First Bag Fees & 2009 OnePass Program Changes
Sep 5, 2008, 8:47 am
#31
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I would think with the lowering cost of fuel, though certainly not what it was, things like this would not be as necessary. I also wonder if rolling out these types of changes back when oil prices were at their peak would make this easier to swallow. In any event, a hearty round of bad news all the way around. 
Sep 5, 2008, 8:48 am
#32
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
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.
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.
Sep 5, 2008, 8:48 am
#33
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Sep 5, 2008, 8:49 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,613
What about flights on DL, NW, AS, and other partners? Still 500 miles minimum until the relationship ends?
Sep 5, 2008, 8:51 am
#35
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
BINGO we have a Winner!
The Future is now!
Ok Im already Plat for '09, but for now on my Biz will go to whomever has the cheaper fare within the times I want. Since Im Life Time Plat on AA, I guess they will be getting alot of my travels again
, as I wont have to pay any baggae fees. With CO Id have to maintain at least Silver, why should I?, so that I can post how my % of EUAs keep slipping downward, or so that I can pay for booze even on my Intl flights unlike the European CarriersCO will get away with it cause most people will complain and *itch about it even as they are clicking the Purchase of their tkt. and CO knows that.
Nope CO has Lowered itself to join US & UA and will be no better then them. What I dont understand is why dont US & UA & CO simply merge and become 1 Carrier and Screw Us royally as 1.
Thats why for yrs Ive posted yea Im Loyal but to myself cause when push comes to shove CO will Screw us and claim its for our own good. CO can put on as many DOs as they want, its all smoke in the eyes when they can turn around and pull these things. I bet you they arent done yet either with their ENHANCEMENTS
Sep 5, 2008, 8:51 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: EWR, USA, AA 1MM Gold, United Premier Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 1,476
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.
Unless you enter via amex plat in which case Amex has paid CO to grant you entrance.
In any case, these changes really bite the big one!
Other airlines give the same milegae bonuses for Plat and Gold, but they at least give their top tiers SWU's or something more tangible to compensate...
Sep 5, 2008, 8:53 am
#38
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If it's anything like UA, each partner will have individual 500-mile minimum policies so I wouldn't expect the CO elimination of 500-mile minimum to automatically remove the 500-mile minimum from partners.
Sep 5, 2008, 8:57 am
#39
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL Diamond, B6 Mosaic, AS MPV Gold, UA Gold MM, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite
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And I agree on losing the differentiation between CO and its competitors.
It's the same kind of alignment that happened a decade ago between CO and NW, except, then, most of the changes were positive.I realize the airline industry is really struggling right now, but it just seems like these changes are going to further drive customers to the low cost carriers that are charging the same fares without a bunch of add-on fees, and haven't eroded frequent flier benefits. Seriously, every change like this makes WN look a little more attractive for domestic travel. Is that what CO really wants?
Sep 5, 2008, 8:57 am
#40
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Philadelphia,PA
Programs: United 1K,Marriott Platinum Premier,IHC Platinum Ambassador,Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,898
CO will still be my airline of choice..^
Sep 5, 2008, 8:58 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
Bingo is absolutely right.
As a lifetime gold on AA I'll get better benefits than CO is now giving (AHEM, INCLUDING PRERESERVING AN EXIT-ROW)
With these changes there really is less and less reason to keep requalifying as a CO Silver.
As a lifetime gold on AA I'll get better benefits than CO is now giving (AHEM, INCLUDING PRERESERVING AN EXIT-ROW)
With these changes there really is less and less reason to keep requalifying as a CO Silver.
BINGO we have a Winner!
The Future is now!
Ok Im already Plat for '09, but for now on my Biz will go to whomever has the cheaper fare within the times I want. Since Im Life Time Plat on AA, I guess they will be getting alot of my travels again, as I wont have to pay any baggae fees. With CO Id have to maintain at least Silver, why should I?, so that I can post how my % of EUAs keep slipping downward, or so that I can pay for booze even on my Intl flights unlike the European Carriers
CO will get away with it cause most people will complain and *itch about it even as they are clicking the Purchase of their tkt. and CO knows that.
Nope CO has Lowered itself to join US & UA and will be no better then them. What I dont understand is why dont US & UA & CO simply merge and become 1 Carrier and Screw Us royally as 1.
Thats why for yrs Ive posted yea Im Loyal but to myself cause when push comes to shove CO will Screw us and claim its for our own good. CO can put on as many DOs as they want, its all smoke in the eyes when they can turn around and pull these things. I bet you they arent done yet either with their ENHANCEMENTS
The Future is now!
Ok Im already Plat for '09, but for now on my Biz will go to whomever has the cheaper fare within the times I want. Since Im Life Time Plat on AA, I guess they will be getting alot of my travels again
, as I wont have to pay any baggae fees. With CO Id have to maintain at least Silver, why should I?, so that I can post how my % of EUAs keep slipping downward, or so that I can pay for booze even on my Intl flights unlike the European CarriersCO will get away with it cause most people will complain and *itch about it even as they are clicking the Purchase of their tkt. and CO knows that.
Nope CO has Lowered itself to join US & UA and will be no better then them. What I dont understand is why dont US & UA & CO simply merge and become 1 Carrier and Screw Us royally as 1.
Thats why for yrs Ive posted yea Im Loyal but to myself cause when push comes to shove CO will Screw us and claim its for our own good. CO can put on as many DOs as they want, its all smoke in the eyes when they can turn around and pull these things. I bet you they arent done yet either with their ENHANCEMENTS
Sep 5, 2008, 8:58 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,613
I'm not loyal to CO. They currently and for the last few years have provided the best, cleanest planes and the best mileage earning for my routes (in a small city - ROC - about 250 miles from JFK/EWR/PHL/IAD/CLE/DTW/CVG - so I could basically choose any carrier of the six legacies, maybe with the exception of AA). So I choose them - for now.The new DL/NW starts to look more attractive for now. We'll see what things look like at the end of the year...
Sep 5, 2008, 9:00 am
#43
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
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Sep 5, 2008, 9:00 am
#44
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,976
This certainly makes me rethink moving to CO once the NW/DL merger completes. They're making NW look better, although obviously DL may impose similar changes down the road. They already limit the plat bonus to 100%.The elimination of the 500 mile minimum will kill me. I just did a quick calculation for my 2007 flying and I would have earned 14,398 fewer EQMs under these new rules. It will be interesting to see how this change will affect traffic on routes like AUS-IAH. Of course, the legacy US carriers seem like they are in a race to the bottom so CO may not end up at a competitive disadvantage.
Sep 5, 2008, 9:01 am
#45
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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Sigghhhh, deep down I knew some of this was going to happen. As someone indicated earlier, CO is stooping down to UA/US level instead of being different which they should be. OK, instead of stooping it's more like bending over and maybe CO needs a whack in the behind to bring some sense back.