Will you let your airline FF program charge you for "free" flights
Jul 17th, 2008, 03:24 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Will you let your airline FF program charge you for "free" flights
I was just notified that my carrier is going to start charging for "free" flights.
Not the usual and understandable (well somewhat) costs imposed by the government, but for the costs of flying the plane.
Do I hear a multibillion dollar a year industry of selling frequent flier points imploding?
I am wondering where my representatives are, besides spending "campaign funds" on fuel surcharges?
I will do my best to oppose this.
Not the usual and understandable (well somewhat) costs imposed by the government, but for the costs of flying the plane.
Do I hear a multibillion dollar a year industry of selling frequent flier points imploding?
I am wondering where my representatives are, besides spending "campaign funds" on fuel surcharges?
I will do my best to oppose this.
Jul 17th, 2008, 04:49 PM
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 4,024
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't understand your reply, ContPlat. You post to an Internet discussion board, you're bound to get replies that disagree with you. 
Rizzuto is right. The government doesn't regulate these things. It hasn't in years. A letter to your Congressional representative won't get you very far.
Airlines have never promised that the terms of their FF programs would remain constant, and I don't think they have ever promised "totally free flights." Rules that were set up long before oil reached $130-140 a barrel are bound to change. They have to. It's frustrating, to be sure, that the programs have become more and more restrictive, but what's your alternative? Switch carriers and start completely from scratch with another FF program? I wouldn't relish that thought after building up so many miles and so much status with AA, my FF program.
Even paying fuel surcharges, there are great deals to be had out there. I'm looking at a "dream trip" sometime in the next year, one I've always wanted to make, and one for which I want to reward myself with a first-class ticket. I have enough flexibility to be able to play around with dates and not have to burn up a huge number of my miles. Any fuel surcharges I'll have to pay are nothing compared to the thousands of dollars a ticket for the same trip would cost.
I don't feel cheated at all.
Rizzuto is right. The government doesn't regulate these things. It hasn't in years. A letter to your Congressional representative won't get you very far.
Airlines have never promised that the terms of their FF programs would remain constant, and I don't think they have ever promised "totally free flights." Rules that were set up long before oil reached $130-140 a barrel are bound to change. They have to. It's frustrating, to be sure, that the programs have become more and more restrictive, but what's your alternative? Switch carriers and start completely from scratch with another FF program? I wouldn't relish that thought after building up so many miles and so much status with AA, my FF program.
Even paying fuel surcharges, there are great deals to be had out there. I'm looking at a "dream trip" sometime in the next year, one I've always wanted to make, and one for which I want to reward myself with a first-class ticket. I have enough flexibility to be able to play around with dates and not have to burn up a huge number of my miles. Any fuel surcharges I'll have to pay are nothing compared to the thousands of dollars a ticket for the same trip would cost.
I don't feel cheated at all.
Jul 17th, 2008, 07:02 PM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Please read the fine print on any FF program. The airline can do whatever they want, anytime they want, with their FF program.
They can immediately terminate their program this minute and there's nothing you can do about that.
They can immediately terminate their program this minute and there's nothing you can do about that.
Jul 17th, 2008, 08:04 PM
#6
Weird posting history ContPlat? One angry thread 2 years ago trying to kick up a letter writing campaign re Continental's Presidents Club. Then fast forward to today and four posts all pretty much trying to pick fights w/ someone - either airline execs, TSA, or Congress.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
AAFrequentFlyer
Air Travel
10
Aug 15th, 2006 08:49 PM
