Comments on: Mergers: Are your miles safe? http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:55:54 -0700 hourly 1 By: 2008 April 28 » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21639 2008 April 28 » Upgrade: Travel Better Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:37:32 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21639 [...] - Mergers: Are your miles safe? - Reader mail: What will airline mergers mean to [...] [...] – Mergers: Are your miles safe? – Reader mail: What will airline mergers mean to [...]

]]> By: Southamerican traveller http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21472 Southamerican traveller Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:19:35 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21472 I'm spending my United miles on a trip to Europe, so basically I'm getting around 1.75 cents per mile (Buenos Aires - London via DC flying United // Barcelona - Buenos Aires via Frankfurt flying Lufthansa.) Long live Star Alliance! I’m spending my United miles on a trip to Europe, so basically I’m getting around 1.75 cents per mile (Buenos Aires – London via DC flying United // Barcelona – Buenos Aires via Frankfurt flying Lufthansa.) Long live Star Alliance!

]]> By: The only way to fly http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21462 The only way to fly Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:13:52 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21462 Yeah, I would bet on the Star Alliance surviving, the brand is stronger, alliance more discreet and hell, they even have their own airplanes. And my guess is that a few partners from SkyTeam would gladly make the switch to that stronger brand. Yeah, I would bet on the Star Alliance surviving, the brand is stronger, alliance more discreet and hell, they even have their own airplanes. And my guess is that a few partners from SkyTeam would gladly make the switch to that stronger brand.

]]> By: Mark Ashley http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21454 Mark Ashley Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:28:27 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21454 Luciano and Global Traveller -- As the 'Traveller says, it's far too early to know. No deals are approved, and in the case of CO/UA, no deal is even <em>announced</em>. Continental and United have very different programs, especially as pertains to upgrades. Continental offers "unlimited" free domestic upgrades to elites on a space-available basis, while United requires certificates or miles for upgrades from everyone, no matter the status. As you mention, Continental is SkyTeam, United is Star Alliance. I'd bet on Star Alliance prevailing, but that's all subject to negotiation. But as I said, no CO/UA merger has been officially announced yet (though it's nearly inevitable at this point), so let's not jump the gun... Just keep spending those miles. Miles don't earn interest. They're not a retirement plan. Spend wisely. And G. Twilley, nice work! Booking multiple tickets is always harder. Funny about your destination, I was <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/news_cut/archive/2008/04/your_frequent_flier_miles_and.shtml" rel="nofollow">interviewed</a> by Minnesota Public Radio yesterday (shameless self-promotion!), and asked about the value of miles, etc., and I said flying to Kalispell, Montana was likely a better deal than flying New York to Chicago. Glacier National Park is somewhere I'm planning to visit some day soon, myself, so I'm amused that we're on the same wavelength! Luciano and Global Traveller –

As the ‘Traveller says, it’s far too early to know. No deals are approved, and in the case of CO/UA, no deal is even announced.

Continental and United have very different programs, especially as pertains to upgrades. Continental offers “unlimited” free domestic upgrades to elites on a space-available basis, while United requires certificates or miles for upgrades from everyone, no matter the status.

As you mention, Continental is SkyTeam, United is Star Alliance. I’d bet on Star Alliance prevailing, but that’s all subject to negotiation.

But as I said, no CO/UA merger has been officially announced yet (though it’s nearly inevitable at this point), so let’s not jump the gun… Just keep spending those miles. Miles don’t earn interest. They’re not a retirement plan. Spend wisely.

And G. Twilley, nice work! Booking multiple tickets is always harder. Funny about your destination, I was interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio yesterday (shameless self-promotion!), and asked about the value of miles, etc., and I said flying to Kalispell, Montana was likely a better deal than flying New York to Chicago. Glacier National Park is somewhere I’m planning to visit some day soon, myself, so I’m amused that we’re on the same wavelength!

]]> By: The Global Traveller http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21452 The Global Traveller Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:45:27 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21452 As Luciano implies, the bigger change will be for a Continental OnePass member (assuming a United-Continental merger/takeover happens). For those people will be forced to move from Sky Team to Star Alliance as a result. Elite benefits, destinations, award availability - all different when you switch airline alliances. For some this may be better than what they currently get, while for others it will be worse off. Delta-Northwest is simpler as it remains in Sky Team. Anyway, the merger(s) haven't happened yet (still need approvals), and a lot of details yet to be announced, so there is no point fretting. As Luciano implies, the bigger change will be for a Continental OnePass member (assuming a United-Continental merger/takeover happens). For those people will be forced to move from Sky Team to Star Alliance as a result. Elite benefits, destinations, award availability – all different when you switch airline alliances.

For some this may be better than what they currently get, while for others it will be worse off.

Delta-Northwest is simpler as it remains in Sky Team.

Anyway, the merger(s) haven’t happened yet (still need approvals), and a lot of details yet to be announced, so there is no point fretting.

]]> By: G.Twilley http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21450 G.Twilley Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:13:06 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21450 I recently used 100,000 for four tickets to Kalispell, MT (FCA) - two from BHM, two from PHL - flights are for mid June - when I used my miles, tickets were going for $680+ - essentially giving me 2.72 cents per mile. All to say, it's not that hard to approach the aggressive goal you're talking about (and, admittedly, I wanted to gloat).:-) I recently used 100,000 for four tickets to Kalispell, MT (FCA) – two from BHM, two from PHL – flights are for mid June – when I used my miles, tickets were going for $680+ – essentially giving me 2.72 cents per mile. All to say, it’s not that hard to approach the aggressive goal you’re talking about (and, admittedly, I wanted to gloat).:-)

]]> By: Luciano http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21448 Luciano Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:12:06 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21448 Another question: the Delta/Northwest merger will maintain the miles in the SkyTeam, since both companies are part of that alliance. But how about a United/Continental merger? Will Star Alliance or SkyTeam prevail? My bet is Star Alliance, since SkyTeam will have the largest airline in the world. And how about the program itself? Will it be Mileage Plus or OnePass? So many questions to be answered. Another question: the Delta/Northwest merger will maintain the miles in the SkyTeam, since both companies are part of that alliance. But how about a United/Continental merger? Will Star Alliance or SkyTeam prevail? My bet is Star Alliance, since SkyTeam will have the largest airline in the world. And how about the program itself? Will it be Mileage Plus or OnePass? So many questions to be answered.

]]> By: Thanks http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21445 Thanks Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:33:04 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/15/mergers-are-your-miles-safe/#comment-21445 Thank you for answering my question. I would have expected that a major customer loyalty program would not disappear. I love Mileage Plus, perhaps because I'm so baked, but am actually excited for the possibility of a Continental merger. They fly places that I typically go that UAL doesn't (and since they don't I've had to take Air Canada to get miles instead). And years ago, if you asked me, I would have said no, because United quality was so much superior to Continental, but these days...sheesh. Let's cross our fingers and hope that the Star Alliance survives. Thank you for answering my question. I would have expected that a major customer loyalty program would not disappear. I love Mileage Plus, perhaps because I’m so baked, but am actually excited for the possibility of a Continental merger. They fly places that I typically go that UAL doesn’t (and since they don’t I’ve had to take Air Canada to get miles instead). And years ago, if you asked me, I would have said no, because United quality was so much superior to Continental, but these days…sheesh. Let’s cross our fingers and hope that the Star Alliance survives.

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