CO To Join Star Alliance [threads merged]

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Jun 19, 2008, 12:49 pm

#46

ECOTONE

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: LAS

Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Southwest A-List Preferred

Posts: 2,846

Quote:

Originally Posted by dergon darkhelm

I'm a gold elite out of CLE who does mostly pleasure travel and likes to use miles for international upgrades.

Should I be happy, sad, or indifferent?

Being part of Star allows you to book on SQ, CX, & TG to Asia - both offer products far superior to anything that's offered in the states...if you're looking to travel to Asia, I'd be happy.

Jun 19, 2008, 12:50 pm

#47

TVCMH

Join Date: Jul 2003

Location: Columbus OH

Programs: DL Diamond, CO Gold, US Silver, Natl Exec, Hertz #1, Avis Preferred, Elite w/ All US Hotel Programs

Posts: 401

Hope this happens quickly... I've got some long haul travel on UA this summer that I'd love to have credited to OnePass!

Jun 19, 2008, 12:50 pm

#48

bocastephen

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Sep 2002

Location: LAX/TPE

Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC

Posts: 42,172

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anglo Large Clawed Otter

The UA Q-UP can be even more rewarding than the DL variety (as UA often has crazy routing rules). If you are willing to fly out of MIA, there's generally decent "A" bucket availability (ExPlus aircraft, generally) to ORD and IAD. From there, you can begin cris-crossing the country en route to wherever. It just depends on whether UA has Q-UP fares to destinations that are useful to you from MIA.

How do I search for Q-UP fares on united.com? I tried doing a refundable F search, but the fare was pretty high.

Jun 19, 2008, 12:51 pm

#49

COmciUA

Join Date: Aug 2006

Location: NYC

Programs: UA 1K, Mariott, Hertz Presidents Circle

Posts: 303

Quote:

Originally Posted by OPFlyer

I only hope CO doesn't raise the requirments to hit plat to 100,000 or 100 segments.

I would hope that CO Plats are grandfathered the first year. ie Qualify based on CO criteria for 09, then alliance forms w/ 100/100 requirements, CO plats have till Dec 31, 2010 to hit the 100/100 to qualify for Plat.

Jun 19, 2008, 12:51 pm

#50

baglady

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2001

Location: IAH

Programs: La Ministreuse de Surréalisme, CO Plat, MR Plat, SPG Plat

Posts: 11,358

I had hoped for OW, but I can live with *. I expect to fly as little on UA as I currently do on DL and NW. I'll be happy to have the additional Asia partners. I'm not jumping up and down, but not crying either.

Jun 19, 2008, 12:53 pm

#51

cstead

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: SJC/SFO/OAK

Programs: BD Gold (and future SEN), 0.2MM AA EXP, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold

Posts: 3,107

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSU Mudder

Also,using that relationship as a reference, UA and US have reciprocal lounge access only through the purchase of an add-on. And a same day ticket on that airline is required, even with the add-on.

The add-on is required for US members, but a UA RCC membership has US priveleges built in, though both require you to be flying on the metal to get the lounge access.

I'm with ALCO in keeping my BD Gold until the inevitable happens, but I think I might want to leverage my EXP to match to whatever CO will give me, and then make CO my *A carrier - no need for MVPG when I can push for another top tier airline.

I sure hope the BR relationship will stay intact with this one though; BR has a great product and it would be disappointing to see that go, but I can see that being a victim of this move. Lets just hope.

To all of those excited about redeeming NonePass miles on *A airlines, would you really be shocked if CO implements UA-style StarNet blocking? I mean, NonePass is already known for being stingy, and IMO, nothing is stingier than UA's practice of not only limiting our ability to redeem seats that show available, but outright blocking of flights (NZ LAX-LHR doesn't exist as far as UA is concerned, same with some TG flights. Ridiculous

). Its something that I'm used to dealing with, but nonetheless sucks

Jun 19, 2008, 12:53 pm

#52

tommy777

Join Date: Dec 2004

Location: Sacramento

Posts: 7,323

I got the call this morning from my friend at CO HQ and had to swear on my life to shut up about it..

