What are the different levels in the OnePass program and Star Alliance?
Continental:Currently there are five published levels in the OnePass Program: Base, Silver, Gold, Platinum and - new for the 2010 program year - Presidential Platinum in addition to two known
unpublished level (see FAQ information about the
CO* program and
Chairman's Circle).
Base member:
This means you have signed up for the Onepass program. Membership is free and by providing your Onepass number on Continental, partner flights and other eligible activites you will earn redeemable miles and elite qualifying miles in the Onepass program.
Silver Elite:
You have flown 25,000 EQMs or earned 30 EQPs or accumulated 5
TATL points in
a single calendar year.
Gold Elite:
You have flown 50,000 EQMs or earned 60 EQPs or accumulated 10
TATL points in
a single calendar year.
Platinum Elite:
You have flown 75,000 EQMs or earned 90 EQPs or accumulated 15
TATL points in
a single calendar year.
Presidential Platinum Elite:
You have flown 75,000 EQMs or earned 90 EQPs or accumulated 15 TATL points in
a single calendar year and you have spent more than $30,000 on Continental flights to get there. This status is new for the 2010 program year and the dollar amount is subject to change in future years.
Per
Continental records, as of August 7, 2007 there were:
- Silver Elites: 250K
- Gold Elites: 110K
- Platinum Elites: 60K
A full list of Elite qualification requirements can be found at the Continental website on this
page.
More information on the Elite program is available via the Continental website
here.
I'm awfully close to the next status tier. Any chance they'll let me slide?Yes and no.
If it is the end of the year and you're hoping that they'll just give you the status for next year because you are close then odds are you'll be disappointed. In recent years Continental has offered folks who were close AND who had spent a lot of money getting there the opportunity to buy up to the next level. But they are not known for just giving it to you.
Note that in 2009 there have been numerous reports of folks within 5,000 EQMs being offered complimentary bumps up to the next tier. This is a break from previous policies and may not continue in the future.
If you are close to the next tier and have an upcoming trip booked - on a non-refundable ticket - that will push you over to the next level then you have a VERY good chance of getting that status bump. Call the
OPSC - not the elite line, but the OPSC! - and request the bump from them. Politely explain that you are close to the next level and that your next trip will put you over and that you'd like to take advantage of the benefits in advance if at all possible. The vast majority of folks making this request have had it granted. This is a temporary bump so you must actually make the flight in order to keep the status. But you are very likely to get the bump.
There are two levels within the
Star Alliance program, Gold (*G) and Silver (*S). Continental Gold and Platinum elites will receive *G status while Continental Silver elites will receive *S status. The benefits of these status levels are as follows:[indent]
*G- Priority Reservations Waitlisting - when there aren't any seats left on your preferred flight, gives you priority should a seat become available.
- Priority Airport Standby - gives you top priority when standing-by a flight at the airport.
- Priority Airport Check-in - allows you to check-in at the Business and/or First Class counter
- Priority Baggage Handling - like you, your bags get priority treatment and are among the first to be unloaded.
- Extra Baggage Allowance - an additional 20kg (44 pounds) or one additional piece of luggage which means you can check in three bags instead of two. Note that for Domestic US flights where there is normally a charge for even the first checked bag this benefit permits at least one bag to be checked for free, though the partner (US/UA) rules dictate this.
- Priority Boarding - enjoy the freedom of boarding at your convenience along with First and Business Class passengers.
- Airport Lounge Access - available worldwide for you and a friend when you travel with any Star Alliance member airline, regardless of your class of travel. For CO *G members this access will only apply to International itineraries when attempting to access a CO, UA or US lounge. Also, access is only provided prior to thet flight, not after. Finally, any guest must also be flying on a *A flight on the same day, though not necessarily the same flight at the *G providing access.
- Priority Reservations Waitlisting - when there aren't any seats left on your preferred flight, gives you priority should a seat become available.
- Priority Airport Standby - gives you top priority when standing by for a flight at the airport.