Comments on: United cuts the lifespan of frequent flyer miles http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:53:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=8445 By: Dianna http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-24767 Dianna Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:42:47 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-24767 Like Gina, I'm mad! I've only just discovered that the miles we had accumulated to use for a round trip from New Zealand to visit our daughter in London, England had been expired without our knowing anything about it. No way is it worth buying them back, which was one option given, as due to our exchange rate it would cost almost as much as buying tickets out right. And I find the idea of the 'flight challenge' very dubious as it would mean taking a shorter trip that we had never planned just to retrieve our miles plus the additional expense of signing up for the challenge and buying flights. And I'm not sure if we could even use our miles as United aircraft no longer land in New Zealand. The whole thing stinks. Like Gina, I’m mad! I’ve only just discovered that the miles we had accumulated to use for a round trip from New Zealand to visit our daughter in London, England had been expired without our knowing anything about it. No way is it worth buying them back, which was one option given, as due to our exchange rate it would cost almost as much as buying tickets out right. And I find the idea of the ‘flight challenge’ very dubious as it would mean taking a shorter trip that we had never planned just to retrieve our miles plus the additional expense of signing up for the challenge and buying flights. And I’m not sure if we could even use our miles as United aircraft no longer land in New Zealand. The whole thing stinks.

]]> By: Gina http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-22160 Gina Sun, 08 Jun 2008 03:25:17 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-22160 I just found out my 152,000 miles expired last week from this policy. I do not have any recall or record of the policy change supposedly mailed in 2007 in which I was pregnant and unable to travel due to related sciatica. I received no reminders my many miles from past overseas travel, were about to expire, unlike with Delta. Had I known, I could have easily bought extra miles to keep my account active. I am so mad & even with their 'flight challenge' mileage reinstatement, I would have a hard time flying at this stage as a single mom of a teething 8-month old. Why would I want to fly with such a deceptive, lack-lustre service ever again, even if I could??!?! I just found out my 152,000 miles expired last week from this policy. I do not have any recall or record of the policy change supposedly mailed in 2007 in which I was pregnant and unable to travel due to related sciatica. I received no reminders my many miles from past overseas travel, were about to expire, unlike with Delta. Had I known, I could have easily bought extra miles to keep my account active.

I am so mad & even with their ‘flight challenge’ mileage reinstatement, I would have a hard time flying at this stage as a single mom of a teething 8-month old. Why would I want to fly with such a deceptive, lack-lustre service ever again, even if I could??!?!

]]> By: Which travel industry rules need to change? » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-15883 Which travel industry rules need to change? » Upgrade: Travel Better Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:44:08 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-15883 [...] rule changes and expiration dates. Things like United’s mileage expiration policy, which not only changed the lifespan of miles from 36 to 18 months, but started the expiration [...] […] rule changes and expiration dates. Things like United’s mileage expiration policy, which not only changed the lifespan of miles from 36 to 18 months, but started the expiration […]

]]> By: United Airlines nickel-and-dimes elites, devalues Mileage Plus even further » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-14807 United Airlines nickel-and-dimes elites, devalues Mileage Plus even further » Upgrade: Travel Better Sun, 20 May 2007 12:52:40 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-14807 [...] - United cuts the lifespan of frequent flyer miles - United cuts its online booking bonus in half - United Airlines’ War on Pretzels - Reader [...] […] - United cuts the lifespan of frequent flyer miles - United cuts its online booking bonus in half - United Airlines’ War on Pretzels - Reader […]

]]> By: Adam Frost http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-10311 Adam Frost Tue, 27 Mar 2007 21:57:32 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-10311 So much for the loyalty programs... I'm glad JetBlue, Virgin American, and even Southwest will be flying out of SFO soon. Now this is a great reason to no longer be loyal to United... So much for the loyalty programs… I’m glad JetBlue, Virgin American, and even Southwest will be flying out of SFO soon. Now this is a great reason to no longer be loyal to United…

]]> By: Upgrade: Travel Better » Blog Archive » Keep your points alive: simple survey adds 2 years’ life to your Delta account http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-1180 Upgrade: Travel Better » Blog Archive » Keep your points alive: simple survey adds 2 years’ life to your Delta account Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:33:13 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-1180 [...] Related: - United cuts the lifespan of frequent flyer miles - Air Canada joins race to the bottom on frequent flyer miles « Exact change is no longer appreciated Pack light: Spirit Airlines charging fees for 2nd checked bag » [...] […] Related: - United cuts the lifespan of frequent flyer miles - Air Canada joins race to the bottom on frequent flyer miles « Exact change is no longer appreciated Pack light: Spirit Airlines charging fees for 2nd checked bag » […]

]]> By: Diane http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-697 Diane Mon, 22 Jan 2007 20:52:57 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/01/22/united-cuts-the-lifespan-of-frequent-flyer-miles/#comment-697 This may be good for the bottom line, but it stinks for the frequent flier. It won't do anything to make customers loyal to these types of airlines. It personally pisses me off as I fly with both airlines. The airlines seem to forget that they need more customers to grow. First, they squeeze their employees to stay afloat and now they are squeezing their customers. I hope this move bites them back. This may be good for the bottom line, but it stinks for the frequent flier. It won’t do anything to make customers loyal to these types of airlines. It personally pisses me off as I fly with both airlines.

The airlines seem to forget that they need more customers to grow. First, they squeeze their employees to stay afloat and now they are squeezing their customers. I hope this move bites them back.

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