Most travelers knew the bubble would burst sometime. But, it’s been fun while it lasted. For the past two or three years, airlines have been generous with their “double EQMs” (translation “Elite Qualifying Miles”) programs during the slow season.
For travelers who wanted to reach the next elite level, it became a much simpler matter to get those last few thousand, or so, miles. (Yes, I admit myself to a trip involving a connection from San Diego through Los Angeles to San Francisco to get the then 1,000 miles per segment United was offering.
The only downside to all these deals, other than the costs of the programs to the airlines, was that the status got somewhat diluted. Personally, I’ve been on United planes, especially from Chicago or Dulles, with over well 100 travelers who were Mileage Plus “1ks.” Clients traveling through hubs such as Dallas (American) and Atlanta (Delta) tell me the situation exists there too with an abundance of top level elite fliers.
While travelers love elite perks, nobody loves more competition for good seats, upgrades, pre-boarding, etc. Anybody been in the boarding area when they call elite travelers, and they seem to be more than half the plane? (Not counting the regular fliers who just don’t listen.)
Based on my admittedly unscientific sample of clients and friends, it seems like this competition will be greatly reduced in 2011. Even though travelers may have flown more actual miles, the lack of bonus miles will rank many of them at a lower level than last year.
I’m not suggesting the airlines should have offered the bonus miles in 2010. Clearly, they were filling their planes without them. But had the major carriers announced, say in late summer, that there would be no special deals, many travelers would have scheduled additional trips in the fall.
In fact, I have already spoken to a number of cranky travelers this year, who drop a level in 2011. Most of them say, had they known there would be no real promotions, they absolutely would have scheduled another “mileage run” trip or two. A few referenced the “chatter” online where industry officials indicated there might be some late year double-mile promotions.
As one business traveler told me, “Hey, there are always meetings I could go to or maybe even should go to, where I just decide it’s not worth the time and hassle. Making 1k again would have made a difference in that decision.”
Others have said they’d have cheerfully paid for a weekend trip with their own money.
Again, I know elite status isn’t a right, nor are bonus mile deals. But how often do the airlines have a chance for a real win-win? In this case, a little advance warning would have been a win/win for the airlines — more money, with those mileage run tickets, and happier frequent fliers.
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
