I am currently a Platinum, but will not be after 2/28. So I just had to cancel two reward reservations that I made on 2/17 and rebook them today so I can get the new rules applied. This is for May travel. What a pain for both me and Continental.
Yeah, it would be nice if it was extended to all elites, not just platinums. I would love to make a change to a complex itinerary I have, but will not pay $150 to change a flight by a few hours, will just have to hope for a schedule change...
I can see the reasoning behind re-deposits being charged $150. After all, some of these itineraries require an agent to be on the phone for a long time, and I can totally see how CO would want to be compensated for using that time in case someone decides to change their mind, and having a fee prevents people from 'frivolous' award bookings.
I am a bit upset about the fact that those of us who booked in the last 6 months are not allowed to play by the new rules, especially elites. Another slap in the face for this silver after the 25% bonus reduction.
Scott, can you clarify the 'within 21 days of travel' bit. It sounds simple, but there are lots of variations...for example
a) Does the fee apply to outbound dates only or also to inbound dates?
b) If it applies on the inbound, does it apply if the outbound is within 21 days, but the only change made is to the inbound, and that is greater than 21 days out?
c) Does it apply if the currently scheduled outbound is within 21 days but the change is made to make the new flights more than 21 days out?
While the change fee elimination/reduction is very welcome. The redeposit fee is still outrageous.
In all likelyhood, most of those cancelled seats go back into inventory as paid seats and not awards.
As well, it is so difficult to get some award seats sometimes it has to be booked in such a way that cannot be revised (coach to BF) and the miles have to be redeposited in order for the new ticket to be issued. I hope some accommodation has been made in that scenario, because that's my most frequent change. I didn't mind paying $35, but $150 is ridiculous.
I do appreciate the reduction of the change fee though
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These improvements are good news, and I have already benefited.
I am taking a reward trip EWR-LAS in late April, and I had procrastinated booking the trip for a while. Once I learned about these changes, I booked the trip on Feb. 20 with less than ideal flight times but flights we could ultimately live with if needed. Our outbound flight was leaving at 7:25 AM, not the best time to travel with a three year old.
Today, I was excited to see that the 11:30 AM flight had opened up, and one quick phone call later we were all switched to that flight, which will make our lives much easier. What a relief to make the change for free.
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Enjoying temporary elite status with CO (recently extended until Feb. 2010).
Awesome change.... but.... only for new tickets....
so for those of us who booked in the last 6 months.... a big
Hi rankourabu, it's not our intent to penalize those of you who issued your reward tickets before Feb 19. All of our systems, however, are designed to enforce the change fee that was in effect (and agreed to) at the time your ticket was issued. As a courtesy, we were able to make some exceptions for some reward reservations issued prior to the policy change. If you have a wholly unused reward ticket issued prior to Feb. 19th, your ticket should process at the new change fee. If it doesn't, just call us and we'll honor it for you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dergon darkhelm
If I buy a SaverPass coach reward CLE-FCO then a SaverPass BF award becomes available at a later time with same dates, origin, and destination, is there a fee? (I'm gold)
Yes, dergon darkhelm, in this case you'd be subject to a redeposit fee since they're two different rewards. For this reason, I'd strongly recommend redeeming the front cabin reward from the start, booking in Economy Class and then waitlisting for the front cabin (aka Plan B). Doing it this way will enable you to avoid the fee, and get your difference in miles back if the waitlist on the BusinessFirst segment doesn't clear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sy7
What about stopovers on an award ticket? For example, instead of going EWR-LHR (stop) - AMS, you change to EWR-CDG (stop)- AMS? Would that be exempt for the $150 fee?
Technically yes, sy7, but this may fail when attempting to adjust online. We're working on a fix for this now, but in the mean time we'll be able to take care of this over the phone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by soitgoes
Scott, can you clarify the 'within 21 days of travel' bit. It sounds simple, but there are lots of variations...for example
a) Does the fee apply to outbound dates only or also to inbound dates?
b) If it applies on the inbound, does it apply if the outbound is within 21 days, but the only change made is to the inbound, and that is greater than 21 days out?
c) Does it apply if the currently scheduled outbound is within 21 days but the change is made to make the new flights more than 21 days out?
Thanks for your questions, soitgoes. The 21-day calculation is based on the departure date of the flight(s) you're changing to, not your original flights. It doesn't matter if it's the outbound or the return. I hope this clarifies, but if it doesn't, let me know.
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Scott O'Leary
Managing Director, Customer Experience | Continental Airlines
As a courtesy, we were able to make some exceptions for some reward reservations issued prior to the policy change. If you have a wholly unused reward ticket issued prior to Feb. 19th, your ticket should process at the new change fee. If it doesn't, just call us and we'll honor it for you.
Nice decision!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CO Insider
It doesn't matter if it's the outbound or the return. I hope this clarifies, but if it doesn't, let me know.
Thanks for the clarification.
I was hoping that return flights would be exempt (as with UA), but the policy is now clear in my mind.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by soitgoes
Apparently not!
That's the one of my three scenarios that's exempt.
Well color me shocked. I'm surprised because that seems to go directly against what they said they were trying to avoid, and it really doesn't make sense in terms of protecting their revenue model. But I guess it is what they want.
Location: SAT, but wishing I was in AMS, MUC, DBV, GOI, BKK, DPS, BGT, PPT, or SBH
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So, my reward ticket that I booked three weeks ago to DEL but booked in Y outbound because I didn't have enough miles at the time....am I hearing right that, when I build my miles back up, I cann't change the ticket to fly in BF?
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