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+--- Thread: I really dislike this airline policy (/showthread.php?tid=155588)
Re: I really dislike this airline policy - (vikm) - 07-25-2013
Racer X wrote:
Or they could charge the proper amount for the ticket in the first place.
Agreed
Re: I really dislike this airline policy - OWC Larry - 07-25-2013
Most of these programs let you save your miles with any kind of activity that would generate more miles.... If you have an awards credit card that generates miles, for most of the programs - activity via that avenue keeps your miles safe. Is frustrating.
Re: I really dislike this airline policy - Speedy - 07-25-2013
I fly once or twice a year and have never 'joined' a frequent flyer program. Eventually the airlines will require you to have a frequent flyer account just to buy a ticket.
Re: I really dislike this airline policy - davester - 07-25-2013
I actually like the frequent flier programs. With a very small amount of organization you can reap very large travel rewards from just your regular occasional flights and credit card spending/sign up bonuses on your regular expenses (groceries, gas, amazon, etc). The trick is that you have to be a tiny bit organized (and there are websites like award wallet that do exactly that for you) and ensure that you pay the balance every month so you don't get hit by any bank fees. In fact, some of the programs save you money on your regular travel (my current airline credit card gives me free checked baggage for two (normally $50 for domestic flights via most airlines).
Re: I really dislike this airline policy - Z - 07-25-2013
With the ongoing nickle-and-diming of airline prices, I'm still looking forward to pricing being reduced from "One way for $169" to
"Take off for $90!*
*Additional $90 charged while in flight to land. Additional taxes and fees apply"
Re: I really dislike this airline policy - Speedy - 07-25-2013
Remember the time (or two) when passengers had to kick in to buy fuel for a plane before it could be fueled to take off...
Z wrote:
With the ongoing nickle-and-diming of airline prices, I'm still looking forward to pricing being reduced from "One way for $169" to
"Take off for $90!*
*Additional $90 charged while in flight to land. Additional taxes and fees apply"
Re: I really dislike this airline policy - Thrift Store Scott - 07-25-2013
davester wrote:Agreed.
Frankly, I find this complaint a bit over the top. These are marketing programs designed to reward FREQUENT fliers and build loyalty. They are not aimed at people who don't fly often. That said, and as noted in the OP, there are easy and cheap ways to keep your miles from expiring. There are a ton of websites out there dedicated to informing you of how to do this. It's as easy as buying a single iTunes song through the airlines shopping site every 18 months. If you can't be bothered to do something simple like this once every year or so, then I don't see how you can complain that an airline that you are not using lets your miles expire.
Oh, one more thing...if it hasn't been too long you can sometimes call up the airline and ask them to reinstate your miles for either a small fee or some other token effort on your part.
OWC Larry wrote:Also agreed. There's nothing wrong with having and maintaining a frequent flyer program awards credit card. Each purchase gets you airline miles and resets the expiration date on your current airline miles hoard, plus you get other perks with the airline by using their card when you do book travel.
Most of these programs let you save your miles with any kind of activity that would generate more miles.... If you have an awards credit card that generates miles, for most of the programs - activity via that avenue keeps your miles safe. Is frustrating.
Re: I really dislike this airline policy - Mike Johnson - 07-25-2013
Racer X wrote:
Or they could charge the proper amount for the ticket in the first place.
If you have the time, you can learn how to exploit their Byzantine fee rules to get tickets for cheap. And because the airlines got themselves into this base fare + fees + taxes mess you don't have to feel guilty for underpaying. Just pray nobody catches on till after you've returned home. We flew to London/Paris last year, saved hundreds of dollars per ticket, so it really does work. But it takes research, as well as joining an online cabal and speaking in code.
Re: I really dislike this airline policy - Ombligo - 07-25-2013
I just flew three people to Honduras and back on frequent flyer miles. If I had bought these tickets direct they would have been $750 each ($2250 total).
To get the miles, I simply charge everything on my AAdvantage Visa in place of paying cash. Then I just pay that cash to the credit card company every month. So I get the miles and don't spend anymore than I would have in any case (such as groceries).
Every month I make a charge, my miles are extended another month.
So essentially I fly for free with virtually no effort or additional cost. As a bonus I also get free baggage for using my card.
Re: I really dislike this airline policy - Z - 07-26-2013
Ombligo - indirectly, you do pay more - the 1.9-2.9% the CC companies skim off the top of each transaction, which does get factored into the retail price you pay.