Another beta round (does this equal a gamma round)?
Mar 21, 2001 | 5:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Napa Valley, IAH, SAN, and SMF.
Programs: UA Premier 1K
Posts: 206
Another beta round (does this equal a gamma round)?
I had signed up for the beta testing of the new COOL site a month or so ago, but was informed via email that they had enough guinea pigs...er...testers. Today I received an email that said in effect, "WHOA! We need you after all!" and said my profile had been transferred to the beta site and that all of my future online bookings should be made via the beta site, which I was invited to bookmark.
Well, I went there and played around. Cool interface, though not that much different from a user standpoint than before.
My gripe: There is still no way to book online and select a Y fare. Sure, you can check the boxes that specify direct flight only, no penalties for changes, etc.....but in many instances (i.e., IAH-AUS) you'll still get a Q fare, which is not immediately upgradeable. I want to be able to check a single box that says, "YES! Charge me a Y fare! I don't care!" I would think that CO would invite such customers.
Well, I went there and played around. Cool interface, though not that much different from a user standpoint than before.
My gripe: There is still no way to book online and select a Y fare. Sure, you can check the boxes that specify direct flight only, no penalties for changes, etc.....but in many instances (i.e., IAH-AUS) you'll still get a Q fare, which is not immediately upgradeable. I want to be able to check a single box that says, "YES! Charge me a Y fare! I don't care!" I would think that CO would invite such customers.
Mar 21, 2001 | 6:01 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia & Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: UA Rif Raf (Defrocked 1K), CO Lead (Former Plat), QF Bronze
Posts: 1,304
Along those same lines, another nice option for BizFirst flights would be "lowest upgradeable fare."
------------------
In Economy...no one can hear you scream!
http://www.denycontinentalthefreddie.com/
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In Economy...no one can hear you scream!
http://www.denycontinentalthefreddie.com/
Mar 21, 2001 | 6:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K/*G
Posts: 2,397
Originally posted by SemiElite:
Along those same lines, another nice option for BizFirst flights would be "lowest upgradeable fare."
Along those same lines, another nice option for BizFirst flights would be "lowest upgradeable fare."
Mar 21, 2001 | 7:42 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 16,066
Originally posted by dbaker:
You will never see that feature since it's financially disadvantageous to the airline. It's pretty unfortunate to us, but you can't win them all.
You will never see that feature since it's financially disadvantageous to the airline. It's pretty unfortunate to us, but you can't win them all.
Mar 21, 2001 | 7:51 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K/*G
Posts: 2,397
Originally posted by B747-437B:
Delta has this feature on their website. Very useful for us Medallions who can never use those 800 mile SMUs on the real el cheapo L and U fares.
Delta has this feature on their website. Very useful for us Medallions who can never use those 800 mile SMUs on the real el cheapo L and U fares.
Mar 22, 2001 | 11:39 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 8,179
I'm not sure I understand the comment about having an option for "lowest upgradable fare" being financially disadvantageous to the airline. If anything, the current situation with "promotional" fares not being upgradable using miles is causing people to book higher fares in hopes of an upgrade. For those people for whom this is important, the lack of availability of this information on the web site means that they will have to call reservations and speak with an agent, even if they end up booking online. This certainly must cost CO more money than if the booking could be handled completely online.
As a beta participant for the new website, I have just noticed a couple of great improvements in this area when compared to the existing web site. Although not as straightforward as what has been reported on the DL web site, the new site will give us much more information than the old one. Specifically,
1. The fare class is visible on the "Review itinerary" screen, which is the equivalent of the "Flight details" screen on the old web site. On this page, instead of just seeing "Economy/Coach Class", the new site shows "Economy (V)", giving you some idea as to what fare the price is based on.
2. Better yet, if you click on "rules and restrictions" on this page, the page returned by the beta web site will tell you if the fare is not upgradable by looking in the "Other Discounts" section. On the old web site, "OTHER DISC" most often just says "see text rule", but mortals cannot view the actual text rule. The new web site seems to give you a much more "raw" view of the fare rules. In particular, the "Other Discounts" section will have the full details. As an example, here are the results of viewing the rules for fare basis VLX0401 for travel from IAH to NRT:
Current web site:
OTHER DISC - SEE TEXT RULE
Beta web site:
OD.OTHER DISCOUNTS
NOTE -
RULE 1151 - SENIOR CITIZENS DISCOUNTS MAY NOT BE
APPLIED TO TRAVEL UNDER THIS RULE.
----
ONEPASS UPGRADES/COMPANION TICKETS OR OTHER
MARKETING PROGRAMS MAY NOT BE APPLIED TO TRAVEL
UNDER THIS RULE. ONEPASS MILEAGE ACCRUAL PERMITTED
Certainly, the beta web site provides more information. It is in a less digestable format than the old site, but I think that's okay, since very few people are likely to wander into the detailed "rules and restrictions" section anyway. For those people that do, I think having as much information as possible is a definite benefit.
As a beta participant for the new website, I have just noticed a couple of great improvements in this area when compared to the existing web site. Although not as straightforward as what has been reported on the DL web site, the new site will give us much more information than the old one. Specifically,
1. The fare class is visible on the "Review itinerary" screen, which is the equivalent of the "Flight details" screen on the old web site. On this page, instead of just seeing "Economy/Coach Class", the new site shows "Economy (V)", giving you some idea as to what fare the price is based on.
2. Better yet, if you click on "rules and restrictions" on this page, the page returned by the beta web site will tell you if the fare is not upgradable by looking in the "Other Discounts" section. On the old web site, "OTHER DISC" most often just says "see text rule", but mortals cannot view the actual text rule. The new web site seems to give you a much more "raw" view of the fare rules. In particular, the "Other Discounts" section will have the full details. As an example, here are the results of viewing the rules for fare basis VLX0401 for travel from IAH to NRT:
Current web site:
OTHER DISC - SEE TEXT RULE
Beta web site:
OD.OTHER DISCOUNTS
NOTE -
RULE 1151 - SENIOR CITIZENS DISCOUNTS MAY NOT BE
APPLIED TO TRAVEL UNDER THIS RULE.
----
ONEPASS UPGRADES/COMPANION TICKETS OR OTHER
MARKETING PROGRAMS MAY NOT BE APPLIED TO TRAVEL
UNDER THIS RULE. ONEPASS MILEAGE ACCRUAL PERMITTED
Certainly, the beta web site provides more information. It is in a less digestable format than the old site, but I think that's okay, since very few people are likely to wander into the detailed "rules and restrictions" section anyway. For those people that do, I think having as much information as possible is a definite benefit.
Mar 23, 2001 | 12:53 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia & Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: UA Rif Raf (Defrocked 1K), CO Lead (Former Plat), QF Bronze
Posts: 1,304
Another option would be to book AA, where all fares are upgradeable...no restrictions on upgradeable tix, no 30 day rule, no 72 hour rule! If they've got the seat, and you've got the miles, you've got the tix! Novel concept, huh!
And, should one fail to get the big chair up front, you would end up relegated to a 35" coach seat. Not a maybe...ALL of their coach seats are 35" pitch!
Sure, if you're getting the BizFirst tickets, they are better. And if you're still getting the free domestic upgrades, they are cheaper. But a Biz tix on AA that you actually get is still better than a BizFirst on CO that you don't get. And a paid upgrade or a free 35" economy tix on AA is still better than a free CO upgrade that you don't get, and are then relegated to one of their wonderful 31" pitch seats!
------------------
In Economy...no one can hear you scream!
http://www.denycontinentalthefreddie.com/
And, should one fail to get the big chair up front, you would end up relegated to a 35" coach seat. Not a maybe...ALL of their coach seats are 35" pitch!
Sure, if you're getting the BizFirst tickets, they are better. And if you're still getting the free domestic upgrades, they are cheaper. But a Biz tix on AA that you actually get is still better than a BizFirst on CO that you don't get. And a paid upgrade or a free 35" economy tix on AA is still better than a free CO upgrade that you don't get, and are then relegated to one of their wonderful 31" pitch seats!
------------------
In Economy...no one can hear you scream!
http://www.denycontinentalthefreddie.com/
Mar 23, 2001 | 3:21 pm
#8
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Houston, Texas, TEXAS
Posts: 1,510
Alex,
I'm in the beta site, too, and please sned them an e-mail suggestion to include the "Y" fare. I have sent an e-mail suggesting the same thing, plus having the option to select the lowest refundable/changeable fare.
I'm in the beta site, too, and please sned them an e-mail suggestion to include the "Y" fare. I have sent an e-mail suggesting the same thing, plus having the option to select the lowest refundable/changeable fare.
Mar 23, 2001 | 3:22 pm
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Houston, Texas, TEXAS
Posts: 1,510
Alex,
I'm in the beta site, too, and please send them an e-mail suggestion to include the "Y" fare. I have sent an e-mail suggesting the same thing, plus having the option to select the lowest refundable/changeable fare.
I'm in the beta site, too, and please send them an e-mail suggestion to include the "Y" fare. I have sent an e-mail suggesting the same thing, plus having the option to select the lowest refundable/changeable fare.
Mar 23, 2001 | 4:26 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Napa Valley, IAH, SAN, and SMF.
Programs: UA Premier 1K
Posts: 206
Jaws_II: I did send them the email and today got this response:
Thank you for participating in the Continental Airlines Beta Test Program.
We appreciate your comments and your feedback will be included in evaluating
improvements to our product.
If you have further comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact us.
It was signed by a person who gave his/her name, but there was no indication that the suggestion had actually been read (i.e., it was a stock response, obviously). I sure wish and hope they take this suggestion. It can only mean more $$ for them.
Thank you for participating in the Continental Airlines Beta Test Program.
We appreciate your comments and your feedback will be included in evaluating
improvements to our product.
If you have further comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact us.
It was signed by a person who gave his/her name, but there was no indication that the suggestion had actually been read (i.e., it was a stock response, obviously). I sure wish and hope they take this suggestion. It can only mean more $$ for them.