Waitlist improvements for OnePass upgrade rewards coming June 17th
May 16, 2008, 7:48 pm
#61
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cova is correct about the reason. In fact, after they started the co-pay, some of us wonder if CO might actually favor the lower fare class for upgrades, because that will generate more co-pay revenue.
[That has not happened, fortunately.]
[That has not happened, fortunately.]
May 16, 2008, 8:12 pm
#62
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May 16, 2008, 10:57 pm
#63
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Scott, thanks for this excellent enhancement. I am impressed by how much you work for the customer!
May 17, 2008, 2:05 am
#64
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May 17, 2008, 6:07 am
#65
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Dear Non-Rev'er, I'm Sorry
I think these changes are great ...and as a Platinum revenue flyer, love 'em.
But I also know that the top benefit of their valued employees is the ability to fly around in BF on a space-available basis; just as the Elite system has killed the opportunity for most domestic first class pass travel, I think this change will also significantly reduce if not outright kill the ability for international pass travel in the premium cabin. So for the non-rev'ers, I think this is a sad day... although considering how volatile this industry is, a needed day ...to improve paying customer satisfaction and resulting increased revenue to keep the airline afloat.
But I also know that the top benefit of their valued employees is the ability to fly around in BF on a space-available basis; just as the Elite system has killed the opportunity for most domestic first class pass travel, I think this change will also significantly reduce if not outright kill the ability for international pass travel in the premium cabin. So for the non-rev'ers, I think this is a sad day... although considering how volatile this industry is, a needed day ...to improve paying customer satisfaction and resulting increased revenue to keep the airline afloat.
May 17, 2008, 7:51 am
#66
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Now of course if even one customer is upgraded at the airport into the last available BF seat, then that clearly comes at the expense of the nonrev who may have been standing by. But I maintain that I believe the impact will be smaller than you think.
A potentially bigger impact could come from people who get to the airport, ask about an upgrade and are allowed to pay the miles and co-pay on the spot. But CO still isn't allowing this; requests still must be made 24 hours in advance, per CO Insider's original post.
May 17, 2008, 9:53 am
#67
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I do not know how much it will affect the non-revs, though I do tend to agree that it will be less than often. It was discussed in some reasonable depth following the DO in September in this thread, including links to external threads where there is even more "discussion" of the topic.
May 17, 2008, 11:51 am
#68
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May 18, 2008, 4:31 am
#69
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Ok, here's another possible issue with this. Based on my trip listed above (and the current "rules") I somehow almost lost out on my exit row seat. Basically, I could not check in at the 24 hour mark because I was waitlist as a miles upgrade. When I got to the airport, they told me it it did not clear and gave me seat 20A, not 14D which I had reserved. The lady at the counter said all the exit row seats were taken and there was nothing she could do about it. I was also dumped way to the bottom of the list for a battlefield upgrade.
If this is the case with the new system (i.e., you can not check in until you get to the airport and your chosen Y seat is not protected) I don't think this is an improvement. In all honesty, how many people have gotten mile-use upgrades inside the 24 hour window? That seems like the real change here. I would give that up to protect my 14C/D on a long 737 flight and, probably my 32A/F on a 777.
FWIW
DLM
PS, To close the loop on my POS adventure, I was paged at the gate and given 14C for no apparent reason just prior to boarding and 14B was empty. This is actually a combination I'll take over losing 15K mile on this route.
If this is the case with the new system (i.e., you can not check in until you get to the airport and your chosen Y seat is not protected) I don't think this is an improvement. In all honesty, how many people have gotten mile-use upgrades inside the 24 hour window? That seems like the real change here. I would give that up to protect my 14C/D on a long 737 flight and, probably my 32A/F on a 777.
FWIW
DLM
PS, To close the loop on my POS adventure, I was paged at the gate and given 14C for no apparent reason just prior to boarding and 14B was empty. This is actually a combination I'll take over losing 15K mile on this route.
May 18, 2008, 4:39 am
#70
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This has nothing to do with whether someone has the money or not to pay for the ticket. It has to do with what one chooses to do with their money. Before I could waitlist for a BF seat and only pay when it cleared. The money sat in my bank and I earned interest on it. Now I pay a month or two earlier and CO earns interest on it. I'd rather the money sit in my bank account not CO's so that I earn interest. Even wealthy people care about small amounts, in some cases (watching such issues) this is exactly how they got wealthy.
I find it sort of odd that we can complain about a $25 second bag fee or lack of AVOD on a plane (I bring my own laptop, ipod, and books) but think complaining about losing the interest on one's money somehow implies that the person is not financially entitled to fly BF!
