Originally Posted by
channa
Today I have to update my Outlook contacts, my home phone speed dial, my girlfriend's cellphone, and my car's voice dialing, all because of the new Elite number.
Any idea why CO doesn't keep the old number, and simply route the calls based on the Elite number punched in?
- Valid Elite status --> Elite Queue
- Invalid Elite status --> Regular Queue
UA and AA keep the same one year after year. What do other carriers do?
This is likely a carry over from previous years before the the capability to input your one pass number was in place. CO has always changed the Elite # for the past 20 years. The Elite number is different for each Elite level (Plat, Gold, Silver) and all three change each year. Only the Infinite Plat Elite number does not change.
There does not appear to be any difference when you call in - what level you are. Yes, the system asks for your Elite number - but I believe it only identifies you. The capability to kick out an invalid caller is not there.
Let me add - since the Elite numbers have a relationship to the year - CO had reserved 800 toll free numbers for several future years. If they paid for those numbers - they likely want to use them. Since it is date related - then if you did not change it you would have an obsolete number in the scheme of things.
Plus it also becomes a perk associated with earning and maintaining Elite level - you get access to the new private number.