Darkon;467707 wrote:All airlines suck.
What gets to me now is the service and luggage fees. I use my miles for free tickets for family to visit one another and now the airlines charge a service fee to get a "free" ticket. The last one cost me $135 from Pitt to St Louis for a "free ticket" plus the cost to check luggage.

Yes, they all suck.

I'm surprised you get any luggage charges if you travel that much - even on a reward ticket, the status should apply to any passenger. Though, I've only ever redeemed through Delta and USAir. And the free ticket service fee is a bunch of bullshit. As a result, I make sure I'm going somewhere good or getting an expensive ticket on the reward. If I can find a fare for 2-3 hundred, it isn't even worth using the reward in my mind. Its all a big scam.

enigmaax;468106 wrote:True, but you don't know how early others are checking in. Thats why it could happen. And as you know, status means everything, too. I've been on a standby list in which they actually bumped someone for me to get on (don't tell that guy - he was pissed). I like to say, its the "last commoner to check in".

That part is true, anyone with any airline mile status gets first priority. I've been in that position where I bumped someone due to being some version of "elite" (gold, silver, idk).