The Ideal One Pass Plan
 

The EUA debate got me thinking over the weekend….If someone asked us (though I doubt anyone will) what would be the perfect "One Pass" program for Continental, being fair to it's elite flyers at all levels, and being pragmatic as a benefit (not a harm) to Continental's business.

Here's what I came up with:

A four level elite system is essential…, we can add the Bronze back in, add a new level at the top or do whatever you wish, but for the sake of this argument, lets use Silver, Gold, Platinum and Executive Platinum.

The mileage levels should be 25K, 50K, 75K and 100K.

Executive Platinum would have the following additional benefits:

EUA (modified that it needs to be requested upon ticketing, and that it be denied to anyone that has requested it but not actually flown the flights 5 times in a row)
An additional award for international upgrade (double the mileage level of today's award) which is an upgrade confirmed at time of ticketing (subject to availability)
Complimentary Silver elite for family members.
Complimentary President's club membership

Benefits for Silver, Gold and Platinum would remain as they were before the EUA business with the following exceptions.

Members who were at one elite level for five years straight receive an automatic level increase to the next level as long as they maintain their status miles above the threshold. Meaning someone who flew 26K would be Silver, but someone who flew 26K five years in a row would be Gold as long as they did not fall below 25K… same for Gold and Platinum. I believe this would have the "awarding loyalty" effect many are looking for while still increasing the bottom line for Continental.

All this, plus a written commitment that Executive platinum will NEVER be offered complimentary - It needs to be earned by either flying 100K, or by flying 75K 5 years in a row.

What do you think? What would be your ideal one pass plan?


[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 11-06-2000).]

David,

Great ideas!

I change that for all elite members, elimination of the 30 day window.

I think that the "Double Miles" solution is currently available. When I went to HNL this past May, regular B/F seats were unavailable. In order to secure B/F seats in advance, I had to pony up 120,000 miles per seat.

I especially like the idea of rewarding members who maintian their current level for 5+ years. That is "Thinking outside of the box".

The idea of upgrading a member's status after maintaining a level for five years is a winner. Very innovative.

A good subject to bring up, given the recent discussions.

I ranted a while back about about improvements I'd like to see.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum20/HTML/000657.html

Not sure that I would change the elite levels, not sure of the rationale for this...certainly CO's 50 percent, 100percent, 125percent respective mileage bonuses are the best in the business....but some major changes that would make one pass the best. Whereas I think that CO is perhaps the best airline, the OnePass program is not the best, insofar as these elements are separable--Freddie voting is a mix of both, it seems.

1) End the 30 day or less "maybe" notification of upgrade award or travel award for international/Hawaii BusinessFirst.

2) Upgrade on the lower international fares with miles, as with AA.

3) Upgrade of award tickets, as with NW for Gold/Plats (reciprocity?).

4) Free stopover with domestic award travel at 25k, as with AA.

5) Ditch the asinine $75 express fee for upgrading flights with miles on day of departure. Other airlines do it electronically for free! See UA.

6) Rid the $75 fee if I want to pick up my award ticket, as a paper ticket at the airport. See UA and NW.

7) Award ticket inventory should be equitable. Non-elites get less domestic availability than elites. And NW elites only have access to CO's non-elite inventory, whereas CO elites have access to the biggest basket of award seats on NW, irrespective of status.

8) (airline) More room throughout coach, especially on transcons (737s, ah)

9) (airline) While I'm dreaming, BF seats on all transcons in first.


Of course, there are many CO positives, as well...but that's for another thread.



[This message has been edited by JeffLewis2 (edited 11-06-2000).]

One elite benefit I keep hoping for:

Priority on "at-airport volunteer-bump" lists. I like to get bumped and take the payments; I'd love to jump to the top of the bump list with my elite status.

From a lowly Silver (soon to be nada,) after 5 consecutive years Executive Platinum, Infinite Platnum.

------------------
Bob

I received this "benefit" several times.
In bumbping situations, when I want to get bumped, I usually a present my platinum card and I;d say about half the time, it gets me to the front of the volunteer line. Of course, this is not an offical benefit, just that somwtimes the gate agents will take it on their own to give preference to elites.

It goes under the old adage:

"It never hurts to ask"

David, I think you just hit an angle that hasn't been raised before(if it has sorry I missed it).

Will EUA end up upgrading people who end up not flying on that flight?

How often?

Will this lead to more open seats DOD?

