Mrs. CPD got an offer in the mail today:

"...since you came close to earning the next level of OnePass Elite status..."

Basically, they are offering her Silver (through 2/02) for $250. No miles to redeem, just the cash.

She had 19,632 status miles for 2000 - I know, with a little more planning, we could have obtained silver for her... but we didn't...

It looks like this is a targeted mailing, and they know everything there is to know about her flying patterns...

Now, since i've been gold for years, the companion upgrades have been almost like clockwork for us... and when she flies with me, she gets the upgrades and everything that comes with (my PClub pass, etc...).

Now, since the 2001 program changed things slightly - and it's my guess that a gold companion upgrade will not be quite as available as before -- let me explain...

In the "old" days (last year), pecking order for F seats that were held by yield management, only released on the day of flight (seats held for airport check-in only) was:

1. plat
2. plat companion
3. gold
4. gold companion
5. silver

Now, with silvers being able to lock in via EUA 1 day before, and if yield management doesn't hold out on the silvers (and only releases the seats morning of flight/for airport allocation only), it's my reasoning that it's more valuable to be a silver now than last year -- as compared to being a gold companion -- however, if yield management continues to hold out on the silvers, then she will still be my companion, for a slightly higher chance for the seat at the airport. Anyone agree?

So with that logic, the $250 is a kind of an insurance policy in a way -- she'll either get the F seat a day before with EUA - or she'll still be ahead of other silvers at the gate if she's my companion.

And she also gets the 50% bonus miles - so it's not such a terrible deal... hmmm....

Anyone agree/disagree with this logic?

Thanks,

cpd

I don't agree with the logic. But I do agree with the result! Without looking it up, I think the companion upgrades are at the bottom of the list. A silver should trump a companion. I'm not gonna check because I would pay the $$$. The bonus miles alone are very useful.

[This message has been edited by cigarman (edited 03-02-2001).]

I agree with the big Cohiba.

At the gate, I've been told that the gold companion gets the seat before the silver.

This has happend to me more than once -- where my companion gets her seat before a silver.

I have also seen a plat companion get a seat before me (gold).

[we ARE talking about seats that yield management holds back and EUA does not allocate - held for gate check-in only, right?]

I think this is fair...

I'll zap an email off to customer care to see what the answer really is.

cpd

[This message has been edited by carpeperdiem (edited 03-02-2001).]

I agree with Carpeperdiem,

I was on a flight last month from IAH-LAS (early sat AM flight) with 2 empty FC seats.

I wasn't scheduled to be on that flight so EUA didn't kick in. I asked to be put on the standby list as soon as I got to the airport.

About 1-2 mins before the door closed, I saw the gate agent pull up a platinum and his wife to the 2 empty FC seats (I saw his luggage tags which were platinum)...that kinda pissed me off that CO favors platinum companions more than they favor me....c'est la vie.

Does anyone else know if this is in fact the right policy or should I have gotten that seat?

Another good reason to:


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http://www.denycontinentalthefreddie.com

This post actually addresses my question, as follows:

I'm gold & my husband is silver; we are scheduled to fly international, with first and fourth segments domestic.

Am I better off to request upgrade with him as my companion vs. each "going it alone"?

Thanks!

1. Make sure your are on separate PNRs - they will split it for you - but you must ask - if the agent will not, ask for an elite rep.

2. When you pull your seats, make sure HE has the so-called "better" seat - i.e. if you pull 14AB - be sure HE has 14A and you have 14B, so that when EUA runs for you, you are giving up a middle seat, less likely to fill.

3. When EUA runs for you, and you get your seat, great.

4. When EUA runs for him, and if there's no upgrade, but the seats are simply being held by yield management (i.e. A3 F0), then there is still a shot --

5. Declare him your companion at the gate, and he then has a better shot of the seat (vs. the other silvers).

Please don't do this on any flights that I'm on and if you purchased your tickets before me.

:-)

cpd

CPD: Thanks for the response and "explanation" -- I will carry it with me on the flight

Well we can now see how much each level costs. I just got an offer from CO $400 for Gold. I fell short of gold and will be silver and CO sent me an offer to pay for an upgrade. I think I'll pass.


BSL

How short of gold were you?

I also got the offer. Upgrade Gold to Plat for $750. I was 4 segments and/or ~7,000 miles short. Fortunately I found the boarding passes for the 4 segments they missed and got Plat anyway.

Looks like CO is making one think, really think, about the buy-ups.

I ended the year with 37K in flight miles and 44 segments. That was done even though I lived in SLC. I now live back in HOU. I also earned Silver on Delta. Ya'll have any thoughts Co's willingness to comp me up to Gold based on my flying on DL?

This would help me get my wife upgraded when we travel together.

BSL

From the OnePass Elite members web page on companion upgrades:

"If space is available, the airport agent will upgrade your companion to First Class/Business Class. Companion Upgrades are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, when seating is available. Platinum Elite members and companions receive top priority. Gold Elite members and companions next priority."

So it looks like a Plat companion goes before a Gold member.