Randy Petersen
Now as for the session tonight, it's open mike night so let forth with whatever is on your mind. I'll just try and add some opinion and/or advice and then later on we'll all starting talking again. Mikel, who's first?
cigarman
What can be done about Gordon Bethune saying on CO's web site that their will be NO changes in onepass this year out of respect for FF. Yet 15 days later... benefit changes and reductions...
Randy Petersen
A few things. While waiting for this to start, I have started the process of registering saveonepass.com And I'll use my own name. Gordon is a savvy guy and will soon learn what it's like to say two things from the same airline... I'll personally call CO in the next few days to alert them to this new movement and like SaveSkyMiles, we'll engage the press and others. Can it be successful - well no one here get their hopes up but tomorrow I'll provide proof to you all that we have faced off OnePass before and won. I'll report a quote from Mr. Bethune from some years back and the results of that. I have also alerted Northwest and US Airways of our intent just to send a signal to others who are in the same boat. Next question....
markbach
Randy: Pleasure to chat with you, as always. Supposedly, US Airways is changing their SWU's for 2002 to be a LOT more restrictive. ( http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum51/HTML/002091.html ) Have you heard anything about this? Would you care to comment?
Randy Petersen
I really don't know much of these changes and as we've seen from the other carriers, either we lived a generous life in the past or truly these airlines have their heads up in the sky. Hell, we'll get savedividendmiles if we have to but i think we all need to figure out who the good guys are because we can't all be changing and then get caught with our account status down. Again, I don't know much of the US Airways plans so let me get back to that later or i'll comment on the forum itself...sorry. next question
Mikel at WebFlyer
This question was submitted earlier by Ron: I need about 10,000 american airlines miles. Can you suggest any scheme to earn those miles over the next 6-8 weeks?
Randy Petersen
6-8 weeks is a lifetime in this business. There is the obvious like sign up bonuses for the credit card and telephone but you've probably already got that covered. Most people forget about moving points from hotel programs into miles and that's a usual course for me. What don't you do. I would not buy miles from American for that amount. With a few gimmicks you can easily surpass the 10,000 without a major investment. But this question is difficult to answer without knowing where and what you need the miles for. If you are at 15,000 and need the 10,000 for an award, that is much different advice than if you have 150,000 and need 10,000 for two business class tickets. See me later and give me the specifics and I'm willing to bet I can get you 10,000 miles in 10 minutes.
Randy Petersen
next question.
dhammer53
question...Many flyertalkers are asking about the TalkBoard. When will replacement members be named?
Randy Petersen
I thought we were friends.....HA! Only kidding since i should have figured i'd get "Hammered" on this question. Let's remember that there are currently 7 members on the board, a fairly large number to make the decisions we need. Of that 7, 6 of them are elected. I think there has been a misconception over the replacements. Currently the elected board represents all FlyerTalkers. My choice to replace those that resigned in my mind is not required since the elected members are the majority. I haven't answered your question. Since it seems there can be no resolve until this issue is answered, I guess I'll give in and remove myself from being the apparent roadblock. I resent the movement to make this an issue, but will take the high road. I'll name three replacements next week. My resistance to do so is because i don't know other members as well as those i appointed and it turns out i didn't know them well enough. I don't like getting embarrassed or playing politics since i think FlyerTalk is better than that. If these other members don't perform to your satisfaction - blame me again, I'm an easy target. Sure, I'm a little testy on the topic but I'll live through it.....next question.
coyote
Randy, do you care to comment on the state of airline security as it looks today. I think most of us are in agreement that the current measures are in place to reassure the average traveler, not provide an increased level of security. Just witness the mad dash of first class passengers for the door AFTER the security screeners have picked their "random" victim.
Randy Petersen
I'm one of you. I fly up to 200 days a year and have rightfully earned my wings. I believe my personal opinions are right in line with yours and on the other side, I know that when I'm on a plane or in a line at the airport - I'm in a minority because of my travel experiences. While I personally think that Jane Garvey should have been shown the door and this security fee and other crap is grating on most of us - I am prepared to turn my cheek and stay in line if only to get this all behind us. Next question.....
