Scorch

More of the them-as-got-shall-get mentality. I have a high-paying job so someone else should pay for my business travel and it should be first class and because I travel a lot (on their nickel), I should be given special privilege and too bad for the worthless people who have to pay for their own tickets and who don't travel for a living. It's a whacked system, and you are no more "entitled" to go to the head of the line than chambermaids who clean your toilets frequently or teachers who teach your children frequently.

sjones

As a matter-of-fact, I fly over 50K miles a year ALL ON MY OWN DIME. I never travel for business (and I'm not retired). Additionally, many of the fares that are the cheapest are sold out way in advance because many people plan their trips way in advance when they're only travelling once or twice a year. So, do I feel that since I may have paid $100 - $300 more than somebody else for the same product that I should be a bit entitled to getting to the front of the line when it may be required? You bet!

It's the same thing as going to a concert or baseball game - if you pay a higher price, you get better tickets which means you get better seats. The point being that we all make CHOICES. And yes, quite frankly, one of the ways in which a business gains my loyalty is because they treat me like a frequent customer and they show some appreciated (not fawning,but extras every once in awhile). For example, the bookstore that I frequent is an independent bookstore (as opposed to a chain). I receive a $10 "coupon" once I've spent $100. Now granted, I can get 30 - 40% off at the chains on books, but this $10 at least shows me that they value my business which in turn leads me to purchase some of my books there on a fairly regular basis. Also, they address me by name as well. This isn't 'getting to the front of the line', everybody has the same opportunity; rather, it's GOOD business.

Scorch

Glad to know you can still think in the box, jonesy. Yes, this system works so very well that no one is being laid off, everyone has full health care, and poverty has been eliminated. We desperately need another adjective besides "good" to describe what serves the profit-minded at the expense of other considerations, as in "entrenching" rather than "good business."

All that smarmy "loyalty" between corp. and client -- the point being to serve some people better than others with a full justification for exclusionary and discriminatory practices. Not only is "greed" apparently "good," playing on archetypal sibling rivalry ("Dad loves me more than you" "hey, I was first" "you're not the boss of me") is also to be fostered as "good" for the system.

Yuck.

Neal Sanders

I figured that in five days someone else would bring this up, but they didn't, so here goes...

s!, other than ticket prices and schedules, airlines really have only two ways to encourage and/or reward loyalty: frequent flyer miles that offer free or upgraded tickets that are typically used on leisure travel, and flyer classification levels (Platinum, Premier, etc.) that make flying less arduous (separate check-ins, for example)for the "road warrior".

For better of worse, frequent flyer miles can be earned in many ways that have nothing to do with flying; using a certain credit card or dining at a group of restaurants, for example. But to become a "1K" flyer means you actually logged 100,000 miles on that airline, which means you chose United or Delta or American over its competitors.

sjones is absolutely correct: what you paid for your ticket is between you and your travel agent. No one on board the flight has that information. But if you are an Executive Premier or Platinum level flyer, you had better bet that it is printed out in bold in the galley, and those passengers get special treatment.

So, relax: no one is going to sneer at you because you're flying on miles. But if the woman next to you gets extra smiles and walks off the plane with a bottle of wine, it's because she flies that airline every week and the people who run the airline want to keep it that way.

jim

My wife and I have upgraded to 1st class several times on USAir, using FF miles from our credit card, and we've noticed no difference in service. Also, with USAir anyway, where you sit in 1st class seems to be more determined by how early you book than anything else. Last time, we booked very early and the phone rep said, "Right now, first class is pretty open, so I can seat you just about anywhere you want."

Oh, and all this folderol over some (loyal) customers getting better treatment than others seems silly to me. Anyone who's ever taken Marketing 101 knows that most companies get 80% of their business from 20% of their customers, and the company bigwigs would be damn fools if they didn't make sure the 20% got an extra level of service.

Jack

Thank you for a little bit of sanity in the midst of all this foolishness, jim and Neal.

To "Scorch": I believe that the eastern bloc and former Soviet Union countries would love to have someone with your attitude join them to help rebuild "mother communism". If our system of economics in the US is so faulty, by all means head overseas with your spiritual comrades. We'll be in touch via UNICEF and Red Cross later on down the road, OK?

xxx

SJones

What gives you the right to sound so pompous? Keep your superior opinions to yourself and stay off the boards!

xxx

school starts soon, school starts soon, school starts soon.. just keep repeating.

sjones

Wow - I am sooo sorry that I have offended you xxx (why don't you use a name?). Please accept my apologies. I was trying to provide an opinion (not pompus, just my thoughts) and some assistance re: based upon the questions asked.

I will gladly stay off this board. Again, if I have offended anyone, I apologize; that was not my intent whatsoever.

Eric

I cashed in on Hilton Honors points for the Hawaiian Hilton Village on Waikiki Beach for a few nights on our honeymoon. Let me tell you we had a tremendous room that overlooked the beach and downtown with 2 lanais.

I also used a large allotment of FFMiles to fly first class to Hawaii.

We were treated as well as the paying customers. Trust me I certainly earned those miles.

Good luck
Eric

s!

Thank you to all of those who responded with pratical information and feedback. I hope no one got their feelings hurt by some of the opinions expressed. I was surprised by the level of anger expressed...but better here than on the highway or in the air. Happy trails.

Tony

My wife and I almost always use our frequent flyer miles to upgrade to business and first class, generally on United and Delta Airlines. We get our miles from a combination of airline flights and credit card usage. We have never flown enough to reach any kind of premier or other special status. However, as far as I can tell, it has never affected the service we have received. Regarding seating, if you book early, you pretty much get your choice of seats. If you book later, you take what is left. Upgrading has always resulted in us getting the extra service that airlines provide to all of their business and first class passengers, i.e., separate check in which doesn't involve long lines, early boarding, priority on our luggage coming off the plane, and even speeded up customs. Not once on any trip that we have taken have we ever felt we were treated differently by the flight attendants than any other passenger in business or first class. In fact, they have all been exceedingly friendly, helpful and attentive. It is a world of difference from flying in coach. Contrary to what some have stated, I have never seen them go to individual passengers to serve them before they served the rest. It certainly looks to me that they simply start at the front of the plane and work back. Since the first class and business cabins are much smaller than coach, you don't have to wait long to get served no matter where you are sitting. In fact, we just returned from a trip to England on United, we were in the middle of the business section both ways, and the service couldn't have been any better. We had our teenage daughter with us (her first upgraded flight), and the flight attendants really went out of their way to give her special attention. Bottom line, for the seat comfort and the service, always use your miles to upgrade if you can afford it.