MSE News: Costs to soar in Airmiles revamp: use points before they devalue

Any

Doc_N wrote: »

Let's just agree to differ then, shall we?

I've explained what the Co-op can and does do (and the confirmation that external fees are included is taken straight from their website) and the increases in costs they have to cope with are every bit as great as those that Airmiles have to cope with.

The Co-op don't increase their charges. Airmiles do. If you don't understand that the reason for that is just a cynical move to increase their profits, I can't help that.

They'll get away with it, because their T&C entitle them to do it, but it does surprise me that so few people realise that it isn't actually necessary in economic terms - it's just a nice little profit booster for them.

Coop is a massive company operating all sorts. There are such a things as economies of scales, price loss products and need for immediate cashflow in sacrifice of long term profit. Also the fact that most of the cost is in their control and the fact that the thing is overpriced to start with.

Their analysts spent months and probably years watching over the cost/revenue of the product and worked out what when and where. When it will no longer be viable, they will have to put up future prices, go bankrupt, sacrifice the loss for the market share etc...

Airmiles is a loyalty scheme. With the possiblility to buy few miles for top up (though at those prices you would have to be stupid to by loads unless you needed couple hundred to pay for whole families flight) and most cost is not in their control. Probably why the T&C to start with.

Spyder15

Any wrote: »

Well, I don't know why would someone think it is a little saving scheme if they actually read the T&C.. But that is just me.

Also Tesco offer so many different rewards, that I generally firstly check which one is the best value for me. Airmiles weren't that great for me for flights until now, so I collected few and chose different credit card etc, but now they are so I am converting to get more.

Another things they offer and I was using them for were things like package holidays on offer and hotels for weekend trips..
Also the fllight destinations change... as the destinations the companies offer change. Though I have to say there are some very weird destinations on your list if these are the only ones.. where is that from then? And surely the offer must have been the same before??

Hi Any
Well I was just wanted to give my opinion and I just said I thought of it as a little saving scheme because that was the way I thought of it.

Nothing is free and I have chose over a lot of years to keep on saving up my miles with the hope of using them for something special one day. It was my choice - yes I know I could have used them in many other ways (especially the Tesco vouchers) but I never wanted cinema tickets or meals out or days out etc - as I say it was my choice and yes I do understand the T&Cs.

I shall now bear in mind hotels and holidays although I confess I have never bothered looking at those in the past.

Regarding the destinations, well they have changed a lot over the years because in the past I have used Airmiles to get a flight to fly down to Heathrow but now I can't (according to the list displayed on their site under regional airports/Newcastle). Of course when they changed I don't know, I don't have time to look at these things on a regular basis as all I was really keeping an eye on was my overall balance in the hope I could get it to the magical 20k I needed for myself and my partner to take a long haul break.

Now I shall look at other options and of course keep a closer eye on what people suggest in the hope of getting some tips on better value for money - which is really what this forum is all about I believe.
Thank you.

Any

Coop funeral plan - both on the same page!!!

Guaranteed – all the services in our Funeral Plans are fully covered so there is no more to pay for them; even the fees paid to third parties such as the crematorium authority or the minister are included.

Important information for burials – Please download our leaflet – Important information for those choosing a Burial to see exactly what is and what isn’t covered in a Set Burial Plan, as well as where additional charges may need to be paid.

Any

Spyder15 wrote: »

Hi Any
Well I was just wanted to give my opinion and I just said I thought of it as a little saving scheme because that was the way I thought of it.

Nothing is free and I have chose over a lot of years to keep on saving up my miles with the hope of using them for something special one day. It was my choice - yes I know I could have used them in many other ways (especially the Tesco vouchers) but I never wanted cinema tickets or meals out or days out etc - as I say it was my choice and yes I do understand the T&Cs.

I shall now bear in mind hotels and holidays although I confess I have never bothered looking at those in the past.

Regarding the destinations, well they have changed a lot over the years because in the past I have used Airmiles to get a flight to fly down to Heathrow but now I can't (according to the list displayed on their site under regional airports/Newcastle). Of course when they changed I don't know, I don't have time to look at these things on a regular basis as all I was really keeping an eye on was my overall balance in the hope I could get it to the magical 20k I needed for myself and my partner to take a long haul break.

