Comments on: Death by a thousand cuts: US Airways edition http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:55:54 -0700 hourly 1 By: 2008 June 12 » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-22207 2008 June 12 » Upgrade: Travel Better Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:23:53 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-22207 [...] Related: - Copycat: US Airways mimics United, starts charging for second checked bag - Death by a thousand cuts: US Airways edition [...] [...] Related: – Copycat: US Airways mimics United, starts charging for second checked bag – Death by a thousand cuts: US Airways edition [...]

]]> By: Downgraded: How much more can Delta alienate its frequent flyers? » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-21231 Downgraded: How much more can Delta alienate its frequent flyers? » Upgrade: Travel Better Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:24:57 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-21231 [...] Airlines must have been watching the recent downgrades at US Airways and United and thought, “Gee, those airlines are doing such a great job pissing off their [...] [...] Airlines must have been watching the recent downgrades at US Airways and United and thought, “Gee, those airlines are doing such a great job pissing off their [...]

]]> By: Valerie http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20202 Valerie Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:20:20 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20202 I don't know where my company's travel administrator gets her information, but the travel newsletter that she issued today had the following blurb from United regarding earning United miles on US Airways flights: <blockquote>When US Airways announced last week that it would no longer give its customers at least 500 frequent-flier miles per flight, many wondered if –- or how –- that would affect United frequent fliers who earn United miles when the fly on US Airways. United and US Airways are each members of the Star Alliance frequent-flier group and the two carriers offer reciprocal frequent-flier benefits. United spokesman Robin Urbanski tells Today in the Sky that "when flying as a United Mileage Plus member on a US Airways flight that is less than 500 miles, our members will continue to receive 500 miles. </blockquote> I don’t know where my company’s travel administrator gets her information, but the travel newsletter that she issued today had the following blurb from United regarding earning United miles on US Airways flights:

When US Airways announced last week that it would no longer give its customers at least 500 frequent-flier miles per flight, many wondered if –- or how –- that would affect United frequent fliers who earn United miles when the fly on US Airways. United and US Airways are each members of the Star Alliance frequent-flier group and the two carriers offer reciprocal frequent-flier benefits. United spokesman Robin Urbanski tells Today in the Sky that “when flying as a United Mileage Plus member on a US Airways flight that is less than 500 miles, our members will continue to receive 500 miles.

]]> By: Claire Walter http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20089 Claire Walter Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:33:02 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20089 Members of their so-called loyaltry program are the losers. Nothing new here, right? Claire @ http://travel-babel.blogspot.com Members of their so-called loyaltry program are the losers. Nothing new here, right?

Claire @ http://travel-babel.blogspot.com

]]> By: RC http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20029 RC Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:26:17 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20029 Will this lead to less short-flight trafic from smaller airports to hubs? Or will most people not really care (or notice)? Are smaller airports the losers here? Will this lead to less short-flight trafic from smaller airports to hubs? Or will most people not really care (or notice)?

Are smaller airports the losers here?

]]> By: RickinCLT http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20028 RickinCLT Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:44:04 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20028 As soon as I got this stupid email from USAir I sent a complaint. I hope I'm not in the minority and that they are getting flooded with emails. I also plan to mention it the next time I check in and when board for flights. I think everyone at the airline has to hear from their loyal customers. I'm "just" a Silver (36 segments last year and already 12 segments this year) and I've seen them move to smaller jets, less service in terminals and planes that are not cleaned or maintained well inside. The service on USAir continues to decline. I've seen more odd flight cancellations recently. It makes you wonder. I live in Charlotte, so I'm pretty much captive. But there are choices. To charge people extra for trying to use the miles they've earned is penalizing their best customers. That move has nothing to do with the cost of fuel. And, they already have high ticket prices and have added fuel surcharges. Frequent Flyers are already paying for these fuel costs. This is a nickel and dime approach from a nickel and dime airline. As soon as I got this stupid email from USAir I sent a complaint. I hope I’m not in the minority and that they are getting flooded with emails. I also plan to mention it the next time I check in and when board for flights. I think everyone at the airline has to hear from their loyal customers. I’m “just” a Silver (36 segments last year and already 12 segments this year) and I’ve seen them move to smaller jets, less service in terminals and planes that are not cleaned or maintained well inside. The service on USAir continues to decline. I’ve seen more odd flight cancellations recently. It makes you wonder. I live in Charlotte, so I’m pretty much captive. But there are choices. To charge people extra for trying to use the miles they’ve earned is penalizing their best customers. That move has nothing to do with the cost of fuel. And, they already have high ticket prices and have added fuel surcharges. Frequent Flyers are already paying for these fuel costs. This is a nickel and dime approach from a nickel and dime airline.

]]> By: mark http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20024 mark Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:13:40 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20024 It's exactly this sort of nonsense that makes me glad I switched in early 2007 to crediting all US flights to my UAL account. My US Silver status (earned in 2006) expires in 2 weeks, but I earned Preferred on UAL last year. One important point here, though: this change by US will obviously cut into accumulation of redeemable miles and/or mileage earned toward status (at least on US), but taking that gratuitous connection thru CLT instead a non-stop will still get you an extra segment. If that's how you earn/maintain your elite status, this isn't a total disaster. (No, it's just a 95% disaster.) One other thought: hasn't the justification for the 500-mile minimum been, in effect, that the airline is rewarding travelers for helping them load-balance (by connecting through hubs) instead of taking nonstops? One has to wonder what the economic costs here are, separate from the (temporary?) competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis other carriers' FF programs. It’s exactly this sort of nonsense that makes me glad I switched in early 2007 to crediting all US flights to my UAL account. My US Silver status (earned in 2006) expires in 2 weeks, but I earned Preferred on UAL last year.

One important point here, though: this change by US will obviously cut into accumulation of redeemable miles and/or mileage earned toward status (at least on US), but taking that gratuitous connection thru CLT instead a non-stop will still get you an extra segment. If that’s how you earn/maintain your elite status, this isn’t a total disaster. (No, it’s just a 95% disaster.)

One other thought: hasn’t the justification for the 500-mile minimum been, in effect, that the airline is rewarding travelers for helping them load-balance (by connecting through hubs) instead of taking nonstops? One has to wonder what the economic costs here are, separate from the (temporary?) competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis other carriers’ FF programs.

]]> By: Brian http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20014 Brian Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:21:22 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/02/14/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-us-airways-edition/#comment-20014 Asiana, for example, has not given US Airways points with a 500 mile minimum for a number of years. Asiana, for example, has not given US Airways points with a 500 mile minimum for a number of years.

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