What's the point of Frequent Flyer Programmes?
Paxing All Over The World
Thanks bealine, taht is illuminating. Not least the "... in the order in which they completed check-in." Which may well be part of the SOP pecking order in other carriers for whom I am not FF. 
N4790P
A Gold Card is very useful for the ability to check in at any desk, and lounge access is useful.
An additional benefit of a Star (TG) Gold card is 20kg of excess baggage.
Tend to agree that free flights are of dubious benefit. TG unlike other carriers are very good with redemption, but who wants to spend their own time on an aircraft!!!
An additional benefit of a Star (TG) Gold card is 20kg of excess baggage.
Tend to agree that free flights are of dubious benefit. TG unlike other carriers are very good with redemption, but who wants to spend their own time on an aircraft!!!
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When your travel agent has managed to screw up your booking, and you have to visit the ticket desk to get the mess sorted out, having a gold card is quite convenient for jumping the que. (CPH, Eurobonus Gold).
FF miles have provided me with a couple of memorable trips, not least the one to London last summer in the company of two delectable blonds ... Best 100K miles I've ever spent
(Me, two hot blondes, one room, one king size bed - bliss!)
FF miles have provided me with a couple of memorable trips, not least the one to London last summer in the company of two delectable blonds ... Best 100K miles I've ever spent
(Me, two hot blondes, one room, one king size bed - bliss!)
Paxing All Over The World
Ooo-eer, FFF, I do hope that you out lived your PPRuNe name ... 
I have a spare 100k miles, perhaps you could put me in touch with your friends?
I have a spare 100k miles, perhaps you could put me in touch with your friends?
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Benefits...
Best 100K miles I've ever spent (Me, two hot blondes, one room, one king size bed - bliss!)
Incidentally, there is the fresh scandal about the pair caught in a lavatory and diverted to Bermuda. They were Business Class passengers!
Can you get yourself and 2 hot blondes into an airplan lavatory? Even a Business Class one?
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Chorned
Given the option, I'd be more than willing to give it a try. It would probably have to be the C-class lav on a SAS A330/A340 - they are rather on the big side! If caught out, I can assure you that I'd quitely retire to my seat and make myself as invisible as possible for the remainder of the flight, and not pull a stunt like the couple on BA. Rumours has it they'll be asked to foot the bill for the diversion. If so, a hearty Well Done to Birdseed!
Too mean to buy a long personal title
OK - here's my anecdotal personal experience of the benefits on Thursday evening:-
Work all day Wednesday, all night Wednesday night (bar a 15-minute nap) and all day Thursday.
Get changed in the office at the end of the day, jump on the Tube to LHR, wander down to T1 Zone R check-in (this should be the model for all check-in areas). collect boarding pass and clear Zone R security (no queue).
Turn right, enter lounge, go to Spa, have shave and shower and change of clothes.
Emerge back into lounge, buy some trinkets in the lounge's own shop, sit down with glass of wine, chat to partner on phone, wander down to gate when called.
Board, sit down, have door shut, push back.
Zero stress through the airport, despite being in a cheap seat. Bliss!
Work all day Wednesday, all night Wednesday night (bar a 15-minute nap) and all day Thursday.
Get changed in the office at the end of the day, jump on the Tube to LHR, wander down to T1 Zone R check-in (this should be the model for all check-in areas). collect boarding pass and clear Zone R security (no queue).
Turn right, enter lounge, go to Spa, have shave and shower and change of clothes.
Emerge back into lounge, buy some trinkets in the lounge's own shop, sit down with glass of wine, chat to partner on phone, wander down to gate when called.
Board, sit down, have door shut, push back.
Zero stress through the airport, despite being in a cheap seat. Bliss!
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Greetings all;
For what its worth, here is my experience with FF programs..
I have Elite with EI, Silver with AF, Gold with BD and various others..Always stick with one card for each alliance. These all go back around 10 years now and are current
EI.