That said, it is nice to be able to waitlist beyond the 24 hour mark for BF rather than see such seats go empty and I appreciate that new perk and thank Scott for it. But it does have a cost and CO will earn interest on not just my money being in their hands for longer, but others as well.
I find it sort of odd that we can complain about a $25 second bag fee or lack of AVOD on a plane (I bring my own laptop, ipod, and books) but think complaining about losing the interest on one's money somehow implies that the person is not financially entitled to fly BF!
That said, it is nice to be able to waitlist beyond the 24 hour mark for BF rather than see such seats go empty and I appreciate that new perk and thank Scott for it. But it does have a cost and CO will earn interest on not just my money being in their hands for longer, but others as well.
Although I brought up the possibly rare instances of people stretched financially who would lose their money sooner, I have, to date, always chosen to buy an H fare, in order to take the 50% bump in EQMs, and to pay a little bit more than I wouldve with a lower fare and upgrade fee.
May 18, 2008, 10:29 am
#71
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This has nothing to do with whether someone has the money or not to pay for the ticket. It has to do with what one chooses to do with their money. Before I could waitlist for a BF seat and only pay when it cleared. The money sat in my bank and I earned interest on it. Now I pay a month or two earlier and CO earns interest on it. I'd rather the money sit in my bank account not CO's so that I earn interest. Even wealthy people care about small amounts, in some cases (watching such issues) this is exactly how they got wealthy.
I find it sort of odd that we can complain about a $25 second bag fee or lack of AVOD on a plane (I bring my own laptop, ipod, and books) but think complaining about losing the interest on one's money somehow implies that the person is not financially entitled to fly BF!
That said, it is nice to be able to waitlist beyond the 24 hour mark for BF rather than see such seats go empty and I appreciate that new perk and thank Scott for it. But it does have a cost and CO will earn interest on not just my money being in their hands for longer, but others as well.
I find it sort of odd that we can complain about a $25 second bag fee or lack of AVOD on a plane (I bring my own laptop, ipod, and books) but think complaining about losing the interest on one's money somehow implies that the person is not financially entitled to fly BF!
That said, it is nice to be able to waitlist beyond the 24 hour mark for BF rather than see such seats go empty and I appreciate that new perk and thank Scott for it. But it does have a cost and CO will earn interest on not just my money being in their hands for longer, but others as well.
I dont even think CO looked at it from that viewpoint. Heck, Ive purchased tkts for a couple of months in advance that cost alot more then $900
Now say you were earning 10% on your $$, then that $900 = $90 for a whole yr , since we are talking about maybe 2 months then its more like $15. I think at most , most people will lose out on maybe $3 in interest, since the % they earn is so low nowadays. I really dont think CO is looking to grab that $3, even times 100 tkts
May 18, 2008, 10:57 am
#72
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Now say you were earning 10% on your $$, then that $900 = $90 for a whole yr , since we are talking about maybe 2 months then its more like $15. I think at most , most people will lose out on maybe $3 in interest, since the % they earn is so low nowadays. I really dont think CO is looking to grab that $3, even times 100 tkts
May 18, 2008, 11:31 am
#73
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IMHO this is done to streamline the upgrade process at the airport. Can you imagine what it would be like if the greycoats had to collect the $$$'s as well?
May 18, 2008, 11:53 am
#74
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The only time I really ever waitlist for BF is to Hawaii, and that's for the miles + $ upgrade.
I really don't want to float CO the upgrade $$ until it clears. It's not a small amount of money. It's bad enough they take the miles when they put you on the list, but to take all that money is a bit excessive, IMHO.
I would agree paying a refundable fee or have the fee applied toward the upgrade, but to have to shell out about $900 (for 2) months in advance just to be on the list is a bit too much.
I really don't want to float CO the upgrade $$ until it clears. It's not a small amount of money. It's bad enough they take the miles when they put you on the list, but to take all that money is a bit excessive, IMHO.
I would agree paying a refundable fee or have the fee applied toward the upgrade, but to have to shell out about $900 (for 2) months in advance just to be on the list is a bit too much.
May 18, 2008, 12:17 pm
#75
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On one hand we can now standby at the airport on the day of departure; on the other we have to pony up both the miles (which is industry standard) and the cash. That seems like a fair trade.
The program's better off after the change and if the only issue is the $900 - which would have been an issue anyway if you cleared - than I'm not quite sure what to say.
Finally if you're going to HNL and are netrual to the upgrade you may want to consider a rev-up. It's in the 300's o/w for an elite ($350? IIRC) and there are no miles involved.