New 100% share promo with a twist...well two actually!

[serfty]

If DM were consistent with recent promotions then I would suggest the maximum number of bonus points that any one member can garner from this one promotion, would be 50K, whether as a giver, a recipient or some combination of same (irrespective of the number of transactions).

In fact, looking closely at the T&C's I am now sure that's the go. The sentence containing the word 'split' is definitive as it refers directly to 'bonus miles'. -

...
The maximum number Share Bonus miles that can be received by one member for this offer is 50,000 bonus miles. All miles shared beyond this limit will not be eligible for a bonus. The bonus miles will be split evenly between the giver and recipient.
...

So, share 50K and receive 25K bonus. Another member shares 50K to you and you receive 50K and another 25K bonus, thereby reaching the maximum.

 

[bcworld]

In my opinion changes to T&C's are changes to the T&C's whether on the earn or burn side. The general opinion is that they should give notice and AA have also agreed that they really should give notice. I think looking at "obligation" is taking a very narrow view of good corporate citizenship.

When I said an obligation 'in any way' I was suggesting that I don't even see an 'ethical' issue here. The same goes for LifeMiles copay rates...they can change them at will as far as I'm concerned and I wouldn't think any less of them. None of it is enshrined in T&Cs.

 

[medhead]

maybe I'm being too cautious. The other interpretation is a max of 25k ever from a single donor. so to reach the total number of bonus miles you'd need two donors.

I see what you mean. it doesn't say 25k per transaction. It says 25k per donor. In which case 2 donors would be required for a recipient to get a full 50k

 

[serfty]

To use the FT term, "AAdbUS" under Parker seems to not consider changes without notice a problem.

- the removal of explorer awards
- the increase in points needed for several routes
- the removal of the ability to convert 'stickers' to miles

are among several changes enacted without notice.

 

[anat0l]

I see what you mean. it doesn't say 25k per transaction. It says 25k per donor. In which case 2 donors would be required for a recipient to get a full 50k

A 25k mile cap for being the sharer (the giver) would be rather limiting....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A 25k mile cap for being the sharer (the giver) would be rather limiting....

It could read that a single donor could give a maximum of twice, once each to two different people.

 

[serfty]

It could read that a single donor could give a maximum of twice, once each to two different people.

I am sure they could, a mambe sharing 2 x 50K gifts would maximize the available bonus for themselves.

However, the recipients would individually still have another 25K in possible bonus earn.

To paraphrase the T&C's:

The maximum number Share Bonus miles that can be [earned] by one member for this offer is 50,000 bonus miles. ... The bonus miles will be split evenly between the giver and recipient [with each transaction].

So a giver sharing 50K miles sends that 50K to the recipient; in addition this creates 50K in "Share bonus miles".

Half those "Share bonus miles" go the the giver and count against the giver's 50K cap and the other half of the "Share bonus miles" go to the recipient and count against the recipient's 50K cap.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am sure they could, a mambe sharing 2 x 50K gifts would maximize the available bonus for themselves.

However, the recipients would individually still have another 25K in possible bonus earn.

To paraphrase the T&C's:

So a giver sharing 50K miles sends that 50K to the recipient; in addition this creates 50K in "Share bonus miles".

Half those "Share bonus miles" go the the giver and count against the giver's 50K cap and the other half of the "Share bonus miles" go to the recipient and count against the recipient's 50K cap.

It does look like this could be limited to a single share per donor member (they have received the 50K bonus split between them and the recipient).

It could be expensive to test out the theory though (if the second bonus didn't post)

 

[burmans]

When I said an obligation 'in any way' I was suggesting that I don't even see an 'ethical' issue here. The same goes for LifeMiles copay rates...they can change them at will as far as I'm concerned and I wouldn't think any less of them. None of it is enshrined in T&Cs.

Well they dont actually have T&C's as such but they do have a Membership Guide, you dont consider the share rate is "enshrined" here (and interestingly has not been changed)? Yes they also say they can change at any time but they havent actually changed the Membership Guide. You may not think any less of them but there are plenty who will!

Transferring awards

• You can use your miles to book an award ticket for someone else. Just provide the passenger name(s) when you make the reservation.
• You can transfer your miles in 1,000-mile increments to another member's account for $.01 per mile and a $30 processing fee through our buy, share or gift miles program (see link below).
• A deceased or incapacitated member’s miles can be transferred to another member’s account free of charge (documentation required).
• Once an award is booked, a traveler change is not permitted. If you or the person you designate is unable to travel, you can redeposit your miles into your account; a redeposit fee of $150 applies.

 

[medhead]

A 25k mile cap for being the sharer (the giver) would be rather limiting....

How? Each person can still get a total of 50k, but they can get a max of 25k from one donor. Basically, person A cannot share to person B twice. But A and C can share to B. Basically 3 people need to be involved to get the maximum.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well they dont actually have T&C's as such but they do have a Membership Guide, you dont consider the share rate is "enshrined" here (and interestingly has not been changed)? Yes they also say they can change at any time but they havent actually changed the Membership Guide. You may not think any less of them but there are plenty who will!

