I recently flew class I from EWR to MCO. (this labor day weekend)

I didn't realize that class I fares do not count towards elite qualifying segments and only receives 50% elite miles. I think this is a bit unfair. I paid $252 for the round trip, and by nomeans is that a discounted fare! Why was it class I? Usually EWR to MCO route can be purchased for under $180.


I am CO elite gold. Should I call and try to get them to award me the elite qualifying segment or increase my elite qualif. miles?

Yep, class I only gets 50% EQM and 0 segments if you don't buy the ticket through continental.com. This is a clearly stated policy, so I don't think you'll get anywhere by calling them.

http://www.continental.com/onepass/elite/qualify.asp

On a flight straddling '03-'04, having picked CO over UA after bolting from JetBlue for better frequent flyer treatment, I had some hickup using CO.com, and CO offered to sell me the ticket over the phone. I was effectively poached away from CO.com with no warning my pocket was being picked, until the statement came well after my flights.

Nevertheless, this was one of the less satisfying negotiations I've ever initiated. I finally got satisfaction from "the president's office" in Houston, though ironically I ended up making Platinum by flying two weekends in a row, with miles to spare to cover the 50% loss on the flight in question.

I did learn a bit about the psychology of discussing such things with CO, in my statistically significant sample size of complaint phone calls before achieving success. (I'd handicap your chances as "snowball in hell", by the way.)

With any airline, people will either sort out with you how something might be possible, or tell you flat out something is impossible. In the latter case, just move on, don't engage your temper, don't attempt to enlighten them based on your prior experience or what you're learned in this forum. For all you know, they're reading from a script which substitutes for intelligence and social skills, and all you're doing is effectively telling them they have a lousy poker game.

I've seen security checkpoints that some actors could walk through unseen, as if invisible, having perfected the art of walking around in public unrecognized. One needs to aspire to this degree of control of one's persona, hitting just the right social note, to have exceptional requests granted. When I see some business travelers throwing tantrums, I wonder if they've lost it, or if they're equally bad at negotiations for their companies.

Hey, it's marginally worth a try.

I purchased the ticket directly through CO.

Via phone or online? If via co.com then you should get 100% EQMs and should contact the OPSC if you did not.

Like MBM3 said, you should get credit *if* you purchased it online through CO.

The mileage credit may not be directly obvious unless you look closely at your OP statement. You'll see an extra line that says "continental.com EQM/EQP".

$252 IS cheap.

When this happens, ALWAYS call co.com support, not reservations or the elite desk. They'll take care of it, you'll get 100%eqm, and you won't pay the $5.