Fare Class Changes – Eff. Jan. 16, 2009

[sfogate]

post made in error

[MileKing]

As of this morning, Virgin UC award reservation for May (booked last June using CO miles) is still showing upper class, fare basis 'E' on the CO website. Virgin's record locator showing upper class with appropriate seat assignments. Not sure if I should expect to see the CO fare basis change or if it will remain 'E'.

[CO Insider]

Hi Everyone, thanks for your continued patience. We’re almost done. Our system update is in the final stages, but we still have several hours to go. Our goal is to have most systems updated by very late tonight. After this is complete, we will begin gradually restoring some of the features that were temporarily unavailable, like advance seat assignments for most itineraries and our Elite Upgrade Automation (EUA). Some other features, like flight and upgrade standby lists and advance seat assignments for E/I/O class will not be restored until Jan. 21.

Here are a few more updates:

1. EQM & Mileage percentages may be unreliable. These percentages are still mapped to the original fare classes until Jan. 21, so if you’re traveling on or after Jan. 21, there’s a good chance these percentages will be showing incorrectly for your itinerary.
   
   
2. Your mileage posting will likely be delayed. If you’ve traveled or plan to travel between Thu. Jan. 15 and Tue. Jan. 20, there could be a delay in posting your mileage credit. We have a little bit of a backlog due to this update, and we expect to be caught up by the end of this week.
   
   
3. B class will become eligible for instant Elite upgrades on Jan. 21. It was supposed to be a surprise. Oh well. This topic is being discussed in this and another thread started by OPFlyer, who caught our pre-mature leak on continental.com. For more details, please see my post in this thread.

If there are any changes or further updates, I’ll post them here.

[eagle92]

Originally Posted by CO Insider

Hi Everyone, thanks for your continued patience. We’re almost done. Our system update is in the final stages, but we still have several hours to go. Our goal is to have most systems updated by very late tonight. After this is complete, we will begin gradually restoring some of the features that were temporarily unavailable, like advance seat assignments for most itineraries and our Elite Upgrade Automation (EUA). Some other features, like flight and upgrade standby lists and advance seat assignments for E/I/O class will not be restored until Jan. 21.

Here are a few more updates:

1. EQM & Mileage percentages may be unreliable. These percentages are still mapped to the original fare classes until Jan. 21, so if you’re traveling on or after Jan. 21, there’s a good chance these percentages will be showing incorrectly for your itinerary.
   
   
2. Your mileage posting will likely be delayed. If you’ve traveled or plan to travel between Thu. Jan. 15 and Tue. Jan. 20, there could be a delay in posting your mileage credit. We have a little bit of a backlog due to this update, and we expect to be caught up by the end of this week.
   
   
3. B class will become eligible for instant Elite upgrades on Jan. 21. It was supposed to be a surprise. Oh well. This topic is being discussed in this and another thread started by OPFlyer, who caught our pre-mature leak on continental.com. For more details, please see my post in this thread.

If there are any changes or further updates, I’ll post them here.

As always thanks Scott! One other question though...I need to book a reservation with a BF upgrade...I am afraid to book it online in the midst of all of this craziness...do you suggest one waits or go ahead and book online?

[CO Insider]

Originally Posted by eagle92

As always thanks Scott! One other question though...I need to book a reservation with a BF upgrade...I am afraid to book it online in the midst of all of this craziness...do you suggest one waits or go ahead and book online?

Hi eagle92, I'd go ahead and book it. If for any reason you have a problem, just call our Electronic Support Desk at 800.300.1547.

[COmciUA]

Originally Posted by CO Insider

Hi Everyone, thanks for your continued patience. We’re almost done. Our system update is in the final stages, but we still have several hours to go. Our goal is to have most systems updated by very late tonight. After this is complete, we will begin gradually restoring some of the features that were temporarily unavailable, like advance seat assignments for most itineraries and our Elite Upgrade Automation (EUA). Some other features, like flight and upgrade standby lists and advance seat assignments for E/I/O class will not be restored until Jan. 21.

Thanks CO Insider Just out of curiousity, I will be flying MCI-IAH-PHX on the 25th. Those flights are now showing under the new "E" (former S). Does this mean that I will not be eligble to receive the EUA until the 21st, instead of at the 5 day EUA window (would be the 20th)? Just trying to wrap my hands around this.

Appreciate your help and feedback as always.

[ssullivan]

Originally Posted by co insider

[*]b class will become eligible for instant elite upgrades on jan. 21. it was supposed to be a surprise. Oh well. This topic is being discussed in this and another thread started by opflyer, who caught our pre-mature leak on continental.com. For more details, please see my post in this thread.[/list]if there are any changes or further updates, i’ll post them here.

Thank you!

[xyzzy]

Originally Posted by COmciUA

Does this mean that I will not be eligble to receive the EUA until the 21st, instead of at the 5 day EUA window (would be the 20th)? Just trying to wrap my hands around this.

EUA is not running at all right now - regardless of your fare class. Upgrades are being processed at the gate, in the correct order.

[IAHtraveler]

Thanks for the updates, Scott!!

Originally Posted by CO Insider

[*]Upgrades for travel on Jan. 16-19 will be generous but unconventional. Our EUA and automatic OnePass reward waitlist clearance will be paused Jan. 16-19. Eligible customers traveling on these days will be upgraded using our most generous assumptions possible in advance of these systems going offline. Eligible customers not upgraded in advance will still be added to upgrade standby list upon check-in, and when applicable, cleared at the gate using our normal process.

