Thanks everyone for your questions, and I'll do my best to answer those that haven't already been covered. Here goes...
Originally Posted by
fozz
Do you happen to know if the existing UA SWUs will be good on CO flights anytime soon?
Hi
fozz, the ability to redeem one another's SWUs across both carriers is something we're working on and plan to deliver by mid-2011. Our plan is to deliver sooner, but we want to build in some hedge this time!
Originally Posted by
Weatherboy
Any updates on where the line will be drawn between non-Gold status and Gold status within the Star Alliance? Is it safe to assume 50k?
Yes,
Weatherboy, it'll still be 50K Elite Qualification Miles (EQMs) or 60 Elite Qualification Points (EQPs) in either program to earn Star Alliance Gold status.
Originally Posted by
radonc1
The biggest question is still lurking and that is E+.
We know this is a massively hot topic,
radonc1, and the silence simply means we haven't made a decision yet. Don't read any deeper than that!
Originally Posted by
airzim
Mileage appears to count toward 2012 status regardless of tail but is that also true for revenue contribution toward GS?
That's correct,
airzim. In 2011, revenue from both Continental and United will count toward both programs' invitation-only Elite qualification (Presidential Platinum and Global Services).
Originally Posted by
rubenj
Scott: I know the programs would remain separate, but what would be the priority for upgrades for a CO elite flying UA metal and viceversa?
Any news on when CO Plat 100k would be at the same level of 1K on UA metal?
Hi
rubenj, the interim cross-carrier Elite upgrade hierarchy we're using will continue through 2011. The Elite tiers will be blended starting in the 2012 program year, and at that time, our new upgrade hierarchy will take effect.
Originally Posted by
mbreuer
What fare class do the RU's book into?
Hi
mbreuer, that would be R class.
Originally Posted by
rolov
One question, if you are Gold this year and did not requalify for 2011 Elite Status does the change Effective Jan 1st mean status is not valid after Jan 31st instead of the "Valid Through 2/11" as printed on the card?
or does this apply to next year's status year?
Hi
rolov, your 2010 OnePass Elite status will remain valid through the date printed on your card - Feb. 2011.
Originally Posted by
J.Edward
Oh well, at least I can get my SWUs early.
As long as you consider mid-year to be "early",
J. Edward. As mentioned in my original post, the 2011 SWUs will be deposited starting mid-2011.
Originally Posted by
AAExPlat
In all, I am suprised and disappointed by the lack of specificity of the new program. WHy not come out and give it to us straight:
- Name of the merged Program
- Official Elite tiers of the merged program
- Upgrade rules of merged program
- Mileage earning rules of new program
There's more to come,
AAExPlat. These blanks will all get filled in this coming year. The name and official tier names for the merged program are the only items you'll have to wait longer for, as these will be formally announced later in the year.
Originally Posted by
reinballe
Another open question is the future of the million-miles programs. How will these be aligned?
Hi
reinballe, our plan is to keep a Million Miler program, however, the qualification and benefits are yet to be determined.
Originally Posted by
GeoMedic
Yes, I too am disappointed at the loss of the credit for the card fee. I'd like to see the regulation that prevents a fee refund or credit. He wasn't refrring to the card apart from the no fee coments.
Hi
GeoMedic, while it's not my place to cite or debate specific banking regulations, I can safely say that there were indeed changes made to regulations that made it difficult to offer the fee-waived credit card as part of our invitation-only Elite program.
Originally Posted by
sbm12
The only thing that makes no sense at all are the fare classes excluded from the new SWUs. Unless the fares are going to be reorganized (again) the K and G fares should not be listed there. I would expect that STNL would be excluded and W or higher will be valid. CO E fares are equivalent to W fare but with connections so it makes sense to include those as well. But excluding K & G is a very strange move IMO. I hope that's just a typo.
Thanks for pointing this out,
sbm12. As you suspected, there is indeed a fare class alignment planned for early next year. With this change, S, T, K, L and G will become the lowest five Economy fare classes. We're still finalizing the details these alignment changes, and will share those details once finalized.