Originally Posted by boolean64

Agree on UA, but we're not talking about UA being the issue. Based on my limited understanding of CO's system (having used it a few times myself, and what I've read on FT) there is just one fare bucket (ZE), which is very closely aligned with their discounted first fare bucket (Z). The only thing Continental controls is when you can access the ZE fare bucket. People with more knowledge will jump in, I'm sure. But I am 90% sure that how UA handles Y-ups and Q-ups is VERY different than how CO does YBM.

Of course continental could change their inventory management system to capacity control CR-1s, but that seems a lot harder than just doing what they did. And I think it would lead to a lot more unintended consequences.