CO Platinum Flying NW
 

I sincerely apologize if this has been answered previously (but I couldn't find it)...As a CO Platinum I will be flying a couple of segments on NW (ticketed & equipment) in mid Nov. As I rarely fly NW I wasn't sure if they too had a EUA system or if I had to call CO or NW 3 days before for my upgrade. (At this point, there appears lots of F seats on all 4 segments).

Unless anything has changed within the last 2 weeks as to how NW handles their upgrades, the NW EAU does not process CO upgrades automatically and you must call (to CO, who will either call NW, or, depending on their terminal type and training level, just do it themselves), and CO will upgrade you manually during this call.

Would someone please post if they know of any changes to this.

"Thesilb" is correct. I'm traveling this month to San Diego on NW and talked to the CO Elite rep about this. he checked with his supervisor to make sure nothing has changed. We still have to call CO to get an upgrade on NW. However, the rep went on to say, "keep checking with us. Something will be changing soon."

Think Michelle is gonna' be on the phone! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Have a great trip! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Yes, you call onepass and they call NW for your upgrades.

As an aside, I find it much easier to get upgrades on NW flights than CO flights.

In fact the only segment I didnt get upgraded on this year was a dsm-msp(232 mile flight) It was on RJ85 that was oversold more than a week before the flight. I can't expect an upgrade if they sell out FC to paying passengers.

Yup, thanks for the info, and you are correct Doc, it looks like I'll be setting that alarm once again http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif!

You could always hire Goodfellanj to make the call for you http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Yikes! Don't start that one up again! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Kitty Hawk (edited 11-02-2000).]

I must admit that I've been watching the EUA discussion with interest, but it hasn't yet affected me -- until now.

I just got off the phone with the CO Platinum elite line, as I have a flight with Northwest this Sunday I tried to upgrade on. The agent said that all upgrades are now processed through the system. When I challenged him that I was calling to upgrade on a Northwest flight, he said that the systems were linked and I would be notified via e-mail or fax. The funny thing is that I called two days ago for the outbound part of my trip on Northwest and was upgraded by phone.

I have to agree with those who are concerned about the communication or lack thereof. I am less concerned about the specific new rules being implemented than the fact that no one at Continental seems to have a consistent understanding of them.

So, did this guy just not understand the differences in how upgrades are handled by the different airlines, or have they changed in the past two days?

eph89:

If I was you, I'd call again. According to the onepass folks I've spoken with, you were given incorrect information. Everything that I've heard from continental indicated that you still need to call when flying on NW.

I am in the midst of a trip booked on NW, with all NW metal. About 1AM yesterday (Wednesday), I was able to upgrade both legs of my return trip SDF-DTW-LGA (for Saturday afternoon) by calling the CO elite line and sitting around as they called NW. As frequently happens, they were only able to tell me that I was now booked F on the NW flights, with no seat assignment. That required the immediate call to NW to make sure that the upgrade did not slip out of the system as it sometimes does and to get a seat assignment. All this took nearly 30 minutes on the phone after a very long trip with an after midnight arrival.
The outbound was unusual and now becoming typical for LGA, where the ATC situation has now spun completely out of control. I had only been able to upgrade the second leg of that trip (DTW-SDF) and was stuck in the back of the NW 757 LGA-DTW. However, the 757 was never going to go in time for me to make the connection and the service that I got from Marilyn in the WorldClub was unbelievably outstanding as she worked her computer furiously, trying connections to SDF and then taking my suggestion and getting me a seat on DL's nonstop CRJ to CVG. The hour and twenty minute drive over to Louisville was truly a pleasure after that kind of service. CO Platinum fliers are treated just as well as NW Elites at that WorldClub.

Boomer,

Thanks for confirming I wasn't crazy. I did call back, and of course got someone who better knew the rules. Still, I don't think I should have to be arguing with an agent serving Platinum customers who should know this simple difference.

Another question on this theme for people: When I originally called three days out (admittedly about 5 hours after midnight), all upgrades were gone. I have to believe they are going to release first-class seats -- yet because I am not in the Northwest EUA system, Golds and Silvers may get it over me. Does this mean I have to keep calling and find some window in between a seat being released and someone already on the list taking it? Does anyone know if/when the systems will be linked?

I agree that people either like or dislike the system depending on how much they are impacted by the change, but it does seem like at least the bugs (people not receiving e-mails) and loopholes should be taken out before implementing it like they did. The irony is that almost all of my OnePass miles are from NW this year and yet now I can't use the system the way they do.

Thoughts?

You have a good point which I think does create a technical dilemma for the time being, but, and this is just my opinion from experience, the point is somewhat mooted by the point made above a few posts:

NW flights seem to have far more upgarde seats available speaking generally.

Although my upgrade percentage is actually pretty good on CO, my stress level has been better on NW. Meaning that I almost always, like 98% of the time, get the seat 3 days out. With CO, seems almost every trip now I'm stressing to wait for a leg or two until day before flight or day of flight.

In certain markets, one nice thing about NW is that you can go out of your way to fly on DC10's. Out of SFO, for example, I usually go out of my way to get on a DC10 to DTW or MSP. There are so many first class seats, there are frequently 10-12 EMPTY first class seats after take off on these runs. I bet there aren't 10-12 empty first class seats on every SFO-IAH flight COMBINED for all of last WEEK on Continental.

Asking people here if they have thoughts is like asking a politican is they have any sins.

As for when the system's might be linked, I wouldn't hold my breath. CO and NW seem to be moving very slowly in this regard. WE are almost 2 years into the alliance and as you know Onepass reps still have to call NW and get us upgrades on NW metal.

Why should this be different than any other issue. Continental execs have admitted that "flyertalks know more about the rules than the people answering the phones" One Continental exec told me "You people sit down and read the fine print"

As for how to get your FC seat. From experience in upgrading on NW flights, it seems that NW's EUA system doesn't run round the clock(I can't say that this won't change however. So you still have a chance. I'd suggest calling early, calling after. Continental is paying for the phone call.

If Continental is gonna make people fight for upgrade than they should expect people to start fighting.

Wasn't there a cigarette ad slogan about "I'd rather fight than switch"?

I wonder how many fighters and how many quitters there will be.

"Wasn't there a cigarette ad slogan about 'I'd rather fight than switch?'"

Yep! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif It was for Tareyton.

"US TAREYTON SMOKERS WOULD RATHER FIGHT THAN SWITCH"

Of course, those of us who know how to speak proper English will recognize the improper usage and that this should actually have been "WE!" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif