Onepass program going away in 2011?
Dec 29, 2010 | 7:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 117
Onepass program going away in 2011?
I have been reading and noticed mention that the Onepass rewards programs may be gone sometime next year. If that is the case what will happen to the miles in everyones account?
Should I stop trying to accumlate miles or will they be merged into the United rewards program (assuming there is one)?
Please advise.
Should I stop trying to accumlate miles or will they be merged into the United rewards program (assuming there is one)?
Please advise.
Dec 29, 2010 | 7:33 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2009
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United and Continental are in the middle of a merger. The accounts will be combined, most likely during 2011. Your miles are safe and not going anywhere.
look at continental.com/merger for more info
It is not known at this time what the new program will be called.
look at continental.com/merger for more info
It is not known at this time what the new program will be called.
Dec 29, 2010 | 8:41 am
#3
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FF accounts won't be merged until 2012. If you have a balance in both they will be merged to create a combined total. Example 25K on CO and 25K on UA will give you 50K for 2011 counting towards 2012 status.
Dec 30, 2010 | 1:23 am
#4
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I hope that when they combined the two programs, they still leave us the option of one-way awards, which are currently not available through OnePass.
Dec 30, 2010 | 3:30 am
#5
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I think the goal is to have a single operating certificate by October 2011. If that happens, I would expect to see the programs merged then.
Dec 30, 2010 | 3:35 am
#6
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The single operating cert is not necessary to combine the programs and I doubt it is a factor in the timing of that. More significant is the need to have the systems in place to appropriately credit and track everything across all the flights. Based on the announcements so far I would expect most integration to be complete in late Q3 or early Q4 but we will not see a true single program until 1/1/12. Moving RDMs between programs and such will happen well before the new program launches, for example IMO.
The single operating cert is not necessary to combine the programs and I doubt it is a factor in the timing of that. More significant is the need to have the systems in place to appropriately credit and track everything across all the flights. Based on the announcements so far I would expect most integration to be complete in late Q3 or early Q4 but we will not see a true single program until 1/1/12. Moving RDMs between programs and such will happen well before the new program launches, for example IMO.
Dec 30, 2010 | 3:36 am
#7
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I am sure they're taking note of DL's many blunders in integrating SkyMiles and WorldPerks. Dropping many cool features of WorldPerks because DL's archaic systems couldn't handle them to this day ticks off the former WP members. If UA dropped the one-way awards, they're be ticking off a greater percentage of their combined program, so I would imagine the one-way awards would stay unless some technical reason prevented it. In the case of DL, they're gradually adding back the cool WP features that they cut for technical reasons (e.g. UDU on award tickets, paying one direction with miles and the other with cash, UDU on partner flights (Alaska).
Dec 30, 2010 | 3:41 am
#8
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The single operating cert is not necessary to combine the programs and I doubt it is a factor in the timing of that. More significant is the need to have the systems in place to appropriately credit and track everything across all the flights. Based on the announcements so far I would expect most integration to be complete in late Q3 or early Q4 but we will not see a true single program until 1/1/12. Moving RDMs between programs and such will happen well before the new program launches, for example IMO.
The single operating cert is not necessary to combine the programs and I doubt it is a factor in the timing of that. More significant is the need to have the systems in place to appropriately credit and track everything across all the flights. Based on the announcements so far I would expect most integration to be complete in late Q3 or early Q4 but we will not see a true single program until 1/1/12. Moving RDMs between programs and such will happen well before the new program launches, for example IMO.
For reference, DL combined SM and WP on 10/1/2009 (almost 11 months after merger closed) and got the single cert on 1/31/2010 (Just over 14 months after merger closed). UA's merger closed almost 2 months sooner than DL's, but DL's dealt with the nasty issue of integrating pilot seniority first. UA/CO still haven't done this.
For all practical purposes, the 2011 programs are the same, so they could combine them at any time.
Dec 30, 2010 | 3:47 am
#9
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There are still many differences in the 2011 programs. From award charts to upgrade policies there is simply too much that would change for one side or the other for them to (smartly) just combine everything in 3 days. And that's not even taking into account the integration efforts required.
Yes, the single operating cert is a significant milestone, but truly much more so for the back-end stuff than for the customers. Cross-fleeting has already started, for example, and it will grow as the company rationalizes aircraft utilization and routes. That will all happen well before the operating cert is issued.
