tjj@ssc-vax.UUCP (T J Jardine) (03/14/84)
Someone recently posted a request for comments to the net on the following subject. As I remember, a travel agency had advertised in the San Francisco area that they would give a $100 rebate on any United coast-to-coast flight as long as you used their fictitious name so that the bonus mileage was credited to their account. Just as points to consider in this regard are the following. First, the bonus mileage agreement between the traveler and United has a clause that requires the mileage to be flown by the traveler, if memory serves me correctly. At the very least this makes the person taking the flight an accessory to fraud. Second, consider the consequences if an unforeseen event occurs while you are on the flight under the fictitious name. For example, suppose that the very, very rare case of an airliner accident occurs in which you and several other passengers are killed with your remains all but identifiable. The passenger manifest does not state that you were on the flight, so your heirs, if any, have no way of collecting damages, let alone your life insurance policy payment. Even as gruesome as it may sound, do you want to risk this situation for $100? And third and last, the travel agency in question is treading on very dangerous ground, particularly so if they are an IATA member. The International Association of Travel Agents has very strict rules governing the behaviour of their members, and the use of rebates in this type of situation is definitely not condoned. If the travel agency in question is unscrupulous enough to act in this way, then they are not trustworthy. In dealing with them on other occasions would you, for example, be willing to take their word that they had made reservations for your hotel in a city more than 5,000 miles from home? I certainly wouldn't! The above comments are my opinions after having discussed the situation with people in the airline industry in the travel agency business. I offer them for your consideration in reaching your own conclusions. Ted Jardine -- TJ (with Amazing Grace) The Piper ...uw-beaver!ssc-vax!tjj