Comments on: Upgrades and Downgrades — July 16, 2007 — Status, scales, fares, and the little guy

By: Debra

Debra — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:49:33 +0000

Argh! Virgin America is advertising that seats are for sale on the front page of nytimes website (thursday) but they obviously weren’t prepared for the traffic! doh!

“We apologize for the inconvenience. Our web site will be back up shortly. In the meantime, please call 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN, 5 AM – 9 PM (Pacific Time), and one of our Guest Services agents will be glad to assist you. “

By: Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:35:00 +0000

Oliver, yes, those double EQM promos are in the same category, in my opinion, but at least you have to fly in order to earn the miles. US Airways’ deal doesn’t even make you fly, as long as you’ve got the cash. But you’re right, at the end of the day, it’s a minor distinction, and the effect on existing elites is comparable.

By: Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:32:13 +0000

Thanks, Guru. Your suggestion of having the luggage reweighed on a separate scale, if your luggage comes in a hair over legal weight, is a good one.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:32:03 +0000

Looks just like UA’s Fast Track promotion from earlier in the year. I paid $100 and flew 12,500+ miles within 90 days and moved from 2P to 1P. Now, I would have moved to 1P anyway by the summer due to an increase in my travel, but for the $100 I got to enjoy the perks a little bit earlier. The way it looks, by the end of they year I might very well reach 1K (from 2P for the last six years or so), and that’s not on ultra-cheap MR fares (though admittedly I can’t afford full-fare/premium class tickets either).

But speaking of sell-out, aren’t all those double/triple mile and EQM promotions that are so loved on sites like Flyertalk just ultimately the same?

By: Guru

Guru — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:10:31 +0000

Check out my entry on the Consumerist article. I got a nice comment from an airline employee.

http://blog.flightwisdom.com

By: Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:40:29 +0000

That’s a sensible argument, and indeed the newbie cash-money elites won’t individually be taking too many upgrades, because they don’t travel that often.

The key word is “individually.” If the program turns popular, then there might be more competition for upgrades, especially among lower-tier elites.

Alternatively, the program could end up upsetting both the “cash elites” and the “butt-in-seat elites.” The cash elites, who haven’t been elites before, might actually end up disappointed in the program, especially if they pay for a low level and don’t get the upgrades they’re banking on. They could be turned off by US Airways’ program and turn their back on the program. At the same time, the butt-in-seat elites could be angered at the airline for even offering the cash program in the first place. Even if it doesn’t alter the upgrade calculus much, the impression remains that the airline will sell out their most loyal customers to make a quick $200. And that could hurt in the long term.

Risky business, methinks.

By: The Global Traveller

The Global Traveller — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:34:20 +0000

I’m not sure US Airways buy your way to status is a big problem.

If you only fly US (or *A) once or twice then it is an expensive way to get a few perks – and the worthwhile ones only kick in at Gold status and above. If you are only flying once or twice then you are not really taking benefits away from other elites.

For those that fly a lot, it is true the status benefits are worth more and may have more impact on the benefits others receive (only so many upgrades to go around). But at least the program is harder than the American Airlines status “challenge”. Also, how many of the passengers that buy status will then go on to fly Star Alliance more and thus earn the right to retain their status?