This flyer is waiting to hear about next year's program with interest.

I've been consider a swith to Continental (weird, I know, but it may just fit my needs/patterns). But I'm not going to do it until uncertainty is resolve for '04.

As many have posted, this is a new competitive environment. The airlines and hotels are changing benefits because they'd sure like to change certain behaviors.

But as a customer I'll also be realigning my business in this 'new competitive environment' and I'll be giving my revenue to the providers that offer me what in my view is the best value for my money.

I fly on a mix of fares -- some full fare, some discount -- it all depends on:
* whether I'm traveling for business or leisure
* whether the trip comes up last minute, or gets set long in advance
* what benefits are provided for the fare I'm paying (internationally, I'll pay the lowest upgradeable fare -- but don't think for a minute that I'm going to pay full fare just for the chance of a domestic upgrade!)

Who offers me the best schedules, the best service, and the best elite benefits for my particular flying and buying pattern? That's how I figure my business.

So I'm waiting to see what changes CO implements. As it stands now, sans changes, (and as I posted elsewhere on this board) I'm considering CO as my carrier. Changes may make that either more or less likely. We'll see....

They should bring back infinite Platinum status for those that fly 100k+ base status miles for the year http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Does it really make any sense to speculate, as no one on here seems to know what will happen. I say, wait till something is announced...then start the torrents of negativity http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by GeneCMH (edited 09-05-2003).]

I'll grant you that the bankruptcies helped to reduce CO's cost structure. That said, CO was arguably the 2nd weakest major immediately after 9/11 (US was weaker due to the DCA closure), and yet has managed to recover faster than everyone else except the LCCs. That says alot about the business acumen of CO's leadership, and their focus on delivering a product that competes AND WINS in the marketplace.



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Continental Airlines - One airline CAN make a difference.

CO offers meals and snacks on mealtime flights to Florida. Perhaps you have CO confused with, say, American?



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Continental Airlines - One airline CAN make a difference.

As long as NW does not announce changes, then this could be a non-event for those CO Platinums like my wife and I who choose to fly NW for its superior availability of upgrades.
One change I would not be surprised to see them make is the elimination of their agreement with Qantas, or at least a substantial (2X ?) increase in the miles required. If CO wants 150,000 RT in BF to HNL, then it does not make a lot of sense to maintain the 135,000 RT FC QF award (I recently procured one of these in F all the way from JFK to MEL/SYD next year).

I just flew from LAX to EWR and they no longer had a First Class and/or Elite check in distinguished from any of the others. Is this a new change? Also, I asked a CO employee that I frequently see whether she knew anything about proposed changes. She said better customer appreciation for elites--- special security checkpoints for elites that would use their cards to get through quicker. I asked if there were any reductions in benefits for elites-- she said no, more of a disinction between elites and non elites.

Mrs. Pickles once did NRT-Sapporo-Kamchatka-Nome-Calgary-Pittsburgh in a Learjet. She would have kept going, but she had to get off to pee, since the plane didn't have a bathroom.

No, it simply says that, having gone bankrupt already, CO was in a better position to deal with costs, which are one of the toughest and slowest things to change WITHOUT going through bankruptcy.

Specifically, analyize AA's operations and apply CO's cost structure to it. Also do the reverse. See what results you get.

Steve

Unlimited upgrades from any fare is why I direct almost all of my flights to CO.

If that changes in any way, I'll take Duxfan's place as the biggest fan of CAK in northern OH.

I do believe that similar OnePass status passengers should be upgraded based on fare class (e.g. a Silver with a Y ticket gets upgraded before a Silver with a B ticket).

HOWEVER, if I'm ever in coach on a CO domestic flight that takes off with empty F seats......Adios, Gordo.
In addition I'll go on the "lecture curcuit" in CLE doing whatever I can to get other biz travelers to fly out of CAK.

I think it is just speculation, and let's not all get into a tizzy over something that might again turn out to be nothing. I am sure that CO realizes that the unlimited upgrade program for domestic flights is its only big program benefit, and without it, many Elites will leave. If we have to earn segment upgrades or pay fare premiums, we might as well do it at AA or UA. I dont think NW would go along with any changes, either.

If they bring in extra benefits for high yield Elites, or little extras for Platinums, then fine...if they enforce the fare class priority within Elite level for upgrades, that's fine too (and perfectly fair). With most airlines bringing a halt to the 'attack the customer' routine, it would be very foolish for CO to do something as drastic and silly at this point as end the upgrades. There would be almost no incrimental revenue gained from the few people who would stick around and pay high fares to upgrade, versus the number of people who would take their money and fly elsewhere. DL is learning that the hard way.

I used to love Continental. Whoever wrote that Continental has good service must have low standards. Get rid of the terrible attitudes, and I'll keep flying. I've been Elite for 3 years, but won't be next year. I'm not tolerating bad post-9/11 service anymore. I understand the edgy post 9/11 attitude, but do Continental flight attendants really have to treat us like criminals when we ask for water?

P.S. As for the baggage "priority" elite tags, need I mention my luggage has been lost TWICE this year with those golden tags??

Great points. I left DL because they'd rather fly an empty FC seat than upgrade me if I was on a fare they deemed too low. At least with CO I had a chance at the upgrade.

And, as mentioned, CO is especially vulnerable to defections from low-yield flyers over this point because its coach product compares poorly with others. You've got cramped planes like the 737-800 (or the 777s where you lose legroom to the boxes), thin seats, bad seat pitch, and more routes being taken over by RJs.

CO also gets more than its share of complaints about award availability for redemptions. So if they pull out that free-upgrade rung or rule it out for some elites on some fares like Delta, it's a long plunge in comparison with other airlines.

What an observation! Maybe if we could derive a mathematical formula to determine whether your bag will be in the first half or second half on a given day. That way you will know when to carry on and when to check. Of course, we will likely upset the balance, and end up in the last half more often!

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No thanks, I'm just lurking. Call me the Lurker!