Star Alliance - Continental seat inventory....

Before Conti joined SA, as a regular non elite Conti member, I have been perpetually peeved about the lack of seats available to non-elite members. To get a seat, I'd always have to use Northwest or Delta. Now, it seem nothing has changed. Air Canada, United, and US offer lots of seats to the regular customer (as SE I see the premium seats of course but am referring to what the average joe gets), but as far as I can tell, it's status quo with Continental. We SA members have access to very few seats while the Conti members joining us get a bonanza of seats. How is this fair and does anyone have any insight onto Conti's new obligations to provide a reasonable inventory?

I live in YHZ and fly all over the US all the time... forget about a Conti seat to Newark... or onward. Because of Conti joining, AC has stopped the YHZ-LGA flight where I could always get a seat... doubly peeved. Thoughts?

If you're *A Gold you can call up Continental res desk and they'll assign you a premium seat - I was put in the middle seat all the way in the back of the bus while half the plane (priority seats) was empty. I think I was unable to choose online as they haven't fully integrated their systems with *A - but I'm not positive on that one.

Are you talking about award seats? Or seat reservations?

award seats... sorry thought that was clear... my bad.

If you're *A Gold you can call up Continental res desk and they'll assign you a premium seat - I was put in the middle seat all the way in the back of the bus while half the plane (priority seats) was empty. I think I was unable to choose online as they haven't fully integrated their systems with *A - but I'm not positive on that one.

This is not exactly correct information. Please check the Master Thread titled "Ask CO Insider". In that CO Insider has clearly posted about assigning Premium seating to Star Golds.

Air Canada, United, and US offer lots of seats to the regular customer (as SE I see the premium seats of course but am referring to what the average joe gets), but as far as I can tell, it's status quo with Continental. We SA members have access to very few seats while the Conti members joining us get a bonanza of seats. How is this fair and does anyone have any insight onto Conti's new obligations to provide a reasonable inventory?

On the contrary, I'm CO Platinum which makes me *G, and I regularly see plenty of seats available in the back of the plane. And next week I'm flying LAX-YYZ on AC, and all I was able to get was a middle seat near the lavs in the aft cabin. :( Personally, I'd like to see some mutual co-operation between *A members on *G elite seating from carrier to carrier.

I was hoping for great things when CO joined *A because I live in the NY area and would like to travel to UK/Europe.

Looking at next summer (jun/jul/aug) I cannot find a SINGLE CO flight from ANY UK airport to EWR with award availability in economy (for 3 pax, but it doesn't appear any better for just 1 pax). I can find regular midweek business class, but nothing in economy.

btw... this is using CO's own web site and ANA tool (which now includes access to CO!)

What gives.

David.

Check BRU maybe? BRU is just a 2-hour train ride from London.

Check BRU maybe? BRU is just a 2-hour train ride from London.

Nope.

For the record. Using the CO web site I searched for saver awards. The tool displays availability for both July and August with each query. I searched for one passenger for a flight to Newark (EWR) from...
EDI, GLA, MAN, BHX, LHR, BRU, CDG, GVA, ZRH, FRA
Selected non-stop and continental flights only.

Midweek business class availability show up fairly reliably.
NOT A SINGLE economy class saver seat.
The ONLY economy saver seats that show up are from LHR on the CO/Virgin code share -- not an option if using miles from another *A carrier.

This discussion probably belongs in the CO group, rather than here in *A maybe we should move it there.

DAK