Airways'? It would be like saying, "Well I don't want any of the airplanes, but I sure would like to take over paying off those ATSB-backed loans."

 

[NeedForSpeedNFS]

are the "elites" that are flying going to stop travelling? Doubtful. elites will return to plebian class and have to wait in line to check in, wait in line to board, and be just about like 90% of the rest of the passengers. Eventually, they'll build up miles and status on the other carrier.

[post="175869"][/post]​

KC, Are you for real, dude??? Elites?? So, by your rationality, everyone that has a bank of DM's is an elitist? Or, is it just the "rich greedy ones" THAT HAPPEN TO FLY CONSTANTLY because of their line of WORK? (yes, KC, they do work, just that they make more than you, and you think they are elitist!!) The major airlines started DM's as a way to attract more people to do business with their particular airline. They started something years ago when this industry was much different than it is today. Nowadays, it is KILLING the majors, but, with the DM programs in place, people will use them if it is to their advantage. Don't come on here spouting your class-envy trash!! Start a new thread somewhere else. GOOD DAY!!!!!

 

[tadjr]

If you work for U, are you burning all of your banked vacation days so you don't lose them?

[post="175851"][/post]​

No. Also not burning sick days and as a Dividend Miles member not burning any of my 50000 miles either right now. (Yeah go ahead and laugh at the balance you CHPRs. They're all mine though. 😛 )

 

[NeedForSpeedNFS]

If you work for U, are you burning all of your banked vacation days so you don't lose them?

[post="175851"][/post]​

I'm using my last vacation day next week. all thats left is 1 sick, and my BD!!!! When I leave, the company will have nothing from me to return!!!! Never used to think in this vein, but this place has changed my attitude towards REAL life, which I'll be entering soon!!!! COUNTING the days. GOOD DAY!!!!

 

[FWAAA]

KC, Are you for real, dude??? Elites?? So, by your rationality, everyone that has a bank of DM's is an elitist? Or, is it just the "rich greedy ones" THAT HAPPEN TO FLY CONSTANTLY because of their line of WORK? (yes, KC, they do work, just that they make more than you, and you think they are elitist!!) The major airlines started DM's as a way to attract more people to do business with their particular airline. They started something years ago when this industry was much different than it is today. Nowadays, it is KILLING the majors, but, with the DM programs in place, people will use them if it is to their advantage. Don't come on here spouting your class-envy trash!! Start a new thread somewhere else. GOOD DAY!!!!!

[post="175880"][/post]​

Hey, Rosanne Rosannadanna: Take a breath. You are completely unaware that the word "elite" simply means somone with status in an airline frequent flyer program, aren't you?

Elite membership usually means those who fly 25k, 50k or 100k each year. Different airlines call them different names, like Gold, Platinum, etc. They are the really valuable members of DM, not the once a year flyer who will never have enough miles for a free 25k award ticket.

KC didn't spout any "class-envy trash." He didn't say "elitist." You did.

And KC is right. The other airlines aren't real bright. Someone will buy the list of DM members (at least the elites) and probably honor and convert their miles (just like AA did with TWA).

Frequent Flyer miles represent very little liability (about $25 per 25k domestic award "free" ticket. That's about one tenth of a cent each. They aren't really the big balance sheet liability that the uneducated assume they are.

 

[KCFlyer]

KC, Are you for real, dude??? Elites?? So, by your rationality, everyone that has a bank of DM's is an elitist? Or, is it just the "rich greedy ones" THAT HAPPEN TO FLY CONSTANTLY because of their line of WORK? (yes, KC, they do work, just that they make more than you, and you think they are elitist!!) The major airlines started DM's as a way to attract more people to do business with their particular airline. They started something years ago when this industry was much different than it is today. Nowadays, it is KILLING the majors, but, with the DM programs in place, people will use them if it is to their advantage. Don't come on here spouting your class-envy trash!! Start a new thread somewhere else. GOOD DAY!!!!!

