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[In response to Kent's note in last week's newsletter, wondering at the apparent disconnect between the recent rash of award discounts and the general lack of availability of award seats...]
"I think there's something else going on here.
"I normally try to use award tickets for longer, more expensive flights, instead of shorter, cheaper ones. For instance, I might fly Southwest four times in a year to Florida (using SWABIZ, I still get double credits), with each round trip costing me on average $125 or so. The free ticket resulting from those flights, however, I'll use for a trip to the northwest or Oakland or somewhere else that's fairly expensive (relatively speaking, within the Southwest price structure) instead of using it for a cheap trip to Florida. (I also accumulate miles on other airlines, primarily Delta and United, but about 80% of my travel is on Southwest since they go most places I want to go and for cheaper).
"The same is likely true for most folks who redeem miles (on other airlines) for domestic travel. I'm guessing that they try to use those 25,000 miles to get a free ticket to go for longer, more expensive trips instead of short hauls, particularly when the short hauls have competition keeping fares lower. By pushing people to redeem miles for short-haul domestic flights where competition has reduced fares dramatically anyway, the airline avoids people redeeming miles for the longer-haul more expensive flights where they may have no competition and profits are higher.
"Bottom line: don't expect airlines to ever, ever make a program change that only benefits the consumer." [Kevin M. - Baton Rouge, LA]
"Recently, I was trying to get a 20,000 WorldPerks Standard economy mileage award with Northwest Airlines (NWA), since my account has just 20,000 miles. I'm just a basic member with that service. Yes, for 20K, I can go from Tokyo, Narita (NRT) -> Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) Round trip. Naturally, to absolutely no surprise, they allow the standard award going to my destination, but absolutely no availability on their "capacity controlled" empty planes for the rest of the year for the return. Oh yes, I can fork another 10,000 WorldPerks Miles for their bogus "Rulebuster" award on that return. And here's the kicker, if I wanted to use the call-in centre to book the award, they will charge an additional $15.00. That fee is waved if I book via the website. I'll even venture to guess that some awards become available when expedite fees start at 21 days, 14 days and 7 days. I believe there is a law being broken here, created by the likes of high level managers, masquerading as "Bernie Ebbers style managers", behind the scenes, to save their faces due to a pending bankruptcy and strike looming.
"I'm not going to book that 30K version on the same flights, in the same seats. Not to mention, I have no interest to fly out of BKK at a 6am departure time (their only flight). What an inefficient airline and a disgrace as a representation of America in Asia. Nothing personal, Northwest. Nothing bought, either." [Al from Boston]
"Thought I would drop you a note & ask you to let your readers know that if they are Alaska Airline mileage plan holder that Alaska Airlines may have canceled their kids Mileage plan cards/accounts & They will not inform you of them doing so.
"I found this out when I went to find out why I was missing mileage from a trip my daughter & I just took in May. I tried to get her mileage credit & it would not go through? So I called and found out that they had canceled her account she just turned 6! I then asked them to make sure my 13 year old son's account was still there, they had canceled his as well!
"They claimed for non use in the last 3 years! I said how can that be we have traveled in the last three years & have given our cards at every check in to get the credit!
"The Alaska Airlines rep on the other end told me 'it's not the responsibility of the ticket agent to input our numbers at check in. Alaska Airlines Mileage plan is a free program, you are more then welcome to go & sign your kids up again if you would like.'
"What about mileage they had on the accounts, GONE!
"What about the fact that the trip my son took for spring break 05' was from miles he had & that he had turned in the miles to get the ticket?
"It seems that that doesn't matter.
"We live in the Capital of Alaska, Juneau, and if you don't plan way ahead it will cost you an arm & a leg just to get out of here to get to a Major city like Anchorage, AK or Seattle, WA. The price you would pay to fly round trip to Hawaii from a major airport is about what we pay to fly out of here to anywhere bigger. So when you times that by a Family of 4 or more it cost more then some can afford every year. Also Alaska Air never sent me a letter to inform me they were going to cancel my kids accounts, back when they went to e-statements they said we couldn't get e-statements for our kids due to some Internet law.
"But she said now you can because they no longer send out paper statements.
"So you may want to let your readers know if they have Alaska Air plans for their kids they need to check on them to make sure Alaska Airline has not canceled them too.
"Thanks for a Great newsletter & for your time." [K.R. - Upset Mom & Alaska Airlines Mileage plan holder in Alaska]
Until next week...
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