While Silver Elite status definitely has its advantages over Non-Elite status, the de facto creation of a Bronze Elite level (via the Presidential Plus credit card) decidedly erodes some key benefits Silvers used to enjoy to the exclusion of their non-elite counterparts. No more.

As a lowly Bronze, I and my wife routinely board before many Platinums, Golds and Silvers. While they fight amongst themselves for bin space in Rows 7-21, we leisurely stroll to Row 22, where overhead bin space is plentiful. We exit the plane about 30 seconds after the exit-row Elites do, way before half the passengers. And we do all this with the advantage of PC membership, while Platinums, Golds and Silvers cower outside wishing they could come in. Pathetic.

RNE, saying, "Thank you, you good little capitalists at Chase."

Of course, elites in the three most precious metals categories could sit outside the ridiculous elite zone.

When I was a CO elite, I never sat in the elite zone, not only because bin space was more available, but because I found that there were more empty seats and that the average kettle was quite a bit friendlier to sit next to...

CO PC membership is nearly worthless to me as the vast majority of my flights are through airports that don't have a PC lounge. Priority Pass combined with a Citi Premier Pass card seems a much better option for the price.

For me, getting the SPACE in an exit row is more important that getting off quick, which isn't really an issue. Even when I was silver earlier this year, I managed to snag an exit row 100% of the time (when I didn't get an F upgrade).

In support of my earlier comments, I still have two CO PC passes I have been sitting on for a year because I have had no occasion to use them... Maybe on the return from HKG in December. I have a 3 1/2 hour layover in EWR

But do those airports have an RCC?

HKG does, but not SIN, BKK, PVG, KUL or even TPA unfortunately.

Actually, CO Gold = SA gold now, which automatically includes access to all SA lounges EXCEPT PC and RCC. And all of the above have an SA gold lounge that is useable, as do IAC and EWR.

Ok, guilty as charged :-D - but at least it's good wine!

The only time I've ever seen a 40 minute line in LAS for the F/elite lane for the D gates side is during CES one year- the line was backed up all the way to the entry for the A/B gates.

But this was back in something like 2007 or so- before LAS started losing a LOT of passengers (it was still a real US hub then and the economy hadn't gone into the toilet yet). It's not been bad like that for a long time. And I usually fly out on Sundays (read: peak flying day for LAS). Lately I am through the TSA checkpoint within 5-10 minutes midday Sunday.

So getting screwed up like that these days is pretty unusual. My sympathies.

I actualy appreciate CO's generosity with their bump-ups. Most competitors are not so generous with them. Ultimately, it really doesn't matter where the bar is set, does it? I mean, ultimately, don't they look even within each tier, to our actual mileage, so that the plats with the highest # of miles are going to get all the bumps frst, regardless of whether there are 10 or 70 on the waitlist? It seems that where the silver elite line is drawn does not have much if any impact on a plat getting bumped up. Or am I missing something?

I was surprised when a colleague who is elite with another airline started talking about the free drink coupons they receive with every check-in and it reminded me of the days when it really meant something to be a CO elite other than getting on early. Now, if you don't get bumped up you get a chance to buy your food (since when is a Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwich healthy) with no other advantage. Don't get me wrong, when I see the late non-elites have to check their bags because overhead is full I am thankful and maybe that is what Smisek's eventual plans include for the only elite bonus.

Remember Smisek is an acqusition lawyer at heart and since when did either of those callings value customer service.

They're talking about DL - and to me, free drinks don't compensate for 1) worthless reward miles/no award availability, 2) worthless int'l upgrades, 3) worthless base status

but, of course, YMMV

No they don't do that.

If you think CO makes everyone elite, you've never flown DL!

I'm going to be Silver Elite on DL next year and my flown miles this year on DL are... 0.


Personally, I'd like to see more refinement in elite tiers for upgrade purposes. Virtual tiers every 25k or so.


But I expect the new UA will go to 100k/50k/25k with fare class as the next tiebreaker. Provides an incentive to pay for the more expensive fares. Definitely better for the airline to upgrade the 51k gold on the M fare over the 99k gold on the L.

Worthless everything. DL is the worst airline in America... and that's saying something in the country with the most mediocre Airline competition in the world.

That said, I do think CO should consider sending a pack of free drink/meal coupons to elites now that it's becoming nearly impossible to get a bump up unless you are platinum (and even then...).

And speaking of mediocracy, why don't we have any 5 or 4 star major airlines in this country? I know it will never happen, but I'd love to see them open the domestic routes to international competition. CO/UA and AA would raise the bar. DL would go the way of Eastern... where it belongs.

Now that we have Presidential Platinum I can actually get some upgrades in the heavy business travel flight....seriously.