Is frequent flyer miles the biggest scam in the world?

[Argo]

I've had pretty bad luck with airline FF miles programs recently. Starting from British Airways only crediting 3 out of 4 legs of my trip (when disputed they asked me to send e-ticket printout and boarding pass to them, yeah like I have them 30 days after the trip).

Or recently, I tried to get credit for 2 distinct flights on Continental that I flew this year but forgot to put my FF number. First they rejected me saying that my name on the ticket doesn't match the name of the traveller. I proved that both were the same. They ended up crediting me, but only for 1 of the 2 trips. When I tried to dispute that I got another dreaded "please send copies of your ticket and boarding pass to the following address".

So am I alone here or are airlines making you go through hoops to get your miles.

 

[daveshel]

Next to rebates.

 

[nick1985]

Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me.


/thread

 

[BCYL]

If you do it right when you purchase your tickets, there's rarely any problems... I haven't had much problem with my 2 years of constant flying...

 

[johnjbruin]

I fly jetblue quite often coast to coast.

They give you 6 points for each flight and another 6 for booking online. When it adds up to 100, you get a coast-to-coast round trip free.
I think in the past 3 years i have gotten about 4 roundtrips free. Haven't had any issue with them.

All other airlines, I don't even try to keep track of miles.

 

[glenn1]

I'm not surprised. British Air sucks.

 

[George P Burdell]

I have no trouble getting miles, but it's a pain trying to book award travel. The best dates are either blacked out, or mysteriously sold out (even when a 100 different websites, including that of the airline, are selling tickets on the same flight).

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: nick1985
Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me.


/thread

Michael Scott: Dwight betrayed me once before. So this is his strike two. You know what they say, fool me once, strike one, but fool me twice... strike three.

 

[akshatp]

Ive never had any problems getting miles, but I always put my FF number in when I book.

However, BA does really suck. They only credit 25% on internet fare tickets that arent purchased as "full fare" tickets. They are the only ones that do that AFAIK

 

[dr150]

I've gotten several free flights, domestic and int'l, even on short notice and even in high season to popular places.

It usually works out for me. It's also better to be near a big city hub. For me it's San Francisco so we have SFO, SJC and OAK as viable options.


The only complaint I have is that they've all shortened the inactivity life span from 3 years to 18 months or 2 years. I foresee many angry customers complaining when their miles expire.