Doesn't CO have a system-wide upgrade product similar to AA's VIP or DL's PMU? I've been looking online but haven't found anything about it.

Have you done a search on this topic? Welcome to FT, please remember to search as most likely your question has been asked.

The answer to your question is - NO.

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...emwide+upgrade
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...emwide+upgrade

No, they do not. International BusinessFirst upgrades are subject to very tight capacity controls and payment of either a Y or H fare (Y fare to Hawai'i) or a very expensive copay in addition to the discount paid fare.

Domestic and International non-BF (First Class) upgrades are available to Elite members through the EUA process and to others through mileage redemption.

Unfortunately they do not. Upgrading can only be done with miles and the process is mind-numbingly complicatedand hit-or-miss.

NW has systemwide upgrades as an earnable option, and that's another reason I prefer NW's program to CO's. DL's systemwide upgrades aren't worth pursuing in my opinion because they are heavily restricted and only applicable to the highest fares internationally (which are too often higher than even the cheapest discounted biz fare I can buy). AA's and UA's are worth earning.

What is NW's system wide product? And how does it compare to DL's?

Probably a great question to ask on the NW forum.

CO doesn't offer SWUs and IMHO they shouldn't offer them. Just think, any SWU is going to end up being capacity controlled just like the current mileage-based upgrade system is capacity controlled. Adding more complexity to existing set of rules is not the solution here. The real solution to this problem is to either do nothing (because there is no business reason) or, (if CO determines that there is a business reason to do this) to give SWU-equivalent mileage bonuses after some level of flying and to let the current upgrade system perform its magic.

How about creating a new upgrade bucket for CO-only Platinums who wish to redeem mileage upgrades off H fares for international BF routes, once those Platinums reach a certain threshold...alot simpler than SWUs and a benefit which can be quantified to the customer while not adding overhead or cost for CO.

In essence, upgrades on more difficult routes would be held for these customers as a priority, CO would encourage these customers to book and pay a higher fare (with a much higher probability of upgrade success at booking time), while easier routes would have almost certain upgrades set aside for these 'best' customers.

The bucket would offer priority for a special CO-Plat-only H fare which would require a 21 day advance purchase and 3 or 4 day minimum stay to keep the 'must travel now without restriction' business folks paying the J/D fares.