Too many complainers
 

Is CO perfect? No. But it really is better than a lot of other programs out there (for domestic travel). I defected from AA 3 months ago and am very happy.

Here are some bullet points:

* I only was in first class 30-40% of the time as a Plat on American. You dont get an auto upgrade on American. I have been in first every time except for 1 time with CO

* You get the opportunity to try and upgrade on multiple airlines (NW, America West, CO

* The Presidents club offers free liquor, yogurt, cookies, snacks and you get to use America Wests lounges as well. On American there are crappy snacks, you have to pay for liquor and you have to ask a bartender for your free soft drink so you have to tip so its not free anymore

* CO NW flights tend to be less expensive from my airport SNA

* First Class food is far better than the first class food in American. Especialy breakfast. The whole cinnamon roll thing!

I can't believe someone got a fruit basket from CO as a way for them to say "I'm sorry" and they complained on this board that the carrot cake in the fruit basket was "dry". For crying out loud!

I just flew in from Orlando to SNA and my Northwest flight was cancelled or delayed. Since I was upgraded on NW to first, they bought me a fist class ticket on Delta without me saying anything. They didnt have to do that and I know it cost them a lot of money to actually buy a 1st class ticket.

I invite you to fly AA for domestic travel. You will see that CO program is better. its not perfect, but its better. You'll be back after a year.

Diamond Dog: your uprgrade percentages will be fine if you stick w/ NW metal more often. The crux of the issue is that CO & NW profess to have the same type of system, yet NW's works quite well whereas CO's is questionable.

Since you do not live in a hub, you are obligated to connect virutally anywhere you go. Those of us who live in hubs would often like to fly direct, but CO is playing games with the release of seats. Although, for a few flights it looks like NW is taking a page from CO's book.

For your benefit:

CO - SNA/IAH
(Tue Mar-19)
A4 F0, A2 F0, A4 F0, A2 F0
(Wed Mar-20)
A6 F0, A4 F0, A9 F5, A4 F0

CO - SNA/EWR
(Tue Mar-19)
A4 F0, A0 F0
(Wed Mar-20)
A1 F0, A4 F0

NW - SNA/MSP
(Tue Mar-19)
P9 F5, P7 F2, P6 F1
(Wed Mar-20)
P9 F3, P9 F3, P8 F0

NW - SNA/DTW
(Tue Mar-19)
P9 F4
(Wed Mar-20)
P9 F0

EWR,

Just so you know. I rarely get the upgrade via e-mail notification due to the holding of seats. However I get them a check in. i dont care when I get them, as long as I gt them. However it would be nicer to KNOW i got them 5 days in advance.

Could you explain all of those numbers you posted? I am sure its very valuable information, I just dont know how to decipher it http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

On CO, A is a revenue First Class seat, F is a FC seat that you can get via mileage upgrade or Elite upgrade.

The reason that you're not getting the e-mail upgrades is because CO is holding the seats in the revenue section.

To the best of my knowledge, on NW P is revenue FC and F is mileage/Elite upgrade.

The way things are going now, you may get your upgrade on the first segment, i.e. SNA-IAH, but find yourself in coach from IAH-points unknown.

Here's a scenario that rings true recently. Take a look at this itinerary:

6:45 am SNA - 12:05 pm IAH
1:30 pm IAH - 4:45 pm MCO

Let's say your IAH-SNA segment is A6 F0 from 3-days prior straight thru the 3 hours before the flight. Then all the A seats get converted to F seats, so A6 F6. You get the upgrade at the aiport/check-in, etc...

The agent also checks you in for your next flight, IAH-MCO. But you don't get the upgrade then for IAH-MCO because availability is still being held as A9 F0, there are no upgradeable seats.

At ~10:30am CST the FC seats for the IAH-MCO segments are released from A to F. There's only one problem, you're in the air from SNA until 12:05pm. By nature of your checking in for the flight, it appears that you are not included in the new EUA system*. So you land in IAH and inquire about whether you cleared "the FC standby list." Nope, checked in full sir, sorry... But, if you were standing there at 11am you could get it, even if you were a Silver...

* happened to me twice last week.

You are correct, we are complaining... there are all these little IT glitches are are not allowing the system to run smoothly.

too many complainers???

nooooo....i completely disagree. this forum is a love fest.

