Frustrations grow with frequent-flier programs

[straitman]

From USA Today.

Frequent Flyer Frustrations Grow

Nothing much new for people around here.

[drron]

I dont know what they are complaining about.I have just booked an award for my wife NRT-JFK using AA points in J in June.Basically there were only a couple of days that didnt have Milesaaver awards available.Out of interest I checked awards on that route March to July.Business awards are the rarest.First awards available every M,W,F in March and virtually every day thereafter.Off peak Y awards at 50000 return available virtually every day March and april and after that Y awards for 65000 every day.
On top of that got slugged with the massive taxes of $US39.10.
QFF had no availability on that route in business.

[JohnK]

I agree that it is getting more difficult to redeem FF award seats. I think FF point balances are growing rapidly but the amount of award seats released does not reflect the growing demand for award seats.

Most regulars on AFF are only after premium cabin awards but I believe that WHY awards are most sought after, especially if you are after multiple seats on the same flight, by the majority of FF point collectors and the airlines do not release enough of these awards especially on premium routes like SYD-BKK-LHR or SYD-LAX.

[Platy]

I agree that it is getting more difficult to redeem FF award seats. I think FF point balances are growing rapidly but the amount of award seats released does not reflect the growing demand for award seats.

The insanity of the situation is ably illustrated by the other thread on travelling CNS-NRT-LHR - the poster couldn't get 3 award seats on QF CNS-NRT even though there were 20 (out of 25) EMPTY seats on the aircraft - QF will only release 2 out of 25 seats on that flight.

Of course, wiser heads than mine on this blog site insist that maintains the cachet value of the J cabin.....