America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - reasons for co codeshare end

Hi all, I was thinking back to the days of the Continental codeshape with HP. ANyone know why that ended? I havent seen any "new" hp since the split, so am wondering what the motivations were.

Actually, the reason was quite simple. HP changed it pricing structure. Not that it would have changed the outcome, but HP probably should have told CO that they were going to do it. CO immediately attached an ending date to the partnership.

i *****ed to CO's CEO's office many many times. i sent threads from this site, shoiwng that others agreed. at the time i lived in the southwest, so i felt that CO had left me hanging, yet i wasnt prepared to give all of my business to HP. i knew i was moving back east. i got a few repsonses. one stating that the companies were headed in different directions and that HP's busniess model no longer fit with CO's. I was also told that they had something in the works to replace HP. i guess that was supposed to be the terrible agreement with DL. I also wrote to HP. they're response was that it was totally continental's move, and that HP had no choice in the matter.

Hello everyone,

Being that I have been employed with HP, I will put my 2 scents in. I started HP in Res. 6 years ago. As I was told, the codeshare with CO begin around 1994 (before my time). CO was restructuring their operations from their bankruptcy from the early 90;s. CO eliminated their hub in Denver, but still wanted to have some West Coast presence. At the same time, HP wanted to expand its East Coast network while still trying to develop its hub in CMH (which is now dufunct). It is was speculated that eventually that HP and CO would eventually merge as CO bought shares with HP company. The codeshare benefited HP, but it really never benefited CO too much. Over the course of the years, HP added many East Coast cities to its network (MSY, RDU, BDL,YYZ,PHL, PIT, etc) and CO added flights to OAK, SMF, RNO,PSP, BFL mainly from its IAH hub. Also, CO and NW became Codeshare bedpartners and their relationship benefited each other as NW has a strong Asian presensce and CO has a strong South and Latin American and European presence. I must say I and along with a lot of other HP employees started to feel that CO and HP were drifting apart around 1999/2000 when HP operations stunk (several canceled flights per day, delays, etc) HP reputation stunk and CO did not want to be associated with HP (CO at that time was voted as one of the best airline). Some of HP's East Coast cities operations (ticket counters, baggage and ground handling, and personal) were contracted with CO. CO was not happy that because our operations stunk, which caused CO staff to spend a great deal of time accommodating our paxs, etc. So CO stop contracting ground service in some of our markets (particulary EWR, IAH). Also, CO and HP (although it was CO that iniated the change) changed their upgrade programs/benefits so that HP and CO elites could only upgrade on the other carriers flight within 2 hours prior of departure regardless of what elite status that passenger had. Many elites' were unhappy about this. Also in 2000 (or early 2001) I don't remember CO sold back their HP shares back to HP. There some rumors of tensions between HP CEO Doug Parker and Gordon Bethune. When HP announced a fare restructure and that it wanted to become a low-cost type airline, CO announced the next day it was ended the Codeshare relationship with HP. TOday, America West and Continental still contract each other for ticketing and baggage ground handling service. CO is handles HP's ticketing and baggage service in MCO, TPA, SAT MSY, BDL, PHL, and YYZ. HP still handles CO's tickeing/baggage services in TUS, RNO, OAK, SMF, and PDX. CO and HP no longer have any more marketing/alliance agreements for its frequent flyer prgrams.