April 15, 2011
Many airlines have modified their award chart in 2011 including Lufthansa, Delta, United and now Air Canada. With exception of Delta, all others at least gave us 90 days notification, so who will be the next one? I am guessing it will be US airways!
Gary already had a post explained Air Canada changes in detail, basically, most best redemption value will be gone such as 100K/120K to Asia 1 in Bus/First class or 80K/100K to Europe 1 in Business/First or 100K to OZ.
The only survivor is within Asia 1, which includes China, Hong Kong, Japan, North Korea, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. Price will still be 20K/30K/50K in Eco/Bus/First, so I can still enjoy business class ticket from China to Thailand or Singapore or Vietnam for every $15000 USD I charge to my Fideltiy AMEX card.
Posted by Troy under Other Airline Reward Programs, Star Alliance |
February 9, 2011
We all know that Delta award pricing are fully computerized, computer will automatically calculate number of miles required based on origin, destination and routing. How about other airlines?
Based on my experience, American Airline is another airline using similar system. Last year, I tried to book award PVG-NRT-PPT, which was the most direct routing and it’s published routing. However the AA system calculated as 2 awards Asia 2-Asia 1+Asia 1+South Pacific. I guess it’s because I routed via higher zone. Then, I tried PVG-HKG-AKL-PPT, this time it calculated as Asia 2-South Pacific, then within South Pacific.
After some disscusion on FT, I tried PVG-HKG-SYD-AKL-PPT, this time was told only 1 award Asia 2-South Pacific.
I also tried above trip by adding PPT-IPC, now it counted as 2 award again.Every time, I was trying to argue with agent, rate desk, supervisor, all they told was “sorry, computer does the job, we only put flight together”
Just yesterday, I saw a post on FT, someone redeemed LAX-PPT-AKL on TN with no stopovers, the computer counted as two awards again. So Delta is not the only one, AA does the same except much better domestic award availability than Delta.
How about US, UA and CO?
Again, based on my experience, their system doesn’t calculate amount of miles automatically based on city or routing. There should be a place for agent to put in region, then computer calculating required miles based the agents’ input. That’s why we all heard many crazy routing when using US or CO miles, even UA.
update: Gary confirmed that CO is fully computerized, I am surprised to see they did not program the routing restrictions. 
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Continental Airline, Delta, Star Alliance, United Airlines, US airways |
October 29, 2010
As I mentioned yesterday, United starts to offer one way redemption on *A partners effective today.
1 Book by phone only
2 cost half of R/T
3 no stopover permitted
Finally, United offers this benefit and I can pretty much guarantee that even after the merge of two programs, the benefit will remain, but I also think CO stopover+open jaw benefit will be gone. Personally, I think Delta will eventually offer the same thing because it becomes “Industrial standard” now. Let leave US airways, because they are always on their own.
Posted by Troy under Continental Airline, Delta, Star Alliance, United Airlines, US airways |
September 27, 2010
According to a person who is very familiar with *A, Ethiopian airline will make an announcement on Wednesday, it will be the third Africa Airline joining *A and currently serving to Washington DC.
Posted by Troy under Star Alliance |
September 27, 2010
United was my first mileage program that gave me Elite status on any airline, also the first program I got top elite status(excluding GS) on any airline, it was hard to say good bye to them, but after I re evaluate everything, I decided to give up.
1 Mileage Program- United has one of the most expensive award chart AND the least flexible program on routing, carrier, change, and availability among all Major North America Programs. You can only route via one direct, no mixed of *A and Non *A, no change on *A award, no one way except UA only, open jaw or stopover and MOST IMPORTANTLY STARNET Blocking.
2 In flight product- United has the most uncomfortable first class seat, agree? No in flight power(exclude PS and some 767 first class), no internet except PS, no PTV like Delta or Continental. I agree they have flat bed cross ocean, but others too such as US air, CO, DL, AC
3 Systemwide Upgrade certificate for 1K, Lucky mentioned today on their W fare, which is the lowest booking code you can use SWU, they are just getting more and more and more expensive.
