CAL PHL FLYER

I think this is a move everbody was expecting and isnt suprising..things in life change..it will be OK..we will adpat..

sfozrhfco

Funny as just last week the flight attendant was proudly walking up and down the aisle saying how CO is the legacy carrier with the least amount of the nickel and dime type fees. Guess she will be disappointed to see CO go down the same road.

rolov

I was thinking the same thing , for the previous changes announced, it seems like they were looking out for the Plat Elites , this one is a big No No NO .

COFlyerCLE

I guess this was my worst fear - and it looks like we're heading down that road.

CO could either bring UA/US up to their level, or sink down. Sadly, they're sinking down. When they stop cleaining planes we'll know we've hit bottom.

A sad day for CO and its passengers.

CAL PHL FLYER

CO still doesnt charge for meals or beverages..and doesnt charge for pillows and blankets..and doesnt charge for cocktails in the President`s Club..just be thankfull for what we have..CO is still really generous..(and you know it)

PSU Mudder

Bingo. CO, I gave you thousands of dollars of flying this year after leaving US for those same reasons.

Quick back-of-the-envelope calcluation shows the mileage changes costing this Platinum 25,300 per year (I fly the same route consistently). That's not insignificant.

fozz

Agreed. I still don't understand the alignment in bonus miles between Gold and Plat. I know UA does it, but it's never made sense. You should put your top tier in a different category then your mid-tier.

bernsa

1st checked bag fee- Most people on this forum are elite anyway so aren't affected as badly as General Q. Public.

500 mile minimumum:
*SNIFF* This makes requalification at Silver for me a big challenge. I normally will buy up 1 or 2 Xfare specials over the course of year for the final 1,000 - 2,000 mile push - not to mention some nice padding with IAH-AUS flights. I'm relying on two sub-500 mile round trip segments this year. Wish it did not have to occur with EQMs as well, but consistency might be what CO wants.

With the reduction in earnings; does this make a stored bank of miles suddenly slightly increase in value?

The overall scheme of things is moving CO closer to being in line with Star Alliance standards. The problem is we also still have the worst of the SkyTeam standards in place as well: 50% EQMs on non-Co.com booked discouny econony fares. As a tradeoff that should have been eliminated for 2009 and Better be eliminated come Star Alliance integration, whence I'll take E+ over the false promises of upgrades anyday.

cova

So this means that Gold and Plat both get 100% mileage bonus. Sounds to me that CO is aligning more with UA.

sdm1130

Generous? Last time I checked, we pay (often a premium) to fly CO - they should provide those basic services.

kaszeta

I'm elite on several programs, and it still effects me: longer screening lines and longer boarding/disembarking times.

I was happy that CO was still holding the line. I'm annoyed that they have caved. I'd rather pay for my tickets and have a good flight. It's annoying to be nickle-and-dimed from curb to curb.

CAL PHL FLYER

We often buy the the lowest dirt cheap fare and hope for an upgrade..all those $69 cheap tickets to florida with free first class upgrades were fun..

rolov

You bring up some good points, but also remember that for Pres Club access you usually have a paid membership , which has gone up again , or you are flying internationally and have been given access for flying BF or are Plat in Y.

Unless you enter via amex plat in which case Amex has paid CO to grant you entrance.

ctownflyer

This is utter crap.
500 mile minimums and 50% elite bonuses are what has kept me as a CO Silver.
Now the only silver benefit is free bags and a wimpy 25% bonus?

And this probably isn't the end of *A allignment changes either.

nycnnj

Generous? It's a business relationship, and we pay for these benefits, whether directly to Continental or to third-party vendors who have agreements with Continental. Continental benefits from higher rankings and continued loyalty. I'm thankful, and I like Continental, but it's not like it's a gift.

I personally think that the benefits and services in place when a ticket is purchased should be delivered; changes should be applied to tickets "purchased after a certain date" and not to previously-purchased tickets "flown after a certain date". For example, I purchased a ticket for non-elites a while back based on a number of factors, including no bag fee for them, and now the terms of the "contract" have changed. I think that's bad.