If you are really serious about wanting Platinum for Life, why not just sign up for Flying Blue and let your miles accrue there?

In just 10 years of flying only 47.000 miles in FC/BC or 70.000 in economy you will be Platinum for Life in the entire Skyteam network.

You accrue full EQMs on both CO and NW no matter where you buy your ticket (except for the very cheapest AF, KL & NW economy fares which are 25-50%),

you always get upgraded (90%) on NW and sometimes on CO,

you can book awards in international FC on Air France,

you can book one way awards on KL or AF,

you get free lounge access to NW and CO lounges in the US.

The only thing you miss are the better chances for the domestic FC upgrade crap shoot on CO flights.

And, how did it fail?

UA will only match a CO Plat to 1P.

I don't see it as having failed in any sense; in its way, it helped the airline survive, by upping the ante and thereby attracting business travelers in a time when EWR was viewed in the same way that old Imperial terminal was viewed at LAX: as a place that the fly-by-nights used. Those who started to regularly use --and insisted on using-- CO out of EWR during the early 90's played a role in setting the perception that there was a third option to LGA/JFK for business travel.

After the bankruptcies, the decision obviously was made that it (Infinite offer) wasn't needed any longer.

Thanks for this information. Once I hit Platinum on Delta, that's where I go next. :)

Sorry, I only read about 4 pages, so this might have been suggested.

I would like at least an "Elite Access" for life level. This way, I wouldn't have to stand in line with the hoi polloi.

Space available upgrades might be the next level, after regular elites, Elite for a day (Y fares), etc.

Then regular Elite status benefits for the next levels from there.

I do agree that CO could reasonably implement some lifetime Elite level that would be attractive without permanent full-blown regular Elite benefits. ^

Woo-hoo!
 

I'm glad to see that in less than 3 months, CO has recognized the value of long-term frequent fliers, saw this article / post, and announced a change to their program in which they will roll out a Million Miler effort.

US Air Logical?
 

Um - you might want to check out the US Scare seat maps. With two rows of FC on a typical 757, you'll need to be a Diamond Chairman's Preferred Son to get an UG on Y fare.....

I think CO has been looking at this for a lot longer than three months.

I was regualrly flying One Pass and Continental since 1981. When Larry Kellner a few years back told me that lifetime status was just "wallet candy" and that he was a lifetime gold on American, I simply stopped flying Continental and switched to Delta so that in my last 10-15 years of business flying I would easily hit the million mark and get lifetime there. I had about 3 million total miles on CO, so I should have well over 1 million BIS on CO now. I flew CO all those years it operated like US Air does now.

Now the question is...
 

How many of us will be million-milers on multiple carriers once CO unveils their program in a few weeks... :D

million miles in more than one program
 

I should be one of them. I already have 1.6 mil on AA, and with many years as a CO plat (also a gold when that was the highest level), I should cross the 1 mil threshhold with CO. I had forgotten that I joined OnePass back in 1987 until I saw it on my Plat card.

With the newly announced program, including spousal benefits, CO is clearly the industry leader.