Friday, I flew SAN-IAH-CLE. At the Houston gate the CO rep handling the boarding for CLE made an announcement that "since 98% of the flight consisted of Elites we were going to board by row" (after 1st class had boarded). That's the first time I've seen that (she was probably exaggerating a little- I doubt she did the math). As a Gold, I've noticed I'm getting upgraded less- I will be Plat soon, and it looks like you're going to HAVE to be Plat to have any upgrade chances at all. At least for the forseeable future.
So I'll be Plat in 2002 but may not fly much by choice- not if I have to fly "Southwest" even when I'm supposedly flying CO.

The agent might have been telling the truth. Depending upon the route and time of day & year, I could imagine that some flights would have VERY high percentages of Elites.

[This message has been edited by avek00 (edited 11-11-2001).]

I wasn't doubting that she was telling the truth.

Here's my theory as to what's going on. We know that certain routes have always had high percentages of elites (as evidenced by inter-hub and EWR-west coast flights being difficult to upgrade, even for Platinums), but it seems that the problem has increased lately.

With the 20% reduction in flights, the remaining passengers are squeezed onto the remaining flights. If you assume that the number of passengers is down 20%, who is it that's not flying that was doing so before? Most of the elites probably fly on business, and I would think that most business travel has returned to normal (except possibly for reductions due to the economic slowdown), but this was already happening over the summer.

Some elites, such as myself, travel primarily for pleasure (I'm Gold and soon to be Platinum, even without the double elite miles promo). Whatever the reason for travel, most elite travelers are very familiar and comfortable with airplanes, airports, and the whole process of air travel. It's unlikely that very many elite travelers would suddenly develop an irrataional fear of flying after Sept 11.

A good portion of the reduction in air travel is probably from people that don't fly regularly anyway (maybe they take 1 or 2 fights a year, to visit family or for a vacation). Overall, this type of traveler used to make up a good portion of the passengers overall, but they hold no elite status since individually, they don't travel much.

If the reduction in passengers has come primarily from the occasional traveler, then the percentage of elites for those that remain would go up.

Jeezzze, if they only had 2% non-elites why didn't they let them board first???

As a Gold, I had more NO upgrades this year, then last. There have been a couple of Plats on the last several flights, exp SAN or LAX-EWR left in coach, also.

Now That I am Plat, I hope not to be one of them, that is left in coach for whatever reasoning CO might have.

[This message has been edited by R&R (edited 11-11-2001).]

I am noticing this phenomenon at the airport as well. I fly out of EWR every monday (usually on a 6am - 7am flight) - and I've noticed that they have 3 people working the non-elite check in line - and one working the elite check in line. The problem with that situation is that there are usually about 3x as many elites waiting to check in as non-elite!

R & R -

Which days are you flying? Monday and Friday mornings are very tough. Thought about taking the late evening flights on Sundays or Thursdays?

I too live in San Diego and find that getting upgraded out of LAX is much easier - (going on a 757 with 24 seats up front vs. an MD-80 to IAH with 10 or a 737 to EWR with 12).

Further - driving home from LAX last night only took me a bit over an hour - well worth it - as I was upgraded to seat 1B on the return flight from CDG (the IAH - LAX leg at least).

JTB

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"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been,and there you will forever long to return." Leonardo da Vinci

[This message has been edited by hotlancer (edited 11-12-2001).]

You were also traveling from one hub to the other. CO has the only nonstops between those cities.

It reminds me of when I flew between 2 USAir hubs PIT-PHL. They called Preferred before regular boarding. Over 180 people tried to get on at the same time. I wasn't Elite, and was the only one left for regular boarding!

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On the road,
In the air,
I enjoy travel
From here to there.

I was interested to hear the rationale behind the reported 98% Elite member flight. I agree with all the points raised.

I feared that this would happen after Sept 11 for all those reasons. I have no fear of flying as I'm very comfortable with it, and many of the flights I used to take have either been cancelled, or switched to smaller planes. This makes upgrades alot harder to come by.

Since Sept 11 I've received only 1 complimentary upgrade (fortunately it was LAX-IAH and much appreciated), but most of my flights are CLE-BOS and whereas I almost always got upgrades, now none, and the flights I used to take are gone.

It is hard for me to feel I should complain...I'm just hoping CO stays in business long enough for me to use my airmiles! But it does make pushing that extra bit to gain status less rewarding, if you'll pardon the pun.

Lady Elite
Gold next month and wondering if it will make any difference.

LadyElite, I was Gold all year and frankly I got more upgrades as a silver before EUA. Not only that, but the ONLY way I have been able to get a companion upgrade is by using miles for both myslef and my wife when I purchased the tickets. Sorry.

Maybe the upgrade Gods smiled on me the last couple of years, but I am suprised to hear of all the upgrade problems. I have been Gold on Co for 2.5yrs, and have not sat in coach on CO or NW for that entire time. I did, sadly, have to sit "behind the curtain" PHX-LAS last week on HP, but I expected that.


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What do you mean I can't charge my heart bypass to my Visa? I need the MILES!!!