Update on OnePass 2005

Booked my flight on co.com for 3/5/2005 in t class and it says I will earn 100% eqm. Gosh I hope they will honor that ???

Print out a hard copy ASAP as it will give you leverage if you have to fight them.

Just curious ---- when you pull it up now - does it say 100% EQM?

A friend said that he had bought a ticket for January - and it said 100% - now it is showing 50%.

On IAH/NRT two weeks ago, I was seated next to a lovely young woman from CO Marketing. While careful not give too much information, she did say that the current line of thought was to continue offering full EQM's for CO.com booked flights in 2005.
ALSO -- she told me that the SkyTeam announcement is days away. They had targeted September 1, but were awaiting finalization of some printed materials and web design. "Look for it sometime during September" - her words.

There's consistently a lot of talk about how many elites CO will lose with their EQM policy, but presumably there are a number of others (apparently none in FT) that are MORE likely to achieve status based on the change.

I haven't done much domestic flying since I moved from the US several years ago, but from personal experience, I'm at least as likely to find nothing better than an H fare b/w GIG and the US than I am to find a fare that only gives 50%. In fact, in a couple dozen round trips, nearly all have been H or K. Based on 150% EQMs for H, it's possible to achieve Gold w/ as few as 3 round trips. The difference between H and K on these trips is typically about $200.

The reasons CO will lose my business are others:

- No more Brazil-US round trips for 35k miles (this was a GREAT deal, since these tix are hardly ever less than $1000).

- Having to pay $200 or more for the privilege of coughing up 25k (was 20k) miles for an upgrade to BF.

The result is probably that CO will have fewer elites among their hub captives, and more among international pax who have more choice of carrier and can rarely manage non HoKeY fares. This isn't unlike AF giving F+ rouge for 40k miles to non-French pax, but requiring 60k for its local market.

What is the change that would make MORE likely to achieve status? It is already a 50/100/150% system today. Is there an enhancement to the give away program?

Unless my memory is mistaken, the 150% EQM, which used to be a "class of service bonus" before EQM, was always awarded for paid Y/F/A/D. You got your base miles plus an extra 50%. They only recently added one class just below Y that gets the extra 50%. So, EQM offers no new methods for high-fare customers to earn their status faster, as they will earn the same status on their full fare tickets just as fast now as before....the only change is the penalty against the lower fare customers.

When CO twisted/spun the program change as some "enhancement" for higher fare customers to earn their status faster, they were referring to the very few people who might consider paying even more for their tickets to buy the 50% bonus...disquised as a threat to those of us in the half a dozen fare classes that only earn 50% - translation: pay up and enjoy, or go away because we will make this program as miserable as possible for you cheapie people.

I'd guess that the OPSC folks don't find out anything until the OP management/marketing folks decide what the rules will be. Time, however, will tell and I'm waiting with bated breath just like everyone else.

I'm sure my employer isn't the only one more likely to balk at a $4400 Y than a $1200 H. (Rough prices GIG-IAH 1-stop on CO.)

Of course, FFPs could just award benes based on $$ spent rather than miles flown and be done w/ the hypocrisy. It's hard to convince a casual observer that a $500 transatlantic flight should earn 5-10x the miles as a $300 domestic flight. Guess that's part of the charm.

i was platinum/gold for many years on continental but AA mAAtched my stAAtus with platinum (they didn't make me chAAlenge).

i stAArted the year flying AA quite a bit but, like you, have slowly been flying more and more CO.

i just love the free upgrades and i normally get them (even as a gold). i flew EWR-SEA-EWR last week and got one battleship upgrade and one advance upgrade. the same flights on AA would have cost me quite a few "stickers." i also just like CO better.

We've waited this long, so why not hang in there a few more days till the announcement? With the intense competition among airlines these days, it is NEVER over until the CEO sings the byebye song. This is really an awkward time of year to switch loyalties, plus lots going on at all airlines these days. Gotta be patient while they play their marketing games. Just a thought.

With the demise of EFD service and now this, NWA here I come. Though international service is inferior to CO.

Your "now this" is still just a rumor...

The bigger picture that the EQM policy indicates is troubling. It's clear that CO wants to desperately cling to old-style pricing models (i.e. last minute Y fares that are 10x the 21 day advance Q fares; use its fortress hubs whenever possible to jack-up fares and run out competition). In this manner, CO seems to be very backward-looking, rather than seeking to change the way it does business in the new climate and attempt to truly compete. It seems their desperate moves to push people to pay higher fares is a pathetic attempt to live in the past. Though CO may have some short-term cost advantages over its competition, the current state of affairs in the industry suggests that CO's business model does not portend long term success.

the current state of affairs in the industry suggests that CO's business model does not portend long term success.

Passengers pay more to fly SQ everyday. There certainly is a group willing to pay a premium to fly a quality airline. Lets not forget paid BF fares at attractive prices are frequently available. Lower FC fares (w/ restrictions) have been introduced. CO will have continued success its UA and US that better wake up if its not too late. I've flown UA, AA, US, DL, NW and HP, CO is simply the best for domestic service. CO will make suttle changes for the good. Best principal in business is to be your best...if you continue to follow the competitions every move you'll NEVER pass them.