I must be stupid here or extremely tired (both are possible... ) but I am still lost...the way I see it you were getting 500 EQMs for the 500 miles flight intra-Texasa before today (and 1 EQP) so you have to fly 50 Intra Texas Flights to qualify for Silver from EQMs....But the requirement is only 30 EQP's for Silver Status so you made it much earlier than with EQMs.

Unless, of course you are overly concerned with acquiring miles versus the Status levels then what is the problem.

I guess I must be stupid on this, I just don't get the complaints.

The chopping of the mileage bonuses is yet another step in turning frequent flyer programs upside down and into one of the great marketing scams ever.
As we all know, these started as customer loyalty programs. We still get all those emailed offers for bonus miles on rental cars, hotels, flowers, etc. We all see the commercials to sign up for credit cards so you are quickly on your way to "free travel," or have the sign-up forms handed out on the concourses. Yet actually getting in a seat and flying is the one area where bonuses are cut. Just what exactly are we supposed to be loyal to?
At the same time, of course, CO and the others keep spewing miles while they are cutting flights and pushing load factors close to 90. They keep pushing redemption alternatives, but I don't want overpriced magazine subscriptions. I think I'm like most everyone else in that I want seats, but they are heading to extinction.

This is what is maddening to me. I have no objection to "unbundling" or fees for deep-discount flights. But why go after everybody, even those on higher fares? Why can Air Canada do this but none of the US airlines can?

I believe you may be missing some math:

Ex. pre CO BS changes (ie today)
I fly a 70 mile segment from XXX-EWR connecting to a 2000 mile segment EWR-YYY. I net 2500 EQM's out of it!

After the CO BS changes (ie when i never get back on a CO bird)
I fly a 70 mile segment from XXX-EWR connecting to a 2000 mile segment IAH-YYY. I net 2070 EQM's out of it!

So...what took 10 segments (20 or LESS EQPs), now will take 13 segments. For the casual business traveler flying once a month, he will now NOT make SILVER!!!

Ok, so as a CO PLAT *, I am through. I fly a LOT of short flights in the northeast, and pay a BOAT LOAD of money for them. For what...a FEW HUNDRED MILES????

I have already switched to UA due to the ability to:
1-GET AN UPGRADE!

2-GET AN F SEAT INTERNATIONALLY

3-AVOID EWR

4-Honestly...Ive been well taken care of during IROPS at UA

5-BOARD WITHOUT 3/4 OF THE CITY OF NEWARK BOARDING WITH ME! (1K gets to board before silver!!)


So..for northeast corridor travel, I will go to AMTRAK. Cheaper, better service, nice meals, NO EWR ATC HOLDS!!!!

Hopefully LARRY LEAVES along with GLENN!

Agreed, however it is a benefit available at much lower mileage thresholds on other airlines - typically 50,000 elite miles per year, but as low as 35-38,000 on some international airlines.

And now I think CO will be naive...VERY NAIVE to think that this Plat* will spend $750+ FULL Y fares EWR-BOS. Here comes amtrak!!! WOOOWOOOO!

And to think....I would only need to fly 625 roundtrips, spending $468,750 to get a free sleezyass roundtrip to europe...unless I got one of the 3 seats available for the entire month at the 100K level!!!!!



WAY TO ALIENATE YOUR 'MOST FREQUENT' CUSTOMERS!

I was pretty saddened to read the email when I received it today. I didn't think they would go there. Scott, sorry you had to give us the bad news because I am sure that is the last thing you wanted to do. I was shocked to read my plat bonus went from 125% to 100%. Between MR BL and I we will lose approx. 75K miles by my calculations per year (I've had three drinks so that is not especially good calculations at this point, but close enough). BL JR is gold and as that is not changing, I guess she is to be punny, golden. We make only about 4-6 flights to DFW a year; so not a big deal to us on the 500 miles but still, a big . I'm unhappy about the $15 1st bag charge even again, it really doesn't affect us (dad, I'll make sure you're on Mom's PNR). I love CO; but am very, very disappointed by these changes.

You mention EQM throughout your posting but then jump to speaking about EQPs. no matter how you cut it (1 mile or 40000) each segment will still get you an EQP...what am I missing?


If I fly CLE-EWR-CDG-IST (like I am to doing on Saturday), then I still get 3 EQP's towards elite re-qualification , today, tomorrow, or even next year....yes I lost out on the CLE-EWR 500 miles but once again the question remains if your interested only in miles then yes I agree that this change hurts, but many have complained about status lose on this thread, that is unchanged from yesterday to today and onto next year. At least that is my opinion. Earn the EQPs and forget the 500 mile clusters.

From what I see everyone is stuck on the EQM changes, but they are not considering that EQPs DID NOT CHANGE which still get you elite status, if that is what you want.

The other poster and you are, I think in different situations.

People who only fly long flights who qualified, did so on miles and will continue to do so.
People who only fly short flights who qualified, did so on segments and will continue to do so.

People who qualified, on miles, using a mix of short and long flights might lose out.

Ugh !! Baggage fees will definitely increase the processing time at the airport security lines and increase boarding time as more folks try to take carryon luggage. It's bad enough at EWR.

I guess CO doesn't give a crap about it's intraTexas frequent flyers anymore. The elimination of the 500-mile minimum is just pathetic. With the round-trip SAT-IAH Y fare that I have often purchased creeping up to just under $400 and 25% lopped off the Platinum elite bonus, I think I made a mistake in choosing sides with the Houston-based carrier in the impending NW-CO divorce.

Certainly there is not much point in gunning for Platinum anymore, especially when it will take substantially more flying for the short-hopper. Gold status will only be nominally inferior to Platinum status, and really only in the complimentary upgrade department, which is hit and miss already, and can generally be remedied by buying a Y fare at the outset and Y-upping even as a Silver if the near guarantee of a first class seat is essential. And, for short hops as between San Antonio and Houston, I might as well take WN, typically more convenient Hobby Airport, and no change fees.

No 500-mile minimums, a 25% bonus mile hit, and no free standby? Any reason I shouldn't say, "No, thanks"?

Hi there CO Insider,

I am surprised that it took so long to introduce the first checked bag fee. Good for Continental.

I have always wondered why CO had that 500 mile minimum. It's good to see it gone.

Why are Platinum and Gold Elites at the same bonus level? I don't get the sense of that one.

Thanks for the update.

I can't figure that one either. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Maybe someone from USAirways got a job at CO!

If it would reduce the numbers, I'd vote for it!