IM4:

1) From what I hear, the USAirways top tier (Chairman's Preferred) is very good. All the domestic upgrades plus a couple systemwides. And they still have offpeak awards... Strong Carib, Euro, eastern U.S. routes. Weak western U.S. coverage, no Hawaii/Asia (but they do have a VERY limited partnership with Northwest), Qantas award redemption available. Consensus on FlyerTalk is that PHL employees are subpar.

If Continental doesn't end this A9F0 nonsense soon, I will continue to use America West FlightFund for the western U.S. flying and begin to credit Northwest flights to Asia & Hawaii to HP also. For points east, I will seek a USAirways Dividend Miles comp to the Gold Preferred tier.

2) For what it's worth, this week I have three flying days. The first is on America West PHX-LAS. I've already been upgraded via the automated system (FlightFund Platinum via Corporate AWArds comp, M fare). The second is Continental (LAS-EWR-CMH). No upgrade, A9F0 (OnePass Platinum, T fare). The third is Northwest (CMH-MSP-DBQ). I've been upgraded on the first segment, the second segment is an Airlink flight without a First Class cabin (OnePass Platinum, T fare, Continental ticket).

If I want an upgrade out of Las Vegas, I better be at the airport by 5:00A for my 7:10A flight. I guess I'll have to have John in the America West Club pour me a stiff drink...

------------------
"We will not cut benefits from OnePass, our industry-leading frequent flyer program, because we remain committed to rewarding our most loyal customers."

-- Gordon Bethune (Continental's CEO) two weeks before significantly cutting benefits of the OnePass program

[This message has been edited by TransWorldOne (edited 03-18-2002).]