leaving CO
 

Because of the new elite qualifications, or should I say, the new elite "less" qualifications, I am not going to be flying CO anymore starting next year. I pay for my own travel and almost always travel on the "cheap" fares. I will not be getting full credit now, unless I book online, which I always do. But next year they will change that. So I am switching now to AA, whom honored my Platinum Status that I have and have had for the last 5 years. My question is: Whom can I write or send and e-mail to to tell them I will not be flying their airline anymore? If you can help, please give me and address or e-mail address on whom I can write and complain about the new policy. I know it won't change anything, but if they lose enough Platinum elites, or even enough customers, maybe they will change something.
Thanks.

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milesintexas

You just gave yourself the best xmas present ever-- congrats.

If you ever need any AA program info, feel free to drop me an e-mail-- I've deprogramed dozens of CO flyers in the last 2 years and I'm always happy to help (especially if it annoys some here, and at CO.) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Sometimes I feel like I should affectionately grab some arms here and yell "it's not your fault! it's not your fault!"

Mr. Mark Bergsrud
Vice President, Marketing
Continental Airlines
1600 Smith St. HQSMP
Houston TX 77002

Hope this helps you vent your frustration...Scolli01

For you it is AA, for me it has been UA.

Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side because it truly is better over there. Without hesitation I say that UA has a better international premium product than CO. Now you can go on and on about seat pitch and service and all that other horse shti but no matter how much better or worse BusinessFirst may really be it's all irrelevant to me if the closest I get to it is looking at empty BF seats through that stupid slit divider at the coach bulkhead.

Congratulations and good luck.

[This message has been edited by Jim Phillips (edited Dec 24, 2003).]

I'd suggest writing here instead of or in addition to the above address:

Larry Kellner
President
Continental Airlines
1600 Smith Street
Houston, Texas, 77002

Mr. Kellner is known to be a real human being who might actually read what you write.

I emailed CO and told them that if they were going to "pretend" I wasn't on one of their flights by denying me a segment credit, than why don't we forget playing "pretend" - I WON'T be on any more of their flights.

I received no response. What a surprise. Noone in OnePass has been listening for a couple of years.

AA matched my Platinum status last week, and I look forward to flying with them again, while CO morphs into another lackluster airline - like Delta.

Had my company's biz travel mgr. assert some influence and NWA comped my PLAT status. As gratitude, I will now fly NWA and KLM exclusive. F you CO and your silly decision to screw your most loyal and dedicated flyers. For the record I WAS stauncly (SP?) pro CO until the new OP changes. Rot in hell Gordo, you dump A@@.

"dumb a$$" is what I wanted to say. I have had too much red wine tonight!

You was staunchly pro CO, but that's OK, we get the point, I'll drink to that.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starsmilie.gif Merry Xmas all! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starsmilie.gif

You too Gordo, maybe the spirits will visit you tonight! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Nah, more like a runaway CSX freight rail car full of big lumps of black coal would plow into a certain mansion in the IAH suburbs http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

as they say on departing theplance,

'bub by'!

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

As a elite NW Worldperks member, I often fly CO, either on codeshare flights or directly booking with CO. But since they are only giving me half-status, see ya later CO

Bu Bye!! More leather for me!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

major lol here. I love these posts.

Do you guys have an e-mail that we can write to? I am coming from the perspective of a NW elite who wants a change of scenery and fly CO from time to time, but with full credit. As long as Red Tail doesn't mach Gordo's rubbish.

I have a feeling Gordo will back down, eventually.

Delta is the guilty one, along with BA, of trying these stupid tricks. Delta is always the first to rip off the passengers and I get after DL elites for not stopping them from taking place. Complain, write letters, show that we are sick of constant changes and game playing.

It is sad that 'Widget' is pulling CO down to the depths of hell.

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YAS+

As I listen to employees, I think they sincerely believe that alienation of leisure fare flyers is minor compared to the huge bucks business travelers are going to bring them.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the considered (?) reaction by some whenever another FTer notes his/her unhappiness with this new policy.

