Unhappy Fliers

Your column “Navigating the New World of Frequent-Flier Miles” (Travel Insider, Aug. 30) rang true indeed.

I just got though arguing with United about some Lufthansa miles. Lufthansa denied me mileage credit on half of a trip from LAX to Frankfurt, Germany, and return, while agreeing the other half was OK. United, having written the ticket, was clearly astounded when I complained, and reversed it. It was the same ticket, same trip--just different rules.

After this--my third incident with Lufthansa--I have come to a new strategy: When traveling on partners, have the U.S. carrier write the ticket and put in the mileage claims.

Also avoid traveling on a partner flight with the partner’s (read Lufthansa’s) flight number. If it has a United or Delta or other U.S. flight number, use it.

HENRY ABARBANEL

Del Mar

How much longer and how many more blatantly anti-consumer rules can we expect before some attorney gets as irritated as many of the airlines’ best customers?

When that happens, perhaps he or she will be sufficiently motivated to initiate a class-action suit. Just a cursory review of the airline propaganda about their grand and glorious frequent-flier come-ons compared with the realities--as so well enumerated in your article--makes it abundantly clear what “bait and switch” truly means.

WILLIAM F. KRUMM

Arcadia