Truly a waste of time, I am currecntly having so much stress and hassle trying to get miles put on my account for flights where they were not added, it is unbelievable. Over the past 6 months< I have been unable to gain access online to my EI account, called their "dedicated" elite line to be told to email my problem to them..did this 6 times and still awaiting even an acknowledgement of any e-mail to them.
EI have had problems over the past 2 years with some outstations not being linked properly to Dublin for points after you check in, hence my main problem. Looks like after all this hassle and less points on my account, through no fault of my own, I will loose my Emerald status next year
Try doing a day business trip to CDG, to be told that check in opens 2 hours before departure and no matter what card you have.."Tough luck" as far as EI are concerned..EI do not give same day return boarding cards out of CDG
In july booked for Mrs Flame and I to go to LAX in Y class, I had some upgrades still left and called EI to use them, was told there was no upgrades available on my flight....I am not going till start of April 2006!!!!. Had a friend check the EI res system, and nobody was booked in business at that stage
I could go on and on, but will not bore you.
Having said all of the above, as far as I am concerned, the main advantage of a FF programme works for the airlines, Lounge acces is nice. I have been in lounges where there has been less room than the concourse
I enjoy flying, love travelling, and once the dispatcher hands the paperwork in and the door is closed, I relax.
If anyone has miles that they will not be using and will be losing them, I would be thrilled to be able to use them to travel anywhere. Most FF programmes allow members the get tickets issued in the name of others
Not much left to say, other than EI can only improve, they are at the bottom
For what its worth, here is my experience with FF programs..
I have Elite with EI, Silver with AF, Gold with BD and various others..Always stick with one card for each alliance. These all go back around 10 years now and are current
EI.
Truly a waste of time, I am currecntly having so much stress and hassle trying to get miles put on my account for flights where they were not added, it is unbelievable. Over the past 6 months< I have been unable to gain access online to my EI account, called their "dedicated" elite line to be told to email my problem to them..did this 6 times and still awaiting even an acknowledgement of any e-mail to them.
EI have had problems over the past 2 years with some outstations not being linked properly to Dublin for points after you check in, hence my main problem. Looks like after all this hassle and less points on my account, through no fault of my own, I will loose my Emerald status next year
Try doing a day business trip to CDG, to be told that check in opens 2 hours before departure and no matter what card you have.."Tough luck" as far as EI are concerned..EI do not give same day return boarding cards out of CDG
In july booked for Mrs Flame and I to go to LAX in Y class, I had some upgrades still left and called EI to use them, was told there was no upgrades available on my flight....I am not going till start of April 2006!!!!. Had a friend check the EI res system, and nobody was booked in business at that stage
I could go on and on, but will not bore you.
Having said all of the above, as far as I am concerned, the main advantage of a FF programme works for the airlines, Lounge acces is nice. I have been in lounges where there has been less room than the concourse
I enjoy flying, love travelling, and once the dispatcher hands the paperwork in and the door is closed, I relax.
If anyone has miles that they will not be using and will be losing them, I would be thrilled to be able to use them to travel anywhere. Most FF programmes allow members the get tickets issued in the name of others
Not much left to say, other than EI can only improve, they are at the bottom
Paxing All Over The World
Another possible benefit of FF schemes occured to me today. On a flight back from Rome last year, BA managed to lose my case and when it was delviered 24 hours later, it was well and truly squashed and damaged. The suit that was in it had to go to the dry cleaners to get the extra creases out!
I photographed the case and reported via email to BA, the day it arrived and said that I would send the photographs along shortly (no digi camera
) but they responded within 24 hours saying that pics were not needed. OK, so this meant that they knew about the the damage and I was not the only one but they paid up without a question.
I thought about this today, as I got the case out of the wardrobe to use again.
No, really, it IS damaged ... and the fabric ripped. I'll send you the photographs to prove that the integrity of the case is compromised. [No wise cracks about my integrity! 
]
I photographed the case and reported via email to BA, the day it arrived and said that I would send the photographs along shortly (no digi camera
) but they responded within 24 hours saying that pics were not needed. OK, so this meant that they knew about the the damage and I was not the only one but they paid up without a question.I thought about this today, as I got the case out of the wardrobe to use again.
