Originally Posted by
SAT Lawyer
Let me illustrate a prime example of how badly CO's changes will impact me and how they make it all but impossible to justify choosing CO over WN on one of my main routes.
<snip>
Here is how my options stack up:
WN
Route: SAT-HRL (Harlingen) nonstop
Travel time: 1 hour flight + 45 minute drive
Round-trip cost: $283.00 for an Anytime fare
Round-trip reward: 2 Rapid Rewards credits (8 of these net a free ticket)
CO
Route: SAT-IAH-MFE (McAllen) one-stop
Travel time: 3-4 hours for flights/layover + 15 minute drive
Round-trip cost: $345.00 for a full Y fare
Round-trip mileage pre-changes: 3000 EQM + 4500 RDM (5.5 of these net a free ticket)
Round-trip mileage post-changes: 1521 EQM + 2028 RDM (12 of these net a free ticket)
Now, how can I justify giving CO my business? It costs my clients more money, takes me twice as long door-to-door, and I'll wind up with roughly half the elite qualifying miles and less than half the redeemable miles.
OK, I have a real problem with this post. How could you
ever have justified given CO your business? Regardless of CO's changes, it costs your clients more money and takes you twice as long door-to-door. That is quite evident from what you post above. The ONLY thing that is different with the new OP program changes is now you don't earn as many EQMs and RDMs for your personal FF account. NOTHING changes for your clients, except, oh, maybe (1) now you aren't ripping them off so you can get your free tickets, free booze and larger seat, and (2) maybe now you'll get there on time because you don't have to worry about missed connections.
I don't know why you would have been flying CO in the first place, it seems wholly irresponsible.