Just saw that beginning in November 2007 TAM will become a "partner" in the Mileage Plus program. They are not a member of the Star Alliance, but Mileage Plus members can earn miles when flying TAM and also redeem miles for TAM travel.

They had a press release about this a few months ago. Amazingly, when I contacted Global Services about a month ago to ask whether the miles on TAM would count towards United elite status, they wrote back that they were unaware of any alliance with TAM, and added the Mileage program people were unaware as well. After I huffed an puffed a bit about how the company should inform their customer service representatives of what was going on, and not leave it to their customers to inform them, they then did some more research and reported the miles on TAM will not count as United elite miles. I suppose there is a chance they are right.

Too bad, because until United significantly upgrades their 767's, which they apparently intend to do in business and first class (flat beds in both) I've decided to stop flying the worst business class to South America (United) and fly instead the best (TAM). During the interim it looks like I'll have to give up my United frequent flyer status.

I think that Star Alliance is waiting on GOL to either get Varig back on it's feet or put it out of it's misery. I think either way TAM will be in Star Alliance within a year.

I've never understood why TAM never joined OneWorld. American is a natural fit with it's heavy South America coverage. Oh well, they would make a good fit for United.

I'm flying United from Dulles to Rio non-stop later this fall, and my understanding is that they will have the new seating in at that point. I'm anxious to see how much of an upgrade the cabins get.

I've been told that the Star Alliance hopes to bring TAM into the fold in the next year. GOL is now considered "plan B." We'll see.

I believe that you only earn elite miles on United and full Star Alliance members, and never with "partner" airlines. Still, you at least collect miles and can redeem your miles. I have permanent elite status with United, so the distinction between elite and non-elite qualifying miles is irrelevant.

By the end of this year there will be a grand total of one (1) 767-300 upgraded, and it will by flying European routes only.

We may be on the same flight, by the way.

UA just announced that they are upping the required miles needed for award travel for international flights. For example, Saver Awards from the US to South America will 55K miles (up from 50K); South Asia also goes up 5K miles (to 65K). See the new chart at http://www.united.com/ual/asset/saver_space_chart.pdf

Upgrading using miles will now be very pricey! UA is instituting a co-pay requirement. The co-pay depends on departure location, destination, and class of ticket. One example: if you are flying from Dulles to Rio on any ticket below a full fare refundable economy class ticket, upgrading will cost you 25K miles and $250 each way. Co-pays will vary between $250-$500 for economy-to-business upgrades for any non-full fare ticket. The chart can be seen at: http://www.united.com/ual/asset/MUA_Upgrade_Chart_Oct_30_v4.pdf

The only good news is that for 1K and Premier Exec MP members, UA will again give you a minimum of 500 miles credit for any flight under 500 miles, retroactive to July, when they changed this. Non-elite members still take this change in the ass.

All in all pretty fucked up, but I expect we'll see a wave of such changes.

I'm sure this doesn't bode well for soon to be Star Alliance bedfellow, Continental either.

Looks like they've figured a way to make a liability on the books into a potential moneymaker w/ the co-pay.

Wonder how long it will be before everyone goes ape-shit over this on Flyer-Talk.

Actually it looks like you can now upgrade international coach discount tickets with miles when you never could before.

Where is the text explaining how this co-pay works?

Flyer Talk has been going ape shit over this for quite some time. My opinion is that FF programs have been depreciating at an accelerating rate for about the last 4 years. They are no longer loyalty programs for retaining customers, rather they are revenue programs for selling miles to CC companies.

They will soon become worthless as CC companies will stop buying them when people realize that they are worthless for realistically getting a "free" airline ticket. Every year there are new rules, exceptions to getting awards, inflation of required points to get an award and FEE's. They ain't free. And every chance to tack on a fee is exploited while still trying to say it is a free ticket. Taxes. Fuel surcharges. Change Fees. Redeposit Fees. Inventory controls(I'm sorry, there is no inventory available for an award ticket, wanna buy one?). There are even classes of ticket(Premium Cabin international flights to places you actually want to go to) that are just flat out, at ANY REDEMPTION LEVEL, "can't get that cuz we only SELL them kinda tickets".

Delta will NOT offer ANY First Class Award Tickets to France during Cannes. How long till you can't get to BKK or Rio during high season?

It has been a long, slow agonizing process and will result in a lingering death to FF programs.

