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BOS-EWR was a nice ride because of FC however after they closed the cabin door, there was one FC left, and guess who ended up sitting there, one of the CO's employee possible pilot. My quesiton is were there no more Elites sitting in Y?
EWR-BOS was hectic, since everyone decided to bring the thickest jackets they can find, and there are no where left for carry-ons. One possible Plat got the last minute upgrade after the cabin door was closed. I think this could also be a trip report, oh well, I guess the there is more emphisis on EUA and how CO handles last minute empty seats. Al |
Originally posted by Boomer: kazman: I agree its all about money, but its a lot more complicated than you indicate. Continental has alot of customers that are stuck with continental, as an example the folks that fly EWR-CLE every week. They arent going to switch to united and connect in chicago, and CO knows that. They are the captive audience. Then there are the marginal customers, these are the people that might switch. If you lose them, you've lost revenue, even if the captive's pay more, it's those marginal seats that almost go right to the bottom line. Yes, Continental is in business to make money, and Gordon should be focused on that. But he's focused on alot more than that. They do lots of things that don't directly go to the bottom line, some of it is called good will. Often times good will in the long run will outweigh revenue in the short run. Continental's handling of the entire EUA has not generated much good will, in fact quite the opposite. Before EUA--6 for 6 on upgrades After EUA--0 for 2 on upgrades Not an auspicious start! Unless I see something radically different, I'll be asking UA for a comp to PremEx at the end of the year. Why UA? Don't they charge for upgrades that CO gives free? Yep, but better a paid upgrade that happens than a free upgrade that doesn't! Furthermore, if I don't get the upgrade, at least I get a couple more inches of pitch with UA Cattle Class. And, as someone 6'1" and tipping the scales at over 200, I appreciate that! Also UA has more flights to more destinations that I go to than CO. Boomer, your post is one of the most intelligent that I've read here. As someone flying from the West Coast, UA and AA offer far more flights with far fewer connections. Yet I fly CO for one simple reason...free upgrades. If I don't get them, I'm gone! Simple equation! I've always appreciated CO's liberal attitude towards domestic upgrades, but now I see a policy of "Screw the Silvers and Golds." I understand that Plats give them a major chunk of business, but let's not forget that Silvers and Golds (even with discount tickets) also add alot to CO's bottom line. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif ------------------ "An upgrade, an upgrade! My kingdom for an upgrade!" |
Hey what is wrong with unlimited non-upgrades, at least they are unlimited! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
------------------ Viele Grüße Oliver |
My contribution to the EUA "tally":
Of 12 round-trips, 2 segments on an international route, I am 100% for the domestic legs, including upgrading my son from coach as a companion on four segments. This also includes 4 legs on NWA on an NWA ticket. I received upgrades on the 2 domestic legs of my international flight. This may be the best benefit for me, since it is near impossible to call for upgrades when abroad. Now I get them almost automatically. Before EUA I was batting around 75%. But then I was one of those "lazy Plats." |
Originally posted by Germanfflyer: Hey what is wrong with unlimited non-upgrades, at least they are unlimited! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif ------------------ "An upgrade, an upgrade! My kingdom for an upgrade!" |
As others have said on this thread, you really have to keep up with what is going on. First two segments of my upcoming trip were auto upgraded no problem. Return segments were not, although ITN showed F3 for the flight pair. I called the Platinum line and asked. A very nice agent said, you were upgraded on one of the segments but not the other. "How strange", she added. I said I guess the system still had some kinks. She replyed, " and we will get rid of those kinks right now", and completed the upgrade. She was very nice to deal with and told me the best way to deal with the new system at this point is to keep on top of the game at my end and if there is a problem to just call. Maybe machines can count votes better than people, but it is sure nice to have a nice person to talk to, when the auto-upgrade machine gets out of line.
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Before EUA: 0 for 0
After EUA: 2 for 4 Made Silver in June. Haven't flown them since until last week. 11/17 11:15 am ORD-IAH MD80 : denied IAH-SFO 737 : denied 11/21 12 pm SFO-IAH 757 : Upgraded at gate with 2 other passengers, I believe. Placed on a wailist once I checked in around 10:20 am IAH-ORD 737 : Upgraded on the plane before takeoff by gate agent. I guess someone didn't show or something. Although I obviously don't mind being upgraded, but is there anyway to confirm this earlier (i.e. midnight day of flight)? I called CO the night before both my flights and said F was full, but yet I was upgraded. What gives? I called normal reservations instead of the Silver hotline. What should I have done differently? I was looking forward to trying the tri-colored pasta, but surprisingly there wasn't any left when the FA came by (!) Had some funky turkey sandwich and split pea soup. |
The pasta seems to be to and from any two southern cities.
