OnePass Changes Effective Aug. 17, 2008
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to give you a heads-up about some upcoming changes to our OnePass program. As I’m sure you know, the record-high price of fuel is having a direct impact on our fares and fees, and the OnePass program is no exception. While I can’t guarantee there won’t be more announcements this year, these are the changes that’ll be taking effect in the next 30 days:
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hmm, posted in the middle of the night. Nice surprise for the morning.
In any event, CO runs a tight ship so do what you gotta do, ya. |
Wow...some of those fees sound like UA fees :eek:--the high 'close in fee' and the even higher redeposit/change fees on reward tickets....the alignment has begun :eek:
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Scott,
Thanks for the heads up. I don't see anything scary in what you're doing. We all understand the challenges that airlines face right now. I for one support any reasonable actions that CO takes to generate more revenues. These changes are more than reasonable! |
Originally Posted by CO Insider
(Post 10047356)
BusinessFirst upgrade reward copay increases.
I must agree with the other posters - overall these do not look all that bad. It could be much worse (let's not hope it does get any worse)! <rant> The airline industry as a whole is (obviously) in trouble and I don't think that pushing all sorts of fees on to customers is going to produce a positive end result. Many of these additional fees will impact CO's most frequent flyers which really is a shame - some of the Plat discounts are obvious exceptions to this. I would love to see CO explore alternative (and more innovative) revenue streams rather then just follow all other major carriers by adding a bunch of fees. Finding these alternative revenue streams could really set CO apart from the other carriers! It's time to really start thinking outside the box. </rant> |
Originally Posted by CO Insider
(Post 10047356)
BusinessFirst upgrade reward copay increases. Effective August 17, 2008,
Now I need to buy 2008 year-end and 2009 summer tickets and request mileage upgrade before 8/17... |
Ouch. As a Plat, I'm relatively safe, but some day I may (hopefully) fly less and all these fees aren't likely to disappear when (if?) fuel prices come back down. Hardest of them all in my opinion: $150 to change / cancel a reward ticket - wow.
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While I understand the need to impose the fees, I am very disappointed by the BF fees, particularly the ones for the H class. :( I've had no issue buying H fares to experience BF, but now my SWUs on UA are worth a bit more.
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beginning of the end
This is the beginning of the end of FF programs. I have certainly been expecting their demise or devaluing giving the state of the industry. At least soon we can all rest , forget status, forget mileage runs, and the market will become true competition and we can fly with whoever provides the best for whatever route we need to travel and we stop being tied to airlines and airline groups. Like I am planning a trip to Vietnam and would have been nicer to travel with a proper airline like Singapore or Cathay Pacific rather than travel such a distance with the likes of CO.
Why doesnt CO just disband the program then we can all move to the next step? No point anymore pretending its a loyalty when increasingly there is little to gain from being loyal. |
Thanks for the memories
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 :mad:) 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. :eek:
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. :( |
These changes are yet another sign that "free travel" using frequent flyer program miles is going the way of the dodo and the program is headed toward being little more than "somewhat discounted travel" using FFP miles.
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Originally Posted by quan98
(Post 10047368)
hmm, posted in the middle of the night. Nice surprise for the morning.
Thanks, Scott. I'll keep quiet until CO starts with the first-bag-checked fee (I don't even check baggage; I just think it's ridiculous). |
Originally Posted by ani90
(Post 10048245)
Why doesnt CO just disband the program then we can all move to the next step? No point anymore pretending its a loyalty when increasingly there is little to gain from being loyal.
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By all accounts CO is one of the best managed airlines and I'm sure all the math was taken into account before these changes. At the same time, I feel that airlines are just using high fuel as an excuse for death by fees. I would rather see FFPs aligned with fares, i.e. getting say 4,000 points for a $400 ticket, than increased fees that everyone (except Southwest) is imposing.
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I'm not happy about these at all. There's a permanence to this that bothers me. Impose a fuel surcharge on reward travel if you like, but don't mask it elsewhere or call it by a different name. These are the types of changes CO will "forget" to relax once economic conditions reverse.
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