For me, the only benefit of flying United out of Dulles was the access to premium lines at security and getting on the plane first. I now use flyclear.com for security so now I can shop for the best flights rather than pay the premium for being loyal to United.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I have over 500K miles on United so I guess I'll be flying for free for my next few flights. This will save me a lot in the long run.

What text there is about the upgrades is found here:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52895,00.html?jumpLink=%2F2009prgchng

I tried booking reward domestic ticket on United, they wanted $100 to book it.

I found same flight for $225 off web.

That's almost 50% fee to use ff miles, WTF. Needless to say I payed the $225 and saved the miles.

Had no problem booking American to Manila with ff miles, $25 taxes and $20 booking fee.

Haven't had any problems booking NW through Delta skymiles to Manila, again cheap money.

Tried over and over to book to Manila on United but never anything available.

American made a similar move last month and they are now charging much higher tax/fees for Colombia. Their program is fairly worthless now for that locale. Lower oil prices (for now) and a rapidly slowing global economy should bring ticket prices down for certain areas in 2009.

Basically United's program is now at parity with American's. American took out the minimum except for Plat and Exec Plat, so United "upgraded" there for PE and 1K. Now United has "downgraded" on the combo miles/dollars for upgrades. Basically, 50k miles plus $500 instead of 60k miles for a roundtrip. Effectively, valuing the 10k "giveback" at $500, which is a shitty deal.

I did the miles and dollars upgrade once on American, right after they started that method back in spring of 2005. Totally fucked up, both at Mexico City and Rio I stood there for an hour trying to get the upgrade straightened out, I got double charged on one leg and had double miles taken out on both legs, it took me like a month to clean it all up. That was Mex City - Miami - Rio, then Rio - Miami - National routing. FUBAR, never again.

i think i've paid about $1,500 on avg for upgradeable fares to asia over the last couple years. believe that was about $400 more than the lowest available. so my read of this is the lowest available, say $1,100, is now upgradeable BUT you probably pay the highest copay of $500 each way. so total cost of $2,100 for r/t ? and if you pay the $1,500 you probably get tagged for $250 each way so total fare is $2,000. wow.

also, i'm pretty sure i used 90,000 miles (r/t to asia) for "free" business class in the past. now it looks like it is 125,000. that is a steep climb.

whether upgrading or going "free", better make sure you get the new lie flat seats. i don't know when the fleet will be fully outfitted but i'll probably stick with lowest available coach until i can be certain i'll get the new seats.

and i'll be checking fares on other airlines alot more than i have in the past. earning miles on UA isn't all that attractive with this new plan.

I'm sorry, there is no inventory available for an award ticket, wanna buy one

Sure! I won't make Silver on CO next year because 1/2 of my last 4 North Am-SEA-North Am tickets have been free, door to door to door to door (open jawed), and I spent less than 100 bucks for the two of them.

Last time I called you out on your "Miles are WORTHLESS" rant you pussed out and said, "well, maybe my relatives can use them". Put your money where your mouth is? Will buy 60K miles for 300 bucks. That beats "worthless", yes?

Deal?

Porkage, you have the time to game the system and aim for lower class tickets. My last award ticket, I made 6 changes to get the itinerary I needed to make my trip work. Next year, I will only be gold, not plat. 6 changes will equal $900 in change fees. That's right, ANY CHANGE will COST $150.

Now if you want to offer $900 for a RT Asia ticket. Back 2 u.

I guess the lesson there would be not to make changes?

As we discussed before, I'm also not looking for anything but an economy seat, which probably helps.

900 bucks is probably a fairer price, but I can spend a little more and get miles and status myself, just not at the time I usually need to travel. You might have luck on Ebay, though, if you can wade through the guys trying to bust you.

Or Flyer Talk's barter program?

Little sale thing on mile redemption:

Save 20%* on award travel
For a limited time, you can fly away for fewer miles. We reduced the miles needed for Saver Award travel in United EconomyŽ within the continental U.S. and between the continental U.S. and Canada, but only on united.com and only through October 19.**
Book today for travel January 10 through April 30, 2010.***
* Discount applies to United Economy Saver Awards, subject to availability.
** Applies only to new itineraries ticketed October 12, 2009, through October 19, 2009.
*** Blackout dates: April 1,2,5

...Sucks for me, short of a transpacific RT just enough that buying miles or cases of wine to make it does not workout.