I like Continental airline a lot, they have very good program, new FLAT bed seat and In flight entertainment program just amazing, but next year, or maybe 2, CO will merge with UA, I have no idea how the program will turn out. due to my limited presence in the States for next few years or may be forever, I decided to quite both together.
As for Delta, I have to agree they have done many little things better than others, they have upgrade list under my trip section, so you know where you stand before departure. they have better domestic in flight product. In general Skymiles program is rip off, but did you notice they have the generous offer for bonus miles everywhere? Also, Their miles are not as bad as you though, it can get very creative.
For people who’s living in the hub cities, you don’t have choice, but for those don’t live around hubs, maybe you should think again such as AA, US, DL or AC.
To Clarify : I was not trying to compare UA with Delta only, I was trying to compare UA with all North America carriers.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Continental Airline, Delta, General Frequent Flyer Advice, Skyteam, Star Alliance, United Airlines, US airways |
September 11, 2010
Reader Hendrik pointed out yesterday, LH is only running one R/T on A380 from FRA-PEK per week, I checked my booking, it become B747, although they allow one free rebooking, but my schedule are fixed, I just have to take OLD B747.
I think one r/t is the max they can do, there are not that many people to fill the plane.
According to Beijing airport Official, they are not ready to accept too many A380 at same time because EK is running too. Is this some kind of joke? PEK is claiming they are the largest airport on earth!they can even accept few A380s.
Posted by Troy under 2010 Trip, Star Alliance |
September 11, 2010
To be honestly, Beijing is not a profitable route for most international airlines because unlike some Western countries employee, they can get business class when travel internationally. In china, your position must be high enough to get business class seat when travel internationally, AND Government officials in Beijing must choose Air China unless the route is not served by Air China. That’s left most people out already.
BTW, the business class seat out of PEK on A380 is extremely easy to get, why? Big plane, not enough premium passangers and BAD schedule. Many people don’t like day time flights.
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, Star Alliance |
August 18, 2010
Via View from the wing
Who needs *A status?
Just make sure you use miles for yourself or same family members, so your account don’t get locked
Posted by Troy under Star Alliance, US airways |
August 13, 2010
I have not read the detail yet, you can find them here.
The largest #1 and #2 airlines in South American intend to become LATAM airline. Both are under diff alliances, so there is no way to stay in separate alliance after the merge. Also, the top 2 airlines in a region merge, hard to believe it can pass the Antitrust Evaluation.
Anyway, let wait and see.
Posted by Troy under Oneworld, Other Airline Reward Programs, Star Alliance |
July 4, 2010
Many people have talked about a newly joined member of *A -Aegean Airline Gold qualification and award redemption chart. I checked their award rule yesterday, they are very strict!
Your reservation must be ticketed 5 days prior to departure and the most importantly, you can not change your reservation after ticketing! The only way to do it is cancel the reservation and lost 50% of miles, then rebook another one.
For those of you who is considering Aegean Airline, you may need to re consider again!
Posted by Troy under Other Airline Reward Programs, Star Alliance |
July 4, 2010
As you probably know Shanghai airline and China Eastern will merge together and become China Eastern later this year, but during the transition period, FM already gives some flights to Chna Eastern to operate, which means your original reservation will be canceled and you will arrive airport without a ticket! This is exactly what happened to me few days ago!
I arrived SHA check in counter for FM 9103 flight from SHA-PEK, the agent told me there was no such flight and I don’t have ticket and asked me to go to ticket service counter. At Service counter, I was told the flight was given to MU already, I need to provide TICKET NUMBER in order to retrieve information! Since I had my ticket number with me, they were able to retrieve and rebook me on the MU flight. they told me Ticket number is the only way for this situation to be solved, without it, nothing can be done!
So a reminder here, if you have *A award travel involve Shanghai Airline, bring your ticket number with you, not just your confirmation number, you need ticket number(the most important information on your reservation), United airline ticket number is 016xxxxx.
Update: it turns out be not just flight from PVG-PEK, it can happen on any FM operated flight because my brother in law just had same issue for CAN-WNZ on BD miles ticket.
Posted by Troy under 2010 Trip, General Frequent Flyer Advice, Star Alliance, United Airlines |
