Enhancement to Thai ROP 1-9-2014

[Danger UXB]

Not sure if this has been reported elsewhere but new award and upgrade charts are effective 1-9-14

Royal Orchid Plus | Thai Airways?

Seems there have been some changes
eg Thai first BKK to east coast Aus
old chart 150000 round trip , new chart 150000 one way !!!!:shock:

*A redemption Aus to Europe in first
old chart 220000 round trip, new chart 220000 one way !!!:shock:

This is quite unbelievable. Not sure if this will have a knock on effect with other *A carriers programs eg LM and Kris

(I think I'm reading the chart correctly but then my new glasses have been playing up recently)

 

[travelislife]

Yep it is a joke. On the Thai ROP FT board there has been plenty of chat about it. Pretty much kills the program. You are much better crediting to UA mileage plus and avoiding fuel fines to boot. Many people have been complaining to ROP and I would encourage you to email your local office and do the same.

 

[Danger UXB]

It wasn't the direct effect on ROP as I am not a member but the knock on effect to other *A carriers that was my concern. I have been doing a lot of reading here about LM and I was about to take the plunge a make my first purchase but seeing this concerns me that one of the few premium cabins out of Aus to Europe was about to become less/unavailable .

 

[zainman]

Sounds like Royal Orchid will now just be as bad as Air NZ...

 

[travelislife]

It wasn't the direct effect on ROP as I am not a member but the knock on effect to other *A carriers that was my concern. I have been doing a lot of reading here about LM and I was about to take the plunge a make my first purchase but seeing this concerns me that one of the few premium cabins out of Aus to Europe was about to become less/unavailable .

I have no idea what the knock on effect will be to other programs, likely nothing, there will probably be MORE award seats available to *A partners because no-one in ROP will be able to afford them.

A couple of tables below with some examples of just how ridiculously uncompetitive they are.

Example 1: BKK-LHR-BKK return in Business

Airline - FFP Name No of Miles
Thai - Royal Orchid Plus 260,000
United - Mileage Plus 170,000
Eva Air - Infinity Miles 160,000
Sinagpore Air - Krisflyer 136,000
Lufthansa - Miles and More 135,000
Asiana - Club 115,000
Turkish - Miles and Smiles 100,000
ANA - Mileage Club 90,000

Example 2: SYD-BKK-SYD return in Business

Thai (old chart) 98000
Thai (new chart) 196000
Singapore Airlines 93500
Qantas 120000
Cathay 140000
Malaysian 106000
Emirates 120000
United 60000 (+ only about $120 in taxes on the exact same Thai aircraft)

Having family living in Thailand flying a lot on Thai and accumulating Thai ROP miles through AMEX this hits pretty hard.

 

[travelislife]

Upon writing to Thai they say the main reason for the changes is increasing the amount of award seats available to their high status Frequent Flyers, so in their round about way the amount of seats available will increase as Thai ROP members now need to accumulate twice as many miles! Won't stop other Star Alliance partners rates for using those same seats!