Once in a while(it happens to me once or twice a year) I'll know in advance that I'm not going to ake my scheduled flight. In those cases I don't always call to get the flight upgraded, since it's a waste of my time if i'm going to change the flight anyway.

Under EUA, I'd be upgraded and the seat wouldn't be released until 10 mins before(thats if I no-show) or when I actually cancel.

Does this even change things, or is it a non-issue?

My first thought is this hurts Silvers and Golds since a platinum gets priority on the standby list at the airport.

What if I cancel a few hours before the flight. Does my seat remain open and maybe a prestige pack holder or silver who gets to the airport early and get this seat?

Jeff, you're starting to get how bad this will be for Golds next year.

{rant upcoming, skip this if you don't want to hear me whine}

Not only does EUA upgrade the Plats that want it, but ALL plats, including those that are only protecting their itineraries on another flight, removing the available F seats 24 hours before Golds can even request them.

And as you point out, the ones who will get these seats 10 minutes before flight are - again the platinums.

The point that simmered around im my head all weekend is the stupid diversion that Continental is pulling by saying "elites no longer have to stay up" The Platinum elite never had to stay up till midnight to get an upgrade before a gold or silver. They could call anytime in the 24 hour period before gold was even allowed. Sleep all night, wakeup at 11am, eat a long brunch, and then STILL ace out any golds that wanted an upgrade.

The only reason that Platinums were staying up to midnight was to ace out each other. Well congratulations to all the platinums, now that can't be done anymore. CO will pick for you.

And I'm sure they'll be as truthful and forthcoming with the exact algorithm and criteria used as they were with their press release today and the propaganda WSJ article that missed this point entirely this morning.

By the way, here's the link that clearly says that CO is required to give 60 days notice for any changes other than award changes.
www.onepass.com/finer.htm

{rant is over, back to improving one pass suggestions}

NJDavid:

Not sure what you're referring to with respect to what I "get." Maybe it was someone else. I didn't realize that I was referring to the EUA.

Certainly a valid point about Platinums versus Platinums. I've never disagreed about that insight.

But of course my major issue has been WHEN CO FAILS to release seats at the respective windows. Your point doesn't apply here. In that case it can be Platinums vs. Golds vs. Silvers, in a free for all, guess for all, for most. FIXING the upgrade system addresses this. So might I extend a warm CONGRATULATIONS, as well http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif since we no longer have to stay up late AND keep calling with potentially diminished upgrade chances.

Now, since I don't want to get off track from this thread, I will just say that I am in favor of keeping this EUA benefit that I bemoaned the lack of in the past.

JL2

NJDAVID, said "The point that simmered around im my head all weekend is the stupid diversion that Continental is pulling by saying "elites no longer have to stay up" The Platinum elite never had to stay up till midnight to get an upgrade before a gold or silver. They could call anytime in the 24 hour period before gold was even allowed. Sleep all night, wakeup at 11am, eat a long brunch, and then STILL ace out any golds that wanted an upgrade.

The only reason that Platinums were staying up to midnight was to ace out each other. Well congratulations to all the platinums, now that can't be done anymore. CO will pick for you."

Truer words have never been spoken...

JL2,

Sorry for the confusion...

Boomer's first name is Jeff. I have always had a hard time calling people I know personally by their "handle".

I was responding to Boomer's post directly before mine, not baiting you in any way.

NJDavid, thanks for the clarification.

cigarman:

Welcome to "OnePass Crossfire." http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I only wish that statement were "true" with a late release of F seats. Do you see it being a diversion in this case? Am sure that many appreciate not having to, in fact, compete with Golds/Silvers at midnight or later, day of the flight. It seems to be a delightful "diversion" for some. Wouldn't you agree?

JL2

I like most of NJDavid's suggestions, especially, the 5 years to higher elite status. That's a great way to reward those who chose their airline and are loyal to it, rather than only those who fly on their company's dime on Y fares or whose corporate travel department puts them on a certain airline.

I agree with JeffLewis2's #5 and #6 (some of the others are good, too.

My pipe dream: Standby reward travel for elites. I suppose that's similar to an Easypass reward, but since it wouldn't be confirmed, it'd be only 25,000 miles.

CO would probably think they'd lose out on last-minute fares, but they could make such that you'd have to have the certificate ahead of time, sort of like for upgrading.

I've been waiting for this kind of confusion to happen for months now. Half the time I see a post here addressed to jeff, my first thought is "hey, what did I do now?" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif