When Platinum Becomes Gold
Dec 11, 2009, 11:43 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: CO Platt,Hilton Dmnd,Marriott Platt,Hertz Presidents Circle,Avis Preferred Select
Posts: 313
When Platinum Becomes Gold
I understand why CO wants to reward their very best customers with the Presidential Platinum program, but my concern is not about the first year of the program, but the following years.
Marketing has already diluted the benefits of Platinum Elite by swelling the ranks through free offers to executives, status match, double EQM promotions and full EQM's for all tickets. Platinum lost its luster through over utilization from marketing. How long before they over extend this status in freebies, status match and so on. I'm thinking by 2011 Platinum will become Gold, and Silver will become...um Bronze.
Marketing has already diluted the benefits of Platinum Elite by swelling the ranks through free offers to executives, status match, double EQM promotions and full EQM's for all tickets. Platinum lost its luster through over utilization from marketing. How long before they over extend this status in freebies, status match and so on. I'm thinking by 2011 Platinum will become Gold, and Silver will become...um Bronze.
Dec 11, 2009, 11:56 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I disagree. The number of PPlatinums will be tightly controlled. There may be more platinums out there next year (I HIGHLY doubt it but folks seem to want to believe that is the case) but that would just have you competing against other platinums. There are not going to be enough PPlatinums for me to have any concerns about that.
Dec 11, 2009, 11:59 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Marketing has already diluted the benefits of Platinum Elite by swelling the ranks through free offers to executives, status match, double EQM promotions and full EQM's for all tickets. Platinum lost its luster through over utilization from marketing. How long before they over extend this status in freebies, status match and so on. I'm thinking by 2011 Platinum will become Gold, and Silver will become...um Bronze.
1. Swelling the ranks?
I think it's more like "trying to maintain the same number of PEs in a down economy".
2. Lost its luster?
I think most FTers view PE as a pretty nice thing to have, and extremely beneficial for EUAs, except for EWR-LAX/SFO flights.
3. Full EQMs for all tickets - a bad thing?
I don't remember a negative post from you when CO Insider announced this change. Do you really think that those who booked on kayak or travelocity now became platinum in the month that this was changed? Those who were forced to book through corporate agencies are hardly impacted, as they were Plat already, worked to become Plat anyways, or didn't care.
Not saying you may not have good arguments, but they are lost in the hyperbole.
Dec 11, 2009, 12:10 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: CO Platt,Hilton Dmnd,Marriott Platt,Hertz Presidents Circle,Avis Preferred Select
Posts: 313
[QUOTE=aacharya;12968222]
I don't remember a negative post from you when CO Insider announced this change.
QUOTE]
I didn't complain because I didn't and still don't think EQMs are a bad thing.
I never said Platinum was a bad product. My worry is that the benefits will become diluted.
Maybe the post came off as a rant and thus all the "hyperbole". My emotion got involved with my main point.
I don't remember a negative post from you when CO Insider announced this change.
QUOTE]
I didn't complain because I didn't and still don't think EQMs are a bad thing.
I never said Platinum was a bad product. My worry is that the benefits will become diluted.
Maybe the post came off as a rant and thus all the "hyperbole". My emotion got involved with my main point.
Last edited by Facevalue; Dec 11, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Dec 11, 2009, 2:56 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: CO Plat, Starwood Plat, Hyatt Plat, Hilton Diamond, CO Pres. Plus, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 1,213
Dec 11, 2009, 3:51 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: CLT
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Platinum, Penalty Box 2K, PWP Posting Unit 9
Posts: 13,514
Dec 11, 2009, 4:30 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
Dec 11, 2009, 5:55 pm
#10
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
Dec 11, 2009, 8:31 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA GLD .25MM, CO, UA, US, DL, HH, SPG (all cardboard)
Posts: 1,951
See my programs list.
Dec 12, 2009, 8:55 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London
Posts: 19
This is admittedly OT but reading KD5MDK's programmes list, as invited, prompts the comment that no-one needs to be SPG cardboard as there are FTers on another forum offering free referral to Gold.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...atus-gift.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...atus-gift.html
Dec 12, 2009, 9:01 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
Posts: 18,733
I disagree. The number of PPlatinums will be tightly controlled. There may be more platinums out there next year (I HIGHLY doubt it but folks seem to want to believe that is the case) but that would just have you competing against other platinums. There are not going to be enough PPlatinums for me to have any concerns about that.
Dec 12, 2009, 9:26 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Surely not that bad. I mean, I'd still outrank the hoi polloi with no status at all. And after last night's Company Christmas party, where our Dickensian CEO predicted 2010 would be no better than 2009, I may take only half a dozen flights again this coming year. So, that's good new. Why? Because at most, I will not be upgraded six times in 2010, whereas there will be plenty of Platinums who will likewise not be upgraded six times—or more! Poor suckers! Ha! 