Airline Problems

[katoeylover]

Ok, so whats the point of Airmiles if you cant use them??

I always fly with Gulf air, i like a stopover in the middle east for a couple of hours, and their rates are usually good. I am now a gold member with them and have a fair few airmiles.

This trip I booked via ebookers.com and got a good deal (£415) via Muscat. On receipt of the ticket I called customer service to sort out an upgrade using airmiles.

I was told that the economy ticket was not a "real" economy ticket, it was a promotion ticket and therefore could not be upgraded. WTF??

What's the point. Anyone in the AirlineTravel industry care to elaborate?

Thanks

[trouble999]

my mates have had worse with thia
budget ticket carying no airmiles
touch wood i never had prop with emirates
worth the extra

[rob69in]

Yes, this all sounds very familiar, I have been travelling & collecting airmiles for years, its amazing how quick they are to stop you from getting miles or upgrading from them. Thai are not the worst but they are pretty petty.

Somewhere on there websites about airmiles you will find all the get out clauses. The airline industry has complicated the ticket fare codes to the point where even they struggle to know whats going on, but it will give you a list of fare codes that count, & those that do not, it will also say what codes are airmiles upgradeable & which aren't. Its pretty confusing.

Basically from experience a cheap internet ticket is often exactly that, non flexible, non upgradeable, non refundable & so it goes on. But then often the airlines will choose to brake these rules when it feels like it, depending on frequent flyer status etc. So really its a lottery. I am now very careful where I buy my tickets & also check what fare catagorey they are.

I am sure that hasn't helped you but unfortunately, the airline industry has your money before thye have supplied the service, so they couldn't careless basically. Just try to know what catagoreys what & book carefuly which will mean increasing the price of the ticket normally.

[Guest]

Having been in the airline and travel business for many years I would advise you to do the following:

1. Book early. Before booking your ticket ring the airline of choice and ask them what ticket classes will they accept for an upgrade. This will assist when you go to book the flight with your travel agent or airline. As a few other members have said the cheaper the ticket the more restrictions. My experience is spend a little more and you get a lot more.
2. After you have booked and paid ring the airline at the earliest possible time permitted and ask for your upgrade.
3. Choose to fly in off peak times ie. Monday to Friday
4. As I have done many times, ask the reservation clerk which day has the most available seats. On my last 3 trips I have piad economy class and upgraded to business with a free seat next to me both ways. A little forward thinking pays dividends.
And finally when checking in dress well.......be pleasant, cheerful, and politely ask for exit rows (economy class) for extra leg room etc......

[PigDogg]

(newcomer @ Apr. 28 2006,10:56) cheerful, and politely ask for exit rows (economy class) for extra leg room etc......

I've managed to snag quite a few exit rows and a fair share of bulkheads.

Exit rows: Get to the airport early. At Don Muang get there 3.5 hours before the flight. Earlybird catches the exit row seats. You can kill an hour getting a 600 baht massage.

Bulkheads. I got a bulkhead on the 18 hour Sing non-stop by droping by the Bali airport the day before departure and checking in.

I got a bulkhead on the Thai non-stop by telling my Thai travel agent that she'd get a 500 baht reward for doing so.

Call the airlines often. Sometinmes you'll click with the reservation woman and she'll go out of her way to help you. Some airlines release seats on their website 24 hours in advance. If so try get online exactly 24 hours before.

[dummy_plug]

It seems as if all airlines have been cutting back their perks and privileges in recent years to save money at the expense of customer satisfaction. I have a bunch of Delta miles that I can never seem to use because there are so many damn black-out dates to the destinations I actually want to fly to. I have since switched my business to United, which has been marginally better. I tried to book a Saver award ticket this summer for shits and giggles and there's none available to BKK from July through September pretty much. Hotels are starting to get that way. I quit Marriort because I had accumulated over 100,000 points but never got to use them because of all their restrictions.

[PigDogg]

(dummy_plug @ Apr. 29 2006,15:20) I have a bunch of Delta miles that I can never seem to use

Hey DP, haver u tyried using your Delta miles on China Air?

I like Star Alliance. Lots of easy ways to get Ubnited miles without even flying and then book a United saver award but fly on Sing or Thai.

[Guest]

hey if you guys think they treat YOU badly, then try being an employee!!! Its fucking brutal. We are working for the same pay rates as in 1991. Look at it this way, in inlflation adjusted dollars, air travel is WAY cheaper in 2006 thann it was in 2000 and even back to 1996 or so. Go figure.