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.
Thoughts on Last Week's Mention of the 'Fly Me' Ads
"Indeed I am old enough to remember that "Fly Me" was an ad campaign for National Airlines!
"Always enjoy my FrequentFlier Crier. Major miles in United these days and in the very old days, Pan Am." [Diane R. - San Francisco, CA]
"My thought was that 'fly me' was a National Airlines promotional ad, but far be it of me to try and say so. And, who the heck is flying all the time now that would even remember National Airlines?
"All of which is to say: We're kinda all in this together. Sometimes we get that for which we pay. Sometimes not. If there was a better system, it would win. So, we roll along with the market. Lee Iacocca, who is credited with 'saving' Chrysler back in the 1980s is famous for 'If you can find a better car, buy it!.' So far, Virgin America may be dealing that deck.
"However, as perhaps suggested before, if anyone really wants 'first class,' take a ship between New York and Southampton at less than $75 per day inclusive. And live longer in the process." [Ed]
American Changed My Award Booking With No Notification
"I usually don't have any complaints about using my air miles. However, this one is a doozy.
"I made reservations on Alaska several months ago using my American miles to go to Anchorage, Alaska next month for a cruise. I had not been notified of any changes, but decided yesterday to check the reservation. The flights had been drastically changed and did not even include the leg to Anchorage, but ended at Seattle. I phoned American's 800 number and they had no seats available on the Seattle to Anchorage leg, except for one that arrived in Anchorage at 12:15 a.m. after a very lengthy lay-over in Seattle.
"If I had not just happened to check on the reservations myself, I would not have gotten to my destination at all! I was able to change my flights to a day earlier in order to arrive in time for the tour, but now have an extra motel charge in addition to the late arrival time. It is not unusual for flight schedules to change but always before I have been notified by the air line. That did not happen this time!" [M.F.]
Delta Extending Mileage Expiration
"In answer to Gary S. remark about Delta [wondering in last week's newsletter whether other SkyMiles members had received an extension of their mileage expiration], I also was given 1 mile for 'Expiration extension.'
"Very nice of them indeed. I wasn't close to an expiration date, so that makes it even nicer." [E.R.]
Transferring Miles to Cathay Pacific's Program
"I am presently sitting with over 200,000 in my United Mileage Plus account, over 200,000 miles in my Delta Account and over 200,000 miles in my Continental account, so the total is over 600,000 miles.
"I have now started to fly Cathay Pacific and was wondering if there is any way I can have these miles transferred to my Marco Polo/Asia Miles account." [Frank N.]
[FrequentFlier.com replies - A quick check of Points.com's exchange service shows that of the three airlines whose miles you have, only Delta participates. But they only support exchanges into their program, not outgoing exchanges. Perhaps one of our readers has another suggestion...?]
Adequate Legroom: a 'Necessity'
"I sent an email to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand...
"Did you hear the latest? The airlines want to squeeze people more like sardines, than they already are. What the airlines are is un-American, un-democratic and un-republican. I am going to write letters to the airlines that want to do this and going to this and tell them that if they don't offer the economy plus option like United, that I will not do business with them.
"You might want to put this the newsletter for flyers rights. Having adequate legroom is not a luxury, it's a necessity. No Retreat! No Surrender!" [Joe B.]
Continental Award Rebooking Fee
"At the risk of blowing off the lid, 'don't tell anyone.'
"There is no rebooking fee on mileage awards with Continental if you cancel and then seek the same itinerary within a year, so long as it is more than 21 days out to day of travel. Rule is dated to February, 2009.
"Can't count the agents who never mentioned this, or wanted $150 without mentioning the option." [Ed N.]
US Air 'Trip from Hell'
"Our son and daughter in law flew to Charlotte from London yesterday with their 3 sons, ages 1, 3 and 5. They live in London, are American citizens, and usually travel on BA, which doesn't fly directly to Charlotte, so they were on US Air and had the trip from HELL, with a surly flight attendant who made our daughter in law cry as she was trying to get the 1 year old to sleep -- walking him up and down (seat belt sign was off) so as not to annoy other passengers in Economy section, calling the captain to go on speaker to ask her to return to her seat, putting blankets up -- along with the curtains to cordon off the bulkhead area for herself-despite our son's requesting the bulkhead area for the children in advance, and on and on. This particular attendant screamed at other passengers who didn't have correct change for the headsets, especially those with English pounds, and told everyone to close all the window shades so people could sleep -- this on a 10 A.M. flight to Charlotte.
"And we wonder why U.S. airlines are not looked upon favorably. Unfortunately last year a similar scenario occurred on another US flight to Charlotte, but our son thought that was a single occurrence. Now they've decided it's better to change flights in NYC than to have a direct flight where nastiness seems to be the preferred reaction from airline staff. Other passengers tried to comfort our daughter in law after 3 run-ins yesterday, as did another flight attendant, who mentioned that she thought the surly attendant should not be working anymore.
"Needless to say, our family is NOT looking forward to the return trip back to London on US Air after the wedding next week and will not take 8+hours of abuse again." [Patricia S. - New Canaan, CT]
Until next week...
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