US Airways Elite Bonus Change: Good, Bad or downright Ugly?

I just can't believe that US Airways seems to be complaining that their elite members earn too many miles. I must be missing something here. These same elite members are often their most spending customers with their credit cards, so certainly that additional revenue must count for something. While they have done some things right (save the airline), this is definitely in the "done something wrong - really, really wrong" column.

Rather than being able to collect additional miles, I'm going to change airlines to give my clients a cost break. Southwest, here I come.

This is the final indignity! Now in addition to rude service, poorly serviced aircraft, and late flights/cancellations -- one of the FEW perks left is being taken away. I will, from now on, take every opportunity NOT to fly US Airways.

I have written US Airways 3 times since the announcement and their response has not changed. They do not see this as a big deal. I am at Chairmans level (and also a million mile flyer) and so far this year I have flown over 80,000 miles. I will reach Chairmans again before the end of September and then will start flying Continental. Continental is joining the star alliance so I will have the same airline advantage as I did with US Airways. I have written a letter to Continental requesting them to match my status and hope that they do. By the way, their top flyers (over 75,000 miles per year) receive a 125% bonus on their mile flown. I live in Phoenix but am not willing to give up over 100,000 miles per year for a better flight schedule. I am sure I will get upgraded just as much on Continental as on US Airways so it is just a matter of having to fly with connections more often. It is worth it for the bonus miles.

To Doug and Company - I wish you the best. The silence you hear isn't a room full of nodding FF heads; it is an empty room.

I have been Platinum for 6 years - I began a job requiring travel just weeks prior to 9/11/01. I have stuck w/ Am West/US Air through it all. They have found my breaking point.

I have already made the switch to Southwest. I have already received 1 free ticket and will have another by the end of September. They are efficient, their boarding areas are great for business travelers (set up with lap-top desks and chairs and lots of electrical outlets). There is no first class, but I had only been upgraded a handful of times on US this year year anyway.

My annual spend with US Air is 35K to 40K per year. Most of my flights are purchased in the 7 day or less range. I consider myself one of your most profitable flyers who sometimes ends up sitting in back next to the person with $199 round trip airfare they purchased on line.

If you are trying to see exactly what it will be like to have the majority of your customers paying $199 for a round trip ticket you have made the right decision to remove the bonus miles. The down side of that business plan is it will be impossible to profitably place a plane in the air.

I can't see how the economics work. I can't earn bonus miles anymore on my actual trips, but I can pay all my bills with the US Air Visa, and still get those bonus miles. In fact, anyone can get the card, even general members, and earn those miles. So in effect, they really cut the exposure they get from their best customers, and still left themselves open for all the miles their two credit cards generate. Huh?
US Air needs to figure out what it wants to be: a true low cost carrier, or one with a two-class cabin. You can not be both!
I can hardly wait until this fall, when the flight cuts take effect. This will give us less connection options, and make it harder to fit trips in without getting home at midnight. On top of that, no bonus miles. My Wife puts up with me traveling, and the bonus miles were a part of what made it bearable. Those miles came in handy for vacations, etc. I am sorry, but losing them is not a minor thing.
While we are at it, the 500 minimum mile thing was hard to take too. I can't believe that most of the Dividend Mile flyers weren't bothered by that. I believe that most of us just had too much invested to switch loyalty to a new carrier. This new policy ought to do it.
I am watching the Delta/Northwest merger. Once it goes through, I will evaluate their new program. I will also consider Continental, once they join the Star Alliance. Anything has to be better than what US Air is pitching at this point. I am hanging on for now, but if this does not get reversed, I am outta here.

I've been an elite member since 1995. I'm very disappointed in the decisions US Airways has made recently. I've tried to stay loyal, but this is the last straw for me. The service has declined, prices have increased, perks have been taken away.. All due to skyrocketing fuel prices, yet earlier this week as I flew from Colorado Springs to Phoenix AZ our flight was delayed, due to having too much fuel. We sat on the runway for 30 minutes in order to burn excess fuel. Elite members are now paying the price of US Airways being very poorly managed.

I am elite with United not US Airways but often look to them for flights because of the partnership and the elite bonues. I will not be so inclined in the future.

The article on 7/27 cited the spokesperson as saying they have only seen a "modest" amount of complaints.
Have you tried to call the 877#? You are put on hold indefinitely.
No answer, no complaints.
Amazingly poor job by USAirways in staying in touch with their customers.

The article on 7/27 cited the spokesperson as saying they have only seen a "modest" amount of complaints.
Have you tried to call the 877#? You are put on hold indefinitely.
No answer, no complaints.
Amazingly poor job by USAirways in staying in touch with their customers.

Just an update to my emails with Continental. They have no problem matching my current Chairman's US Airways status for the rest of this year and all of next year. I will be switching in order to keep the bonus miles.

Just an update to my emails with Continental. They have no problem matching my current Chairman's US Airways status for the rest of this year and all of next year. I will be switching in order to keep the bonus miles.

