Of course :) Surely you don't think they will let you buy a H class ticket and move into Int'l BF for $100 - that would be the deal of the century.

It's really a mileage upgrade which requires the payment of an additional fee, like a 'cash and points' deal.

The part of these changes I don't understand is the increase in BF copays. CO already offers the most restrictive international upgrade policy of any US carrier. Why then would they choose this area to jack up fees?

That is a good point. A good marketing campaign with the words "hidden fees" in it could do well to drive some business CO's way. The ad almost writes itself...

With the move to Star, they are trying to expand their international footprint. Perhaps discouraging revenue loss due to international upgrades is part of that strategy? There was a mention on the quarterly call of profit margin loss in domestic first class product, as the economic downturn has resulted in fewer business travelers paying to ride up front. Perhaps they are looking to international first class as a more inelastic product, and the need to recoup revenue plus the longer term strategy in this regard was too attractive to pass up?

Pure speculation.

WN already does this. The fact is that CO does have fees in various areas. CO has less of a leg to stand on in this regard and is probably wise to refrain from publicizing that they charge fewer fees in some areas than some other airlines some of the time.

Because people were paying the existing fees without much of a fuss.

I'm not sure its so bad (in general) but they are sticking fees where they should be for the most part rather than adding a fuel surcharge on reward tickets. I think H should still be exempt from an upgrade fee but its eatable in the big picture

Change in FF Fees
 

I just read the news on the web site, no announcement just a little 3-4 word notice, it caught my eye and WOW I am ticked. I get the need to raise some revenue, but come on……. We got these miles by being loyal, why not put something in that is less onerous to the passenger with a family. I'm still a plat this year, but next year slipping to silver with economy bad this year and less travel. I guess being a plat for 6 years doesn’t mean anything…. its are you doing for me today…….I was most disturbed by the outrageous $150.00 redeposit fee and the big bump in “fees” to use your miles. With wife and 4 kids traveling, there are times when we need to make changes = $75.00 x 6 per or cancel = $150. X 6...so much for "free". Also, there are many times, when seats don't open up until less than 21 days, so you have an automatic fee built in. Look for less FF seats to be available until less than 21 days. I guess my 700k miles are becoming worthless.

Your miles are just as valuable now as they were before. No award redemption requirements were increased. Be thankful we didn't flip to a 35k/75k for domestic Y/F redemption.

Plan ahead, plan smart to reduce the chance you need to make changes, and you won't have to pay a dime extra to use your miles - unlike our poor friends at Delta, Northwest, etc etc, who actually DO need to pay to use their miles no matter what.

It does present an interesting conflict of interest, doesn’t it?

Now questions can be raised as to whether CO revenue management is holding back mileage inventory because they believe that those seats will sell, or if they’re doing so to force the last minute fees on travelers who can/will only pay for Easypass. I don’t like this at all.

Exactly! People have been complaining about CO flying BF seats empty up front. They have NOT been complaining about the up-to-$450 co-pays. My mom pays the $450 all the time, gladly. A $50 one-way increase is nothing.

Similarly, do you really complain if a R-fare to Europe is $2,000 rather than $1,900? No, you don't.

I gotta say, it's the award change fee that hurts the most for me. The $35 I used to pay as a gold was great! I know it was cheap (especially compared to the others), but that's what I liked about it! Now, I don't even get a bit of a discount off the $150. Ouch.

Oh well, just another fee I'll need to eat.

This game really is getting less fun... :(

I think these fee increases are insulting.
Its seems CO does not really care about its most valuable frequent travelers. I would understand if the fee's were for non elite members, but I have been a loyal CO customer for 17 years.
Its sad to think that I may have to jump ship to an airline that appericates its frequent travelers.

The US airlines are like lemmings, so customers jumping ship from one ship to another may mean little more than jumping after the jumping lemmings. This is not to dissuade you from considering alternatives -- you should certainly consider alternatives -- but that doesn't just involve looking at alternative airlines but also looking at other ways to use the program or at alternatives to FFPs.

FFPs in the US seem to be transitioning from "free travel" using miles to "somewhat discounted travel" using miles with the other benefits more or less still remaining. If the other benefits besides the miles are not attractive and/or redemptions made are not for the premium cabins, then the value of the FFP is certainly not what it used to be.

hhmm...sure validates my personal decision, now a couple of years ago, to abandon my 7-figure credit card usage in conjunction w/ airline affinity programs, and resultant accumulation of massive miles and points...and run, not walk, to cash-back programs. Never has a decision been more timely. Now I let kayak.com locate the best choices and I am brand-indifferent. Guess that's why Nonepass CO and milesaaver AA wanted out of the "we-don't-have-to-travel-for-business" leisure consumers segment. CO and AA, you did want to run us off, right ? ok - it worked and continued to work fabulously well.

None-pass was already insultingly stingy in terms of 25K domestic base-level award allocation (the only ones I foolishly tried to get - I never had a need for international awards abut read through these threads they were a little easier to obtain)...now they plan to nickel and dime, or should I say "dollar and $10 and $50 and $100 fee us to death" to the point that anyone so arrogant to think they can use those silly miles they accumulate looks even more foolish. Since i don't want to be so foolish, I of course tell my friends, business associates, and everyone in my realm of influence they are cray fools to continue to use the Chase/Continental card.

So. Nothing changes for me. I already avoid this airline if / when possible, and I will continue to do more of it.

Keep up the good work CO - you clearly are getting what you deserve, which is to say what you seem to desire.