Well that's annoying. They are correct that they STILL have the best FF benefits for domestic carriers with the unlimited upgrades to "first" class when available.

Luckily, all my flights are cross-country as it isn't worth it fly local (2-5 hours drive) with all the security and "weather" delays at airports.

I did not get this email.

I really hope Korean Air doesn't downgrade their program b/c I'm planning on using my miles for a trip in Dec.

I really question the point of airlines even holding frequent flier programs if they are going to continue decreasing benefits. They might as well abolish it altogether. Saves us the pain and agony of seeing "our benefit" disappearing and saves them the cost of maintaining such a program!

I'm a gold card member of Asiana Club (Star Alliance).

With the miles I have today and under the conditions that I've signed up for several years ago, by all accounts, I should've had the chance to ride 2 roundtrip coach trans-Pacific flights. And of course, once you reached a membership level and met the requalification requirement, that level was yours for life.

Of course, with the continuous downgrading of service and increased mileage requirements, I've only had a chance to ride one round trip flight, I've seen the special benefits reserved for higher tier members disappearing after Asiana joined the Star Alliance and now, my membership level has an expiration date. Keep doing that... I'll find other ways to compensate!

Perhaps, instead of abruptly shutting off frequent flyer programs, they're trying to phase them out by making them less and less attractive?

As a US Airways Frequent Flyer (fly from coast to coast for work a minimum of one time a month), I grit my teeth when I saw the email topic this morning. It should take roughly 600 miles total off every round trip flight due to the first hop that I take each way. While it doesn't make me jump for joy, it could be much worse. The extra 'rush' fee, well, I was actually expecting that to happen one of these days (not that I agree with it). We knew some changes were coming that could impact the program, if these are all there are, then, well, I'll be happy to take them and move on.

@mantari:

"Perhaps, instead of abruptly shutting off frequent flyer programs, they're trying to phase them out by making them less and less attractive?"

Nah. They're basically just creating a rich/man poor man hierarchy that they hope will induce you to spend more (note the high rollers are exempt from a fee increase)and attract more business class flyers. FF miles are fools gold. Why in God's name should travelers have "loyalty" to the big carriers when they show no "loyalty" to their best customers ? I hope they all die cold and alone eating out of a can under a bridge.

I also did not receive this email.

USAir has some of the worst customer service in the industry, every time I've flown with them, I've had issues.
As I will not fly them again, I don't really care what they do with their program, the only people they will hurt are themselves!

I'm confused as to how this announcement shows they are "maintaining the benefits you've come to expect".

@mattatwork: easy, its not a benefit - its a scam

Everyone should really just stop flying US AIR (unless you really really really need to...) until they go out of business. US AIR is the worst.

Quote: "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."

Translated: We're going to screw the customer again

I flew on U.S. Airways last month.

AFAIC, with their dirty cabins, loose bulkheads, sullen FAs, and unprepared ground staff (took them 25 minutes to find a power cord for ground power in San Jose when we landed?) they can keep their frequent flyer program. I won't be flying them often, if at all.

*What airline uses paintbrushes to rehab the cabin walls? With brush marks? Euw.
*Nasty crumbs and dirt, and detritus in every crack, crevice, and surface.
*I had a five minute connection...even though both flights were on time. Had to run through Phoenix Sky Harbor at top speed to make the next flight!
*The pilot kept the port side engine running on our 737 for 25 minutes because someone in San Jose couldn't find an extension cord for ground power, keeping 120 people cooped up 30 feet from the terminal.

Nice way to put your biggest customers on Southwest/Jet Blue/ATA for regional travel. Hey, if I'm only getting 300 miles & XYZ airline is cheaper & more convenient...

Sigh. I remember the days when I used to get 2000 frequent flyer miles for each of these flights (when they were run by Pan Am and Eastern)

Greg

Wouldn't it be fun to be an executive at USAirways and sit around that boardroom table and think up ways to piss off customers? "Well, we could charge them for a seat assignment, like Northwest...." "Great idea!" "No, wait. How about not giving them a seat assignment until they get to the gate, like American?" "Another good idea!" "Perhaps we should continue to dilute their Dividend Miles." Brilliant.

I'm just glad that I'll still have to walk by those stupid Dividend Miles booths with sh*tty teddy bears and T-shirts that should somehow entice me to get their crap credit card. I love getting the hard sell every fr*ggen timeI go to the airport.

Every USAirways customer should protest by calling the 800 number and just asking for fares on random routes and then "decide not to buy." They still don't charge to call, and it still costs them money to answer those calls! Too bad that would require our wasting our time to prove a point to a bunch of arrogant jerks.

@Mr. Cynical: I assume you aren't flying to/from a US Airways hub? Or maybe you like paying more and taking twice as long to get to your destination, just to avoid the credit card pitch at the end of the flight?

Even with the changes, their program is pretty good. It generally requires fewer miles than say American Airlines or Continental. And the miles don't expire (I'm looking at you, American).

I hate to play devil's advocate on a site like Consumerist, but let's just suppose...

Suppose that in some wild unimaginable world, these airlines were going bankrupt. Suppose that hypothetically, fuel prices were skyrocketing, TSA security fees were beiing added at each airport, honest winter weather delays were actually costing these airlines millions to park at their departure airport while also being double-billed at their destination airport where they should have landed by now, and these airlines were struggling to maintain operational against new budget competitors such as Virgin America. Now, these old "big box" airlines had two choices to avoid losses...either further jack up their already expensive fares for the full-paying customers, or cut down some of the FREE PERKS that they offer voluntarily. They're not retro-cutting past benefits earned...the miles you have are still all valid. But rather, just giving away fewer free tickets so that they could make more space on the airline for paying customers.

Now imagine another alternative. The airline keeps its current incentive plans, seats continue to be occupied by frequent flyer awards claimers while limiting the number of paying customers, and the airline goes bankrupt as a result. Now, none of the frequent flyer miles you've accumulated will be valid anymore, 'cuz the airline just closed shop.

Keep in mind that not so long ago in the early 90s, frequent flyer miles didn't even exist yet. So quit yapping and keep an open mind to the possibility that this move might actually benefit the paying customers in the long run.

As soon as I got this stupid email from USAir I sent a complaint. I hope I'm not in the minority and that they are getting flooded with emails. I also plan to mention it the next time I check in and when board for flights. I think everyone at the airline has to hear from their loyal customers. I'm "just" a Silver (36 segments last year and already 12 segments this year) and I've seen them move to smaller jets, less service in terminals and planes that are not cleaned or maintained well inside. The service on USAir continues to decline. I've seen more odd flight cancellations recently. It makes you wonder. I live in Charlotte, so I'm pretty much captive. But there are choices. To charge people extra for trying to use the miles they've earned is penalizing their best customers. That move has nothing to do with the cost of fuel. And, they already have high ticket prices and have added fuel surcharges. Frequent Flyers are already paying for these fuel costs. This is a nickel and dime approach from a nickel and dime airline.