What frequent flyer benefits would you like airlines to adopt?

[Mattg]

I think he means lounge access when you don't have a flight scheduled.

Yes. That's what I meant as well!

I'm not following... is this a thing with VA?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I should have clarified "International anytime lounge access".

Ah....now that's a little bit harder!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm not following... is this a thing with VA?

"Was" a thing with VA. Now it's just a "thing".

Not IME. Always had them check I have a booking.

Not entirely correct.

 

[clifford]

I'd like the idea of giving premium FFers travelling in Y access to J wine. A little better wine makes Y much more bearable. QF is rumoured to do this occasionally, but in their TM 'unwritten, if maybe we feel like it' approach.

I flew SYD-BKK recently on QF and the person sitting next to me was regularly brought a glass of wine from business class (starting with pre-takeoff champagne). He just happened to be an off-duty flight attendant traveling to his holiday destination. So it does happen! (but not really to ordinary mortals).

 

[R36snowbound]

I would like to see a conversion rate for excess status credits to be converted into frequent flyer points. For example, you need 800 status credits to re-qualify for VA platinum. If I earn 1,000 status credits, why can't the 200 status credits be converted into points, which I can then use for upgrades? This would encourage people to not chase status with a 2nd airline once they have retained their platinum status for another 12 months.

 

[dajop]

I would like to see a conversion rate for excess status credits to be converted into frequent flyer points. For example, you need 800 status credits to re-qualify for VA platinum. If I earn 1,000 status credits, why can't the 200 status credits be converted into points, which I can then use for upgrades? This would encourage people to not chase status with a 2nd airline once they have retained their platinum status for another 12 months.

BMI Diamond Club used to do this (RIP ), as qualification was based on Elite Miles (not status credits), once achieving highest tier, any excess elite miles were converted to award miles.

Others of course deal with "excess" status accrual in a different way:
- VA, at least have a rolling 12 month status period, so they will always count even if for you get to status for 2016 in Jun, status credits earnt in July will count for period Jul 2016-end of Jun 2017
- QF have the mega-tier, P1, admittedly difficult enough to turn people off, but do have threshold rewards plus the annual capped loyalty bonus
- SQ have for PPS status (where you need to spend $25K in J or F) the concept of "reserve value" which can be used to "top up" your spend in future years for requalification

 

[andyhui01]

• Airberlin offers top-tier Topbonus members a guaranteed "shadow" in economy, provided the flight is not completely full.

Marco Polo Diamond members get this. Maybe a oneworld thing?

 

[jgm]

Award availability commensurate with the number of FF points they have flogged off to "partner" programs.

 

[JohnK]

I'm not following... is this a thing with VA?

Yes it is and it simply requires a little creative thinking to get domestic lounge access when you do not have a boarding pass.

Ah....now that's a little bit harder!

Used to be the case. Providing these benefits to your loyal frequent flyers do not actually cost very much.

 

[puppysparkes]

Universal airline interline baggage agreements.