Mikel at WebFlyer
This question was submitted earlier by David Kamrad: Is there a formula a person can use, to determine when to use their frequent flyer mileage and when to just purchase a ticket?
Randy Petersen
I very much disagree with this wife's tale of two cents a mile. We at InsideFlyer wrote a pretty good article some months ago about this issue and I'd encourage you to search for it and see what the real numbers are. Honestly for me it's more emotional than anything. There have been times when I'll cash in the miles on a $450 ticket and then other times when I won't do it for less than $600. My current rule of thumb is 1.25 cents per mile. But again, that is only where i start thinking about things. When awards went down to 15,000 miles, I wasn't taking to old calculator for comparing against $225 fares, I know that was a good deal no matter what. I say go with your emotions and don't get caught up in theory - especially theory that is now 12 years old.
techgirl
? - When will the airlines institute levels above their current top tiers to recognize the ultra frequent flyers?
Randy Petersen
Never......there is rule among the airlines that the higher the ultra flyer, the more difficult it is to satisfy at any cost. If you see anything it will be off-the-record and only personal benefits. Programs these days are for the mass markets. Surely the idea that some 50-60% of miles earned come from non-flight activity will give you the big picture. One of the things most people don't understand is how well involved the rest of the airline is in providing and supplying the benefits of a typical frequent flyer program. Did you know that the reason that Midway was kicked out of AAdvantage was because the pilots union voted not to recommend renewing that AAdvantage contract with Midway..... Again, the numbers are too small to make it worthwhile to support in the long term. Get used to someone knowing your name from reading the manifest on board and that's enhanced customer service....
LaurieS
What do you think is the best FF Program, and what one mileage credit card so you think is best? This assumes 1/2 domestic and 1/2 foreign travel. Thanks
Randy Petersen
Depends on if you like the program or the airline. For just the frequent flyer benefits, I'll take Northwest WorldPerks right now with AAdvantage in second. Now with NWA you have to put up with the airline, but i over look that for the frequent flyer program. Now for the credit card... I'll take the Starwood credit card from American Express. The old saying about merchant acceptance is old these days and other than the Visa thing with the Olympics, it's the Starwood card that earns me one mile per dollar in any program i want and actually when converting into miles at 20,000 points at a time I end up earning 1.25 miles per dollar spent. Also, if I belong to the AAdvantage program because I bypassed Northwest above and go with AAdvantage, then i also have the gold Citi MasterCard because of the great benefits they offer members such as the reduced award schedule. Starwood and Citi MasterCard.....I have no doubts about my recommendations....
Mikel at WebFlyer
This question was submitted earlier by Susan Enefer: Last August I found a web site where one could consolidate frequent flyer points from different airlines and redeem the points at a discounted value. Unfortunately I forgot to bookmark the site. Do you know which site it is?
Randy Petersen
Well you asked the right guy since I own around 5% of the company you forgot to bookmark. Called MilePoint (www.milepoint.com) it does allow the things you are referring to and if I might suggest if any of you haven't been up there recently to look at their OutletOne program...you are missing out on something. I am fully behind the company and where it is going. Its only competition is AOL/AAdvantage and what do they have to show for some $200 million in advertised investment?
avek00
In your view, how effective could an organized letter writing campaign be in trying to change a detrimental FF policy at an airline???
Randy Petersen
Your logo says it all.... I believe it can be done if - and that is a big IF - if can be put into place BEFORE the change takes place. If you are referring to your logo - it has been done before and I thin there is merit in this case. A warning - everyone involved has to keep their heads up. You can't go around bad-mouthing changes because hell, there's plenty of you that have had very good luck playing the mileage game and they have rights too. I say we go for it and I feel good about this one.
Darren
Randy, at the BA chat, you said you would look into another Oneworld promotion. Do you know if anything is being planned for this year?
Randy Petersen
It doesn't look like it right now. Poking around has one promotion contingent on a resolve of the BA/AA thing and as you know that is still up in the air. The problem with any alliance-wide promo right now from anyone is that the industry is home grown. Every program is only working on their own problems, not the problems of others and while you might suggest that they all have the same problem - not so. I don't see one in the first half of this year....sorry to bear that news.
beaubo
While you own 5% of Milepoint, the more telling question is- would YOU ever utilize the site, knowing the dilution of mileage from the transferability.??!!
