Warbo,

Thanks for the heads up and the post about the new GoEnvoy program. I don't have a problem with GoEnvoy so long as elites who have purchased qualifying B, H, M, & Q or Y fares get the UG first, especially the US1s. Likewise, I'd be inclined to consider $300 to assure a row1 seat east bound to LGW. That's a win-win for everyone.

However, if Go Envoy becomes a backdoor by which the GAs arbitrarily bend procedure to slip a W fare ahead of a qualifying elite, GoEnvoy becomes GotoHell in my book.

Thus far, I stand by the US product to Europe because the PHL to Europe connection works. As etch5895 notes, Envoy is not exactly a business product, but it does fill a market niche in its product and pricing. Doing some 10+ TAs a year, I purchase B fares on at least half of these flights and H,M,& Qs for the others with the expectation of UGs most of the time (season/AC dependent of course).

I would hope that US realizes that lots of elites are savvy fliers who understand the game. Many of us book a bit higher up pricing ladder simply to assure better UG prospects. I've consciously avoided W fares to LGW this past winter and spring, purchasing B fare on 5 of 6 trips. We're doing our part, and I hope that US does its part as well.

If they screw up on this one, BA becomes a real alternative to those who fly PHL to the UK. I'm going to sit back and see just how long it takes US to inform the elites about these changes. With the immediacy of e-mail, I'm surprised they haven't done so yet. Surely they must be able to track/target their elites and where they fly and what the spend. Or are they missing the boat here too?

Barry