Now I shall look at other options and of course keep a closer eye on what people suggest in the hope of getting some tips on better value for money - which is really what this forum is all about I believe.
Thank you.

Every week there is an email/or on website "deals of the week".
There are offers such as hotels, breaks etc. Just sign up for it and start getting them, there might be something you fancy.

Also on the website there is a part "package holidays" with another "offer" part within that... sometimes very good deals. If you are flexible though.

Unfortunately destinations do change. It is the airlines who decide though what is and isn't viable for them, so not much anyone can do about that really..

vinylmusic

I give up trying to get a good deal from Airmiles. I find if I hunt around for cheap flights I will be better of paying for them outright than to go with Airmiles and pay their outrageous extras.
I hear people complaining everywhere on travel forums and on programs like Watchdog but The Airmiles company don't care and nothing will change. They will only recite their T&C's with a take it or leave it attitude.
I hope that users will vote with their feet and go elsewhere
Once I have used up my miles I quit. If we all do the same they'll be the losers and hopefully they'll learn from it.

loates123

Can we please start a new thread stating if air miles are value for money :-) :-$ anyway is it true air miles release flights daily at 2am ?

Avios_company_representative

loates123 wrote: »

If anyone from air miles is looking can you give me some advice . I have 22000 miles to use and was hoping to use for florida or cuba next school summer holidays .at the moment there is not one available flight unless I go to florida for 3days in august which I cant see the point off.i have spoken on the phone again to air miles and no one seems to have any knowledge if any dates will become available. So my question is should I wait for flights to get released .there is a available flight from manchester to florida in may . I dont want to really go then but if the dates for july august summer holidays dont get released and then the may date is then sold I am not going to be able to use my miles at all till 2013 as cant travel any other time and that will mean pay taxes for long haul flights :-(

Hi loates123,

Stefanie from Airmiles here.

Airlines release seats to 50 weeks before the departure Whilst some airlines may release further seats later down the line, we can't guarantee this, particularly during busy holiday periods such as school holidays. We recommend booking as early as possible when seats are available. If you'd like further advice or want to enquire about booking in May please contact out Contact Centre on 0844 49 333 49.

I hope this helps.

Thanks,
Stefanie

Doc_N

Airmiles_company_representative wrote: »

Hi loates123,

Stefanie from Airmiles here.

Thanks,
Stefanie

Hi Stefanie - hope you'll be reporting back to Airmiles on the damage which has been done to the Airmiles/BA brands by the recent devaluation. They'll be well aware of that from Twitter and Facebook, but a lot of us are now ditching the scheme altogether as very poor value. :mad:

vinylmusic

Airmiles_company_representative wrote: »

Hi loates123,

Stefanie from Airmiles here.

Airlines release seats to 50 weeks before the departure Whilst some airlines may release further seats later down the line, we can't guarantee this, particularly during busy holiday periods such as school holidays. We recommend booking as early as possible when seats are available. If you'd like further advice or want to enquire about booking in May please contact out Contact Centre on 0844 49 333 49.

I hope this helps.

Thanks,
Stefanie

Stefanie

I know that this is slightly off subject

I think that many moneysavers would appreciate it if Airmiles would stop advertising 0844 numbers.

I for one pay the phone company extra each month to cover me for anytime calls. I find it unfair that I must pay 5p a minute extra to talk to Airmiles whom I believe get a rake off from that cost.

I'm sure I speak for many users and think that you should also offer a landline number as well so that we have a choice

jackieblack

vinylmusic wrote: »

Stefanie

I know that this is slightly off subject

I think that many moneysavers would appreciate it if Airmiles would stop advertising 0844 numbers.

I for one pay the phone company extra each month to cover me for anytime calls. I find it unfair that I must pay 5p a minute extra to talk to Airmiles whom I believe get a rake off from that cost.

I'm sure I speak for many users and think that you should also offer a landline number as well so that we have a choice

I use 01925 848619 (found on saynoto0870)