American:
As of 02/01/15 American will no longer check luggage through to non-OneWorld airlines if the connecting travel is on another ticket.
A huge hassle if you flying on American and connecting to other airlines on another ticket.
American has been preoccupied with their merger and hasn’t matched some of the more dreadful changes that Delta and United are undergoing.
Perhaps they will differentiate by keeping miles based on flight distance and by not gutting their award chart?
But more likely that’s just wishful thinking.
Delta:
Delta has already announced that they will no longer award flight miles based on distance flown and that they will limit point transfers from partners like AMEX and Starwood.
Both of those have workarounds. You can credit your Delta flights to Alaska and get far more valuable miles based on the distance of your Delta flight.
And you can transfer more points to Delta with the workarounds I wrote about here.
However they will also be eliminating free stopovers and open-jaws on awards as of 2015 when they introduce one-way awards. That matches what American did when they introduced their one-way award.
Let’s put United stopovers and open-jaws on death-row watch.
JetBlue:
In 2015 JetBlue will no longer give free checked bags on their cheapest fares. The website will clearly state when ticket purchases no longer include a free checked bag, so for now a bag will be included no matter when you travel. Expect those website changes in 2015.
They will also be adding up to 15 seats on their aircraft which will reduce the average legroom.
Additionally:
-Gold elites will have their baggage allowance cut from 3 to 2 bags.
-Presidential Plus cardholders will lose their Avis President’s Club status as of 01/01/16.
-Club cardholders will lose their Avis First status as of 01/01/16.
(Both of those cardholders will get Hertz President’s Circle status).
-United 1K members will no longer get free Global Entry
-United premiers will have to pay a co-pay plus miles to get upgraded from JFK to Los Angeles or San Francisco.
-As of 03/01/15 United will match American’s policy and will also no longer check luggage through to non-Star Alliance airlines if the connecting travel is on another ticket.
-And a huge one, award passengers will no longer inherit the status of the account where they were booked from as of 04/15/15.
As a 1K when I book someone using my miles they get 3 free bags, free economy plus access, free 1K checkin, premier security, 1K boarding, free lounge access, and they are eligible for complimentary advance upgrades.
The trick for free upgrades is to make sure you only book 1 award passenger per itinerary. Booing one-way awards helped as well.
This all worked even if I wasn’t flying.
That will all be going away.
When we flew to Los Angeles in July the whole family was upgraded for free on coach saver award tickets. That’s not going to happen again under this new policy.
Of course if you are traveling on the same itinerary as other people they will continue to inherit some benefits like free baggage. But upgrades on awards won’t happen whether the elite member is flying with the other member or not.
Not pretty. What other changes did I miss?
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23 Comments On "Roundup Of New American, Delta, JetBlue, And United 2015 Downgrades"
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So, which is the best domestic carrier for mid-level status in 2015?
The 1K benefits for awards is huge.
@Dan how will the American downgrade effect avois redemptions on American flights?
@Joshua:
Depends on how much you spend on your tickets.
@itsyehuda:
Indeed.
@Ez:
It doesn’t.
Having just made 1K on united… Yikes.
jetBlue will at least still have the most legroom, more than all other airlines
enjoy the frequent flyer miles game while it last. it’s all going to be gone within a few years. You see the limits coming from all sides. hoard your miles now while you still can.
Wow, did not know United has just big changes!!! time to burn my miles now
@Anonymous:
Just have to get smarter.
@chaoz:
Not really a devaluation for united miles unless you’re premier and book a lot for others.
not sure what this means: united no longer award miles based on flight distance as of 03/15 , so does this mean a flight from NY to TLV or EWR to MIA will cost more?
Hey Dan, if Im choosing an airline to rack up miles, which one would you suggest? It seems like these new downgrades may limit my choices. If I were to start racking up for next year, what would you choose…
@brooklyn:
No.
It means that if you fly on a paid flight you will likely get fewer miles.
No changes on the redemption side.
@ERW:
How are you racking up the miles, from actual flights or credit cards?
@Dan: I guess Ill clarify. Im flying to Israel twice next year and several times between both coasts (from New York). I assume SPG is the way to go in general, but my question is in terms of actual flights.
@chff: not necessarily as they are adding seats to every plane
If I book this award: aer lingus from DUB to BOS and usair from BOS to NYC as 2 separate itineraries (to save miles), will I be able to check my bags through to NYC? Will I have to pay usair?
Dan thanks, I would rather use my miles/points from cc (gotta use it someplace)so this would not be an issue.
Seems that although I am 1K member, I am never able to use my global upgrade rewards on United, especially to Israel
Dan- for delta you suggested alaska to get full miles flown. as of march 2015 which star alliance partner would you suggest to credit united k fares for miles flown (and elite bonus if you match status assuming they do from say delta diamond)
alexander- bec to use them on united you have to buy at least a “w” fare and you likely purchase the cheapest fare which often is the “k” fare which is not upgradeable
Southwest Baby!
Jetblue has been a longtime favorite for us in the NW. The service and legroom is a big factor as well as TV’s. However the BIGGEST factor and what wins out EVERYTIME is the free checked bag. Many times people chose Jetblue over UAL,DL, or AA because it is either cheaper or the same to fly with them when the bag fee is factored into the cost of the fare. It’s unfortunate but there is a trend with Jetblue: Two tier cabin, less legroom, no free bags and terrible mileage program. How long before they start with economy comfort and do away with the free standby?
However, Jetblue has a very loyal FF base and will probably still fly with them. But for everyone else, do what I did. I switched to Southwest 1.5 yrs ago and #LUV it! TWO FREE checked bags, really good FF program(if you book early), and companion pass. With new nonstops opening up from the NW, now is the time ppl.
Just got info that copa airlines is leaving United mileageplus. One less airline to get miles by distance and not price. Bye bye United? Very few options to s.America. Dan what’s your take?
@Rio770: I fly to south america quite a bit, and its usually not difficult to redeem with AAdvantage, Avios, or Copa lifemiles. Actually, I really like Copa lifemiles, its usually not that difficult to find flights with them and their points and cash options give good values. LANpass sucks, and finding LAN availability on AA or BA sucks, but still plenty of options for South America.
@jimmz: jimmz. It’s true there is avianca lifemiles (not copa) however it’s not direct flight to rio or brazil. It’ stops in Colombia… So an 8hours flight gig-Mia takes 16 hours and more… There’s is a rumor that avianca brazil( different airline and mileage program) will joint star alliance end of 1st semester. For sure American is the best to S.america and best mileage program. But star alliance lately the options are getting narrower and with more miles needed to redeem.