I've been a Chairmans Preferred for several years and the benefits just keep going down. I bought a Priority Pass lounge card that is good at airports all over the world as US Air has closed more lounges. The loss of the 500 mile minimum and the loss of bonus miles means that this is the last year I will remain Chairmans. I'll switch to Continental (United has pulled out of most of South Florida so they are not an option) and happily give them all my business. The service is poor and getting worse. Good bye USAir - I guess with all of the business travellers out of there there will be less revenue - maybe they can remove the 1st class seats as well!

I left earlier this year and qualified at UA as Premium Exec, now have 50.5 segments. Will qualify at US as silver so i can scoff up exit row seats but will change to UA number at the gate. Hate to go as US serves my area airport the best.

I have been a Platimun member for six years and a chairman for the past 2 with over 85,000 miles earned in 08. I travel out of Tampa and have many airlines to choose from.
The only thing that has held me to US Air is the milage program that is offered. Without the milage bonus there is no reason for me to stay. This airline has very poor gate agents, flight attendants that don't know what the word service means, interior of planes that are held together by tape and seats that should have been replaced years ago. On top of it one of their main hubs, Philadelphia airport is a pit.
When I called into the Chairmans Desk, the agent that I spoke to said, "I can understand why you would want to change." now that is just the kind of response you would expect to hear from a US Air employee.
The only way to make an impact is by switching airlines, and I am willing to do that even if it means sitting in the back of a plane for a few months of travel.
A Very Disapointed Chairman

US Airways claims that other airlines will follow. Well if that happens airlines would soon become Greyhound/PeterPan who almost liquidated when there service declined and people stopped riding their busses

What a concept. Take your very best customers...who pay the highest fares...who stuck with this pig through all of the downgrades...and take away one more incentive to fly US. Losing rollover a while ago was stupid, it removes incentive to fly US after one reaches 100K. This is equally dumb.

Why not go all the way? Take out all the FC seats, get an extra row of coach seats or two and decrease legroom even more. Start charging for bags and soda...oh wait a minute they've done that. Why have I stayed?

Simple. No more benefit to stay with US Air. the only remaining factor to choose US Air over another *A is price. In this market price is so competative there is no more reason to stay.

Count 20K revenue gone for US Air.

I am not necessarily a FREQUENT Flyer, but I was a US FAITHFUL Flyer - I always gave my business to USAir because I preferred them. Now, not so much. The best price and schedule win.

I travel 45-48 weeks a year with Chairman status. Discontinuing bonus miles is the second worst decision Doug Parker has made. Just behind his decision to drive home from the FBR open legally drunk.

This style of revision by USAir simply will bite the hand that feeds itself.
Personally, am not a very loyal USAir frequent flyer.That changed a few years ago, as they commenced being penny pinchers.
I understand well enough that airlines and all business require themselves to follow a business plan.
My only concern is thinking the whomever came up with the idea to scrap that butter( you guys whom give USAir their paychecks) off the bread, logically is not a very intelligent business minded individual.
For myself, the news is good, cause USAir will be permitting some of its diehard big spenders to go shop elsewhere and assist the airlines whom understand how to survive in these troubling times and not need a govt handout when USAir has lost its prime money spenders.
Just so USAir knows,when they screw around with their methods to keep their money coming in, there will be very many whom also attempt to ensure that USAir were to not obtain any tax payer bailouts.
Last thing this nation needs is a business that screws its prime clients and still expect some handouts later.
What will happen is USAir will be heading down the crapper.

What an unfortunate decision Doug and co. have made to alienate their top fliers. They plan to offset this decision with having the best upgrades?? If you live in a USAir hub city you rarely ever get upgrades because there are so many platinum fliers. I take 80 flights a year and I have tried and tried to justify my loyalty to USAir with co-workers and I am now unable to. So I am now switching to one of the best airlines, Continental, glad they joined Star Alliance.
My best to USAir employees, who have been so nice over the years.

I have been an America West customer since 1991 and have patronized this airline through several bankruptcies. I have flown over 1,800,000 paid miles and they told me that I would be gold for life. Yesterday I was given notice that they are not honoring Mr. Parkers commitment on that promise either. American and United give very nice gifts to their million mile flyers each year for their loyalty. As far as I know now United & Continental will match your status immediately and American will make you jump through a few simple hoops to match your status. The directors of this airline are absolutely wrong taking benefits away from their best customers. I think the board of directors should replace the management team immediately before we face another bankruptcy. I am a stock holder and Chairman Member in the frequent flier program. I am selling all my stock and changing to the United Mileage Plus Program today. Continental Airlines will be a great addition to the Star Alliance Group and just maybe US Air will no longe be needed. Thank You!

To Mark Liss- Can you please give us the contact information for Continental Airlines so that we make take advantage of switching to a better airlines, with a better awards program, with better customer service and of course, better conditioned planes. The other day I saw a bumper sticker pasted on a US Airways pilot's flight bag. It stated "Friends don't let friends fly junk!"

