US Airways Dividend Miles Changes

[kamumma1]

Dividend Miles program changes

As part of our continuing efforts to provide valuable benefits to our frequent flyers, US Airways is making a change to our Dividend Miles program. We're making these changes to offset record fuel prices and rising airline related expenses while maintaining the benefits you've come to expect. Beginning May 1, 2008, Dividend Miles will award the actual number of miles flown rather than a minimum number of miles flown for each segment. Also, members who redeem miles for award travel within 14-days of departure on usairways.com will be assessed a quick ticketing fee.

Here's a summary of the policy changes:

Accrual
Tickets purchased on/after March 1, 2008 for travel on US Airways on/after May 1, 2008 will earn the actual number of miles flown and will no longer earn a minimum of 500 miles per segment.
Tickets flown on partner airlines after May 1, 2008 will earn the actual number of miles flown.
Tickets purchased prior to March 1, 2008 will continue to earn the 500 mile minimum for travel after May 1, 2008. Accrual on flight segments greater than 500 miles in length are not impacted by this change.

Redemption
Members redeeming miles for award travel online within 14-days of departure will be assessed a quick ticketing fee of $50 per ticket.
A quick ticketing fee of $75 per award ticket will continue to apply for award tickets purchased from US Airways Reservations. Chairman's and Platinum Preferred members booking within 14-days (both online and by phone) are exempt from the fee.

[JoeMid]

While I can't complain too much about the change to actual number of miles versus the 500, tacking on a quick ticketing fee is ludicrous. They should be rewarding dividend miles members who use their miles at the last minute using seats and expending mile obligations on seats that would have been empty.

[Jimster]

United has had a fee for late use of award tickets for some time. While I don't like it, US air is just conforming to many other carrier's practices.

[camachinist]

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=790437

It'll be interesting to see what UA does, as these *A members have FF agreements for their members.

BTW, the close-in ticketing fee (and all other award fees) are waived by UA for their 1K/GS members (people who fly a lot). If one flies a lot at the last minute on awards (I imagine most here are the opposite), it pays to maintain high elite status, literally. In 2006, it cost me about 3.2K to maintain 1K status and I had some great adventures as well, most in premium cabins.

For most leisure folks, these changes will be a non-issue. Just spend a few more bucks on the credit card instead of writing a check

Pat

[Carolinian]

Ah, another dreaded ''enhancement''!

If you fly US, then you should keep up with the famed ''Cockroaches'' who forced US down on some earlier ff ''enhancements''. Their website is www.ffocus.org

Now, if those who succeeded in backing DL down in the www.saveskymiles.com campaign to get geared up on some of the current crap DL is starting to pull, that would be a plus for flyers.

[Jimster]

While I read with interest the link posted by Carolinian, I didn't find an answer to something that has bothered me. I don't fly Delta frequently because I am a 1P on United, but I do have DL miles and sometimes use them. The problem I have had is that almost all ff awards from DL at 50k miles instead of their saver awards. I have had some luck working around that but my question is has SSM been successful in getting more save tickets into inventory?

[talkamotta]

I have miles on United, Delta and USAir. Maybe that wasnt the smartest way to plot my ff travel but its how it worked out.

I mainly want my ff miles for Hawaii. Since I can get buddy passes for every place that SWA flies. Tried different ways on Delta, no such luck, always double miles. Looked at US Air and they are just as bad. The only good thing about Delta/Amex is that the miles add up pretty fast. United is the easiest in my circumstances. Hopefully, that wont change but probably will.

Everyone's travel plan needs will be different, so you just have to find out what works best for you. Just have to keep up with thier new twists and turns. Glad to see Delta is backing off, they are irritating some of thier medalion business members that use the miles they earn for personal travel.

[Carolinian]

Originally Posted by Jimster

While I read with interest the link posted by Carolinian, I didn't find an answer to something that has bothered me. I don't fly Delta frequently because I am a 1P on United, but I do have DL miles and sometimes use them. The problem I have had is that almost all ff awards from DL at 50k miles instead of their saver awards. I have had some luck working around that but my question is has SSM been successful in getting more save tickets into inventory?

Unlike the cockroaches at US Airways, the Save Sky Miles organization did not stay active and engaged after winning their major battle with DL management. Now DL is up to some tricks that more effort will be needed. Hopefully the same zeal can be reignited.