I have repeatedly written without success asking why CA does not have a lifetime elite status for those who have flown CA more than 1,000,000. I have such status on DL and AA and I fly them more because of the benefits. Has anyone succeeded in breaking their silence barrier. I think it is just good business, and not having it loses business for CA, otherwise a good airline.

About 6 or 7 years ago, Continental began a program to try to attract many of the members it lost during the Continental Lite "experiment" by offering lifetime Gold Elite status to those members who successfully qualified for Gold status for five consecutive years. But you had to have qualified by the end of 1997 I believe. Outside of that program, I do not know of any other offers. Membership drives such as this are usually targeted to a specific segment of the membership as determined by the folks in marketing. Lifetime elite status is not as common a thing as one might believe. I believe such offers are only extended to DL and UA members. I don't know of any other carriers that offer a similar benefit.

Regards,
Ryan Chavez

In 1992, CO was coming out of bankruptcy. So, they made an offer: If you are gold from 92 to 97, you'll get Gold (top level at the time) for LIFE.

Well, in 97, I got it, but by then, top level was Platinum. Its NICE not to have to requalify! However, no more neat luggage tags, and you dont get a new Plat card every year. Oh well, I'll just have to enjoy the upgrades!

Seems some sort of system for for grandfarthering longtime flyers might be a good compromise on the EQM question.

And AA.

There is Infinite Elite status...which is a big mystery on the qualifications.

They do get special perks such as tickets to sporting events and such in CO hub cities.

I'm infinite elite and I've never gotten any special offers for sporting events or otherwise. But it is nice to have lifetime platinum.

Just remember that back when Continental was offering lifetime elite it's survival prospects were pretty dim.

Wasn't TWA offering lifetime elite too.

The Infinite Elite program actually started in the late 1980's and ended around 1992 - if top level earned in one of those years you were grandfathered in to continue. If you EARNED the top level for five years in a row, you achieved the status. Back then the three EQM levels were 20/40/60 with 60 being Gold. Later in the early 1990's EQM levels changed to 20/35/50 - with Gold still being the top level. The first Infinite card was Gold Infinite (ie the BF reward code EG - meaning E with Gold status).

Then when the levels were up'ed 25/50/75 and the titles changed from Bronze/Silver/Gold to Silver/Gold/Platinum - the Infinite cards were recharacterized as Platinum Infinite. Remember the top level used to be 60K EQM - so having keep the Infinite level at Gold would have been a downgrade. You had to really earn the level. Being upgraded in a year because you were close, did not count. You neded 5 consecutive years of exceeding the top level requirements.

My understanding was that the program was discontinued because many -when they earned it - their flying on CO would drop, because they now had it on CO and they want to earn elite on another airline. Those of us that stayed with CO during bankrupcy were then rewarded - although many questioned the value when the second bankrupcy occurred and CO was almost out of cash.

You're getting cheated. I'm a Plat Inf Elite and I get new stuff every year.

I get new stuff every year (Plat Infinite) except - no new card (since the expiration date is LIFE). Get drink coupons, letter, brochure on One Pass, but lately no fancy baggage tags. Plus with Elite Access you no longer get the priority tags - now added each time at the airport. When your card wears out, you can call and request a new card.

And we have Randy to thank for convincing CO to give Infinite elite "platinum" status. I understand that they wanted to give lifetime gold (mid level) but he got them to go all the way. It was the right thing to do - but CO didn't have to do it.

Now if they had only grandfathered those old mileage awards!

I understand the need for these limited offers: desperate times call for desperate measures.

I can also understand CO no longer wanting to give lifetime elite status for five years of flying. That does offer a disincentive to continue after attainment.

Yet the 1 million mile threshold of AA, DL, & UA, and 2 Million on AA & DL, and 4 million on DL, are something that can take years to reach. They serve as a motivator for long-term loyalty. When attained, they are often used in retirement. If there is not much flying then, the cost to the carrier is not great.

Despite being a life member of the Presidents Club and living near a CO hub at GUM, I have shifted the bulk of my flying to UA -- despite being 1600+ miles from the nearest UA city at NRT. Why?

Because UA offers me this long term incentive. CO and NW do not, applying instead the "What have you done for us lately?" philosophy. I contend this is short-sighted.

I have repeatedly made the suggestion for a lifetime status threshold on various "input requested" FT threads sponsored by CO management. They either aren't listening, have other priorities, or have considered and rejected the proposal for various and sundry reasons.

Management of the One Pass system is solely within the prerogative of CO, which has to do what is best for achieving revenue figures to serve the best interests of its shareholders.

However, I would contend that the entire reason for loyalty programs would be reflected in and supported by a long-term lifetime status goal for One Pass members.

Give it another thought.

If CO offered the prospect of lifetime elite status upon attaining one or two million actual flight miles (including 500-mile segment minimum), I'd be back to CO Gold or Platinum in a heartbeat.

I have accumulated over 3,500,000 miles on Continental, lifetime. No recognition at all.

One Million on Delta got Flying Colonel, and Lifetime Crown Room

From what I understand, CO's view on the subject can be summed up with this phrase:

What have you done for me lately?

They found that unearned status tends not to maintain or increase future loyalty.

I think that perks that don't really cost money (ie not upgrades which arguably do cost money) are a reasonable reward for long-term loyalty, and that they should offer something.