As I sat in SEA last weekend looking longingly at the doors to the Presidents club, I started thinking about what it would take for me to get Silver Elite.

I currently have a 6254 EQM, and have two trips planned

Nov IAH-CDG 10,052 EQM
Dec IAH-CDG 5026 EQM (Return flight will be in 2006)

Leaving me -3668 to hit the 25,000 mark,


Is it worth it for me to book a cheap weekend trip, and knock out the rest? Or is there any other way for me to get the EQM miles?

If it did get the status it would not be a problem for me to keep up the yearly travel requirement to keep the silver.

What really are the chances for space availible upgrades as a Silver? Anything else I should know?


Thanks alot guys.


-Andrew

Elite status on CO will not get you Pres Club entry, even at the plat level. Only way to get into the club is to buy a membership, have a pass, buy a BusinessFirst ticket or if you have a platinum AMEX or a Priority Pass club membership (with PP's fees).

Silver is worth it if you plan to make CO one of your more frequent carriers...even so, elite boarding (snag that overhead) and check-in, front of plane seating at booking, 50% bonus miles, elite reservation desk, some reduced fees and extra 20 lbs of luggage and sometimes better availability of rewards, but that's an oxymoron. And the biggies, the possibility of FC upgrades on a coach fare and (I think this is bigger) the ability to upgrade using miles on ALL paid fare classes. And finally, SkyTeam elite if you travel any of the ST partners.

It's really up to you and how much you value these perks.

- HF

I would have to say go for it. I'm glad that I have Silver Status on CO and will probably hit Gold this year. I've taken alot of trips from Tokyo to Guam/US on CO and it is a lifesaver. The biggest perks for me

1. Being able to use the Business First/Elite Access counters for check in
2. Elite boarding (allows you to get your carry on in the overhead first)
3. Priority handling of baggage (huge on intl trips that are several days)
4. Access to Premium seating in Economy (You are closer to the exit)

Alot of my trips have been 1,500 mile treks from Tokyo to Guam so it takes alot of trips to requalify Silver Elite. I can not imagine waiting in line behind all the Japanese leisure travelers When you make elite your card has a magnetic strip on the back which is handy for using the e-kiosks at the airport. It has served me well several times. The flights I take have a BF cabin so I do not play the EUA game or know how to play it.

Kampai,
Klaxon

If you ever fly out of EWR, elite status is worth it, just to be able to use the elite security line and save yourself some time.

As a silver, a transcon upgrade would be tough, but I have gotten other upgrades, such as EWR-PBI-EWR and ATL-EWR.

Does CO offer complementary upgrade on transcontinental flights? f.ex: Europe to North America?

Also consider Priority Pass. It gets you into more clubs than just CO's.

http://www.prioritypass.com

I'd say go for it if you want to take a trip, however, if your return trip is in '06, you won't get credit for this year. So instead of needing 3668 miles, you would need 6181 miles.

No it does not. CO does not offer any complimentary upgrades on any flights with BusinessFirst. That includes most international flights, the exceptions being some Central/South American routes, which don't have BusFirst). Most domestic flights do offer the complimentary upgrades, the notable exception being Hawaii (which have BusFirst).

You can upgrade on transcons using points and dollars and IMHO, the value is not that great give the price of the upgrades and the current low price of BusFirst tickets.

There's a great more info on this subject to be had in past threads.

thanks,

jk

I agree with the above, and would add the the 50% elite bonus means you rack up miles much faster as an elite. So, yes, its definitely worth it.

As for EUA: there's no question that upgrades are increasingly tougher to get on CO (for a variety of reasons discussed in this forum). Depending on your origination/destination points, your chance of EUA as a silver is generally low. But its a heck of a lot better than the odds of EUA as a non-elite (i.e zero).

Just wanted to correct this...you can get entry as a Plat to any SkyTeam lounge on the day of travel if traveling internationally on a SkyTeam airline. This perk got me into the KLM lounges in AMS (FWIW) when traveling in Y since Amex Plat is not accepted there.

Firstly, silver is probably worth it if you plan to fly CO at all next year. Otherwise it's obviously not.

To clarify Austin Bears comments:

Silver will allow you complimentary upgrades for flights within the continental US, Canada, Mexico, Carib, and some South Am flights.

ANY flight that LEAVES the US mainland AND HAS A BUSINESS FIRST (752, 767, 777) cabin is not eligible for upgrades, and yes, this includes Hawaii. For these flights CO has a mileage and copay option in order to upgrade to BizFirst.

A transcon, such as a flight from EWR to LAX does not have a copay as austinbear indicated. Advance upgrades may be secured via mileage.

Doesn't EAU apply to the BF equipped South American flights?

There is currently a targeted Chase-CO promotion which gives 3000 EQM. Log in & see if you're targeted.

I am very interested in this as it would change considerably the trip I would have to take to knock out the rest of the miles I need. Where do I need to look when I login for that offer? Any special 800 number I could call to try and get it. Thanks

I was looking into the IAH-ANC route last night, as it would get me way over the mark and heck I would be going to AK. How bearable is the flight in a 737? CO website says it 7 hours 20 min.

You could also use it to get status Comps on other carriers if you wanted to