Originally Posted by
Cybershaz
Just yesterday I decided to finally bite the bullet and put in my request for a status match to CO. Being YYZ based, the *A network is a good thing for me. I was pleasantly surprised with 2 key points in the 2010 announcement:
-Full Elite Qualification is back. Effective Oct. 27, you’ll earn 100% Elite Qualification Miles and full Elite Qualification Points on discounted fares, regardless of where they’re purchased. To all of our loyal corporate travelers: message received
(This is HUGE for me as most of my fares are through corporate travel agents and I was worried about re-qualifying)
-OnePass Platinum and Gold = Star Alliance Gold. This is old news for many of you, but nonetheless, it’s an important Elite benefit improvement. Effective Oct. 27, OnePass Platinum and Gold Elite members will be entitled to Star Alliance Gold privileges with Continental and our 24 Star Alliance member carriers.
(Another huge bonus, which for a international traveller such as myself means a lot - especially lounges!)
Those two are great - the lower EQM was a potential dealbreaker for me in looking at a status match. Even golds get lounge access on international itineraries - nicer than DL.
The other biggie:
New and mostly-improved reward fees. Starting in Dec., our fees for reward redeposits, reward changes and close-in reward bookings will be made consistent, and they will be charged per person instead of per reservation. The good news is the amounts themselves are the same or lower than we have today, and they get even lower as your Elite level elevates. All three fees will be $75 for general members, $50 for Silver Elite members, $25 for Gold Elite members and
free for Platinum Elite members. And yes,
OnePass travel reward changes outside of 21 days of travel will remain free of charge if there is no change to the origin or destination. These new fees will apply to rewards ticketed (or reissued) on or after Dec. 15.
Delta, are you listening??