The change occurs Jan. 1, when United's "elite" Mileage Plus members will earn a minimum 500 miles for any flight, Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman, said in an e-mail message.
United also will credit their accounts retroactively for flights made since July 1, when UAL unit dropped the minimum award for all Mileage Plus members.
The change shows the value airlines place on retaining the loyalty of passengers who fly the most. American Airlines said last week that it would drop a minimum award in favor of actual miles flown for all except its elite-program members, saving money by reducing the number of passengers eligible for free trips.
United opted to add back the minimum guarantee for elite travelers to "keep our program competitive with other airlines and reward our most premium members," Urbanski said.
The rest of you plebs will, of course, still only get the actual amount of miles flown.
United Airlines restores mileage credit in bid to keep loyal customers [IHT]
]]>Here, let me process this through the business bullshit translator. I'll just take a sec. Ahh! here it is:
"We've screwed enough loyal customers that the churn is now effecting our bottom line. We will offer this useless gesture as a desperate measure to get you back as a customer."
]]>Flights with empty seats are getting fewer and fewer. I've flown full flights on ff miles.
]]>@coren:
United announced its actual-miles-flown policy in July for all members.
American announced last week that it was going to an actual-miles-flown policy for all but elites.
This week, United said that elite members would be getting at least 500 miles for all flights.
]]>The change shows the value airlines place on retaining the loyalty of passengers who fly the most. American Airlines said last week that it would drop a minimum award in favor of actual miles flown for all except its elite-program members, saving money by reducing the number of passengers eligible for free trips.
So has this been going on for four months (since July) or last week? I can't be the only one confused here
]]>This is a reaction to AA's announcment that they're going to actual miles flown, but no changes for elites. It's simply a reaction to the competition.
[www.aa.com]
Chicago control tower: Lufthansa 727, you are cleared to take off please take off.
Captain of Lufthansa 727: My manifest does not agree with my passenger count; I will not depart until it does.
Another pilot from an American airline: (I'll let someone else finish this joke...me no tengo banhammer!)
]]>Some examples (all Saver awards, unless otherwise noted):
Domestic first-class awards will increase from 60,000 to 70,000 miles.
Hawaii coach and first class will increase from 35,000 and 90,000 to 40,000 and 100,000 miles, respectively.
Europe coach and first class will increase from 50,000 and 120,000 to 55,000 and 135,000 miles, respectively.
South Asia coach and first class will increase from 60,000 and 120,000 to 65,000 and 145,000 miles, respectively...
]]>1) The most profitable routes are shuttle routes - short, high frequency routes such as the eastern corridor (nyc/D.C./Boston) - it got the people who pay over $1 a mile on a regular basis riled up that they get 200 miles while someone who paid the same amount for a trans-con gets 10x as many miles
2) In all reality, the additional cost to fly someone on a frequent flier ticket is about $10... they only make them available on flights with empty seats, so it's not like you'll be kicking off a revenue pax....
3) Tax write-off! That's one thing we take full and legal advantage of...you write off the miles someone flies on a redemption ticket multiplied by your costs per available seat miles (aka CASM...around 8-13 cents)..so in a way, we actually benefit from someone flying "free"
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