America West First. - tier point opportunity

hmmmm - interesting stuff..

do all VS partner airlines generate Tier Points?

I'm thinking specifically Continental internal flights?

thanks

Andrew

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by phantomtwin
hmmmm - interesting stuff..

do all VS partner airlines generate Tier Points?

I'm thinking specifically Continental internal flights?

thanks

Andrew

In the USA 'internal' flights are called domestic. Also normally we do not sell the 'premium' class as Business but as First unless a three-class aircraft operates the flight. There normally is a J,D, or C fare to meet the needs of connecting people. It is sorta a pet peeve...

CO and DL plus most other FC partners-

Economy
Over 2000 miles - 1 TP, Full miles on most fares
Under 2000 miles - 0 TPs, Full miles on most fares

First
Over 2000 miles - 2 TP, Full miles on most fares
Under 2000 miles - 1 TPs, Full miles on most fares

[Scrooge]

Just a note,I have found that for some very strange reason when using the HP upgrade fare on trans-con flights I get 1 TP?

thanks Benjamin,

as ever - a speedy and helpful response

regards

andrew

[preiffer]

Originally posted by jetwet1
Just a note,I have found that for some very strange reason when using the HP upgrade fare on trans-con flights I get 1 TP?

VS don't always credit the "on the day" upgrades as full First Class, Dave. In which case, you'd just get the 1TP as a trip in Economy > 2,000 miles.

They're only (technically) supposed to credit pre-purchased First Class tickets (that are a lot more than the $50 specials) as 2/1 tier point earners with HP.

[Scrooge]

Oh duh [B)] I didn't even think of the Y over 2k miles...feeling very silly now [:I]

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
There normally is a J,D, or C fare to meet the needs of connecting people. It is sorta a pet peeve...

For my upcoming CO First class internal flights (IAH-LAS-IAH) I have been ticketed in "A Class" (My international legs LGW-IAH-LGW are in Z Class).

From what I can see, A Class is the highest priority class on the internal routes, and is fully flexible.

[preiffer]

CO also sell an F fare internally, which is just a bit above an A... (but about 3x the price!)

I wasnt sure whether to start a new thread but I now only need 1 TP for Gold. I can get this anytime up to end September (then I need more).

So whats be best (best could be most fun or cheapest or some other measure) way to get 1 TP..

In October I am PE to LAS and back for 6TP - that would get me there but I kinda want it before that and for the 6TPs to be counting towards renewal. Is my maths right or should I just wait? Opinions welcome.

Which country are you in right now then mysteryflyer? Are you still in the US?

If you are back in the UK then my suggestion would be to take a loved one for a long weekend break to a European destination in business class on BMI. This would net you 2 tier points and maybe some good 'tear' points of happiness.

Failing that can you earn TPs on a one way BMI biz class trip up to Scotland? You can then get the cheapest 4th class train ticket back to your abode.

With BMI you actually earn TPS on the "premium economy" tickets as if they were business class for the European/Edinburgh runs. This is ticketed as Y but still earns miles and TPs as if it were business class (check the partner airlines section on VS and it shows that Y is business class). You still sit in the back however you do get lounge access. Although this said premium economy is usually more expensive than business restricted

Best way therefore may be to book a premium economy/business restricted leg one way and a fully discounted fare the other.

UPDATE - on the partnership with America West Airlines.

The va.com website now states:
"Please note that with immediate effect, all earning (and spending) activities with American West Airlines are temporary on hold until further notice. This is due to the American West and US Airways merger."

[preiffer]

That's a bit of a bugger. [n]

Does anyone know if they've sorted out "officially" whether HP is now considered part of *A for earning purposes yet?

Just been on the phone to try and arrange internal flights with American West and can confirm that no TP or mileage will be awarded for the forseeable future.

Such bad timing as I will now probably miss out on Gold FC because of this this year.

So how else can the miles from a America West/US Air flight get converted into Flying Club miles.

There must be a way!

dunbarm what were the routings you needed? There must be another way...

Im LHR to LAX in PE now in September so I will go Au somwhere near Iceland and be Au on the trip back and then on my trip to LAS in October.