Now they're moving to unlimited domestic upgrades, American will follow as only AA and UA still have limited 500-mile upgrades that they are stingy as hell with.

News from United--really nice deal for their elite flyers. Note, you still have to pass the interview/application process to qualify, but it's a great program.

___________________

Beginning in the second quarter of 2012, MileagePlus will compensate Global Services, Premier 1K and Premier Platinum members for their Global Entry application. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Later this year we'll provide details about how the compensation process will work.
The Global Entry compensation benefit will apply to new applications only and will have a maximum value of $100 USD every five years. Members with an existing Global Entry membership can take advantage of this benefit during their next renewal. The Global Entry program is currently available to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, citizens of Canada as well as citizens of Mexico who hold a valid U.S. visa, and citizens of the Netherlands who are enrolled in Privium.

Yeah that's good but everything else sucks.

Silver's lose baggage (down to one bag)

Gold's bonus accrual reduced by 50%

Platinum still less bonus accrual than gold previously

Nothing new for 1K's

Only good thing is I gain about 300K liftime miles for flying Asiana, Thai Airways, US airways and all those double EQM's during the let's bankrupt Independence Airlines days. Will put me about 75K miles short of million miler status.

(Message edited by snooky on September 22, 2011)

Yeah, Snooky, United has fucked people like ME (CO Gold) BIG TIME by pulling the rug out from under us and reducing the mileage bonus from 100% to 50%. Ironically, it was Co's reduxtion from a 50% bonus for SILVER to 25% that led me to exponentially increasing my spending on paid CO metal tickets after the EVA Air gravy train ended on One Pass.

I bit the bullet and bought a 1600 dollar coach ticket to Asia this summer in the hopes of making Gold again next year. The old deal with 100% mileage bonus made it close to buy 3, get 2 free tickets to SEA, which I guess was too good to be true. I doubt the new United will miss people like ME after I start shopping around after enjoying one last year of lounge access and free flights.

BTW, Snooky, congrats on the million miles thing, but looks like that has been dumbed down too.

FUCKING UNITED!

Gold accrual at 50% pretty much kills it for me. Lately I'm flying free half the time on credit card signup bonuses and company IT purchases. Banked 40k CO Miles in the last month on Dell laptops and Servers I expensed to the company at 3 miles per dollar (used to be 5 miles per dollar) The other half the time I'm booking my paid miles on Philippine Airlines which sucks in some ways but it only takes 3 paid USA-Asia flights per year to maintain top level elite, earns 75% bonus miles, business class awards are only 90,000 miles and they upgrade me ALLOT so for the time being I guess I'll stick with PAL (Plane Always Late).

I'm actually purchasing Biz tickets now so I will likely keep my 1K status. That keeps me pretty much same-same.

If I purchase MNL - LAX - MNL on ANA, I can get it for $2800 with close to 100% availability, $50 fee to refund, $50 fee to change the outbound and no fee to change the return.

IF I'M LUCKY, the cheapest LAX - MNL - LAX in biz on ANYBODY is > $4000, non-refundable, very restricted availability, and a $500 change fee. Transpac biz often runs $5K to $8K with some even breaking $10K. Hyper-restricted Coach now days is running $1500 so I don't feel too bad about forking over the extra for the ANA ticket.

Having an Asia origination is an old strategy for saving on tickets for someone that flies often to Asia. It is not quite as effective today as in days gone by. About 3 years ago, totally flexible BKK - LAX - BKK on EVA biz could be had for < $2K. It does not seem to work for coach fares now.

To get started with this strategy, Get an Award Ticket with the return 1 year later. Then embed 3 paid trips. So 4 trips a year are required and you will be shelling out $8,400 for airfare per year. The upside is flexible, hassle free biz class travel.

The ANA ticket allows UA metal codeshares so that satisfies the new 4 UA segment rule for getting status and I credit my MileagePlus account. 3 paid trips a year and my regular domestic work related travel keeps my 1K status (UA 1K luvin is purdy damn good compared to my old CO Plat status).

Mergers really screw the customer. The speculation on FlyerTalk is that the new Plan is specifically engineered to screw flyers like Porker, AND ESPECIALLY fliers like IAS.

Me thinks baby with the bathwater.

It's the end of the world as we know it:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/united-changing-travelers-earn-mileage-rewards-124800031--finance.html