Many airlines seem to 'tighthen' their eligibility criteria to reach elite status. One of the so-called problems that have been frequently cited is the overcrowding of lounges.
Now, what if airliens remove or limit lounge access for elite frequent flyers, but give other benefits in exchange?
While I love lounges, they do get old after a while. I am only platinum for a few years but I am already starting to feel a bit bored with lounge offerings, even at Qantas First lounges (though the seasonal menu changes does keep things interesting). As somebody who flies mostly kettle class for work and other necessary personal reasons, you often do not want to, nor have the opportunity to, spend too much time in the lounge anyway. Also, the temptation of free champagne/wine also makes you drink more than you should and you feel bad afterwards. I would love to not have those regret moments.
Other elite frequent flyer benefits are honestly quite useless.
Priority boarding: I hate it but it is out of necessity to secure overhead luggage space. Now, it is NOT being the first ones to board that matters (why do anyone want to spend a second more time on a plane?), but it is just to make sure your carry on has a home near where you sit so that you do not have to squeeze yourself to the back of the plane to retrieve your luggage when deplaning (*shudder*).
Other equally useless benefits:extra xx kg in checked for check-in luggages (most genuine frequent flyers that I know prefer carry on), priority stand-by (seriously... the only people I know doing stand by were those flying for free/heavily discounted ticket because they are airlines employees), and the worst offender: greetings by the FA that achieve nothing but perhaps to stroke the passengers' ego... (I try to pretend I am sleeping when the FA start doing their round greeting Platinum/Emerald passengers, LOL! so awkward...).
So, it makes me think, am I the odd one out here or do frequent fleyrs feel the same? I personally prefer these benefits:
- Free ticket date/time change for elite flyers as long as there is availability or waive the change fee at least (even for discounted ticket). Look, there is no additional cost to airlines as the plane WILL FLY anyway. Yes, they may lose out on change fees, but what if it comes in exchange of lounge access? I think it makes sense, no? Besides, most people would NOT want to change their ticket unless they have to.
- Guaranteed overhead luggaeg space (I know it is laughable, but who knows there are genius out there who can think of how to achieve that!)
- Priority DE-planing regardless of where I sit (I prefer sitting at the back insetad of the front) - again laughable but who knows it is possible?
- 100% online check in WITH boarding pass issued for international flights (provide some sort of online document registries where elite flyers can upload their visa/onward ticket proof, etc so that we can go straight to gate for boarding instead of making sure arriving early enough before check in closes just for document checks OR allow document checks at boarding gates).
So, frequet flyers, what do you REALLY want actually?
I honestly am willing to let go or have limited lounge access in exchange of the benefits in the list below.
Now, what if airliens remove or limit lounge access for elite frequent flyers, but give other benefits in exchange?
While I love lounges, they do get old after a while. I am only platinum for a few years but I am already starting to feel a bit bored with lounge offerings, even at Qantas First lounges (though the seasonal menu changes does keep things interesting). As somebody who flies mostly kettle class for work and other necessary personal reasons, you often do not want to, nor have the opportunity to, spend too much time in the lounge anyway. Also, the temptation of free champagne/wine also makes you drink more than you should and you feel bad afterwards. I would love to not have those regret moments.
Other elite frequent flyer benefits are honestly quite useless.
Priority boarding: I hate it but it is out of necessity to secure overhead luggage space. Now, it is NOT being the first ones to board that matters (why do anyone want to spend a second more time on a plane?), but it is just to make sure your carry on has a home near where you sit so that you do not have to squeeze yourself to the back of the plane to retrieve your luggage when deplaning (*shudder*).
Other equally useless benefits:extra xx kg in checked for check-in luggages (most genuine frequent flyers that I know prefer carry on), priority stand-by (seriously... the only people I know doing stand by were those flying for free/heavily discounted ticket because they are airlines employees), and the worst offender: greetings by the FA that achieve nothing but perhaps to stroke the passengers' ego... (I try to pretend I am sleeping when the FA start doing their round greeting Platinum/Emerald passengers, LOL! so awkward...).
So, it makes me think, am I the odd one out here or do frequent fleyrs feel the same? I personally prefer these benefits:
- Free ticket date/time change for elite flyers as long as there is availability or waive the change fee at least (even for discounted ticket). Look, there is no additional cost to airlines as the plane WILL FLY anyway. Yes, they may lose out on change fees, but what if it comes in exchange of lounge access? I think it makes sense, no? Besides, most people would NOT want to change their ticket unless they have to.
- Guaranteed overhead luggaeg space (I know it is laughable, but who knows there are genius out there who can think of how to achieve that!)
- Priority DE-planing regardless of where I sit (I prefer sitting at the back insetad of the front) - again laughable but who knows it is possible?
- 100% online check in WITH boarding pass issued for international flights (provide some sort of online document registries where elite flyers can upload their visa/onward ticket proof, etc so that we can go straight to gate for boarding instead of making sure arriving early enough before check in closes just for document checks OR allow document checks at boarding gates).
So, frequet flyers, what do you REALLY want actually?
I honestly am willing to let go or have limited lounge access in exchange of the benefits in the list below.
