I know United will match CO status, and in order to do so they asked me to fax over my most recent OnePass statement. Thats all well and good, I suppose. My question is kind of paranoid and juvenile, but here goes: Will United contact CO in any way, and if they do, can CO revoke my elite status for attempting to get it matched by UA? Am I nuts?

Also, is it even worth it? I have not flown any airline other than CO in ages, I have no idea what what their program is like? Thanks!

I would not even bother with UA unless you plan on a lot of international travel. In my mind CO can not be beat domestically and is darn good internationally as well besides the less than desirable BF upgrade policy.

I've never heard of one airline calling another to check on these things.

Airlines *say* they will only match status once. Do you intend to fly UA? Do their routes and schedules meet your needs? Why request a status match if you have no intention of using it? I suggest you check out the UA forum and educate yourself about Mileage Plus before deciding whether to request a match.

I was inquiring about it becuase I plan most of my own air travel for work and lately I have been seeing signifigantly lower airfares for domestric travel on other airlines. (pre delta announcement) For example, I am flying EWR-DEN on 1/12 and back on 1/13. My fare was $590, cheapest flight they had. Turns out I had to buy a ticket for a coworker who had to join me in my meeting and she has no allegiance to any airline, as her job does not demand alot of travel. She got more or less the same flight from United for $219 on United.com. I can get away with it every now and then, but I dont feel comfortable making a habit out of buying a ticket that costs 2x as much on CO. Not fair to the company...

I'm just not so sure about this. I have a similar thought, but going the other way toward Delta. I've been Plat with CO for 7 years but it just doesn't seem to be moving in the right direction for me these days...

Missed a bunch of upgrades coming down the stretch last year. Last of which was a transcon on 22 Dec, EWR/SFO. Checked in EXACTLY 24 hrs in advance, was #1 on the list the entire time right up to the gate. In the time it took for me to get from the PC to the gate, I went to #2 on the list, all the while the GA was having a very personal conversation with the person who miraculously became #1 on the list (Who's upgrade did end up clearing). Think there was some list jostling going on there ??? To boot, she was downright rude and dismissive about it.

I think I'm just tired of the battlefield UG's. Also saw my upgrade % drop a lot in '04, all the while purchasing better and better fares, checking in well in advance, booking well in advance, etc.

couple that with CO's recent announcement to get more 753's which will undoubtedly be employed on my routes, smaller FC cabins, converting more 757-200's to int'l configurations...It just isn't adding up well from my end right now. Meanwhile DL is flying 764's on my routes with a FC cabin including 30 seats (with power ports in all seats). Even their 738's have power at all seats. Although CO may beat them hands-down in service, I'd rather have a better shot at a mediocre FC than stressing about battlefield upgrades right to the last second...It just isn't worth my trouble these days I think....

Perhaps I'll be sorry next week after I step off DL metal. Oh well, at least I have until about April to test out the theory, after that I'll not be able to retain PE on CO for '06.

No, United will not check with Continental, as long as they have your current mileage/elite status. They will be desperate, er, happy, to get your business.

climmy, It ain't uncommon to go from #1 to # 2 on the upgrade list, all it takes is someone with a ticket in F who wants to get on an earlier flight.
Gate agents have been known to be nice to customers who pay the full fare, even at EWR.

Even on a full-fare EWR agents have NEVER been nice to me.

Gosh, I always thought they treated me like they did 'cause I'm so ugly.

...they treat airport anger as a sport, I think.

Could have been a misconnecting pax who was reaccommodated, or an infinite plat.. these things do happen. If they do, I remind myself, if you want F, pay for F or upgrade with miles.

WASJETBOY