Originally Posted by
CopperSteve
Forgive me if this already has been suggested, but I just can't keep up with a thread of this size...
Is it possible that CO created the Million-Miler program in anticipation of these (and, perhaps future) cuts to OnePass benefits? MM status is, by definition, much harder to achieve than Plat status. The logic may be that a disgruntled FF might stay on just to keep inching closer to MM status. Of course, 1MM status is devalued by these latest OP changes, but it's not a worthless program.
Maybe, but I don't think so. For those of us who do a fair amount of intra-Texas flying because Southwest is what it is, one unpleasant effect of these changes is that the million miler status becomes much more difficult to obtain. As I read it, they took away the 500 mile minumum on EQM and RDM. By taking away the minimum on EQM, people with short flights (I assume I am not alone) will find it that much hard to ever hit million miler since that is how the status is calculated. Making the status that much more difficult to achieve means it is somewhat unlikely that it is being held out there as an incentive to stick around.
That said, I am sticking with Continental anyway. I am unhappy, but my choices are pretty much CO, AA, and Southwest. Hate Southwest, and the flying experience on CO is still better than on AA. I also pay out of pocket for first class for ~4 domestic trips a year, and that is a lot cheaper on Continental for an overall better experience. The changes suck, but it is still a better deal for me.