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.
American Versus Delta
"I so agree with Peter's comment last week.
"There is no comparison between Delta and American. Delta does not know how to service their long time flyers, American seems to be able to satisfy their customers. Of course if the requests are outrageous its understandable why they don't comply. I must give kudos to Southwest, they lost a piece of my luggage and not only delivered it promptly the next day but gave me round trip tickets to anywhere on the west coast as I also am a member of their frequent flyer plan.
"You can't beat American and their affiliation with Hilton HHonors." [V.D.]
Delta's Transfer Bonus
"In your 4/22 newsletter, under 'Reader Rants & Raves' -- in the second topic 'Delta versus American,' you mentioned 'And as for that Delta transfer bonus, we'll cover it in next week's newsletter.'
"I read the 4/29 newsletter 3 times and didn't see it mentioned.
"I would like your opinion on it (as I'm sure many others would!) as my husband has some miles that would really boost my Delta miles up for two free trips to Asia this winter." [Cheryl R.]
[FrequentFlier.com replies - We had intended to mention it, but it got trumped by two bigger Delta offers last week. It's included this week, in the "Miles & Points" section, together with a link to the details on Delta's website.
To answer your question, it's a pretty good deal with the bonus. Without the bonus, the transfer fees seem overpriced, considering they're miles that were already earned.]
Companion Tickets
"I followed Delta rules in spending X amount of dollars by X time to get a companion ticket. However I lost a companion ticket before because I usually travel solo due to all my friends and travel partners still work (luckily) and could not accompany me for the length of time or dates. Why don't they just give us a free or 1/2 price ticket just for ourselves?
"When my mom and decided to travel together (she is 90) It took almost 2 hours with one agent , then another 45 min. with an other agent, who had to read all the regulations and codes til she found us a flight that met the minimum price that I would have to pay($398)!" [S2L]
TAP Service Decline
"My wife and I fly on TAP from Lisbon to Newark Once or twice a year. A year ago we went to the states in March and the fare was 570.00 Euros per person round trip. We went again in October and the fare had jumped up to 1027.00 Euros per person round trip. Both of these trips were off season flights.
"Because of this we are having to cut our trips to one per year. As for the service and food, it has dropped badly on TAP, So much so that I am thinking about bringing my own sandwiches with me. My son and his wife just flew back to Brazil a week ago in business class and they said that the food was awful. For what is charged for a flight TAP should be able to serve everyone good and enjoyable food. The service has also gone down, some of the stewardesses act as they are doing you a favor to be there, yet that is their job and they were not forced to be there so try smiling more and be more attentive to the needs of your passengers." [Jean L.]
Johannesburg International Airport
"In [last week's] edition someone asked for info about O.R. Tambo airport.
"When our family of six flew through there in January each piece of luggage was rifled through each of the three times we passed through. We found out that it is such a well know issue, there are services that wrap luggage in plastic wrap and the locals all get it done. SAA and Security (including the Police station where we filed a report much to their chagrin) there do not seem to care.
"I will not fly there again under any circumstances." [Richard L. - Denver, CO]
Until next week...
|