So the day after I decided to jump ship and got my 1K matched to CO Plat, CO makes this move.

Fantastic!!

Jun 19, 2008, 12:56 pm

#53

Babu

Join Date: Feb 2000

Location: TPA & MCO

Programs: DL Diamond, AA EXP & UA Gold

Posts: 3,046

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECOTONE

Being part of Star allows you to book on SQ, CX, & TG to Asia.

Not CX. That's OneWorld.

Jun 19, 2008, 12:56 pm

#54

SEA1K4EVR

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: Seattle, WA

Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry

Posts: 9,198

Quote:

Originally Posted by COmciUA

E+ for CO Elites???

I hope so!

Currently only UA elites get E+ for free.. Star Silver/Gold elites of other airlines do not get it.

Jun 19, 2008, 12:58 pm

#55

vietbet

Join Date: Jan 2006

Programs: MP Gold, HH Gold, PC Plat Elite-RA

Posts: 100

Is there a more miserable legacy airline than United, I don't think so.

Jun 19, 2008, 12:59 pm

#56

cstead

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: SJC/SFO/OAK

Programs: BD Gold (and future SEN), 0.2MM AA EXP, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold

Posts: 3,107

Not showing up on *A.com yet

Jun 19, 2008, 12:59 pm

#57

SEA1K4EVR

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: Seattle, WA

Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry

Posts: 9,198

Quote:

Originally Posted by bocastephen

How do I search for Q-UP fares on united.com? I tried doing a refundable F search, but the fare was pretty high.

Choose First Class (lowest) on United.com and if there is a Q-up, H-up, or M-up available it should show. There must be a published Q-Up fare on that route and there must be space in the A bucket.

Jun 19, 2008, 1:00 pm

#58

rkkwan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2003

Location: HKG

Programs: Priority Club Plat

Posts: 12,311

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartmann

I also wonder what it means for the smaller routes in Europe that CO currently flies that can possibly be covered by the alliance (LH, BD, etc.)?

There may be some shuffling, but little difference from current situation with AF/KL.

For my IAH-HKG runs, CO/*A means my one-stop choices will expand quite a bit, adding ORD, SFO, YYZ, YVR.

Pretty sure we'll see IAH-FRA pretty soon, and will not see IAH-ICN for a long time. I also wonder if this changes CO's plan to the "South Pacific" as mentioned in DO III last year.

Jun 19, 2008, 1:01 pm

#59

MBS MillionMiler

Used to be MBS PremExec

Join Date: Sep 2000

Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)

Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat

Posts: 5,722

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjque

That would be awesome. Plus, United currently prevents its members from booking most available awards on LH, NH and TG, so availability for CO members should be better than it is for UA members.

I do not find this to be the case at all. If anything, as a MP member, it's MUCH easier to get seats (particularly in premium cabins) on LH to Europe than it is to get them on UA. Just did my honeymoon in September on LH in both directions in F. My previous trip to Europe was the same--couldn't get seats on UA, but LH had TONS of availability in F. And just before that, did a C ticket--1 direction on UA, home on LH.

Last month, one of my customers accompanied me to China...he used UA miles for a F ticket...The ONLY thing available was NH going over and TG coming home--he only flew UA on the domestic portions.

Jun 19, 2008, 1:01 pm

#60

sbm12

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: PSM

Posts: 69,232

Hmmm...50K for *G would be great, especially because that gets you lounge access internationally like ST E+. Here's hoping that CO lets gold remain *G. I probably wouldn't need more than that; the bonus miles are nice but not worth the extra travel unless work decides I need to do that.

I'm less excited about the UA opportunities (though they offer much better MR routings than CO) than I am the opportunities for all the other partners.

Also, this will finally allow *A to offer flights between LON-NYC; up until now they haven't had any members operating that route.