[This message has been edited by cigarman (edited 11-22-2000).] |
EUA scorecard:
CO gold for past 2 years... Until last week, upgraded on EVERY segment for the past 2 years - except one (and it was a short hop - so no big deal). I could be considered an aggressive gold - I want my F seat, so I always remember to call, etc... Since EUA, I am 1 for 3 (33%) - however, on 2 flights, I was given the F seat but was bumped at the gate due to an equipment downgrade from a 24 seat 757 to the biz-1st 16 seat config... (to the people in F, that wasn't a downgrade!) - however, i didn't get the EUA until morning of the flights in both circumstances - so is my scorecard 100%? I didn't fly in 1st, so I think it's 33%. How odd is that that there's an eqip change on 2 flights in a row (EWR-PBI-EWR). Now, my flight tomorrow morn (thanksgiving day) will be a test -- gotta say that the system is quirky -- for a flight on 11/23, I checked ITN on 11/20 at 11pm EST - ITN reported A8 F8 - good, lots of seats - and this is within the platinum upgrade window (that is, the plats should have all upgraded by this time). Good - so I watched the computer do its thing on Monday night - right after midnight CST, the flight went to A8 F4 - hmm - what's this... computer is restricting some seats... OK - A8 F4 is good and I should get a seat when the computer runs overnight - when I woke up at 7am, checked email - no upgrade notice. Checked ITN - A4 F0. Hmmm... where's my upgrade? :-( Well, obviously there must be at least 4 golds on this flight that ticketed before me... We'll see if I get the upgrade tonight.... Finally, I called CO elite line for my 2 NW codeshare flights on Friday - no prob. A9 F9 all the way... So including the 2 equip changes, for 6 segments, I'm 4 for 7 (possibly 5 for 7 if my thursday morn flight clears). Not exactly 100% as i've grown accustomed to (and the ONLY reason I am loyal to CO). I could care less about any benefit of onepass EXCEPT the upgrades. In fact, I am trying to use some of my 500,000 miles and get my parents a trip to the carribean in F next summer - however inventory sucks. When I used to be premex on UA, reward seats were much more abundant.... maybe I'm just picking the wrong days and the wrong destinations... but geez... Ok, off for the weekeend. Safe travels to all. cpd |
My EUA tally:
0 for 0, 50,000 miles in the hole for confirmed upgrades so I don't have to take a chance with an unfairly imposed, stupidly thought out and plain dumb EUA system. 50,000 miles of retribution that I am putting in my "bank" so that I will remember to get it out of Continental's hide some day. My only run-in this year will be the 2nd week of December, when I'm scheduled to fly coach next to my wife. She's on a reward, I'm at the end of a business trip where I expressly do not want an upgrade. As I've received no official notice that I have to do anything different other than reserve a seat next to my wife, that is all I have done. I will have a tape recorder with me to record whatever the gate agent says if they attempt to give me a seat I did not ask for instead of the one that I as an elite have already confirmed. [This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 11-22-2000).] |
NJDavid:
Hey, I certainly hear your gripe, although I have a different perspective, as you know. Seriously, by all means you have the right to criticize the new system and chose other means to upgrade. I wish it were working out otherwise for you. You have stated elsewhere why you will be using miles. An unreleated question, for another time, would be how about monitoring the seats with ITN and then using a mileage upgrade if it doesn't look hopeful. I did this with the old system, since EWR was never 100 percent for me. Maybe that's what you're doing? However, I'll be a bit priggish here and remind everyone, including myself, that this thread is for score reports. 0 for 0. No attempts, no score. No reports. EUA scores, anyone? |
JL2
No problem, We agree on 0 for 0. But just for the record (not filling this with unnecessary repeated remarks) I fly to a whole lot of business conferences out of EWR. LAX, LAS, SFO, etc. These are all VERY popular routes. Two months out, ITN often shows that the only F inventory still available is on connecting flights if at all. By taking away my ability to request an upgrade at the exact point when yield management releases the seat, CO has effectively removed my ability to upgrade. EUA may be a luxury for those of you who fly out of non-hub airports, and especially for the frequent traveller to Knoxville or Phoenix. But for those of us flying transcon from a CO hub, it is a painful thorn representing a clear loss of promised benefits. |
Platinum member.12/12 since new EAU system began.
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EUA is not a benefit. It is a promition to reward the best customers. It is a "free" good provided by CO. While it is probably considered a "right" by those silver and gold who tried hard to reach the elite level and expect it, please keep in mind that no other airlines offer upgrades for the same flying efforts without costs. So when you compare apple with apple, some complaints we see here may become moot. I have already flown 2 Platimum worth (150,000 miles) this year. And I appreciate the fact that CO is finally making an effort to ensure their best customers will have first priority to get a better seat. (I often got caught while traveling on CO and on partner airlines coming back to US and LOST the chance to call in in advance for an upgrade.) That's why they have my loyalty and my travel dollars. To stay consistent with the topic. 1 for 1 on domestic route so far. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
[This message has been edited by TheAuditor (edited 11-22-2000).] |
5 for 5 here, as a Plat flying out of IAH.
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