Hi Everyone, although these aren't yet available at continental.com, there are some upcoming OnePass changes that we want to make sure you're aware of.

Effective Dec. 1, 2007:

• The 500 bonus miles for booking at continental.com will no longer apply to customers with a U.S. address effective Dec. 1, 2007

Below are the OnePass program updates that will be effective Feb. 1, 2008:

• Standard Rewards will be renamed "SaverPass" rewards (no difference in availability, just a name change)
  
  
• Continental Airlines and OnePass will reserve the right to change any aspect of the OnePass program at any time within 30 days' notice to active members (previously, 60 days were required)
  
  
• First Class reward mileage requirements will be changing for travel within or between the 48 contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada. SaverPass rewards will increase to 50,000 miles from 45,000, and EasyPass rewards will require 100,000 miles instead of 90,000
  
  
• We will not be making any changes to the availability of our EasyPass rewards, however, some EasyPass BusinessFirst reward levels will change. Specifically, between North America and the following regions will increase:
  • Asia (series 4) will increase to 300,000 miles from 250,000
    
  • India/Africa/Middle East (series 10) will increase to 300,000 miles from 250,000
    
  • Southern South America (series 5a) will increase to 250,000 miles from 180,000

Changes to reward amounts will be apply to redemptions on or after Feb. 1, 2008. Tickets issued before Feb, 1, 2008, regardless of travel dates, will be honored at the lower reward amounts.

But at least from then on - when I book two tickets I will now always book them in one record, get companion seat assignment in exit rows, then later split the record before EUA.

This might also cause me to look more closely at other booking vehicles, ie mixing airlines on out and return if I can get a better fare. I will be looking more at Orbitz now.

is 10B staying @ 250k?

This might be part of the simplification that CO spoke about at the DO. Maybe 10B goes away.

I know you're just the messenger, and thanks for spreading the news, but...



One can only wonder how long until American FF programs are "enhanced" by eliminating these frivolous "saver" awards. Calling them "savers" sends a strong signal that the airline views these as an extra-special treat which any frequent flyer should be overjoyed to have the chance at (perhaps once in a lifetime or so). Perhaps 787 and new BF rollout will coincide with all TATL BF rewards costing 500,000 or so mi.

Meh. I don't redeem for domestic F, so...

Why make changes when 20% inflation will do? Ordinarily, I wouldn't care, as I don't redeem Sleazypass. However, with the signals being sent regarding "saver" rewards, this may be the future of nonepass redemption.

Perhaps I'm being overly negative. However, there's not much to get excited about, is there? Oooh, ooh, I know... They didn't make enhancements that suck quite as bad as Delta's!

Holy mackerel! A 20% reduction in value? Ouch! With the BOS club closing and now this, CO seems to be doing all they can to drive me away.

I do not have a problem with the name change. Most others use the term "saver" in the name - so CO is just aligning with others. A name is just a name (at least for now).

I'm so going to punish CO's insolence at the PC and in the pointy end of the aircraft in just a few hours.

The FA's Bombay-pouring skills had better be up to snuff...IAH-DFW's not a long flight.

I actually like the name change. For those casual flyers who don't know much about FF program or come to FT, finally they know that it's 50K roundtrip to get a domestic flight on the day they want. It's not 20K like 20 years ago, and not 25K like 15 years ago. It's 50K. And 70K to Hawaii, not 35K.

Maybe that will cut down on first timers coming here (or other forums) and ask/whine about why they can't get a ticket to Hawaii after finally saving up 35K miles for the past 5 years...

The sky is falling and the fourth horseman just appeared outside my office window.

Yes, entropy, EasyPass for series 10B (to/from Tel Aviv) will remain at 250,000 miles.

Bear in mind, Anglo Large Clawed Otter, the 'Program Changes' are only the bad news (which we're required by our own terms and conditions to announce in advance). As you've heard from the DO, we have a number of positive changes in the works (like priority standby for Elites), we're just not going to publicly announce them until they're live.

Thanks for the heads up at least.

So my CO address is to be domiciled outside of the US in order to get the online booking bonus? If so, ok then. (I don't have a CO credit card attached to the account anyway.)

The bizarre thing is the reduction of notice to do program changes from 60 days to 30 days. There must be a context of some sort to it.

I do have an issue with it -- it's marketing staging for a preemptive attack.

Gee -- I wonder how many EasyPass awards to Asia, India/Africa/Middle East and Southern South America you've redeemed lately?