We pay $300+ per year for the "free" cocktails.


No, they are worth less because it will now cost more miles to buy rewards tix.

Did I miss this announcement somewhere? Mr. rsnash is almost to Plat based on EQPs and we very rarely book on CO.com because he has to book his business travel with his company's in-house travel agency. But he still gets his 1 pt per segment or 2 pts per if H. Is this about to change too?

wow.....this sucks.

So 2nd bag fee that I am exempt from...I am guessing it goes paid now too?

2nd bag is $25, unless you are Elite and then fee is waived. I think when I next fly w/DH, he will be checking in both bags, since I have no status.

TK has a decnt not great connection in IST. Its just under 3hrs going and 2 coming back in, at least in regards to its JFK flights. There are several flights day between IST and TLV but with a nice layover, the problem is the TLV-IST-JFK flight theres only the early flight out of TLV otherwise you hav eto overnight.

What I loved is that TK although they use a 737 or A320 between IST & TLV the flight is like just over an hour so its doable. Unlike OS or most European carriers that will have you on a narrow-body for some 4-5 hrs and if you think CO is bad youve seen nothing yet.

But with LH and LX and AC using wide-bodys Only into TLV having to fly CO or LY is diminished. For a time it was only TW or LY out of the States and BA out of Europe that used wide-bodys . Then LH did followed by LX recently. Also with LY and AA tied up and not as when it was with DL on a very limited basis, that also now adds as an alternative.

FWIW TK on 10/12 out of JFK and back on 10/23 was a month or so ago <$1400 its now <$1500 while CO was always over $2000. So for me at least I guess I will be flying via Europe and doing a layover in the Hub city in either direction for a couple of days. I needed to get in early so I paid the EasyPass for the 84 in and got lucky that there was a Standard BF for the way back.

That, and the reduction in the quality of service.

Exactly. They will not revisit these charges if oil were to drop. There might be some minor concessions, but nothing significant.

Nope. I bolted from AA because the 500-mile certs didn't last very long when given out at a rate of four/10,000 BIS miles. I almost always get upgraded DEN-CLE on CO. That's a total of (6) certs RT on AA. DEN-DFW alone cost me all 4 certs RT (644 miles OW = 2 certs).

I ended up having to buy certs in order to fly up front.

Maybe. I'm guessing that UA will always be more married to LH (a logical partner) than CO (a logical competitor).

Changing redemption levels within the UA/LH alliance might be tough. (At least I'm hoping )

Yes I know currently, but I figured with re-aligning the first bag charge, we'd be looking at 2nd bag not free for elites as well.

Southwest is looking good, 20 miles further to an airport they serve but larger room in coach, more times per day they fly(esp with CO Florida scaling back).....

Yup, and NW (DL) for me.

So long, CO . . .

While CO does still provide some perks, as a lowly Silver (of 8 yrs - all earned by tush in seat, sometimes nearing Gold), this will be my final year as a CO elite.

I have only flown on CO once this year. As I fly out of BWI, I have access to Southwest and have been able to make all my other trips on them...all nonstops including such places as SAT, PHX and MSY. Boarding on SWA is dependent on getting your pass printed early, not on status. Frankly, often on CO flights there are so many elites pre-boarding it almost makes it worthless. Upgrades on CO for Silver are a joke, so I am usually in steerage anyway. The seats on SWA have a 1-2" (32-33") advantage on seat pitch over CO (31") on most planes. SWA isn't charging for bags (not that it isn't likely in the future). So why should I make the effort to keep my business on CO?

It will be no big loss for CO to lose my business in the great scheme of things...I understand that. Also know many CO Elites will be happy to see the ranks dwindle...more room for them. But you do have to wonder how many other folks will take business elsewhere (as many have already stated on this forum) when there really isn't that much reason to work at earning elite status.

Never thought I would find SWA a better deal than CO, but all my recent travels on them have been very pleasant. I am sad to leave CO - have enjoyed my status over the years but can no longer see the benefits to maintaining it.

Is CO trying to stem the tide of tranafers from other airlines becuase they don't have the capacity to handle?

how many? well, most people in EWR/IAH/CLE are stuck with CO, and CO knows it, that's why they don't care as much as they could.

I would argue that EWR based folks have a few more options. The nice thing about the NYC area is that no one carrier monopolizes the air travel. Between the three major airports, there is a fair amount of competition.

In the end, it's changes like these that make me reconsider having a 100% travel job. The problem is that these changes directly impact the traveler, in this case the frequent travelers. Pissing off the actual travelers, the ones that are putting money in your pocket, not a good idea. Post 9/11 when traffic slumped, it was due to companies cutting costs, but a person who still wanted to travel found a way (i know i did -- many times). So the determined traveler still traveled and gave the airlines business. Now, you're pissing off the actual traveler so they are much more inclined to a) find an alternate way to get to their destination or b) just reduce travel and find alternatives such as video conferencing and such.

In the end, biting the hand that feeds you is dangerous. When UA did this change, i moved all my SAN-SFO flights to VX. Now, in the northeast I'll take Amtrak... In the end, one way or another, while cutting this "cost" CO is also going to cut revenue through this change.

So, who's going to start up saveonepass.com?

Not true in regards to EWR!

Theres LGA and JFK and PHL. As I posted many a time Im a 15 min drive from EWR and if Im flying within the US most likely I drove to 1 of those alternatives for my trip rather then be subjected to CO and its high fares out of EWR. For my Intl CO has pretty much been the same as anyone else fare wise out of any airport so I flew with them. PHl is very limited in Intl flights even I think BA or AF is 1 flight a day. So theres JFK where BA is what 7 flights and AF I think 5 and hardly a 757 to be found

NY today is what SF was till say a few months ago, where you had SFO,OAK and SJC or what LA remains with the likes of LAX,SNA,BUR,LGB,ONT

thats why till now I paid a couple of $$ more at times to fly CO due to its product and the benefits received.They have now been reduced that it doesnt pay to stick with CO any longer and pay more for the samething basically a flight between 2 cities