No, really, it IS damaged ... and the fabric ripped. I'll send you the photographs to prove that the integrity of the case is compromised. [No wise cracks about my integrity! ]
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Paxboy,
What has that got to do with being in a FF program? Are you suggesting the carrier would refuse to compensate you for damage sustained when in their care if you were a mere blue?
What has that got to do with being in a FF program? Are you suggesting the carrier would refuse to compensate you for damage sustained when in their care if you were a mere blue?
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When the airport staff edit the flight about 20hrs before departure, all card holders down to silver get their seat allocated to them, window or aisle whatever the preference. This seat is then held until the flight is closed about 15 mins before departure. Other passengers arriving for an overbooked flight may have to go on wait list, while your reserved seat is held for you until check in is closed. You can arrive just before then and get your aisle seat without realising that someone has reserved it and held it for you.
Also if you are in economy, and pax need to be upgraded because of lack of seats in economy, it is always card holders that are upgraded, late economy pax do not get seats in business, a card holder is upgraded to make way for them.
Also if you are in economy, and pax need to be upgraded because of lack of seats in economy, it is always card holders that are upgraded, late economy pax do not get seats in business, a card holder is upgraded to make way for them.
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The main benefit of the frequent flyer programmes is for the airline, not the customer.
A huge number of card holders will plan their trips to ensure they maintain their elite status, or just reach the next one. A flight that could be booked on one of several airlines is booked instead on the one that gives the right miles or tier points.
Hang on to those customers! Give them a reason to fly with us, not them! Give them something that costs very little to implement but means something to them - access to business lounge, use a check in queue with no one in it anyway, an extra colour on their card to attach to the briefcase & show off at the office, etc. I think it's called marketing.
Frequent flyer programmes are for the airlines' benefit, not the customers'.
A cynic? Moi?
A huge number of card holders will plan their trips to ensure they maintain their elite status, or just reach the next one. A flight that could be booked on one of several airlines is booked instead on the one that gives the right miles or tier points.
Hang on to those customers! Give them a reason to fly with us, not them! Give them something that costs very little to implement but means something to them - access to business lounge, use a check in queue with no one in it anyway, an extra colour on their card to attach to the briefcase & show off at the office, etc. I think it's called marketing.
Frequent flyer programmes are for the airlines' benefit, not the customers'.
A cynic? Moi?
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Cost/benefit
Give them something that costs very little to implement but means something to them - access to business lounge, use a check in queue with no one in it anyway
It costs a lot to build airport terminals with business lounges. Once they are built, they cost a lot to hire the staff there.
It also costs a lot to build the terminals with extra desks, and hire extra check-in clerks.
So, what is the sense of those perks?
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Swedish Steve
Sadly I must disagree with you, in relation to Aer Lingus anway...My last 2 flights with Aer Lingus to CDG were day trips and I prebooked my return seats in advance. When in the EI lounge at DUB I checked to make sure the seat allocation was in the system, to be told it was.
Guess what..!!!! Surprise surprise, on checking in at CDG on both occasions, I was told there was no pre assigned seat and even showing them my One World (EI) Elite card made no difference at all. On the first occasion I was the first in line and on the second, was about third.
In October I was in AGP on business and was told by the staff in the EI lounge that they would fax the handling agent in AGP to have my seat request reserved for the AGP - DUB flight. On arrival at checkin at AGP, even with the FF card I was not able to check in early, so i called to the handling agents office to check the seat request, to be told.."we never ever get seat requests" from Aer Lingus in Dublin ..!!!
When EI did operate a business service on European routes, it always appeared to me to be staff or froends of staff that were upgraded
Sadly I must disagree with you, in relation to Aer Lingus anway...My last 2 flights with Aer Lingus to CDG were day trips and I prebooked my return seats in advance. When in the EI lounge at DUB I checked to make sure the seat allocation was in the system, to be told it was.
