Sale of Miles
Nov 1, 2005 | 9:51 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London
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Who owns the miles?
Originally Posted by vasantn
But in principle, they are MY miles and I should be allowed to use them in any way I see fit.
Nov 1, 2005 | 9:52 am
#17
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Originally Posted by vasantn
I'll stir the pot here ...
My sympathies are with the OP.
Personally, I would not sell my miles for a couple of good reasons. But in principle, they are MY miles and I should be allowed to use them in any way I see fit. Whether or not I derive a financial benefit is not the airlines' business.
There is no question that such transactions have a negative economic impact on the airlines, as they result in less "breakage" (non-use of miles) than anticipated. But the airlines could build the reduced breakage into their economic models and adjust their FF programs accordingly. Let the free market prevail!
There is nothing illegal (in the customary sense) in the OP's actions. No one was cheated. The OP broke unilateral rules promulgated by the airlines, and may have to suffer the consequences. But to suggest that what he did was unethical, immoral, sinful, etc. is just plain ridiculous.
My sympathies are with the OP.
Personally, I would not sell my miles for a couple of good reasons. But in principle, they are MY miles and I should be allowed to use them in any way I see fit. Whether or not I derive a financial benefit is not the airlines' business.
There is no question that such transactions have a negative economic impact on the airlines, as they result in less "breakage" (non-use of miles) than anticipated. But the airlines could build the reduced breakage into their economic models and adjust their FF programs accordingly. Let the free market prevail!
There is nothing illegal (in the customary sense) in the OP's actions. No one was cheated. The OP broke unilateral rules promulgated by the airlines, and may have to suffer the consequences. But to suggest that what he did was unethical, immoral, sinful, etc. is just plain ridiculous.
Nov 1, 2005 | 9:54 am
#18
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Originally Posted by SRQ Guy
You ought to try running for office. Doing wrong and illegal things and then lying about it is a very valuable skill in politics. 
The OP should be aware that discussing their approach to this trouble here on FT is not necessarily going to be helpful -- as Delta has representatives who read this board.
Nov 1, 2005 | 9:58 am
#19
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Delta sucks
What I am dissapointed is that they did not even contact me to see if I did in fact sell those miles. I did not sell them to benefit financially because the money that I got for the ticket I sent to Red Cross as a relief $$$. I have the the receipt to porve it that even though they were sold, they were sold for a good humanitarian reason.
Nov 1, 2005 | 10:04 am
#20
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London
Posts: 627
Originally Posted by xflyboy2005x
What I am dissapointed is that they did not even contact me to see if I did in fact sell those miles. I did not sell them to benefit financially because the money that I got for the ticket I sent to Red Cross as a relief $$$. I have the the receipt to porve it that even though they were sold, they were sold for a good humanitarian reason.
Nov 1, 2005 | 10:04 am
#21
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Miles are the property of the airline - account holders are granted usage privileges, but not ownership rights. In effect, the OP tried to sell something he did not own.
Nov 1, 2005 | 10:26 am
#22
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Originally Posted by xflyboy2005x
What I am dissapointed is that they did not even contact me to see if I did in fact sell those miles. I did not sell them to benefit financially because the money that I got for the ticket I sent to Red Cross as a relief $$$. I have the the receipt to porve it that even though they were sold, they were sold for a good humanitarian reason.
Are you going to tell us the rest of the story? Is your account suspended or cancelled?
Nov 1, 2005 | 10:37 am
#23
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Originally Posted by 678flyer
I may be wrong here, but I always thought that the airline continues to own the miles, not the customer.
Miles are the property of the airline - account holders are granted usage privileges, but not ownership rights. In effect, the OP tried to sell something he did not own.
Nov 1, 2005 | 10:37 am
#24
Join Date: Aug 2005
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ebay at fault
Ebay should have never allowed or started to let people sell miles and/or vouchers on-line. Legal or not airlines never did like it.
http://news.com.com/2100-1017-866398.html?legacy=cnet
Ebay took its sweet time adjusting and even now allows it to be done under certain conditions.
Original OP did the wrong thing...but so did Ebay in misleading folks to think it was okay to do it.
http://news.com.com/2100-1017-866398.html?legacy=cnet
Ebay took its sweet time adjusting and even now allows it to be done under certain conditions.
Original OP did the wrong thing...but so did Ebay in misleading folks to think it was okay to do it.
Nov 1, 2005 | 10:40 am
#25
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Originally Posted by xflyboy2005x
What I am dissapointed is that they did not even contact me to see if I did in fact sell those miles. I did not sell them to benefit financially because the money that I got for the ticket I sent to Red Cross as a relief $$$. I have the the receipt to porve it that even though they were sold, they were sold for a good humanitarian reason.
Nov 1, 2005 | 10:42 am
#26
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Originally Posted by Canarsie
While your points are indeed cogent and well-reasoned, vasantn, attempting to blatantly lie to Delta Air Lines, which is in of itself indeed unethical and immoral, in order to resolve the issue will only exacerbate the situation further.
Also, lying to a person who has placed trust in you is a completely different kettle of fish from lying to faceless corporations, most of whom routinely lie to the public. Again, I'm not advocating that people do this as a matter of course. I just have trouble with black-and-white characterizations.
Nov 1, 2005 | 10:56 am
#27
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Originally Posted by Clincher
Ebay took its sweet time adjusting and even now allows it to be done under certain conditions.
Nov 1, 2005 | 11:09 am
#28
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Originally Posted by MachOne
Originally Posted by Clincher
Ebay took its sweet time adjusting and even now allows it to be done under certain conditions.
I often see similar posts on Ebay...
shipping cost for an envelope $125 (eye roll):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ENVELOPE-WITH-BO...QQcmdZViewItem
Selling an envelope (2nd eye-roll)
http://cgi.ebay.com/10-Delta-Infligh...QQcmdZViewItem
Last edited by Clincher; Nov 1, 2005 at 11:43 am
Nov 1, 2005 | 12:12 pm
#29
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The FlyerTalk member who launched this thread launched two similar threads in the Delta forum, which have since been deleted.
For this and other reasons which I will not divulge here, this topic is now closed.
There is a thread in the TravelBuzz! forum which discusses a similar topic. When I am able to find that thread, I will post the link here.
Regards,
Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta forum
For this and other reasons which I will not divulge here, this topic is now closed.
There is a thread in the TravelBuzz! forum which discusses a similar topic. When I am able to find that thread, I will post the link here.
Regards,
Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta forum