I dunno, $500 or $600 a year? If he's a once a year flyer, it's the upgrade fee plus his ticket cost, that's about it.

Hmmm...if hell in a hand basket is 100% on upgrades this year for myself and 50% for (free) companion upgrades (with free ELR seats for the companion), then I guess it is.

I wish I had more to complain about, but I don't.

Well, I guess I could complain about the difficulty with finding a biz class reward ticket to Paris a week in advance for a last-minute trip. Good amount of availability on AF via DL SkyMiles (courtesy of Membership Rewards), though.

Impossible to predict. Somewhere between zero and zillions. The point is, when CO diverts inventory from EUA to buy-ups, it's moving from reinforcing predictably high-value relationships to reinforcing totally unpredictable ones while making a few quick bucks at random.

I agree with those who say the enigmatic "black box" aspects of the system, with no transparency or accountability, really hurts here, especially as CO's upgrade story has really unraveled recently without comment or explanation.

What is your system or criteria? I am Plat and would like to apply your system on my upcoming LAX - Houston flights.

One more question, can you cancel a UP2 reward online? Thanks!

I don't know what routes your friend flies, but with the AMEX EQMs there are so many Silvers at DL that I doubt he is representative.

I am Plat at DL and soon the be Diamond (in addition to Plat on CO) and my upgrade rate this year is ~85% (out of 200k+ miles). BTW, if you fly TATL/TPAC regularly, DL is NOT your airline because of their outrageous M-fare prices.

Ok, let me be more clear. Overall, in the grand scheme of all things Continental, I don't believe status matters. Particularly domestically when you are forced to use miles to upgrade, this for me is generally a waste of miles. I don't see where it matters internationally either, I once thought the buy up process was a strength of the program, I now think otherwise.

As a Diamond Medallion on Delta, I'm pretty sure with a Y,B or M fare internationally, my chances are usually 90% of the time great that I will be able to use a SWU certificate or miles. If there is a seat not taken upfront on the day of departure, I get it.

Domestically, Delta offers more opportunities for complementary upgrades. I play the game domestically and internationally, I ticket early and get the highest coach fare my organization will allow. It's a different ballgame on elite heavy routes. I recently flew ATL-SFO, ticketed in advance with a K fare and used a certificate. The two seats that were empty on this flight went to the gate lottery with 60 on the list. The two pax that got the upgrades were Diamonds w/ Y fares.

For the most part, Delta's process is almost transparent. I no longer see non-revs getting those seats upfront internationally like they did just last year. I don't have the same warm and fuzzy feeling with Continental. What Continental gains in $ and profitability this year they will lose in good will from their loyal customer base. At least they don't even try to fool you as what's happening is very obvious.

Poppycock.

Well now I really can't take your post seriously. So you're okay with blowing $2,000 extra on that M fare 10% of the time? I spot-checked a handful of routes, and it looks like M fares are generally in the $2800+ r/t range. CO will let you upgrade to BusinessFirst with mileage for around $1500-2000 on average (CO SWUs have no fare class restrictions), but if the upgrade never clears you'd save $1000 if you purchased the lowest fare. Oh, and no fare restrictions on domestic mileage upgrades either. I think DL still prohibits LUT fares, right? Those K fares are no bargains.

This is generally the same for CO Platinums. Very few reports recently of BusinessFirst upgrades not clearing.

Well, I'm 90% sure there are a bunch of posts in the DL forum talking about their own type of Shenanigans.

You're absolutely right. DL miles are worthless on DL. It is always easier (and cheaper mileage wise) to use your miles on Skyteam partners in F or J vs DL whY. CO is excellent for mile redemption via *A.

M fares to Asia, are often over $4,000.

I'm not going to pay that kind of money for an economy class ticket.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9630/5.0.0.591 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Which SkyTeam partners offer F redemptions with SkyMiles? Last I checked there were none.

But you are correct that the best value in DL or CO (or US, AS, UA, AA for that matter) is premium cabin partner redemption.

Well I believe you get what you pay for. I purchase the highest fare class my organization will allow. The CO SWUs I believe also require flying 100K miles in order to receive them and no fare restrictions would be nice but aren't you limited to 4? BTW, my K fare rt with Delta ATL/SFO was around $550 which I believe is fairly decent.

We'll just have to agree to disagree, I think Delta's BE TPAC & TATL are better than CO's BF product. For me, my experience with CO has never been love at first sight, as much as I try I have never understood the CO culture. Here's one example. Last night in EWR, the boarding process (for a 752 heading for LIS) has started, BF and pax needing assist have boarded. Although the boarding process continues at the gate, we are stopped at the door because the pilot decides to brief the crew. Five minutes later we are allowed to continue boarding. I'm ok because I'm the first to continue boarding, get my seat (exit row) and able to stow stuff in the OH. Pax attempting to board are visibly frustrated, process becomes disorganized as FA announcements telling pax to quickly stow their stuff and take their seats, we leave gate 10 minutes late which really isn't bad. Just saying this was a self inflicted incident that the crew puts on pax. I generally observe a lack of teamwork amongst CO FAs, with Delta this is the exception and is normally with PMNW crews.

Domestically, Delta SWUs are only valid for K fares and up. Complementary upgrades are provided on all fare class down to the lowest T fare. For example, (not taking into account the reserve credit card aspect of status) the only way a silver would trump a Diamond who was on a T class fare would be if the Silver had a Y class fare.

Shenanigans? Of course, don't they exist with every airline? My main point and the point of the OP is frustration with the One Pass program, I say status generally doesn't matter when it comes to upgrades and customer service. Be it as it may, with Delta, status does matter. IMHO, CO One Pass has lost it's way.

Because it might make sense for me to occasionally fly *A due to better flight schedule on some routes, I'll strive to make Gold for continued access to *A international lounges as well as maintaining my President's Club membership. Otherwise Skyteam will continue to be my primary airline alliance. As a Diamond Medallion, access to the Skyclubs are free.

And if there isn't, you've just gambled away $3,000 (or whatever M minus K equals) and gotten nothing in return. Ridiculous.

A week ago flying YYC-IAH I saw a 1st seat available so I called to see what it would be for me to M-up. I was #11 on the waitlist so chances were remote to say the least. Unfortunately, as I was connecting to MAF at IAH an M-up was not possible.

Then the CO person said the majic words... "I see though that the seat is an R and you can get it for 15k points." Sold. I'm sure the #1 person was ticked off and didn't understand why they didn't get the seat... especially if they were anal and remembered I was #11.

I've no problem at all if CO keeps a couple seats for last minute 1st purchase. I wish they had yesterday afternoon EWR-IAH.

This is just what they're hoping will happen so Rev/Man can

show Crusader Rabbit how well their scheme is working

Lose 1 for the gippers

There are people in ATL or DTW who just pay that.

Maybe $3,000 is token money for them.