<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by nigel-bigel:
And what does EUA mean (it's not in the glossary)?
I think it's interesting that none of you have offered personal opinions about which airline, or FF program, you prefer. I understand you are trying to help me sort out all the pros and cons and make my own decision. But this raises a point... Do you even LIKE NW? CO? And I'd still love to hear from Magic re:HP!
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EUA is Elite Upgrade Automation (Automated? Allocation?). It refers to the computer allocating space available elite upgrades at the appropriate window (Plat, Gold, Silver). In my experience as a NW silver, it works fine on NW flights, but when I'm on CO, I usually only get upgraded at the gate if a seat is still available. I haven't flown on HP (America West has nothing to do with my user name despite appearances
).
I like NW but have never been elite on CO so I can't speak to that. I like the basics of NW's program. What I like about is theoretically the same as CO: the unlimited, space available upgrades and mileage bonuses. One thing I have noticed in reading the CO board is that they do not seem to be releasing upgrade seats at the appropriate windows right now. I've flown on NW recently, and I can state that NW is still performing EUA during the normal windows.
The other chief complaint they seem to have is that lower fares are not upgradeable with miles these days (that's what they call HoKeY; H,K,Y fares are the only upgradeable coach fares). NW has had a similar policy with international fares ever since I've been paying attention; only the top three fare bases are upgradeable to Europe, though the top four fare bases are upgradeable to Asia. But this is a recent change for CO.
Hope this helps! I'm sure others will also offer their opinions.