CO just matched my level at AA so I'm going to give them a try ... Although I am confused on how CO upgrades their elite members. Do they upgrade on all fares? Do you have to request the upgrade when ticketing, at check-in and at the gate? Can someone give me a basic run down on their program ....

You might want to check out http://www.continental.com/onepass/elite/upgrades.asp - it gives a rundown of the Elite upgrade process.

In a nutshell, Platinums will be upgraded automatically from all fares (except Priceline/Hotwire and mileage redemption tickets) if upgrade seats are available within 5 calendar days of the flight - it is not necessary call reservations to request the upgrade. Upgrade-eligible flights include:

All flights on Continental and Northwest within and between the lower 48 US, Alaska, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America*;

All flights on Continental Micronesia within and between Asia the Mid-Pacific*;

All Copa Airlines flights systemwide.


*Elite Upgrades not applicable to flights operated and sold with a Continental BusinessFirst or Northwest World Business Class cabin.


You may also upgrade one companion traveling with you once you get to the airport.

I am surprised that they matched, I was told that they were going to severely limit the amout of matches. Either way, congrats and welcome to CO

Why would they limit status matching form airlines that are not within Sky Team? They surely got me and all of my hundreds of thousands of miles yearly simply by matching my AA status in 2003. I haven't flown AA since. It's something that works to get revenue.

--Paul