Randy Petersen
Sure would and have. I think some people start off thinking that MilePoint was designed for you to take 150,000 miles from Delta and go shopping. Excuse me but I know exactly how many of you move miles into the Hilton Reward Exchange and how many of you have moved and exchanged miles through Points.com It is that audience that MilePoint is suited for. Members who look for value they don't currently have. If you have value with miles for free tickets to Hawaii, hey, surf's up. But again, MilePoint serves a specific market and I'm not ashamed to day I have used it, and not because of my position in it. I have orphan miles like anyone lese and if you look very closely at the new OutletOne, there's some pretty good deals. The problem still is......we all want everything to be free. I think that was a major reason the stock market crashed from the Internet stocks. didn't work there....
Mikel at WebFlyer
This question was submitted earlier by Ajit: I am staying at Muscat, Oman and frequently travel within Middle East Region and occasional trips to Indian Sub-continent and Europe. Which FFP will be best suitable for me?
Randy Petersen
I'm a big fan of the Emirates program coming out of that region. They have some OK relationships with other airlines but they have done a great job as a new program putting together some benefits that I admire. You have BA to pick from and Gulf Air but I'd still go with Emirates and if you look closely at some of their interesting partnerships...you'll be booking them. Hope this helps...
SFOJFK
so is there any chance the BA/AA alliance would go through? what is exactly holding them back from rewarding miles on transatlantic flights? we can't even use them to cross the pond on an award ticket. how would an award be messing with this rule?
Randy Petersen
I'll spell it out: E-G-O (ego). Let's remember, American thinks it is the best airline this side of the Atlantic and British Airways thinks it is the best airline that side of the Atlantic. Why would they each want to pay each other when they are convinced that passengers will choose them if they don't have a chance to earn miles elsewhere. I don't see a change to this in the short term. It reminds me of the AOL/AAdvantage deal......when two egos collide, consumers get little to choose from.
MileKing
Have you learned any more about the GoldPoints/ValueMags situation, i.e., who forced them to pull the 450 pt. promo early and will they offer anything of that magnitude again in the future?
Randy Petersen
very interesting question and one that's likely to be resolved by legal means. Shows again that people underestimate the intelligence of FlyerTalkers and how powerful we are as a group. I do know this: A new Vice President just came in and doesn't appear to like the way things were done. I'd let that bookmark expire. As for other deals. I do believe you will find similar deals soon. I know that we are even working on some deal similar to entice subscribers to InsideFlyer and you'll hear about them in due time.
ChaseTheMiles
Randy, do you ever talk to American Express about improving the value of their Management Reward Points?
Randy Petersen
Actually after a few years of strained relations (they were holding it against me that Diners was cleaning their clock with winning several Freddies - only kidding) we're pretty close again and have had many great conversations about that and much more recently. I'd watch the news over the next few months to see new things coming from that group and while they won't instill cheers from everyone, there will be several better value propositions for members. As a point of reference - I can honestly say that I have earned some 1.4 million points with Membership Rewards and I have the same concerns and vested interest you have. They are so big they move slow, but when they get a fire up their you know what, they tend to move pretty fast.
chix
At one time, I heard Clickrewards administers http://www.aolaadvantage.com . Now that CR is gone & AOLAAdvantage is still operational, who really does run it?
Randy Petersen
ClickRewards never admistered it, Netcentives provided technology on the back end which was separate from the consumer things you saw on ClickRewards. That is still in play since Charles River bought that from the bankruptcy court and the contract continues. ClickRewards - the consumer Web site is still on hiatus and i think you'll see it come back but only for the real players. While it got big, there wasn't enough transaction total to make it pay to the retailers. So don't write everything off yet.....
Randy Petersen
Well, it has been a good night - plenty of interesting questions and I think it's time for you to chat among yourselves - because I know - you all are pretty smart about miles and points. Welcome to a new year at FlyerTalk and please join us next month when we have as special guest....US Airways (to answer questions about changes to their SWUs). Again thanks and open up the doors....