OnePass Changes Effective Aug. 17, 2008
Jul 17, 2008, 9:48 am
#46
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Depends on who you ask. If you go over to the SPG forum you'll see plenty of tirades about the devaluation of their points as hotels get upgraded to higher tiers and as redemption costs go up. I think that hotel points are still worth a bit more, but it isn't all sunshine and flowers on the other side.
Jul 17, 2008, 10:00 am
#47
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True, it's not all pretty...but hotels have more "pretty" left than airlines. However, your example of SPG is not equal to a case like Discover Miles, because Discover Miles is much like Cap One No Hassle, etc. where the mileage earned pays for the statement charge of whatever travel you purchase. The SPG people more than likely have gripes revolving around the SPG Amex. Branded card vs. not, and to my knowledge, the SPG Amex doesn't have anything akin to the HH GLON award. I could be wrong, as I'm not a Starwood aficionado.
I have an HH Amex, and I'm about as happy as one can be over the oodles of points I'm building up. I haven't a clue what they'll go toward yet, but I love knowing that they're there and that they won't get burned unless something really cool comes up for me to use them on.
Anyhoo, to bring it all back around to CO and air in general, the savvier point-getter might ending up moving in Mary's direction if airline fees and higher fares don't go away. Burn the hotel points to get free lodging, and splurge on the air to get there in style.
I have an HH Amex, and I'm about as happy as one can be over the oodles of points I'm building up. I haven't a clue what they'll go toward yet, but I love knowing that they're there and that they won't get burned unless something really cool comes up for me to use them on.
Anyhoo, to bring it all back around to CO and air in general, the savvier point-getter might ending up moving in Mary's direction if airline fees and higher fares don't go away. Burn the hotel points to get free lodging, and splurge on the air to get there in style.
Jul 17, 2008, 10:07 am
#48
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Very good point! This change is a not a complete match of, or validation of the changes implemented by other carriers - CO will still continue to offer totally free reward travel (except taxes/govt fees), while much of the competition will not.
I hope once implemented, CO looks into the potential for marketing this product differentiation. Obviously they can't make the same 'no fee' claim that WN does, but they can still point out that miles actually equal free travel on CO.
I hope once implemented, CO looks into the potential for marketing this product differentiation. Obviously they can't make the same 'no fee' claim that WN does, but they can still point out that miles actually equal free travel on CO.
Jul 17, 2008, 10:09 am
#49
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I disagree, to some extent. When airlines do not make rewardseats available until withing 21 days of departure, they force passengers who need to or are willing to redeem rewards to wait until a few weeks before departure to book. That forces them to pay the close-in booking fees (and feel lucky that they found reward space to begin with).
Jul 17, 2008, 10:14 am
#50
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Is the new $150 change fee for award travel per reservation or per ticket? I recently changed a reward flight for $35 for both of us, well, then they also refunded $26 in tax because of the changes.
Jul 17, 2008, 10:14 am
#51
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Exactly -- CO has shown itself to be a bit smarter than much of the competition.
Jul 17, 2008, 10:37 am
#52
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If the choice is between taking an international vacation in J using miles but waiting until a few weeks before to pick the actual flights, and not going at all or shelling out quite a bit of cash for tickets on short notice, I would imagine the vast majority of people would be willing to pay the close-in fees.
The only Pitfall might be till now since the fees were low CO didnt hold off opening up Award seats on flights that werent selling. Now that the 14 day window on fees is 21 days and the fees were increased, CO might decide to hold off opening up the seats till the 20 day window thusly making paying a fee mandatory, I hope this wont be the case
Jul 17, 2008, 10:37 am
#53
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It was asked on the earnings call whether CO would institute a first-checked-bag fee. They said they are watching to see whether consumers are smart enough to realize it is effectively a $15*2 roundtrip fare increase, since such a large % of travelers check 1 bag (ie, it is not a discriminatory surcharge for extra service if near everyone has to pay it). If there is no change in demand, then CO will have to institute the fee.