My route to Gold is hard one in Y and occasional K and W tickets. I will only make it because of 4 legs in HP F and a last minute trip to SYD in W earlier this year. Its hard go Gold as a back seat passenger. It will be hard to renew but Im going to try to optimise all my travel for TP's

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by preiffer
Does anyone know if they've sorted out "officially" whether HP is now considered part of *A for earning purposes yet?

Not really an official answer, but this piece is quite interesting if you have not seen it.

To summarise, it talks of the US Air and HP merger, saying that miles for bookings with both airlines will be honoured after the merger for their respective programs (not that FC will likely benefit from that) and states:

Members will be able redeem mileage across either network beginning in October, and all frequent flyer features will be consolidated under one program early next year.

It also says ...

Benefits of the US Airways / America West merger include: ..... Participation in the Star Alliance, the first truly global airline alliance comprising 16 of the world's most prominent airlines. Overall, the Star member carriers offer more than 15,000 daily flights to 795 destinations in 139 countries. Star Alliance benefits will be phased in over the next six months.

I would imagine that translates as when Dividend and FlightFund are merged into one, the *A benefit would be there for both merged airlines as they are operating under the US Air banner. Thats my take on it anyway, not that it helps VS much ... hmm... wheres that BMI card [V]

Thanks,
Sarah

I thought I would bring this one to the top. Apologies if it has been posted elsewhere, but having just returned from the States where I took a couple of America West flights I was surprised to see mileage and tier points earnings credited for them. Having read this thread previously I wasn't expecting it. Looking at the VA website it seems to indicate that the hold is only on the spending aspect, not the earning. I'm sure this has changed since I last looked, prior to my trip.

Phil

Mrs. Stoneman and I took an internal return SFO LAS with America West in October, after the hold was put in place. when we returned home, we had received 500 miles for 1 sector, I phoned flying club, and asked where the other 500 miles were for the other sector[:I] The guy seemed surprised to see that I had been given any miles at all!! He said that as far as flying club were concerned, the hold was still in place, but he refused to give me the extra 500 miles;)

I also received both miles and TPs from my flights at the end of August which I believe was after the hold was in place.

Interestingly, despite paying Virgin for my HP flight in first I got downgraded on my outbound led and only received 500 miles and no TPs.

Well I guess I'm not the only one. The thing is that the VA website has a note against the spending section only and I'm pretty sure that when I looked a little while ago it was in line with McCoy's post above and related to both earning and spending. I would therefore assume that there hasn't been a mistake in the crediting of the miles and tier points and (for the moment at least) if you take an America West or US Air flight you'll get miles and tier points if applicable to your class of flight. Stoneman, I'd query it with them again. I'll remain anonymous, just in case they take the damn things back!

Phil

Originally posted by philadam
Well I guess I'm not the only one. The thing is that the VA website has a note against the spending section only and I'm pretty sure that when I looked a little while ago it was in line with McCoy's post above and related to both earning and spending. I would therefore assume that there hasn't been a mistake in the crediting of the miles and tier points and (for the moment at least) if you take an America West or US Air flight you'll get miles and tier points if applicable to your class of flight. Stoneman, I'd query it with them again. I'll remain anonymous, just in case they take the damn things back!

Phil

Mr DL and I got zilch for the return flight to Las from SFO last month (even though tickets were paid for back in Feb before IISTBC the merge was announced and when HP were still a partner airline).To add insult to injury we didn't even get on the flight we were booked on (although our luggage did[n]) despite checking in 2+ hours prior to departure for the hop up. End result was arriving in Vegas on a very busy Friday night - hunting for luggage (which had arrived hours before and been whisked away) and then standing in the biggest queue imaginable for a taxi).Will never use AmericaWest /Us Airways again -only reason we booked with them was for the bonus miles which we didn't get.FWIW to those of you who've got miles, I'd keep schtum in case they get taken off you again![}:)]

Sorry to hear about your bad experience there DL. I also had some luggage issues and from what I've heard since, AW are well known for their luggage problems.

Regarding removal of points, I would be most surprised to see VS actually try and do this after reading something on here. It would be far too risky I would have thought for them to jeopardise the useful information and additional revenue that an open site such as this provides for them.

Just looking at the VS website it does seem that America West is now back on as a miles earning parner. Under the US Airways section earning with AmWest is mentioned.

Thanks for that Sailor, I will get back on to them to get the other 500 miles I am owed [^]