To Chairman With Question - You can send your email to Onepass@coair.com. Tell them that you are currently Chairman's on US Air and that you want to switch to their airline and would like them to match your status. Do a print screen of your Dividend Miles account on US Airways website and attach it to your email so they have proof of your status. That should be it. They responded to me within 3 days and I am now a Platinum status flyer (their top status) for the rest of this year and all of next year and receive 125% bonus miles on my flights.

Fly the dirtiest planes in the sky -- OK. Cut back on meal service -- OK. Discontinue most magazines and the WSJ in the clubs -- OK. Close the Baltimore club -- ouch, that takes away my place to work through the frequent and numerous delays and cancellations there. Keep the Greensboro club open only after the airport commits to financially support it -- whatever. But punish their best customers by removing one of our last remaining perks? Stupidity in Phoenix! What are they thinking? This is the last straw. I'm a Chairman and live in Charlotte, and AirTran, with their clean planes, friendly crews, and inexpensive upgrades, now looks VERY good to me...especially for the frequent trips to Baltimore and Orlando. Bye bye Useless Air...my money is going elsewhere and it's your loss.

This cutback in the Preferred features of the Dividend Miles program is excellent and should have been made sooner. As a topper to all of the other service cutbacks it's outstanding! Alienating so many of your most frequent flyers, myself included, is pure genius!
This move will provide a great service to the traveling community by hastening the demise of a carrier that the US market can do without. What a great catalyst to the overcapacity in the airline system. Congratulations.

I also was a Chairman level - recently just status-matched to Continental.

When I spoke w USAir about it, they were sooooo convinced that "all profitable airlines" will follow that move, it wasn't even funny.

Bye-bye Useless Air!

I guess that US Airways wants to take the word "customer" out of customer service. Companies sometimes wonder why their employees are disloyal. I guess that I will need to take my business to someone else that appreciates customers.

For me, this represents a 75% reduction in value of my miles. I use my miles for Envoy/First class flights to Europe. Two years ago, you could easily find RT tickets for 80,000 miles. Not any more. Just try and book a ticket for next summer. You will only find 160,000 mile tickets. So with the elimination of the bonus miles plus the unavailability to find the so-called "mileage saver" flights, it will take me FOUR times as many real miles to get a comfortable seat. Unfortunately, I live in Phoenix, so I am having a hard time trying to find an alternative airline. But I am definitely looking.

This was the last straw for me. I have lived through the awful service, dirty planes, bad additude from the entire staff, and non competitive program but this pushed me over the edge. US Airways is always the first to introduce unfriendly new rules and policies to the market but this one no other airline matched and they still have not backed off. They will learn when all of us leave to another better airline (any airline is better).
I actualy met Doug Parker about a year ago at the Capital Grill in Washington DC. He was so arrigant. I understand why the airline has become so terrible!
I am flying Continental and American now. Continental is WONDERFUL! American is not great but much better than US Airways.

I have been loyal to America West/ US Airways for 18 years and have been at the top elite status for 15 years. Finally this was MY year to make the million mile mark, something I looked forward to for many years. I was informed that the program has been discontinued. WHY?? The ONLY benefit is Gold Status for life and the only "cost" would be to allow me to sit in a FC seat based on the terms of Gold Status. I think the first thing we saw was charging for cocktails in the club and it has just gone downhill from there, it is one thing after the other and I am over it......Hasta Dougweiser!

Drunken Dougie Parker and his band of marketing geniuses are flushing this airline down the toilet. Eliminating FF bonuses was the final straw. I have put up with filthy planes, indifferent and hostile employees, third-world facilities and empty management rhetoric for too long. Losing the FF mileage perk l means losing my business. HP Platinum for three years, US Chairman for 5 years, disgusted for way too long. Southwest is looking better all the time.

US Airways has been my partner since shortly after the inception of America West in 1983. I have suffered through their trials and tribulations and always remained loyal. But now I feel like a first-time flyer. I live in Las Vegas where they have dropped 20% of their flights. I nearly always have to connect through Phoenix and now only receive 256 premium miles instead of the former minimum of 500 miles. Now US Airways has taken away my Platinum elite bonus miles and it will be tough to score Gold status this year. My wife and I carry both the US Airways VISA and MasterCard credit cards and use them a lot. US Airways gets a piece of that action. Continental has agreed to accept me as an Elite Access One Pass member for 2009. If US Airways does not reconsider reinstating elite bonus miles (a standard for all other major carriers) by the end of the year they will lose this 25-year frequent flyer and good friend.

Well, well, well.....apparently today US Airways decided to give their loyal elite members the 500 mile minimum and their bonus miles back. So sorry guys, too little too late. I got the message loud and clear, you no longer cared about my business, just wanted to see how much you could squeeze out of me on every flight. I have already made the switch, am now with American Airlines and couldn't be happier, I should have done this years ago. Something tells me this decision was not made out of the goodness of their hearts, but I bet they lost a whole lot of elite passengers.

Just and update from my 7/27 post, the Delta/NW merger went through and I asked for a status match. I actually made Platinum with US in 2008, but the grass looked greener at Delta. They made my a Gold, and I am gone. First flight on DL is this weekend, and I already got my upgrades. So long US, I will miss you, but I won't look back.