Guess what..!!!! Surprise surprise, on checking in at CDG on both occasions, I was told there was no pre assigned seat and even showing them my One World (EI) Elite card made no difference at all. On the first occasion I was the first in line and on the second, was about third.
In October I was in AGP on business and was told by the staff in the EI lounge that they would fax the handling agent in AGP to have my seat request reserved for the AGP - DUB flight. On arrival at checkin at AGP, even with the FF card I was not able to check in early, so i called to the handling agents office to check the seat request, to be told.."we never ever get seat requests" from Aer Lingus in Dublin ..!!!
When EI did operate a business service on European routes, it always appeared to me to be staff or froends of staff that were upgraded
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Flame->I have to agree with you about the frustration of getting points credited to your account.
My irritation is with the situation in Amsterdam. The self-service check-in doesn't accept Aer Lingus cards. So, you have to go to a manual check-in desk to get the points. I realised a couple of statements back that I had a number (900 = 6 flights) missing. Basically, the KLM staff in Amsterdam hadn't been a**ed to put the frequent flier number on. Now, I know to check the boarding pass and tell them it's missing before I leave. It hardly contributes to a smooth check-in (I'd be much happier to use the self-service machines anyway).
What's more, as you mentioned there has been no sign of the missing flights turning up on my balance.
That said, I've had no problem accessing my account online, so I'd suggest your issue is different there.
I wasn't aware that Aer Lingus operated preferred seating on short-haul flights.
My irritation is with the situation in Amsterdam. The self-service check-in doesn't accept Aer Lingus cards. So, you have to go to a manual check-in desk to get the points. I realised a couple of statements back that I had a number (900 = 6 flights) missing. Basically, the KLM staff in Amsterdam hadn't been a**ed to put the frequent flier number on. Now, I know to check the boarding pass and tell them it's missing before I leave. It hardly contributes to a smooth check-in (I'd be much happier to use the self-service machines anyway).
What's more, as you mentioned there has been no sign of the missing flights turning up on my balance.
That said, I've had no problem accessing my account online, so I'd suggest your issue is different there.
I wasn't aware that Aer Lingus operated preferred seating on short-haul flights.
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>If there are services which mean a lot for >passengers but cost little to provide, why not >give them to all passengers?
It devalues the product, & hence yield, for the premium punters. You don't want customers who have paid a small fortune for a business or first class ticket to have to mix with the ghastly unwashed.
This is also why upgrades are becoming increasingly less common - BA Gold & United Premier Plus used to be good for an almost guaranteed upgrade, now you sit in seat 29A exit row clutching the gold card & staring longingly at the still empty business class seats further forward.
It does cost a fortune to implement & staff business lounges & premium check in facilities & it's the premium paying passengers (not frequent flyers) that pay for it. You can use the facilities for frequent flyers only to the point where the premium passengers are not affected.
Many airlines (I suspect all, but don't know for sure) actively manage the number of elite card holders so it doesn't strain the system too much (& piss off the upper class). This is why the programmes get de-valued over the years as more & more people fly - Flying Blue is a good recent example, BA did it about 4 years ago when they seriously upped the ante to retain gold status as the dot com boom had created far too many gold card holders & the only place to get a seat in LHR was the empty terminal outside the business lounges.
It devalues the product, & hence yield, for the premium punters. You don't want customers who have paid a small fortune for a business or first class ticket to have to mix with the ghastly unwashed.
This is also why upgrades are becoming increasingly less common - BA Gold & United Premier Plus used to be good for an almost guaranteed upgrade, now you sit in seat 29A exit row clutching the gold card & staring longingly at the still empty business class seats further forward.
It does cost a fortune to implement & staff business lounges & premium check in facilities & it's the premium paying passengers (not frequent flyers) that pay for it. You can use the facilities for frequent flyers only to the point where the premium passengers are not affected.
