Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
We welcome reader feedback on issues related to travel generally and frequent flyer programs in particular. Please use this link to submit comments.
Value of Delta Miles?
"In the past few months has Delta de-valued their SkyMiles?
"Their SkyMiles Award chart lists miles on an each-way basis, based on a round-trip purchase. Also while searching for flights to Europe it showed 100,000 miles vs. the old 50,000 to purchase a round trip ticket to Europe.
"Am I missing something (other than the announcement of a change in their miles value)?" [Rick T.]
[FrequentFlier replies - The long-term trend has certainly been a decline in the value of frequent flyer miles. I believe you're responding to Delta's new three-tier award chart, which kept highly restricted awards at their original levels and added less restricted and unrestricted tiers for fewer and more miles than the old unrestricted awards. At the time, Delta's promise was that SkyMiles members on average would redeem fewer miles under the new scheme. Only Delta knows for sure whether that's turned out to be the case, or not.]
The Declining Value of Air Miles
"We used to have TWA Aviators, bought by AA AAdvantage, bought by MBNA, bought by Bank of America Elite Rewards. We have over 200,000 points, less than it should be because we've had to buy gas cards to keep points from expiring.
"With Bank of America, the air mile points are worth 1% of the amount of the cost of a flight. Obviously, this is much worse than the air mile schedule offered by TWA and even MBNA.
"Do you have the old schedule of air mile points from TWA Aviators and the rest, so I can contact my congressman about Bank of America's rip off? We pay our bills on time and keep our side of the contract. The banks keep changing their part of the contract and cheat us. I had hoped to use these points for our family of seven to share a trip to Europe, but it looks like it won't be happening with Elite Rewards.
"If you have a record of the old air mile point system, I would be grateful." [Dr. Jean L.]
[FrequentFlier replies - Sorry, I don't have a copy of the old TWA Aviators award chart. Perhaps one of our readers has one...?]
Hotel Points for Stays Booked on Airline Websites?
Responding to the discussion of bonus miles for hotel bookings made on AA.com: "I booked a Marriott stay last year through AA.com for the 500 bonus points.
"I was able to use my Marriott Gold to access the club level, but I didn't get Marriott points or even a night's stay credited to my rewards. Marriott treated it similar to a Priceline/Hotwire/etc. purchase." [Casey R.]
The View From an Airline Employee's Perspective
"Sometimes people make me laugh they think that all this security stuff comes from the airlines. Well it doesn't -- it's not the airlines.
"Also my biggest pet peeve is that people think that just because it's a small airport they can arrive a little late. Well they are cracking down on that too cuz it takes longer to get thru security than it used to. TSA has more things now to look for than they used to so it's taking longer to get thru.
"Also when you get to your destination and your bag doesn't make it with you don't take it out on the agent making your bag claim. They didn't take your bag and hide it -- they just try to make it so you can get your bag. Yes, I do work for an airline and it isn't as good of a job as it used to be. People are getting mean and hateful and taking it out on us.
"I had one passenger yank me out of an elevator because his bag wasn't there and I don't work for the airline he flew with. More people need to be patient and realize it's not our fault. We have rules we have to abide by or we are threatened with our jobs and in this economy it just isn't as much fun as it used to be thanks to 911.
"Take care and think about it people!" [Charlene]
'A Welcome Surprise' From Delta
"Delta came through, what a surprise.
"My grandson, Mark, was flying Delta from LAX to ROC (Rochester, NY) through JFK on Sunday, January 3, to return to college. Turns out a big snowstorm was hitting as he arrived at JFK and his plane was canceled Sunday evening, but we were able to get him on the first flight Monday morning at 9 a.m. so he ended up spending a 'free; night in the Delta terminal.
"The Monday flight was delayed 2 1/2 hours and he finally got to Rochester around 2 p.m. safe and sound. Surprisingly, his bag arrived with him so no issue there. Just yesterday, he received a letter from Delta Customer Service, crediting him with an additional 1,000 miles for the 'inconvenience.' The flight cancellation and delay were certainly not Delta's fault, after all there was a big snow storm and high winds in the area, but the miles credit was a welcome surprise. Go Delta, maybe they are finally getting it..." [Michael O.]
X-Rays and Travel Safety
"Recently I read, but did not memorize, about all the radiation levels of our normal activities. I was surprised at the low level for chest x-rays and the high level for mammograms. I was equally surprised at the radiation from flying in an aircraft. Your columns suggest that there is a radiation concern about body scanners and other security detection devices but the radiation from the flying itself is not mentioned.
"Please investigate these different sources of radiation, including flying itself, and show their inter-relationships. You may find that the radiation from body scans for a frequent traveller in a year may be the same as a single cross-country flight. I do not know the facts but feel that it could make some interesting reading for your subscribers if you pursued this information. Travel safely." [REK]
United Bait and Switch Produces Unhappy Customers
"Since November 2009 I have been on the wait list for upgrades from coach to business on UA from CA to Singapore.
"There are plenty of unsold business seats (I know this because I continually monitor the flights.), but no upgrades. My wife and I are 1K and we both are 1 million milers+. Seems UA, along with other airlines, do the bait and switch: look at the upgrade you can get with your miles, so fly us -- and then they do not open the seating to upgrades for anyone! Very unhappy customers are produced!!" [John D.]
Until next week...
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