Originally Posted by bhatnasx
Mathewski made a good point in post #6 - Okay, so CO is adding to their 757 fleet - that's good - but are they going to make the F-class fares more affordable (they're taking out more Y seats then adding F seats, that implies to me that they'll sell more F seats - which further reduces the ability to upgrade as an elite). At least they aren't reducing...
I think his logic is flawed in that CO does not control the pricing of its product. The LCCs control the coach price (and CO matches), and Delta controls the pricing of F (and CO matches). Most majors have little to no pricing power these days. So, unless you're flying between limited-service markets, which most of us aren't, CO isn't controlling the price. If anything, CO can afford to raise the price given its F loads of late.
I suspect this move was a result of increased F sales, as well as the removal of some 752's in CO's fleet for international routes.
Originally Posted by bhatnasx
I still don't think that this change will truly be a great thing for NW members (who have lower UG priority on CO metal that its own elites)
This is not correct. CO does not distinguish between CO and NW Elites for upgrade purposes. A Plat is a Plat, a Gold is a Gold. I believe, however, that NW ranks its Elites higher than CO Elites.