Many airlines (I suspect all, but don't know for sure) actively manage the number of elite card holders so it doesn't strain the system too much (& piss off the upper class). This is why the programmes get de-valued over the years as more & more people fly - Flying Blue is a good recent example, BA did it about 4 years ago when they seriously upped the ante to retain gold status as the dot com boom had created far too many gold card holders & the only place to get a seat in LHR was the empty terminal outside the business lounges.
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840;
My experience over the past 4/5 years and it has been confirmed in comminication with Ei Tab, is that there have been serious problems with EI FF's having points credited to their accounts in at least the following airports...
AMS
CDG
FRA
I am sure there must be more. As for special seating, EI can prebook seats for a returning flight on a day trip option for you, but it generally involves contacting the handling agents at other airports manually (as opposed to EI doing it online themselves). On more than one occasion at CDG, I generally look for a seat as close to the front as possible (even with no "J" class) to be told at check in by an ADP agent, that all the first 6/7 rows are gone. The first time it happened, I accepted this but on boarding saw that there was one gentleman sitting on 2A and no one else n the other 6/7 rows. It appears that these may be kept for FF's if required. Since that time, I ask again and again, but its only when I show the Elite card, will the agent usually bother to ask a supervisor and then with a sulken and a very obvious "F**k you"attitude give you a boarding card.
Having said all of the above, I am very much aware, that a lot of business people are now travelling to CDG from DUB with AF because of the business tickets and the flexibility they offer
My experience over the past 4/5 years and it has been confirmed in comminication with Ei Tab, is that there have been serious problems with EI FF's having points credited to their accounts in at least the following airports...
AMS
CDG
FRA
I am sure there must be more. As for special seating, EI can prebook seats for a returning flight on a day trip option for you, but it generally involves contacting the handling agents at other airports manually (as opposed to EI doing it online themselves). On more than one occasion at CDG, I generally look for a seat as close to the front as possible (even with no "J" class) to be told at check in by an ADP agent, that all the first 6/7 rows are gone. The first time it happened, I accepted this but on boarding saw that there was one gentleman sitting on 2A and no one else n the other 6/7 rows. It appears that these may be kept for FF's if required. Since that time, I ask again and again, but its only when I show the Elite card, will the agent usually bother to ask a supervisor and then with a sulken and a very obvious "F**k you"attitude give you a boarding card.
Having said all of the above, I am very much aware, that a lot of business people are now travelling to CDG from DUB with AF because of the business tickets and the flexibility they offer
Paxing All Over The World
slim_slag No, I was not suggesting that others would not have got the payout but I was wondering if being in the FF scheme (albeit lowly) meant that they responded to the request faster? Since it is the first time I have had a bag damaged so severly, I have nothing with which to compare it.
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Facilities
It does cost a fortune to implement & staff business lounges & premium check in facilities & it's the premium paying passengers (not frequent flyers) that pay for it. You can use the facilities for frequent flyers only to the point where the premium passengers are not affected.
The number of premium passengers on any flight cannot exceed the number of premium seats in the plane. Which the airline controls and knows in advance. And the number of flights on any day is given by the schedule, which the airline also controls and knows in advance. Thus the facilities can be suited to the expected demand.
By contrast, it would be hard to control or know in advance if the frequent fliers want congregate and fly in the economy class on a given flight or day. Or even fly with a competing airline and use the lounge of the airline where they fly frequently...
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Air Canada's Aeroplan program has been great and has served me well when delayed, overbooked or have missed connections. Have had gold status last 6-7 years and have not had much difficulty getting free flights domestically as well as on Star Alliance partner airlines. Great for bringing family out to see me or to have them tag along with me on business travel.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges far superior to their United & US Airways counterparts. Free drinks, real food, lots of free reading materials. Free wireless and well equipped business centres.
I hear people complain about AC all the time, but I'll stay loyal rather than run the risk of having to settle for US-style perks.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges far superior to their United & US Airways counterparts. Free drinks, real food, lots of free reading materials. Free wireless and well equipped business centres.
I hear people complain about AC all the time, but I'll stay loyal rather than run the risk of having to settle for US-style perks.