NOT

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

by the way, flew to Orlando International Airport from Newark International Airport this morning in first class (fare code, who knows--who cares?).

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Too Many Complainers? I think not. Don't forget that Continental has been screwing around with its domestic upgrade program, devaluing miles, making international upgrades very tough to get (including getting a confirmed seat when playing the game or using miles for an award ticket), limiting award ticket inventory in order to sell more rule buster awards, has a CEO who tells outright lies to the customer, etc.

Tell me, what change has Continental made in the last six months to actually benefit the OnePass Elite consumer?

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"We will not cut benefits from OnePass, our industry-leading frequent flyer program, because we remain committed to rewarding our most loyal customers."

-- Gordon Bethune (Continental's CEO) two weeks before significantly cutting benefits of the OnePass program

Tell me, what change has Continental made in the last six months to actually benefit the OnePass Elite consumer?

Although it pertains to more than just elites...the addition of KLM as a partner I would view as a benefit.

Ummm *scratching head*..... Oh yeah, the partnership with KLM

But, when you balance the gain of KLM with the loss of Air France as a partner, it's pretty much a wash!

Oh, yeah! Almost forgot! CO just gained Azteca as a partner! Now you can get OP miles on your next flight to Tijuana!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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"Read my lips! No more benefit cuts!"...Gordon Bethune

I agree with YOU, DiamondDog. I defected from both UA and AA a couple of years back. This year, as a CO Platinum, I am 26/28 legs, all on CO metal. CO offers the best product for my travel style. There are others in these forums that have travel styles that make other airlines more attractive, and they should make the smart choice and switch carriers (as some have done, and I compliment them on their choice), and stop complaining about CO. The type of complaining that they are doing is not constructive - - it is only meant to demean CO. The right thing to do is speak with your checkbook and take your business to the carrier that makes you happiest.
My daddy always said "Never try to teach a pig to sing - - - it frustrates the teacher, and it annoys the pig." That being said, in life you will always find individuals who get their kicks from being annoying!

Are you agreeing then that CO is a pig, metaphorically speaking?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

I'm greatful for the so-called "complainers". They provide us with their personal experience, observations and things they may have found out about the Onepass program and CO which, if we were to believe CO public relations and the uncritical business press, we would never find out.

It allows us as CO flyers (and as frequent flyers in general) to make informed choices, even to switch loyalties, based upon our needs vis-a-vis program merits.

The name calling and labelling of others on the board is out of line and a waste of space. The irony here (apparant to those of us who have frequented this board a while) is that one of the main perpetrators of such attacks apologized before switching programs and vindicating those he attacked.

**Feel free to disagree and present your own facts and experiences.** BUT, I would propose that the next time a thread like this turns up with ad hominem attacks, namecalling, labelling, that we do NOT respond in order to isolate the thread and the perpetrator.

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CO Platinum

AF.... a WASH... with KLM...??? Are you joking?? I'm not a big fan of AF at all. I would think that this is definitely an UPGRADE or BENEFIT to us all. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Try and get CO reward tix on the Concorde with KLM!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I realize that AF isn't too hot otherwise, but then neither is KLM! That's why I called the AF-KL partner swap a wash...trading one third-rate partner for another.



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"Read my lips! No more benefit cuts!"...Gordon Bethune

re: the actual topic...

The comments that are listed here are the result of personal experiences on CO. The fact that they are negative is simply an indication of how people feel they are being treated, or whether management is being honest.

You may clasify me as a complainer, and that is fine, because I am complaining. I am pointing out that suddenly the Platinum Elite status that I earned isn't doing me much good anymore. The fact that I took a somewhat unnecessary trip at the end of the year to cross-over from Gold to Plat was potentially a waste of money. The fact that I have sometimes taken an inconvenient flight time so that I could earn "status miles" may somehow become irrelevant because I fly on the "cheapest available" rate.

I quick perusal of the DL forum will show DL Elites livid about inventory management screw-ups, complaints about LUser fares, etc.

If you look at the NW & AA forums there isn't really any hardcore bashing going on.

There's an old cliche that states that if you make a customer happy they'll tell one person, make then angry they'll tell nine people. I think that's what's going on here...

[This message has been edited by EWR-COflyer (edited 03-16-2002).]