But from a FF program perspective the operating cert is pretty much meaningless.
There are still many differences in the 2011 programs. From award charts to upgrade policies there is simply too much that would change for one side or the other for them to (smartly) just combine everything in 3 days. And that's not even taking into account the integration efforts required.
Yes, the single operating cert is a significant milestone, but truly much more so for the back-end stuff than for the customers. Cross-fleeting has already started, for example, and it will grow as the company rationalizes aircraft utilization and routes. That will all happen well before the operating cert is issued.
But from a FF program perspective the operating cert is pretty much meaningless.
Dec 30, 2010 | 4:43 am
#10
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There are still many differences in the 2011 programs. From award charts to upgrade policies there is simply too much that would change for one side or the other for them to (smartly) just combine everything in 3 days. And that's not even taking into account the integration efforts required.
Yes, the single operating cert is a significant milestone, but truly much more so for the back-end stuff than for the customers. Cross-fleeting has already started, for example, and it will grow as the company rationalizes aircraft utilization and routes. That will all happen well before the operating cert is issued.
But from a FF program perspective the operating cert is pretty much meaningless.
There are still many differences in the 2011 programs. From award charts to upgrade policies there is simply too much that would change for one side or the other for them to (smartly) just combine everything in 3 days. And that's not even taking into account the integration efforts required.
Yes, the single operating cert is a significant milestone, but truly much more so for the back-end stuff than for the customers. Cross-fleeting has already started, for example, and it will grow as the company rationalizes aircraft utilization and routes. That will all happen well before the operating cert is issued.
But from a FF program perspective the operating cert is pretty much meaningless.
Dec 30, 2010 | 5:31 am
#11
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I'd also imagine that a single cert isn't necessary for the FF program...doesn't M&M incorporate multiple COAs?
Dec 30, 2010 | 5:33 am
#12
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The cert only matters in ways that do not really affect the customers. The new UA could continue to operate different products under a single cert if they wanted. Just ask Delta (Song) or United (TED!) For examples. Similarly AF/KL/KQ (and I think RO) all share a FF program and operate on different certs. Ditto for LH/LH/SN/LO and soon BD.
Operating certs are much more about legal requirements than what the customer experiences.
The cert only matters in ways that do not really affect the customers. The new UA could continue to operate different products under a single cert if they wanted. Just ask Delta (Song) or United (TED!) For examples. Similarly AF/KL/KQ (and I think RO) all share a FF program and operate on different certs. Ditto for LH/LH/SN/LO and soon BD.
Operating certs are much more about legal requirements than what the customer experiences.
Dec 30, 2010 | 5:43 am
#13
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The cert only matters in ways that do not really affect the customers. The new UA could continue to operate different products under a single cert if they wanted. Just ask Delta (Song) or United (TED!) For examples. Similarly AF/KL/KQ (and I think RO) all share a FF program and operate on different certs. Ditto for LH/LH/SN/LO and soon BD.
Operating certs are much more about legal requirements than what the customer experiences.
The cert only matters in ways that do not really affect the customers. The new UA could continue to operate different products under a single cert if they wanted. Just ask Delta (Song) or United (TED!) For examples. Similarly AF/KL/KQ (and I think RO) all share a FF program and operate on different certs. Ditto for LH/LH/SN/LO and soon BD.
Operating certs are much more about legal requirements than what the customer experiences.
Dec 30, 2010 | 6:01 am
#14
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I know what the operating cert is. You forgot to mention that DL and NW also shared the SkyMiles program from 10/1/2009-1/31/2010 even though they were different airlines. But you're missing the point. The European airlines you mention that share the same FF program are not merging. CO/UA are. The single cert is the long pole in the tent because it involves government approval and all kinds of other things out of their control. They have control over the FF program and won't let this get in the way of the merger.
Dec 30, 2010 | 8:32 am
#15
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No they did not. Air France-KLM is a holding company that owns, among other things, Air France and KLM, two separate airlines. It is very similar to United Continental Holdings, Inc., which owns United Airlines, Continental Airlines, and several other assets. Because of country of origin landing slot restrictions around the world, Air France-KLM didn't merge the 2 airlines on purpose. The same consideration does not hold true for 2 USA airlines like United and Continental.