2004 Elite Status
 

"Qualifying fares must be published by Continental and certain fares such as net or wholesale, HotwireSM, priceline.com®, continental.com SpecialsSM, or certain other promotional and specialty fares may not be eligible for upgrades. Upgrades and waitlists are subject to capacity controls, which limit the number of seats available and customers waitlisted." (from CO's new elite 2004 policy).

So, does this mean that since you can only get 100% EQM miles if you purchase on CO.com, that you may not be eligible for an upgrade? It seems like they are biting us in the ... twice here. If NW plans on adopting the new 50% EQ rule, it looks I will be flying Southwest, Jet Blue and whoever else has the lowest fare a lot more in the future.

It just doesn't seem like there's much left on CO to motivate me to stay with them.

Most of the unpublished fares that are not eligible for upgrades are not eligible for mileage earning as well. This applies to co.com specials that use money+miles.
I'm not sure about the money only specials I beleive they are still eligible for both.

It remains to be seen. I am only a Silver Elite, so the only way I can get my elite mileage qualification for next year IS by buying off CO.com. I won't make it any other way. It would upset me to think that I may never get an upgrade because I buy economy only tickets. If CO decides to keep this ridiculous rule in place and discontinues CO.com miles from 100% qualification after 12/04, I won't have to worry about it because I'll only fly them to CLE on a non-stop from LAX. At that point, that's all they will be useful for to me. I will fly every other airline everywhere else.

[This message has been edited by Debbiejo (edited 10-23-2003).]

As I just passed a phone kiosk on 34th and Third with a CO advertisement. "As an Elite Member you'll receive FREE UNLIMITED UPGRADES."

Deception http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

You can get a NW WP# and fly CO or NW metal (using the WP#) and still get 100% EQM. Now if this will be the case come 1/1/04 is as yet to be seen....

K

From what I've seen, el-cheapo fares on NW will get only 50% EQM next year. Weatherboy wrote this: [This message has been edited by xyzzy (edited 10-23-2003).]

Yes, I read today that NW may be going the same route as CO. I will qualify as Silver again for next year next month, but after that it's gonna be a crap shoot.