Feedback Received: 500-Mile Minimum Restored for Elite Members
Sep 22, 2008, 10:09 am
#16
Company Representative, United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago, Houston, or somewhere in between
Posts: 2,176
To be candid, sdm1130, I wouldn't hold your breath. Every loyalty program is different, I know, but even at our new 100%/100%/25% bonus structure for Elites we're still very competitive with other U.S.-based carriers (the ones who still offer bonus miles). I don't see this changing.
Sep 22, 2008, 10:10 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: ACT/GRK/DAL/ABI/MIA/FLL
Programs: OMNIArchist, OMNIArchy!, OMNIIDGAS
Posts: 23,478
Hey at least some of us can get a few bonus miles out of all those SAAB and RJ segments again!
Sep 22, 2008, 10:12 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
To be candid, sdm1130, I wouldn't hold your breath. Every loyalty program is different, I know, but even at our new 100%/100%/25% bonus structure for Elites we're still very competitive with other U.S.-based carriers (the ones who still offer bonus miles). I don't see this changing.
Sep 22, 2008, 10:17 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
While I too would like to see 25% bonus restored, I am going to reserve final judgment until I see the finalized "industry standardized" reward chart.
Sep 22, 2008, 10:30 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 247
many thanks...
nice to see nothing is "set in stone"
thanks for listening
nice to see nothing is "set in stone"
thanks for listening
Sep 22, 2008, 10:35 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: IAH
Posts: 13,531
To be candid, sdm1130, I wouldn't hold your breath. Every loyalty program is different, I know, but even at our new 100%/100%/25% bonus structure for Elites we're still very competitive with other U.S.-based carriers (the ones who still offer bonus miles). I don't see this changing.
Something tells me that 100k for Plat is going to be next...
Sep 22, 2008, 10:35 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 1,685
This is great news.
Sad to see the bonuses didn't come back, but at least 500-mi minimums came back.
Sad to see the bonuses didn't come back, but at least 500-mi minimums came back.
Sep 22, 2008, 10:37 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: IAH
Programs: La Ministreuse de Surréalisme, CO Plat, MR Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 11,358
^ Thanks for listening. Sorry to hear we won't be getting the 125 bonus back, but to happy to hear about this!
Sep 22, 2008, 10:38 am
#24
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Even though I almost never fly a <500 mile segment this has me keen to make the one extra run I need to hit Silver for next year, just in case.
Thanks for listening and responding. ^^
Thanks for listening and responding. ^^
Sep 22, 2008, 10:38 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: IAH
Programs: La Ministreuse de Surréalisme, CO Plat, MR Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 11,358
Sep 22, 2008, 10:45 am
#26
Join Date: May 2008
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, Hyatt Lifetime Glob, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,272
Sep 22, 2008, 10:47 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Houston
Posts: 8,956
Just received an e-mail from Mark Bergsrud at CO to this effect. Thanks, Scott.
Sep 22, 2008, 10:48 am
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Manhattan
Programs: CO Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,468
Hi Everyone, earlier this month we announced our 2009 OnePass changes, and suffice to say after the hundreds of posts and messages received here at headquarters, it was clear that the elimination of the 500-mile minimum was the most impactful to many of you. Especially those of you who are Elite members.
We hear you.
Today, I’m happy to report we are changing this policy for our Elite members. Specifically, our Elite members will continue to earn the 500-mile minimum for both base miles and Elite qualification miles (EQMs) for flights operated by Continental and our partners. The only exception will be Amtrak, whose minimum earnings will continue to be the same as they are today. We'll be updating continental.com with this information a little later this week.
The policy as originally announced on Sep. 5, will only apply to customers who are not Elite members. These members will earn actual miles on flights operated by Continental and most OnePass partners for tickets booked on or after Nov. 15, 2008 for travel on or after Jan. 1, 2009. In these cases, the 500-mile minimum will still apply to flights operated by Copa Airlines, Aero República, Hawaiian Air, Island Air, U.S. Helicopter and SNCF Rail. Amtrak minimum earnings will remain the same as well.
As always, thanks for your feedback. It really does make a difference.
We hear you.
Today, I’m happy to report we are changing this policy for our Elite members. Specifically, our Elite members will continue to earn the 500-mile minimum for both base miles and Elite qualification miles (EQMs) for flights operated by Continental and our partners. The only exception will be Amtrak, whose minimum earnings will continue to be the same as they are today. We'll be updating continental.com with this information a little later this week.
The policy as originally announced on Sep. 5, will only apply to customers who are not Elite members. These members will earn actual miles on flights operated by Continental and most OnePass partners for tickets booked on or after Nov. 15, 2008 for travel on or after Jan. 1, 2009. In these cases, the 500-mile minimum will still apply to flights operated by Copa Airlines, Aero República, Hawaiian Air, Island Air, U.S. Helicopter and SNCF Rail. Amtrak minimum earnings will remain the same as well.
As always, thanks for your feedback. It really does make a difference.
Sep 22, 2008, 10:51 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: ua mm, aa plat, starriott LTPP, ihg plat, hh gold.
Posts: 13,017
very nice, and very smart. ^
(now i'll just hold my breath and see if united matches
)
(now i'll just hold my breath and see if united matches
)
Sep 22, 2008, 10:51 am
#30
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: south FL
Posts: 226
I have a sneaking suspicion this was part of the plan from the beginning. The team in charge of the recent changes to increase revenue were looking at their plan. Someone said, "boy, this is going to make people mad. They are going to just start using the cheapest carrier, rather than be loyal to maintain their elite levels. We're going to have to do something to make them like us again." Then someone else said, "you know that part we scrapped, the one about getting rid of the 500 mile minimum? Let's put that back on, then we can give it back in a couple weeks. We'll look like heroes! (Even though we're still charging for first bags and made Platinum irrelevant by equating their bonuses with Golds.)"