Originally Posted by CO Insider

After this is complete, we will begin gradually restoring some of the features that were temporarily unavailable, like advance seat assignments for most itineraries and our Elite Upgrade Automation (EUA). Some other features, like flight and upgrade standby lists and advance seat assignments for E/I/O class will not be restored until Jan. 21.

OH NO... I hope that the Plat Companion Upgrade is working soon so I can find a NBF for my xxx-IAH flight on Wednesday night. I don't want to have Saintd post any more stories calling me a SMAG.

[COmciUA]

Originally Posted by xyzzy

EUA is not running at all right now - regardless of your fare class. Upgrades are being processed at the gate, in the correct order.

I get that, but I am not flying until the 25th. EUA will be flipped on at some point (tonight or tomorrow according to CO Insider post). In addition, since my S fare was converted to an E fare, according to the same COI post, there will be a delay in getting those new fares worked out. So, I was wondering if someone on a lower fare class could get an EUA over me b/c of the change over. Not a huge deal, but I curious, and I am sure others are wondering too....

[xyzzy]

Originally Posted by COmciUA

I get that, but I am not flying until the 25th. EUA will be flipped on at some point (tonight or tomorrow according to CO Insider post). In addition, since my S fare was converted to an E fare, according to the same COI post, there will be a delay in getting those new fares worked out. So, I was wondering if someone on a lower fare class could get an EUA over me b/c of the change over. Not a huge deal, but I curious, and I am sure others are wondering too....

What I got from the post above is that EUA will be running with the new fare classes when it is turned back on. What isn't going to be working for E/I/O are certain web site features (upgrade/standby list displays) and seat assignments.

[MileKing]

Yesterday my VS upper class award reservation for May (booked using CO miles last June) was fine. Today, the reservation shows fare class as 'E', but no indication of upper class, and seat selection on CO website is only showing coach. CO Insider, are changes still being made?

[ijgordon]

I see a potentially new fare type on EWR-LAS in February. Fare basis is BCOUP, according to the fare rules on CO.com (which are mostly blank -- can this get ever get fixed???) it books into "B" class, but when you go to make an actual reservation it shows it booked into "R" class.

A few questions (for CO Insider):

1. Is this the same "R" that was formerly "F" for upgrade inventory? Meaning is it going to be severely capacity controlled? On a quick search for one round-trip it seems like the "R" for mileage upgrades is somewhat more restricted than the "R" for these B-UP fares, so there must be sub-classes.
2. What will the EQM-earnings be on this fare? "R" class is not in the elite qualification chart at all, but when you make the reservation it shows full base miles and 100% EQMs. I'd note that in the reservation, even an "F" class booking only shows 100% base miles, not the 150% it's supposed to earn. Bug?

[CO Insider]

Hi Everyone, the majority of our fare class changeover is now complete and most functions have been restored. Thanks once again for your patience during this transition. At this time, seat assignment functionality has been restored and our Elite Upgrade Automation (EUA) back in full force.

Here are a few more updates:

1. Flight and upgrade standby lists will be restored tomorrow. We know you miss them, we do too. They’re currently on track to be restored tomorrow morning (Jan. 21).
   
   
2. Some CO codeshare reservations are still being updated. The process to update these reservations takes longer because it involves the cooperation of our partners. While these reservations are being updated, this should be seamless for most of you, except if you’re on a Business Class SaverPass reservation (E class). Although our systems may show the incorrect cabin and seat maps in these cases, they are indeed correct in our partners’ systems. This particularly the case with Virgin Atlantic operated reward itineraries.
   
   
3. Your mileage posting will likely be delayed. No change here. If you’ve traveled or plan to travel between Thu. Jan. 15 and Tue. Jan. 20, there could be a delay in posting your mileage credit. We have a little bit of a backlog due to this update, and we expect to be caught up by the end of this week.

If there are any changes or further updates, I’ll post them here.

[sbm12]

Originally Posted by ijgordon

I see a potentially new fare type on EWR-LAS in February. Fare basis is BCOUP, according to the fare rules on CO.com (which are mostly blank -- can this get ever get fixed???) it books into "B" class, but when you go to make an actual reservation it shows it booked into "R" class.

A few questions (for CO Insider):

1. Is this the same "R" that was formerly "F" for upgrade inventory? Meaning is it going to be severely capacity controlled? On a quick search for one round-trip it seems like the "R" for mileage upgrades is somewhat more restricted than the "R" for these B-UP fares, so there must be sub-classes.
2. What will the EQM-earnings be on this fare? "R" class is not in the elite qualification chart at all, but when you make the reservation it shows full base miles and 100% EQMs. I'd note that in the reservation, even an "F" class booking only shows 100% base miles, not the 150% it's supposed to earn. Bug?

Yes, R is now the old F bucket which is upgrade inventory. And B fares are now upgradable at time of booking for elites like Y fares. You will earn 150% EQM/2 EQP on B fares as they are replacing the old H fares. But B fares should be booking into the CU bucket (formerly AU) without capacity controls.

I would be surprised if CO adds in a B-Up fare that is open to everyone and not just elites. That would be a huge change of policy.