Programs: EI Gold Circle, BD*G, OZ*G, Hilton Gold, assorted Silvers...
Posts: 3,890
Quote:
Originally Posted by ajamieson
All things being equal, no-one would choose to fly transantlatic in economy in a 757 but if it is flying direct from a local airport (eg EDI) and therefore knocking at least three hours off the journey time and some surcharges off the ticket price then it makes a big difference in overall comfort.
Amen to that.
And your baggage doesn't have to run the gauntlet of a connection at LHR.
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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked in to jet engines...
I fear we are going to have a bigger fight on our hands when doing UK-FRA-US routings as this is now classed as backtracking as there will be more direct options with CO.
Food on CO is absolutely appalling, although I have flown them quite often and been generally happy with everything else.
I've never understood the aversion to 757's on trans Atlantic routes, as they are basically the same seats, except you don't have to fight with as many people when boarding and de-boarding.
I was a regular/fairly frequent CO BusinessFirst tarveller a few years ago and believe the product hasn't changed that substantially in the past few years. I last flew them/it Jan 07, I think. Some of my experiences:
* The B777 seats are good solid old fashioned cradle seats, not fully flat but pretty darn good. The B767/757 seats are not quite the same but OK, especially for east coast US. I used them to fly to EWR/IAH sometimes connecting onwards to BNA/other places.
* Food was fab - appetisers, salads, soup, good solid dishes - steaks - curry () - pasta. The sundaes were stunning concoctions featuring sticky toffee toppings, hot choc fudge, nuts, whipped cream. Yum. The catering was head and shoulders above other so-called biz class cr*p (BA or VS are you listening - no, thought not). Service was usaully fine, to oustanding - very american
* Ground services included a concierge who helped with onward connections, lounge passes, ticketing issues etc. Excellent.
* Lounges are a cut above most US carriers - basic food & snacks and limited alcohol choices but OK.
* The new lie-flat seats look great.
Not sure I would agree with this. I think most people who know anything about CO would know that they would not merge with UA especially whilst UA has been doing so poorly for so long.
FWIW, CO is probably the best run out of the US majors and has been for about the last decade.
I agree with you not agreeing (to a point). Whilst I never expected a merger betwen the two carriers, there was/still is uncertainty over the future of UA, especially given the massive loss they just anounced. Some kind of takeover / rescue by CO and other parties might not have been so far fetched in Feb, especially in the wake of DL/NW and rising fuel costs.
Moderator: Travel Technology, Travel Photography and JetBlue
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 29,590
Yeah, you have to pay for booze in Y. Seats are 31" pitch in the back except on the 767s (32") which isn't great either. But they run a very consistent and very reliable operation. They will be replacing the BusinessFirst seats on their 777s and 757s starting later this year with a fully lay-flat model that should be nice, but I haven't had much trouble sleeping on either of the existing models in my limited attempts.
I like the 757s across the pond, or at least I have zero aversion to them.
I share your sense of excitement, and am dying for direct award seats to the US, without having to see LHR. FRA will still get the occasional visit for LH's F product, but not so often now. And can confidently say I won't be seeing the inside of another US Airways 757 in DUB ever again.
CO is a super little airline.
Yes its been dreadful only having US Scareways out of DUB. CO will open up a whole new world. DUB-EWR-DUB taxes only EUR60 also
Yes its been dreadful only having US Scareways out of DUB. CO will open up a whole new world. DUB-EWR-DUB taxes only EUR60 also
Yes, another benefit of CO is that they do not seem to have a seperate fuel surcharge, they include it in the fare instead, which means cheap redemptions
I just hope that Continental Micronesia join too. Rather keen on island hopping around Guam, Palau, Saipan et al.
CO Micronesia is a fully owned subsidiary (and currently in SkyTeam) so I can't see why they would not move across to *A.
Guam is a a very much a poor man's Honolulu. Dirtier and grittier!
Palau has fantastic coral reefs (absolutely awesome reefs) and very good wreck diving and very well worth a visit. Be aware that the natives are not particularly friendly at least in my experience. The jelly fish lake is definitely worth visiting.
Can't comment on Saipan (I have only transited there), although if your into diving you really cannot miss Chuuk (Truk) which has possibly the best wreck diving on the planet thanks to WWII.
Last edited by Traveloguy; Feb 1, 09 at 12:06 pm.
Reason: typos galore
Guess its now safe to start booking CO flights to earn BD status. I've got a CO flight (redemption from my onepass account) 1st week of Nov so happy I'll get lounge access now.
Hopefully the call centre (wherever it will be by Oct) will be ready and able to book CO redemptions from day 1.
Programs: BD*G, HHonors Gold, MG Plat (In Training)
Posts: 4,952
Quote:
Originally Posted by cfischer
hope they will post earnings soon ... don't want to get stuck with 50% fares.
It won't happen. We don't hear about new Star Alliance member earning rates until just before, or more likely after, they join. The only exception to this has been airlines that already have a previous relationship with Diamond Club.
) - pasta. The sundaes were stunning concoctions featuring sticky toffee toppings, hot choc fudge, nuts, whipped cream. Yum. The catering was head and shoulders above other so-called biz class cr*p (BA or VS are you listening - no, thought not). Service was usaully fine, to oustanding - very american 
