The kicker would boil down to this: is it that Continental Airlines is the SkyTeam member, or is it that the OnePass program is part of the SkyTeam network. OnePass members in Guatemala are not distinguished by how much the fly COPA vs. Continental--- a weekly commuter on GUA-IAH-CDG would be recognized exactly the same way as a commuter GUA-PTY-SCL. In fact, said OnePass member may even be ticketing all of their GUA--CDG tickets on Air France, for example, and one might expect they can access the Air France lounges. So, the issue of if the member primarily flies CM or CO doesn't matter.

I wonder if there has been much distinction in CO corporate about exactly where the OnePass program falls as its the program of Continental as well as the program of COPA-- a similar confusion arises with ticketing flights to/from HAV using OnePass miles.

I would still go with my original suggestion of checking to see if the websites specify anything about only certain OnePass members having SkyTeam benefits, but my hunch is that the agent was not 100% correct and that all OnePass elite members should receive SkyTeam benefits-- assuming there are no geographic restrictions and I don't believe there are.

Well Onepass says that i have to change my address to get the benefites. I will do it. I dont Konw about other programs i only have AA wich is oneworld and Platinum is the same in the USA and Guatemala.

It's quite clear - it's the airline.

-Vincent

Not so sure about that.

If OnePass requires all residents of Guatemala to be members of Copa (also OnePass (are they the same airline???) ), then the problem is with the program.

P.S. The Copa site directs one to Continental.com if you click on "Earning Miles" under "OnePass" on Copaair.com

I agree with knit-in, that it's not clear at all. Vincent, you're saying, in the absence of any other information, that what an agent says over the phone about a complex, nuanced issue is absolutely correct. That's rarely the case with phone reps in my experience. Others share my experience, I think, given the frequency of the "hang up and call back" posts.

That OnePass is shared between CO and Copa (of which CO owns a 49% share to answer knit-in's question) does create complications like this. In the absence of a clear statement, it's an open quesion. Maybe it's the inner lawyer in me talking, but there are arguments on both sides. Notwithstanding dismissive comments on this board, this issue is far from resolved as long as some enterprising Copa flyers keep agitating.

I don't know about you but when i go to SkyTeam.com I see Continental but not COPA. If you are in the geographic region that makes COPA you carrier then you deal with COPAs terms. COPA may share a program with Continental, but that doesnt mean the benefits Continental had for its members would apply to those not in its general business area.


The way I see it, there are two versions of the OnePass Program - Continental's OnePass and COPA's OnePass.

-Vincent

For that matter then, and correct me if I am mistaken as I haven't checked, but Virgin and Emirates (for examples) will also not appear on the Skyteam website. Would that mean that a US resident member of OnePass who flies Virgin or Emirates as the bulk of his travel will receive different benefits as a Platinum elite (or a different kind of Plat card)? Once you get EQMs in your CO account, they should be good for Skyteam, IMO.

This seems a case of OnePass members residing in Guatemala (in this case) not getting equal benefits to those members who live in the US. From what I understand from this thread, one is forced to be a member of Copa OnePass if one lives in Guatemala, and that even if one flew Skyteam partners exclusively, one would not get Skyteam benefits.

I'm guessing (from being directed to CO.com from Copaair.com on clicking "earning miles") that Copa members get EQMs like CO members for flying other Skyteam members, but can't earn Skyteam status, which in my opinion warrants a rant (probably not in ALL CAPS, though )!

They are not part of SkyTeam, infact technically you don't recieve any sort of Platinum Benefits on either carrier as there is no agreement for such.

SkyTeam doesn't earn EQM - don't get confused - SkyTeam is not a FFP, but just a group of airline basically codesharing and in some cases offering recpiricol benefits.

-Vincent

I don't think there is any arguement about anything you have written above, except when I try to verify the "technically..." part in your first sentence.

The debate, or at least my point on it, is that in the case of the OP in particular, and the case of Copa in general, while Copa may be a seperate carrier than Continental, their FFPs seem to be the same-- except that if you live in a certain part of the world, you have no choice but to enroll as a Copa member (a close association that comes to mind is the NWA-KLM alliance). But from all appearances, it seems (or is made to seem) that Continental Airlines and Copa Air members are part of the same OnePass Frequent Flyer Program.

Try enrolling into OnePass on Copaair.com and it takes you to Continental's website. Try finding out which airlines you will earn EQMs and subsequently Elite Status on, you will be directed to Continental.com. In fact, any infrmation that you may seek regarding your benefits as an elite member of the OnePass program, you will be directed to Continental.com. And one such benefit that you will find entitled to as a OnePass elite is Skyteam Elite status.

At least I didn't find anything writen to the effect of "Copa Air OnePass Elite members are seperate from Continental Elites and shall be treated differently".

Please do feel free to show me the light if I'm missing something here.

Further search (and surprisingly basic ) has lead me to the following page...

http://www.continental.com/onepass/e...58885DD7A874FE

One would call Elite Upgrades a Platinum benefit, no?

from Co.com:

Elite Upgrades

Complimentary upgrades are just one of many exclusive benefits reserved for Elite members -- our most valued customers.

These OnePass Elite upgrades are valid on flights operated by the following airlines:

Continental Airlines
Continental Micronesia
Northwest Airlines
Copa Airlines

This, of course, is valid only if you meant CO and Copa by "either carrier".

Again, while it is of no personal concern to me, I am trying to figure if the OnePass programs of Continental and Copa are really two seperate programs.

This really reminds me of how KLM and NWA used to divide up the world by regions and if you lived in XXX you could only enroll in XXX.

I don't have it in writing about the difference between COPA and Continental, but I will see if I can find out more. It just makes sense to me that they would distribute benefits based on region - similiar as to how many International based OnePass Elites get a free President Club Membership, but us ones don't.

-Vincent

You were refering to benefits on Virgin Atlantic and Emirates --

I was therefore refering to how we as Platinums have no contractual benefits on either carrier with our status.

-Vincent

They still do. US and East Asian residents can only enroll as NWA frequent flyers, while the rest of the world has to be part of the KLM program. But a perfunctory search of their websites reveals all you need to know about it, including free WC membership for Gold elites and above in Asia. While some find it unfair, things are clearly stated.

Not so it seems in the case of Copa. But I'm certain we shall find out, once you're done with this .

As a Platinum Elite you are Sky Team Elite Plus wich has the Perk of Lounge Acces regarding class of service on ST Lounges. That is Perk only Platinum members get in Sky Team.

Absolutely and apologies for the misunderstanding in my response. However, my point there was that a CO OnePass member who earns miles on VS and EK will earn not only EQMs towards OnePass elite status but also towards Skyteam, even though VS and EK are not Skyteam members, and regardless of any other reciprocal benefits (that may /not exist) between CO and VS/EK. A VS/EK member will not earn EQMs flying any Skyteam carrier other than CO (unless they are contractually obliged with individual member carriers) because they are not part of the Skyteam alliance.

A Copa OnePass member, however, will earn EQMs flying CO partners (which NWA and other Skyteam members may not) as well as on other Skyteam carriers, but will not get Skyteam elite benefits that come with his/her Copa elite status.

The CO partners arguement was made to point out that while Copa and CO are seperate airlines, their FFP are the same.