Just one more thought before anyone jumps on me stating that the carrier needs to make money. I could not agree more.
However, the Onepass program is a large profit center for CO in addition to being a key loyalty/frequency and communications tool. To continue to deminish its value by "over-capacity-controlling" is tatamount to "killing the goose which lays the golden eggs"
Originally Posted by CUSTOMDIRECT
I wish it were that easy. To Asia, the situation has deteriorated to the absurd!!!
I used to tell the world that using partners, having flexibility and being dilligent would always get you the award/upgrade you want. I even poo-pooed friends who insisted that it was not so.
Not so any more!!
Case in point: Last night, I attempted to book travel EWR-HKG (or for that matter PEK if necessary). After looking at Plat availability on co.com and seeing "nothing at all for the remainder of 2006", I called res. I told them I needed to book EWR-HKG or PEK in E, F or R class, I was willing to travel CO or a partner, ANY time from March to December, 2006 as long as it was a standard award. (NOW THAT'S FLEXIBILITY). The result: NOTHING!!!....EITHER UPGRADE OR PLAT AWARD SEAT. It was never this bad!!
I, for one, a not ready to toss in the towel on CO but I agree with the many posters on this thread that if the situation does not drastically improve, many of CO's best customers will bail because the Onepass program will be preceived to be without value. Hell....we may be the only plats left.