Bergsrud, Kellner, whatever, i' m not wasting my time on those two monkeys or any of the other CO Nonepass monkeys.

I've been on the AA Plat Challenge since Dec 1, my CO days are now behind me except for the occasional trip to burn my miles.

CO has continually tried to push people away from their program each and every year I've been with them. This year was the last straw. I agree with the original poster, maybe you get 100% Nonepass credit on CO.com but you know they will be enhancing the Nonepass program again in 04...

These people in None pass must truly not think out any of their decisions... they must pick their enhancements out of that monkey cup they are holding

Congrats in AAdvance, TrojanHorse-- you will be very pleased with AA/OW. Anything I can ever help ya' with, just say the word, me and you were here when we used to virtually trip over each-other to say good things about CO. A brief visit to the FT archives would certainly confirm this, if anyone doubts it.

Brings to mind a question-- of all the folks who have left CO for AA-- have (m)any come back, reporting that they now regretting having made the switch?

I'm going to stay...was thinking of trying out AA..was even comped to GOLD and enrolled in the PLAT challenge..but I fly enough Y's and enough miles to make PLAT anyway(Plat since 97)....don't have to worry about that 50% crap. They fit for me especially because I fly 98% domestic (always upgraded)....don't have to worry about HOKEY...and when on biz Int'l..I just buy a Biz ticket. I fly out of SAN..so it's always mainline equipment and the reward availibility has been decent....it could use improvement...but I'll live.
Overall..I think they do a decent job for a non-hub flyer....I used to live at the Jersey shore and flew out of EWR...what a mess! It's much easier flying them out of SAN. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
I hope that those who switch are truly happy...and also hope you realize that I'm just messing with ya when I say "don't let the door hit ya'...where the good lord split ya'...hahaha http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by IMStill4Travel (edited Dec 25, 2003).]

As we've discussed before. in your particular case-- flying on enough fullish-fares to stay out of the 50% EQM trap and with almost zero international travel, CO is almost certainly better for you than AA/OW. I still maintain that if someone has even as little as 20% international travel (and dislike economy class for some reason) AA/OW starts to make sense in a hurry. I also think that the ability to redeem miles on AA/OW is much, much better-- and fairer-- than CO, who I really think is on the verge of all-out fraud with their "award winning" program now that I see how it works with AAdvantage.

Plus, if you can qualify for AA EXP-- which think you said you would easily-- you really should try it one year and see how AA treats it's top level elites compared to how CO does-- it's a huge difference and it makes a difference every time you call, fly or have problems-- trust me on this one.

In any case, Merry Christmas! Too bad we never got to have that cook-out while you still lived on the right coast. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Yes Jon...we have certainly been down this road before. It also seems like the new elite qualifications are doing what they were designed to do....weed out some informed (cheapie) Elites. We'll see what happens when the masses find out they only get 50% EQM on the cheapies. Maybe even empty leather seats next to me. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Merry Christmas to you as well....from the left coast. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by IMStill4Travel (edited Dec 25, 2003).]

A good philosophy of where to go elite wise:

int'l travel: AA/Oneworld

Mostly domestic travel: CO/NW

I will put even money on Gordo backtracking in a year's time, but CO is losing people now.

Remember NW, you still have full credit.

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YAS+

I'm with you, guys. I'm entering my 5th year as CO Elite (one year Gold, the rest Silver) and in the last month booked MCI-LHR in AA in April and MCI-LHR-DEL on AA/BA in late February. (Yes, they WILL be part of the Platinum Challenge. Great advice on this board!)

Bye, Gordon.

I agree, but my gut instinct thinks it's going to be a positive one, not a negative one. But we'll find out what they do when the time arrives.

Until then CO will be out of my mucho dinero which ironically is the name of the whole 'loyalty program' game.

Nice work Houston.

The law of averages would suggest that the next "enhancement" will be a positive one. However, I don't think CO deserves the benefit of the doubt anymore.

Correct. I'll be believe it when I see it. But won't be holding my breath.