I'm a UA 1K just converted to Plat on CO. There is an inept program at UA called SilverWings which allows purchase of SWU eligible fares at significant savings.

It is still available for lifetime members but it's so poorly managed that it's nearly useless.

Does CO have anything that gives 55+ flyers a discount on SWUable fares?

I do not believe they have a comparable program to SilverWings. I do know they sometimes give seniors (65+) discounts when you search for fares using the senior citizens option online.

CO does not have a program like that.

Are you sure? I thought the program closed for all new enrollments and only those who purchased lifetime memberships pre-2007 still had access.

With the number of Baby Boomers reaching 55+ it makes little economic sense to give senior discounts anymore.

I wasn't clear. It's only available for those who already have lifetime memberships. No new memberships of any kind have been sold since 2007.

The problem is that what is available is, in most cases most of the time, nothing. The program is poorly managed, I think in an effort to get the lifetime members to simply fade away.

But we did give UA money for a lifetime membership and we have a contract with them so they are obligated to provide benefits. It's just that they aren't doing that.

I was hoping CO had a similar program and it would grandfather in the UA lifetime Silverwing members.

Perhaps the new management will take their obligations seriously. This will be an interesting test case of Smisek's management style.

That depends. If you market it well, sell memberships and get more well off, time-on-their-hands seniors to fill up your empty seats on low-load periods, it's a good idea.

Depends on how creative the new team is.

I'm trying to see the difference between your statements.

I got the vibe nor4 is indicating you can still purchase a new lifetime membership. I do not believe that is the case.

My original phrase "It is still available for lifetime members" referred to it being available for use but not for new enrollments. My subsequent reference to "It's only available for those who already have lifetime memberships" tried to clarify this but apparently didn't.

In each case I was referring to available for "use", i.e. getting Silverwings fares, and not for enrollment.

Sorry for the confusion.

To recapitualate, the program is available to be used by those who are already lifetime members, but it is not available for any new enrollments, lifetime or annual. So, unless you are a pre-2007 lifetime member (when new enrollments ceased) the program is not available to you to use or enroll in.