Jul 17, 2008, 10:37 am
#54
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Jul 17, 2008, 10:42 am
#55
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It was asked on the earnings call whether CO would institute a first-checked-bag fee. They said they are watching to see whether consumers are smart enough to realize it is effectively a $15*2 roundtrip fare increase, since such a large % of travelers check 1 bag (ie, it is not a discriminatory surcharge for extra service if near everyone has to pay it). If there is no change in demand, then CO will have to institute the fee.
Jul 17, 2008, 11:01 am
#56
Join Date: Dec 2007
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I'd say that it just dropped exactly $200. 
Seriously, though, the co-pays are a tough bullet to bite. They basically price almost every discount European BF experience the same, be it an X++, and H++ or the R sales. All of them come out to be about $1600-2500, depending on the route, plus a lot of miles on the upgrade approach. I don't think that the price is entirely unreasonable, even with the increases. Then again, I'm flying Y on my upcoming trip to/from Europe, so my opinion might not actually count as much.
Seriously, though, the co-pays are a tough bullet to bite. They basically price almost every discount European BF experience the same, be it an X++, and H++ or the R sales. All of them come out to be about $1600-2500, depending on the route, plus a lot of miles on the upgrade approach. I don't think that the price is entirely unreasonable, even with the increases. Then again, I'm flying Y on my upcoming trip to/from Europe, so my opinion might not actually count as much.
Jul 17, 2008, 11:06 am
#57
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It was asked on the earnings call whether CO would institute a first-checked-bag fee. They said they are watching to see whether consumers are smart enough to realize it is effectively a $15*2 roundtrip fare increase, since such a large % of travelers check 1 bag (ie, it is not a discriminatory surcharge for extra service if near everyone has to pay it). If there is no change in demand, then CO will have to institute the fee.
Jul 17, 2008, 11:45 am
#58
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It is nice that CO kept an eye out for its Plats and waived a number of the fees.
As for the Golds and Silvers, its not the best thing, but it is relatively consistent with what the competition does.
And thank you Scott for giving us a head's up. It is appreciated that you posted this at 11-something at night.
As for the Golds and Silvers, its not the best thing, but it is relatively consistent with what the competition does.
And thank you Scott for giving us a head's up. It is appreciated that you posted this at 11-something at night.
Jul 17, 2008, 11:52 am
#59
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 278
nowadays airline companies just know how to make everything expensive...
Does CO upgrade copay requires miles?
Does CO upgrade copay requires miles?
Jul 17, 2008, 11:57 am
#60
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Just last month, I cleaned out the last 100K from my CO account for a Virgin UC reward. I ticketed within 15 days ($35 for being one day off 
) and made one change ($35), for a total cost of $70 in CO nuisance fees. Those fees would total $225 ($150+75) if made under the new fee structure -- over three times as much. 
I am glad that I got out of OnePass when I did! I am left with exactly 382 miles in my CO account, and given the increasing costs and hassles of discretionary travel, I likely won't be adding to that total very often.
I have enjoyed being a lowly CO Silver Elite -- it's gotten me early boarding on all flights and upgrades on a few -- but I can no longer afford status in multiple FF programs anymore. Being top-tier elite is the only way to avoid Death by Fees! It was really nice while it lasted, though.
) and made one change ($35), for a total cost of $70 in CO nuisance fees. Those fees would total $225 ($150+75) if made under the new fee structure -- over three times as much. I am glad that I got out of OnePass when I did! I am left with exactly 382 miles in my CO account, and given the increasing costs and hassles of discretionary travel, I likely won't be adding to that total very often.
I have enjoyed being a lowly CO Silver Elite -- it's gotten me early boarding on all flights and upgrades on a few -- but I can no longer afford status in multiple FF programs anymore. Being top-tier elite is the only way to avoid Death by Fees! It was really nice while it lasted, though.