This certainly seems fare, I mean fair, especially compared to the lack of little to almost no notice of changes that have recently been made by other FF programs. I don't know what the people in ATL are thinking concerning come of the changes they have made.

^^^ For most of us here, I see little impact with the changes. We liked what used to be 1,500 bonus miles for co.com booking and OLCI - which dropped to 500. So no big deal. But as I stated above - many of us will starting looking around - at least for U+ fares on Orbitz, etc. which can mix airlines with no penalty.

Most of us here do not book EasyPass awards anyway. I would buy a coach ticket before I ever redeemed EasyPass if I had to travel.

From the last thread: Hi GUWonder, below is a list of OnePass participants who offer last-seat and expanded availability for EasyPass rewards.

• Continental/Continental Express/Continental Micronesia - last-seat availability
  
  
• Copa/Aero República - last-seat availability
  
  
• Northwest/Northwest Airlink - last-seat availability except for World Business Class, which has expanded availability
  
  
• KLM - expanded availability

Thanks for confirming what I thought was the case.

Speaking of changes.. Last week I heard the words that I've long dreaded but knew would eventually come. After booking 2 QF J-awards, the agent congratulated me on finding two seats and said I was 'lucky that I booked now, because next year the price is going up -- SIGNIFICANTLY'.

Can you share with us how much is 'significant'???

The only sure thing about DL Management is that when given a decision to make, you can count on them to make the wrong choice.

ALSO
I've always believed that frequent flyers overestimate the value of their/our miles while the airlines underestimate the value (in terms of customer loyalty).

Hi Wx4caster, we're still formalizing the details, but yes they will be changing. What I can say is that the cost to Continental for these rewards has increased significantly, and this unfortunately will have be reflected in the reward amounts. On a positive note, the process to book these rewards will improve. At the time the change is implemented, all of our frontline agents will have the ability to book Qantas rewards in real time (as opposed to having to make a request and having to wait for the response).

The sky is slowly returning to its upright and locked position, helped by the fact that the fourth horseman just managed to buy me a glass of premium wine in a relatively uncrowded IAH PC...all with a credit-card, no less.

The histrionics were a good bit of fun at close-of-business on a Friday, though. I had to get myself worked up for the expected denial-of-upgrade schpiel at the W Dallas Victory later this evening

IMO, CO laid a great walloping egg dropping the online booking bonus, though. That's over 15,000 RDMs to my bottom line each year.

Agents can see availability - and based on my experience - CO frontline agents got prompt response and could lock in real quick.

While I don't necessarily like these changes, CO Insider deserves credit for posting them in advance, and without any spin. These are changes, here they are, straight up.

Thanks for being up front with us! ^

Like many of the others said, these changes will not really affect me personally, but it would be such a nice change to have an improvement added as opposed to year in and year out downgrades to the program.

as a relative newbie to this co forum, i've gotta say i'm impressed with continental's willingness to share the info beforehand, (thanks, CO Insider) rather than leaving its most loyal flyers guessing. there's bad news all right, but i'm willing to believe there's good news coming at some point also.

it's a pity that the 500 mile bonus is going away for booking online, but i suppose that frees us all up to book wherever's cheapest.

really, i'm impressed with the transparency...i'm taking advantage of my status match (waiting for the credentials to change my profile to co plat) and it does seem that continental is willing to be upfront about changes, even the ones that aren't going to be well-received, which is a nice switch from what i'm used to at ua.

So glad that the process to book these rewards will improve, unfortunately since the mileage amounts will be inflated and CO is too cheap to even give you a 500 mile online booking bonus anymore, you won't have the miles to book the award. Don�t worry though, just like our 50% EQM on discount fares this is really a good deal for you guys....really its good deal.

Co is starting to act like Delta ( Ill never fly Delta ever)
The booking bonus was a nice "perk" I guess it was killing Co to have to give something for loyalty

Yes - back in the old days - before Internet, I used to anxiously wait for my new Elite OnePass card to arrive by mail each year and the associated enhanced benefits that were announced in the members guide that year. Just like a kid waiting for Christmas morning - each year brought enhancements (and this was before the FT term ENHANCED had any meaning).