How you "rate" a program is dependance on what you "need" from that program.

I rate OnePass as TOPS because what it offers ME the BEST value.

I travel only in Canada and the US (sometimes to the caribean islands). My rating of OnePass will be much better than others because I "do not care about" Oversea or Asia upgrade. Nor did I use NW so upgrades on that airlines does not matter to me either.

What does matter to me is the 20,000 miles gets me a free ticket instead of 25,000 needed with others.

I am not an elite (but working on it) so currently the rules for 3,2 or 1 days upgrade do not matter to me.

The RewardOne (for small business) is another "GREAT" advantage connected to OnePass. This helps me with additional benifits.

Just a view from a non-elite flyer.

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"Free" without charge or cost, having no obligation.

I think allowing Silvers to Standby for Upgrade on DOD makes sense. Since they clear by Priority anyway, it shouldnt make a difference and makes Silvers more Content. As far as HP, I used to like to fly them to PHX, especially on some discount fares. I will miss the advance upgrades, but I have found they did have inventory open anyway for DOD upgrades on some of my flights.

RichG:

I called the OnePass Service Center at 713-952-1630, not a toll free number.

Old Gold: Serves me right. Now I don't sure. Any telephone network geeks around?

If you call InfoPass, which is a toll-free number and press 0, you will be connected to the OPSC.

Tute84:

Thanks for the input, but some of us old timers actually like to pick up the dime on calls to OnePass, sometimes it's nice to have the documentation that a long distance telephone bill provides when they don't do what they said they would.

[This message has been edited by Old Gold (edited 02-06-2000).]

Old Gold:

I sent an e-mail to Flight Fund to inquire what their elites could expect as an upgrade policy on America West for the next year.

The reply:

"Thank you for your recent email. We have received your request for a
nomination to Elite status.
Unfortunately, at this time, nominations for the 2000 program year are not
being processed. However, we will keep your request on file until February
2000, when a decision will be made and you will be notified by letter. The
Elite program year starts on March 1, 2000, and ends February 28, 2001."

What is so baffling about this change is that America West should be doing everything in its power to encourage people to fly its airline - especially elite members of OnePass who probably tend to fly far more often on full-fare tickets than the average HP customer. Then again, the only time I fly HP is on my own nickel, both because they often have the lowest fare and because if cost is no object, they'd be last on my list. While my upgrade rate with them is almost 100% (as a CO silver, no less, usually flying on cheap tickets), the rate of those flights delayed is at least 50%. Twice is a couple months last year I had to take redeyes cross-country instead of late afternoon flights b/c my flight out of LA were so late I blew my connections in PHX. A big seat and free drinks are nice, but getting to sleep in a bed is better. And now with the safety questions about HP, I'll probably never fly them again.

For what It's worth.

I spoke with a onepass rep this afternoon, upgrading a flight. He gave me an explanation on the partner upgrade changes.

Keep in mind this is far from offical, just what this one Continental Onepass rep said he was told.

As for the America West changes, they came at the request of America West.
The Northwest changes(platinums will be able to upgrade 3 days in advance) were a hold over from gold elites being grandfathered last year. He said NW didn't want to give the 3 day upgrade to non-earned platinums, and now that all the platinums are "earned" NW dropped their objection.

My thoughts exactly, onepassaddict! Those of us in the west who liked CO and felt abandoned after the abandonment of DEN were able to turn to the combination of HP and CO. I know I have been quite happy and have had good luck taking advantage of the mutual upgrade availability with HP. If I end up in coach on HP on a regular basis, I may give up the PHX connection from DEN and spend much more time on F9! Or even, perish the thought, a return to UA.

A carefull reading of the pamphlet that came with my 2000 elite packet reveals the following:
" ....On flights operated by America West Airlines.....you can upgrade at check-in within two hours of your flight departure".
Does this mean that if I have a Continental ticket and the plane is HP, I'm stuck with the 2 hour rule?
If so, this will be very messy, with people holding CO tickets calling CO for upgrades only to be told no. It would be a recipe for real confusion and bad customer relations.I have sent an e-mail to someone at CO who should know the correct answer. I'll post the response I get.

Vulcan:

YES it does. If it's an HP operater flight, the 2-hr at check-in rule is in effect.

Even if it's a CO flight number, if the flight is a code-share operated by HP, there are NO advanced upgrades.

Bringing this thread back up to the top...

I wrote my letters today to Gordon, Mark, and Steve. Hope you all have written yours.

I was at the America West club this afternoon, and inquired about the change, the agent I talked to said that she didn't have any "official" information about the change, but thought it might have to do with Continental's A-F class division of F/C seats, where HP makes all seats available in F class.