Message: I have a few questions: <BR> <BR>1. I am using freqent flyer miles for a free 1st Class ticket on a very long domestic flight. Has anyone ever noticed a drop off in service because the ticket they were using was ...free? Do flight attendents even know who is free and who paid $4500? <BR> <BR>2. I am using points for a free hotel room for several nights. How do I avoid getting stuck in a less than great room? <BR> <BR>Is there a bias...or or hotels and airlines really happy to serve frequent travelers? <BR> <BR>(Note: I have a lot of miles...but I am not in the super status levels of the programs.) <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance for the help. <BR>

All airlines are provided with information to indicate who are full-fare passengers and who are using upgrades,frequent flyer awards or who is traveling on standby. <BR> <BR>Part of the reason for this I noticed when flying first class last year. I was a full-fare paying passenger in first class and was seated next to someone who had received an upgrade. They asked this person for her choice of meal last. The flight attendant informed her that full-fare passengers get their choice of meal first, followed by anyone not paying full fare. <BR> <BR>However, I did not notice any lack in service. She still got her meals and drinks like the rest of us. <BR> <BR>I also used to work for Hyatt hotels. When someone books using an award, they get whatever room comes with the award. If, for example, the award entitled someone to a Regency Club room, he or she would get that room type...nothing more, nothing less. <BR> <BR>Overall, however, the level of service is going to depend completely on the person or people who are providing the service. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps, <BR> <BR>Ryan <BR>

As a 150,000 + miles per year flier and a Delta Platinum Elite qualifier, I have flown first class/ business elite class domestically and Internationally many times. In fact, I can not recall the last time I did not. Usually, I will purchase an upgradable ticket and upgrade with my Platinum status..or using what some would call segment upgrades. On International I will upgrade with what is called Systemwide upgrade coupons. The system has changed somewhat this year and now a companion may be upgraded using the new upgrade certificates. On several occasions, I have redeemed FF/Skymiles for a "FREE" ticket.This is not answering your question and has given you more information than you wanted..my point is that I too have seen the printed customer seating list which hangs near the front galley and list the names and ticket class of each seat with the added information of each customers flying status or medallion status and so on and so on. At any rate, during my hundreds of flights over the last several years, I have never noticed any difference in level of service whether I paid for a ticket, upgraded a ticket, or redeemed mileage for a ticket. I was not aware that a frequent flier ticket as opposed to a paid ticket had the food service order taken last. So if this is true I have learned something... <BR>I really agree with the previous poster..sometimes we travelers overthink these issues and in the end the level of service and satisfaction is depended upon the people who are serving you. And arguably sometimes it is better than other times, and sometimes even better than othertimes by the same people on the same flight on a different day. <BR>Regarding the hotel upgrades, it has been my experience with Marriott and Starwood..when redeeming points I have always been offered the appropriate room with the award redemption..and in certain cases have even called a head to verify my reservation and request if possible and available another upgrade to a suite and have upon occassion been bumped up again. I am quite certain, that the airlines and hotels are aware that their loyalty program users are there best customers and I think they will want to and usually will go out of their way to please there very loyalty program members regardless of whether they are the elite status..or have saved points/mileage for years to gain a free ticket or a free room for a weekend. It just would not be in their best interest to do otherwise..Sorry for a lengthy answer..

Thank you Ryan. Thank you Lucky.

My wife and I regularly fly using FF miles upgrades. We have never reached Premier or other special status. In no case have we ever noticed a drop off in the service we received because of it. We have never seen anyone in first class not receive a meal selection listed on the menu. Meals and drinks were always served in seating order from the front of the plane to the back. I also have to agree with the other poster, the only change you ever notice in service is based on the particular person providing it. Some attendants are just nicer, more friendly/helpful than others, although I would have to say that the vast majority are great. What irks my wife and I, and I am sure the attendants, is the rudeness and overly demanding nature of a few first class passengers that we have encountered. Nothing will ever make them happy. On one trip, I remember a particular nasty woman who loudly complained that she couldn't get a slice of lemon in her water glass. She continued to complain loudly about everything for the entire trip. Nothing the attendants did would satisfy her. Myself and few of the other passengers around her exchanged glances that indicated we all would have all liked to strangle her.

We used American frequent flyer miles for our trip to Europe in 1999. The gate agent who checked us in noticed our final destination was Milan and chatted with us briefly about our itinerary. A few minutes later she quietly called us back to the desk and informed us that our flight to Chicago (with connection to Milan) was not going to depart on time. She immediately re-booked us on another Chicago-bound flight departing from an adjacent gate in just 10 minutes and handed us new boarding passes. Without her attention and concern for our situation, we would not have made our connection to Milan, and our trip to Italy would have started badly. Unfortunately on our return journey, our flight from Chicago was cancelled. Because of a big college football game that weekend, O'Hare was full of people trying to go where we were going. But American came through again, and we had already been re-booked on a later flight by the time we arrived from Milan. Getting home wasn't nearly as important to us as the start of our vacation, but we were very tired and glad that we didn't have to do anything but wait for our flight.