[post="175880"][/post]​

As a matter of fact NFS, I had a job where I was flying a roundtrip a week. Every week. IT WAS PART OF MY JOB. But....that was in back in the day when everybody was pretty much treated the same, regardless of the mileage that they had. In your words...The major airlines started DM's as a way to attract more people to do business with their particular airline. They started something years ago when this industry was much different than it is today. Nowadays, it is KILLING the majors, but, with the DM programs in place, people will use them if it is to their advantage.No class envy trash...no class envy at all really. Merely a "play on words". See...these days I don't travel nearly as much. And because of that, I take whatever airline is most convenient for my needs, not the one that I have a ton of miles on. And I usually end up on Southwest. Here's a difference. When Southwest boards (the turd bird cattle call according to some posters on this board) it A,B, and C. No special treatment for they guy who's holding a companion pass because HE FLIES CONSTANTLY because of his line of WORK. When I fly the others, I watch as an agent sits idle, waiting for an "elite" to show up for their quick check in (no kiosks for these folks). I watch as the super titanium medallion preferred passengers are called to board. I watch as I pass thru the first class compartment when it's my time to board and wonder how many of those folks paid for that seat and how many used their "upgrade privleges".

No...there's no class envy at all...I've just noticed that most airlines these days are losing money, despite these "valuable loyalty programs" that they have. I read on this board where managment has come to labor for the third time to ask them to take a cut in pay and benefits. And I read on these boards that some elites are doing their fair share by "accepting plastic cups in first class". Helluva sacrifice.

YOu know, if you only view life from what you read on the Just Conversation board, you might have a tendency to not realize when you actually agree with someone who holds a different political opinion of you. Heck...ask ELP_WN_PSGR... he and I are miles apart on politics these days, but when it comes to airlines, we pretty much agree. Guess you're a little to sensitive to "plebian class" as a descriptive term of coach class on most airlines. Reread your post, then reread mine and I think you'll see that we actually agree on FF programs....people will use them if it is to their advantage. And sorry for the term "elites"...that's the word that the airlines use to describe those "valuable" frequent flyers who are more and more often travelling on a loss leader fare, but have "unlimited upgrade privleges" because of their "elite" (again, their word, not mine) status. Any attempts to tweak the system, such as unlimited upgrade privleges from select fares is met with the formation of a cockroach club. To paraphase the Trident ads..."four out of five major airlines are losing money". The one "major" that isn't is CO - who's FF program has been described as "None-Pass". But perhaps they just recognize that this isn't the late 80's and early 90's any more, and the liability that is the FF program had to be changed a bit. In other words, they did what needed to be done and restricted the program some. Delta did some pretty drastic changes...how many abandoned them for US or AA or CO? I think you could count them on one hand. US heard the outcry from a frustrated copier salesman and pulled back on the DM changes. Now they are a few months, if not a few weeks, away from BK court.

 

[TomBascom]

Why would another airline want to purchase a liability?

It has been explained to you repeatedly over the last couple of years. I see no point in repeating it. You're just on your usual dividend miles troll.

 

[KCFlyer]

It has been explained to you repeatedly over the last couple of years. I see no point in repeating it. You're just on your usual dividend miles troll.

[post="175960"][/post]​

Funny thing how cost cuts, when they don't impact you, are just what the doctor ordered. But when they DO impact you, then I'm just a troll.

As has been pointed out by a person who agreed with me, but didn't know he did, times change. Industries change. And the FF programs are living in the "glory days", when business was pretty good all around and the higher airfares of the frequent travellers helped bring in revenues. What the heck, let's throw 'em a spiff. But....now that frequent travellers are flying on LOWER priced tickets, paying a fare that, while usually more than the "leisure" traveller, is considerably LESS than they had been paying in the "glory days". How much longer until the FF programs must adapt to the times? Consequently, one way for airlines to adapt is to NOT "buy" the loyalty of the customers of a failed airline. Funny thing...US needs all the money it can get right now, but worried travellers are trying to cash in their miles before the possiblity of a collapse. Need cash? Take some frequent flyers on their 'last trip' on your airline.

 

[US1YFARE]

No miles left from Pan Am, Eastern, Western Pacific, or Midway.

And no the miles were "Bought" buy any other airlines. No airline would take on the expense, They know the NAMES of the platinums and will offer them similar status, but they wouldn't say, oh by the way have 30 or 40 free tickets on us....
Bohica

[post="175871"][/post]​

You are wrong about Eastern. Before Eastern was liquidated, it became part of the OnePass program. I lost nothing because Continental was still in existence.

You cannot compare Western Pacific or Midway to US.

With respect to PanAm, PanAm did not have the domestic route structure that US has--it too was different. STILL, Delta did pick up customers' miles on routes it took over AND when Pan Am was revived as a domestic carrier, frequent travelers were contacted and their miles were reinstated. I was one of them.