Transferring awards

• You can use your miles to book an award ticket for someone else. Just provide the passenger name(s) when you make the reservation.
• You can transfer your miles in 1,000-mile increments to another member's account for $.01 per mile and a $30 processing fee through our buy, share or gift miles program (see link below).
• A deceased or incapacitated member’s miles can be transferred to another member’s account free of charge (documentation required).
• Once an award is booked, a traveler change is not permitted. If you or the person you designate is unable to travel, you can redeposit your miles into your account; a redeposit fee of $150 applies.

Good point. I was thinking maybe because it was a 'bonus' the Ts and Cs are not applicable for this promotion... but if it is offered as a 'bonus' that implies free? (ie the bonus miles don't need to be paid for?) Which would see in contravention of the rules.

 

[anat0l]

How? Each person can still get a total of 50k, but they can get a max of 25k from one donor. Basically, person A cannot share to person B twice. But A and C can share to B. Basically 3 people need to be involved to get the maximum.

That's why.

That said, minor detail in some cases, as you point out.

 

[anat0l]

Good point. I was thinking maybe because it was a 'bonus' the Ts and Cs are not applicable for this promotion... but if it is offered as a 'bonus' that implies free? (ie the bonus miles don't need to be paid for?) Which would see in contravention of the rules.

If it is in contravention of the rules, then what can one do about it? What would be the applicable consumer bodies in the USA to take action? (I'd imagine it is not the DoT)

Resolution of such an issue I would not imagine would be completed before the end of the promotional period.

Some may give up on US DM for this (in principle) plus another slew of reasons, but so be it.

 

[burmans]

If it is in contravention of the rules, then what can one do about it? What would be the applicable consumer bodies in the USA to take action? (I'd imagine it is not the DoT)

Resolution of such an issue I would not imagine would be completed before the end of the promotional period.

Some may give up on US DM for this (in principle) plus another slew of reasons, but so be it.

Of course, US DM can pretty much do what they want & when they want, but there does seem to be some growing pressure on US programs to give notice. I actually thought I read on FT somewhere that some regulator in the US was looking at regulating this but really not worth trolling FT to find out. Perhaps more significantly there has been somewhat of a swelling of popular criticism against this practice of not giving notice in recent times, and the airlines have taken note and "promised" to give more notice when/if they can. What that will translate to is anyones guess!


I actually found the first point in that Guide quite interesting given recent speculation on AFF as to who you can book for!

Transferring awards

• You can use your miles to book an award ticket for someone else. Just provide the passenger name(s) when you make the reservation.

 

[bcworld]

Of course, US DM can pretty much do what they want & when they want, but there does seem to be some growing pressure on US programs to give notice. I actually thought I read on FT somewhere that some regulator in the US was looking at regulating this but really not worth trolling FT to find out. Perhaps more significantly there has been somewhat of a swelling of popular criticism against this practice of not giving notice in recent times, and the airlines have taken note and "promised" to give more notice when/if they can. What that will translate to is anyones guess!

My POV is that buying miles etc. is ultimately the same as buying anything else retail...the retailer can vary the price whenever they like.

If they took the share function away with no notice that would be different.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I actually found the first point in that Guide quite interesting given recent speculation on AFF as to who you can book for!

Transferring awards

• You can use your miles to book an award ticket for someone else. Just provide the passenger name(s) when you make the reservation.

Indeed.. but countered by:

• You may not sell, buy, barter, exchange or broker award tickets or offer to do so. Such a violation may result in deletion of the member’s miles and program disqualification and could lead to civil or criminal litigation.

The main problem seems to be that when USDM audits a suspicious account, it's very hard to get hold of them to discuss anything.

 

[burmans]

The main problem seems to be that when USDM audits a suspicious account, it's very hard to get hold of them to discuss anything.

Yes, well as I also noted it appears USDM feel they can and do do just about whatever they want, in addition to what you have noted that its hard to contact them, they seem to have the attitude that you are guilty when they decide you are (no presumption of innocence), they'll make the decision that you have broken the rules unilaterally without asking for information (they just close accounts) and then wont talk to you. Of course this is well discussed elsewhere so I apologise for taking this OT and I dont doubt they are catching some genuine offenders, just they seem to capture some innocents in the net also!.

 

[Beta4Me]

I'm sharing from 2 accounts to another 2 and then sharing back with this promo. Slightly better than an opportunity to buy but worse than the shares of the past.

 

[bigsleep55]

So I've got 4 people in my family group of accounts. Two of them have balances. A has 10,000 and B has 2,000. Is what I have come up with the best way to get 110 000 back in A's account, leaving as little as possible in B, C & D's accounts?



So A ends up with 111,500, B = 22,500, C = 14,000

Total cost is ~$2375 AUD
Increased miles by 136,000 so cost per mile in AUD is ~$0.0175

Is there a cheaper way I could end up with 110k in A's account keeping within the rules of the share promo?

 

[serfty]

Just 8 hours left for this promotion ...

I am thinking it's getting close to the end for this with DM - at least at these prices.