FYI -

I have this information from a VERY GOOD friend at the OPSC.

Beginning January 1, 2005, OP members will NOT receive 100% credit for cheap fares booked on line. This does NOT come as a shock to mmost of us, but I wanted to let you know that I got the confirmation on it.

Bummer.

While I will await "official" notification of this from our friends at CO, I am busy looking up that number for United status matching....

Why not post the info in this thread for those of us too lazy to look it up ourselves My only problems with switching to UA are that they'll only give you one E+ companion seat and that they no longer fly EWR->LHR.

Does your friend know when this will publicly be announced (or buried on the site)? This would be particularly helpful in determining where the balance of my travel for the year goes.

What do they have? Sixty days?

Technically they don't have to announce anything. The 100% online EQM was a temporary promo anyway (valid thru 12/31/04).

Ah, 'tis true - I forgot.

Interestingly enough I did not receive my 100% EQMs for at least one on my flights over the weekend. It was a W fare that was purchased through COol.

Coincidence I am sure, but stilll....

That has happened with me as well. It seems to happen when PNRs are split (for elite upgrade purposes, or the like). The individual that keeps the original PNR gets properly credited for EQMs, and the person assigned the new record does not automatically get noticed as a CO.com purchase. All it takes is a phone call to remedy the situation, but this is something that the software or design should pick up.

Let the exodus begin.... Maybe I'll get upgraded on my EWR - CLE route now!!! I'm still locked in as I want a direct flight every week. (I can also book a 100% qualifying fare as they aren't that much more expensive)

Well, you shouldn't be buying multiple tickets on one PNR at CO.com. You should put each person on a different PNR to maximize bonus miles! You can call CO and have them linked so the non-elite pax can sit in the EA section with you...

Status Match Thread:


http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9558

This just makes me all that much happier that I bailed when I did (Dec 2003) and never looked back. I was rolling the dice thinking that this would happen and it "appears" that it did.. Now you know dang well that CO will not post anything or if they do it will buried somewhere in the other garbage that they have. Most likely though, they won't say a thing.. just to twist the knife and get as many of those as they can to book unwittingly thinking they will get full EQMs for next year..

Someone will be lucky though, whoever remains on CO as an elite will definitely have a better chance at an upgrade.. although.. it will still be tough to upgrade on an airline that seems like its trying to go all RJ all the time

Did your friend off any other hints at further shockers to come? I won't do anything until there is an official announcement, but I am torn here....

do I enjoy the Plat status I have earned in 04 for all of 05 and ignore EQMs next year knowing I will just jump ship to do an AA challenge in the fall of 05, or, given my intense dislike for CO's nitwit, poorly thought out decisions (and possibly more bad news to come), do I just leave them now because I dont want to give them any money next year.

Probably I would enjoy using my Plat status for another year on the cheapest possible tickets to thumb my nose at their hair-brained decision more than scrambling for a new relationship.

Just before everyone really gets worked up into a huge tizzy, we have a newly invented Delta just around the corner and NW's continued ignorance of EQMs as potential competitive pitfalls for CO next year....not to mention the United PS service sucking up many of the high-yield trans-con customers.

I can't imagine their kool-aid is spiked with enough Ecstacy to make them think their product and FF program would remain of any interest to non hub-hostage customers given the competive challenges from AA, DL, UA, NW - and I heard US will be turning FLL into an International mini-hub. This is the right time to be attracting new business, not alienating existing customers, even if the bottom line gets squeezed abit. I thought Larry had better vision that this. I am disappointed.

I am editing to add: if DL pushes out Simplifares systemwide and eliminates their MQMs, then CO is really going to look like a complete a$$ if they keep EQMs in any form. Let's wait and see what DL looks like after 8/26. I doubt they leaked any of their plans to CO (CO is still a competitor, at least as far as the DOJ thinks), so the decisions being made within CO might have to change quickly if their partners go in a dramatically different direction.

I will make elite status this year and next year take advantage of my status on NW tickets. Since my flying will just about drop off for a bit, no big deal with me. When I get back on the road its NW or whoever is still around. Way to go CO!!!!!!!!!! I hope this brings them to their knees!!!

I'm more concerned about D/Z fares with 150% EQM. I've got a EWR-HNL booked for Feb 2005 in D, CO's website shows 150% EQM....but will that change come 1/1/05????