SQM AIRLINE REPORTS: Feedback please

So how is the reporting for their airline shops please???
Am correct in reading that a successful report will result in a 50% savings on the cost of my flight???
Just signed on with them and need a vacation pronto !!!

Many Thanks

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The report asks quite a bit of redundant questions but not too bad overall. The worst part is the system “saves” itself about every 3 minutes but doesn’t return you to where you left off so you have to find your spot again. Took me about three hours to do the first report but was able to reduce the time for the return trip. I’d certainly do this shop again although you can’t really relax on the trip. Wish I had known about this kind of shop when I was making trips to Phoenix!

Susie shopping the Columbus Ohio area and outlying communities.
Forgot to add - yes, it reduces the cost by 50% and the monies were credited back against my credit card in about two weeks.

Susie shopping the Columbus Ohio area and outlying communities.
I've done quite a few of these and the reports are fairly straightforward. Especially now that they aren't asking about the inflight crew, just the ground crew. (unless that's changed back - but either way, not too bad for 50% off a flight)
I did them awhile back, good to know that they changed it up a little by wanting to know only about the ground crew (though I didn't mind reporting on the inflight crew). The only thing I didn't like is that I didn't get to book my flight directly and wasn't allowed to get points for the flight by using my rewards number. I get that it probably would have ID'd me as the shopper, though. I wish it reimbursed more than 50%. Last few flights I have taken were free because I used my airline miles from my CC instead. I'd rather have free than 50% and write a report.
But how long is the report please??? Lucy88 above said it took 3 hours the very first time....
I did one this summer, actually two. I had a connecting flight so I had to complete a report for each flight. I didn't take me 3 hours. But then I did not report on the in flight crew. Well worth the effort to get half of my flight paid for.
To clarify, I had to do both ground and in-Flight crews. I was also doing the report on an iPad so I couldn’t type as fast as I normally would. There were several timings too. I tend to provide lots of detail.

Susie shopping the Columbus Ohio area and outlying communities.
That explains a lot. An iPad would slow it down. I think it took me about 1.5 hours to do the report a few years back when I was reporting on gate and flight experience. I imagine it's much faster now.
Oh, also it depends on whether you are doing a straight flight or if you have a connecting flight, or at least it did a few years back.
Remember that you have to get through the nine steps before you can get the assignments. You can only take two tests per day and need 100% on each one.
LGRM, no, actually for the airline shops, there are no requirements to complete any of the steps. You just need to be 18 years old. It indicates this in the instructions.

**********************************
Always take the high road.
I did my first shops this summer. The report was easy, but like others have said going forward I think I would prefer to use my own account and get the points. One small annoyance was that I had to pay a small foreign transaction fee on the ticket purchase, since SQM is a Canadian company. (That does depend on the terms of your card, though.)

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
Yes, I used a card that does not charge a foreign transaction fee...in fact, it was the card for the particular airline so I did get some points just by using the card, but not as many as I would have gotten if I were allowed to book through the airline and use my rewards number through them as well.
@shoppinginontario wrote:

LGRM, no, actually for the airline shops, there are no requirements to complete any of the steps. You just need to be 18 years old. It indicates this in the instructions.

Not the instructions I read. Each shopper must complete Step 1 and Step 2. They recommend additional ones based on which shops you would like to request. I have been told that unless you get through the nine, through the travel information, it is likely you will not be awarded an airline assignment. But yes, you can *request* it. This is what I understand. Honest, positive contribution.
Question about the flight charges: Are they competitive rates? Or are they "retail" rates, full-price? TIA
LGRM, I am not sure where you are looking. I just looked up the instructions again, as I did earlier today when I read your post.

"This program is open to anyone and everyone 18 years of age or older. There are no requirements to complete a comprehension quiz or any level of the SQM STEP program to be eligible for this program."

**********************************
Always take the high road.
The introductory page of STEP states it clearly, beginning with, "Each shopper has the requirement of..." If you've been granted a shop without the requirements, that's great for you!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2017 02:29PM by LGRM.
Yes, but the instructions for the airline shops specifically states the exception.

**********************************
Always take the high road.
I didn't have to take any tests a few years ago when I did them. I thought maybe the requirements changed, but I just went to the website and read through the instructions and there are no tests. Not for me, anyway. Maybe it's because I have been with them for about 15 years and did a lot of shops for them back when I first started, and because I have done the airline shop before? Not sure.
There are no tests for the airline shops, PERIOD.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
btw, the tickets are only sold through the airlines; web site, so what you see is what you get. 2 check bags are FREE.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2017 02:48PM by walesmaven.
That's the best part. My niece was looking on expedia, etc. for trips and I had to explain to her that they don't advertise on other websites. BTW, wales, you named the client. ICA violation...
EEEK! Thanks! Fixed it. Bang head against wall.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
LOL. Not like anyone couldn't have figured out who it was easily anyway with the free checked bags. What other airline does that?
Oddly, I find that many people have no clue about that.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Many people who don't fly often. I have been flying my whole life, but my dad was a pilot and we traveled and moved a lot when I was young, rarely in a car unless it was a short jaunt of 4 hours or so. I still love traveling and fly a couple of times a year. If it's more than 6-7 hours in a car I prefer to fly. I have cousins in Minnesota who drive to Texas for Thanksgiving for a 3-day trip! I fly and rent a car when I go and I always stay at least 10 days, LOL. SMH.
You realize that all caps is still yelling, unless an acronym or e-jargon, right? Why are you so angry?
Unless there are entire sentences in caps, I tend to think that one word in caps is emphatic, not yelling. Besides, it's not like we have access to bold or italic fonts in the forum, so how else to emphasize?
Like *this*. Or, actually, like this, but no need to emphasize here, really, unless you're angry for some reason. That's how I see this conversation has developed. Again.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2017 03:32PM by LGRM.
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