US Airways SUCKS!

[Vinnie From Indy]

I just found out that the airline decided to declare all of my frequent flyer miles were forfeited since I hadn't booked a flight in the last 18 months. I never got a notice telling me that my miles were being forfeited. The most outrageous aspect of the affair is that US Airways tells me that I can give them $375. or sign up with their credit card to reinstate my miles. The credit card has a high interest rate and a default rate of 29.99%. How is this legal? Is it just another example of American big business lying to their customers and getting away with it? I think the airline underestimates the long term impact of their outrageous antics. I know that at this moment, I would rather walk than fly their crappy airline.

Also, it is obvious that the airline knows that their customers were going to be pissed. They train ALL of their employess in the basic "I understand" philsophy. Whenever a caller is upset, they are told to immediately offer that they understand. I told the last person that I spoke with that if they uttered the words I understand, I was going to take the $375. they are trying to extort from me and use it to put up a web site called "usairsucks.com". Guess what? She said "I understand" less than minute later. I cut her a break and told her that she should understand that she is working for a piece of crap airline that will undoubtedly go bankrupt soon treating customers so badly.

Phew! Had to vent!

[amitten]

1. I'm sorry. That sucks and there shouldn't be a time limit like that.

If you earned the miles, you earned the miles. You should be able to use them whenever you wish.

[cloudbase]

2. They sucked back

when they were Allegheny.

[Chipper Chat]

20. Oh man, do I have a story about Allegheny!

1977. I landed at JFK from Germany with American Airlines. My ticket had me transferring to Allegheny from JFK to Louisville. When I got to the Allegheny gate I was refused boarding because 'my ticket did not show a time of arrival in Louisville (they were all handwritten back then and the travel agent had simply ommitted an arrival time). The agent said (unbelieveably) that I would have to go to the American ticket counter and have the ticket rewritten. Pissed, as my luggage was already on board the Allegheny, I took a cab to the American ticket counter which was way across the airport. The American ticket agent simply WROTE IN the arrival time and shook her head and said "Allegheny should know better." By the time I returned to the boarding gate it was too late. I had to rebook the flight on Eastern to Louisville. Since then I have trashed Allegheny/US Air at every opportunity.

[jgraz]

3. It's your own fault for not being rich enough to afford a private plane

People really need to plan ahead for stuff like this. :P

[Colorado Progressive]

4. Just got the same shit letter from United, at least they warned us

Apparently we have to fly their shitty airline again really quick, or use our miles for a friggin MAGAZINE scrip to keep them alive, what crap!!!!!!

[salin]

5. the program has two goals (as I can guess)... 1) get folks who

fly regularly per business to fly and get perks (ala folks who fly at least once a month)... and 2) to get more periodic flyers to fly with them as opposed to other airlines per the promise of future benefits. Guessing that 2 is less attractive to them these days (go after the big spenders) - given your experience.

[rsmith6621]

6. Let Me Ask You A Question..

I have worked in the airline industry for 4.5 years.....do you still have the original terms statement that came with your initial welcome packet????.,...Did you read the rules and guidelines....perhaps you need to read them over again....

Working in reservations you would be suprise how many put the card in their wallets..gleen the coupons...and toss the program rules policy book in the trash.....

You are responsible to know the rules of the program...the biggist being that the terms of agreements are subject to change without notice.....perhaps you should go to the USAir website and reread the rules there.

Getting pissed wont do you any good...perhaps writting to the head of CS would be an option especially if you were in the past a frequent flyer(more than 6 roundtrips in a year).Be nice in your letter power tripping will get your letter thrown in the Garbage.

[rucky]

9. LOL

I guess the OP isn't the only one venting.

[onewholaughsatfools]

10. you make a very valid point

maybe you could explain to me why, the service of all airlines I have flown treat their paying guest like a piece of shit........blessings

[rsmith6621]

12. Perhaps Because.....

Their Management treats the employees like a piece of SHIT and pay them like SHIT...You get what you pay for works both ways.

Have some compassion on them their MORAL is in the trash and not getting any better.

[pitohui]

13. the rules and guidelines were changed

i don't fly us airways and even i know this, it was well publicized

delta and some other airlines are doing the same shit, people's miles expire after 18 mos. of no activity in the account

it is no good berating someone for not reading the "rules" when the "rules" were changed unilaterally AFTER the person joined the frequent flyer club and did most or all of their flying

even if the poster had read every bit of fine print, wouldn't have mattered, the rules CHANGED

agree it's no reason to badger the CSR for saying "i understand," wtf is she supposed to say? i guess the CSR is really caught in the middle between struggling air lines w. huge fuel bills and customers angry at being robbed of miles that they earned and paid for

[Vinnie From Indy]

21. NO thanks!

While you are technically correct about being familiar with each and every minute detail spelled out in miniscule type on the FF agreement, I am not going to ask anybody at US Air for anything. What I will do is to post on as many Internet boards and communities my experience with US Air and hope that their shitty airline is flown less often by consumers.

In addition, I was given no notice of the new policy. This "new" policy affected 20 years of accumulation of points. No, US Air can kiss my ass good bye and deal with my PR campaign to villify the airline at every opportunity.

Lastly, their ham handed attempt to extort their customers by offering to reinstate the points at an exorbitant fee amount should reveal to everyone that the airline doesn't give a rat's ass about them. What should be illegal is their extortion attempts concerning their credit card offer to reinstate points. I did read the fine print on that agreement. They truly are despicable airline with horrible management.

[uppityperson]

7. I understand. (which pisses me off too, don't want understanding,want help)

"your call is very important to us, so we're going to leave you on hold for over 10 minutes fool". "I understand" pshaw. Get the credit card, charge a candy bar, pay it off and cancel it. You get to keep the miles.

[begin_within]

8. What airline doesn't suck?

[Colorado Progressive]

11. Im about to fly frontier for first time. Ill let you know if they suck.

[rockymountaindem]

14. I've found they're pretty good

No complaints so far, but I think I've only flown on them twice.

[regnaD kciN]

15. Personally...

...I'm not sure I'd want to fly U.S. Scareways, even for free.

[windbreeze]

16. I agree totally, but for different reasons....never again...I say, never again...

It's bad when you are so stiff upon arriving that it hurts to stand up and get out of the seat...wb

[pansypoo53219]

17. try midwest express and

have a cookie.(really, 2 warm fresh baked chocolate chip cookies)

[AndyTiedye]

18. You can also Use Miles for Restaurant Coupons

that is the quickest and most minimal way to keep them from expiring.

You could sign up for their credit card and not use it,
especially if the first year is free (as it usually is for airline credit cards).
That costs them money and costs you nothing.

[Old and In the Way]

19. My last biz trip, I got stranded in Philly.

3 hours in the plane, back to the terminal, out to the plane....then as we taxi out, they canceled the flight. No reason given. The terminal was nuts (there were at least 3 other flights canceled). No voucher until a dozen of us complained. Worst group of customer service reps I've ever seen in action that night. I think the whole airline travel industry is going downhill.