Class of Service Bonus Miles
 

I recently flew from IAH-EWR-FCO on a Z fare ticket. When the ticket was purchased, it was an A fare, but it became Z, when they tinkered with the fare buckets upon entry into Star Alliance.
The A fare did not receive any bonus RDM's for the flight (though it did receive 150% EQM's). The Z fare is now supposed to receive 150% RDM's and 150% EQM's.

The flight credit posted promptly, and I received 150% EQM's and 100% RDM's, plus my elite RDM bonus. I did not, however receive the 50% RDM bonus for the Z fare.

It was my understanding that all tickets that had been converted to Z fare with the change in buckets were treated fully as a Z fare (for mileathon, bonuses, etc.).

Should I have received the RDM bonus for the Z fare, or should I not have, because my ticket was originally purchased as an A fare?

Thinking about it, I don't believe I've ever flown a fare that was eligible for an RDM class of service bonus before (A fares, award tickets, or upgrades only).

Note: the flight was within the last week, and the remainder of the itinerary has not been completed, so if those bonuses normally take a while and I'm just being impatient, feel free to tell me so.

Thanks, as always.

Z fares do not earn a RDM bonus per this page:
http://www.continental.com/CMS/en-US...ntinental.aspx

The FAQ suggests that the Z fares would earn 150% RDMs these days, dropping to 100% on January 1. That was based on this thread, specifically point #7 in that post. Reading it again now I see that it isn't particularly clear that it is supposed to be that way. It could simply be that the 100% RDMs kicked in on the 27th instead and I misinterpreted in my reading of that thread.

Sounds like it is correct and I need to fix the FAQ.

SBM, I think your interpretation is correct, as per Continental the Z fares do earn 150% RDM (as of now, anyway).

CO insider stated that A becomes Z and is eligible for Z earnings, but I'm not sure if that includes the fares that were originally purchased as A fares and then converted, or not. If not, it's not a big deal - I didn't expect a 50% RDM bonus when I purchased the tickets, but if I'm supposed to get it, I'd like to.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9630/4.7.1.40 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I knew that he posted something about that but was unable to find it this morning. Based on what you have quoted I think that you are supposed to get the credit, at least until the first. I doubt that OPSC or WeCare2 will take FT as an authoritative source so you might be in for a challenge to get the credits but a well placed PM will probably solve the problem once the other avenues are exhausted.

This page also shows you earning 2 segments per flight. We have been told that this is dropping to 1.5 segments as well so it appears this chart needs amending. Just an FYI.

I would imagine not. I'll try OPSC after the entire itinerary posts.

I hadn't thought about it, since the segments aren't important to me, but I did get two EQP's per flight, just like the chart would indicate - the current Z fare EQM's and EQP's are the same as the former A fare, though.

I guess beginning on 1/1/10, it would be 1.5 EQP.

The 1.5 change doesn't take effect until January, though.

What's interesting is there are earning charts quoting two different earning rates for Z on the Continental website--which one do we believe? I'd say the OP has a chance to challenge it based on that link (you may want to screen cap it?).

My feeling, however, is that Z was moved down to become the new discount first/business fare versus A being moved up to Z (if that makes sense). If we consider the crediting of tvetter01's itinerary and the timing of the Z fare change (to coincide with the *A move), I'd bet the chart link I posted reflects the correct earnings.

While CO Insider did mention that A fares become Z and are "entitled to Z earnings" I'd take that statement to mean exactly that--former A earns what current Z earns.