Upgrades and Downgrades — Fewer miles, more hassle, and slower flights
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Downgraded: Short flights on United
Watching United and US Airways devalue their frequent flyer programs is like watching a tennis match, with the two players volleying back and forth. Every time one airline does something, the other does it a few weeks later. Lather, rinse, repeat. The latest: After US Airways did it a few weeks ago, United Airlines is eliminating the 500-mile minimum mileage earned. In an e-mail to customers, UA wrote:
Beginning July 1, 2008, for flights of less than 500 miles, passengers will earn redeemable miles equal to the actual miles flown. Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) will also be awarded based on actual miles. Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) are not affected. This new mileage accrual structure will apply to travel on or after July 1, 2008, regardless of when the travel was ticketed.
This affects road warriors who park their butts in seats on short flights most. It sure slows the trip on the road to elite status, or to that free ticket.
Update: The rules are now online, here. Thanks, Benet and Antonio!
Upgraded: Hassle
The agents of the Customs and Border Protection Service have 60 different reasons to deny a person entry into the United States, “at the discretion of border agents,” even if visitors have a valid ticket and don’t require a visa. “Looking at me funny” might be one of them, as an Italian visitor found out, ending up in the slammer for 10 days without charges. At what point is the appeal of travel to the United States — especially in light of the low dollar — outweighed by the government-paranoia BS factor?
Downgraded: Airspeed
Upgraded: Fuel efficiency
Think flights are moving a little slower lately? You may be right. Airlines are slowing down the engines and saving fuel in the process. Example: “Cutting the speed on a Northwest Minneapolis to Paris flight from 542 mph to 532 mph adds 8 minutes in flying time but reduces fuel consumption by 162 gallons, saving the airline around $535.”
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May 15th, 2008 at 5:18 pm |
Airport security and border patrol are incompetent. They are in Canada too, I found.
As for slower flights, that’s one MORE reason not to travel.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:02 am |
This just made it that much easier for me to walk away from UA and enjoy the much better service I’ve been receiving on VX on my biweekly LAX-SFO flights. Ridiculous. What a stupid way to lose customers.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:36 am |
So…let’s say we are flying a 757-200, with about 175 seats. That means Northwest is saving $535 by wasting 23 hours plus of passenger time (hey, it’s free to them). This comes out to $22 per hour of passenger time burned. How many people flying to Paris value their time at less than $22 per hour?
What a nice, subtle way to steal from your customers. I’d much rather see them raise the ticket price by $22.
May 17th, 2008 at 8:56 pm |
While it’s true that you’re stealing passenger’s time with slower flights, it’s also true that it reduces emissions. Fewer price hikes AND greener flights seams like a reasonable compromise for a few minutes of time.
May 19th, 2008 at 1:11 am |
With UA cutting miles on short trips, that makes Southwest look that much more attractive.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:08 pm |
[…] Upgrades and Downgrades — Fewer miles, more hassle, and slower flights Upgrade: Travel Better This post comments on the sad reality of loyalty programs’ dwindling value. “Watching United and US Airways devalue their frequent flyer programs is like watching a tennis match, with the two players volleying back and forth.” […]