Feedback Received: 500-Mile Minimum Restored for Elite Members
#1
Company Representative, United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago, Houston, or somewhere in between
Posts: 2,178
Feedback Received: 500-Mile Minimum Restored for Elite Members
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.

#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC; UA 1MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 959
Nice work!

#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: IAH
Posts: 13,531
^ Well done! Thanks, Scott.
Now, how about giving Plats their 25% bonus back...
Now, how about giving Plats their 25% bonus back...

#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
Posts: 18,733
A great decision! ^

#5
Join Date: May 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: OnePass Platinum, Starwood Platinum, Avis First, Hilton Silver, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,751
Thanks, CO!
Scott and company,
Thank you for listening. I truly appreciate Continental reconsidering the change to OnePass.
Excellent news on a Monday!
Thank you for listening. I truly appreciate Continental reconsidering the change to OnePass.
Excellent news on a Monday!

#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: 40° 41' 45" N - 74° 10' 18" W
Programs: UALCO Holdings General Member
Posts: 18,784
Nice job Scott


#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: A menace to everything in the sky. Yes. Even birds.
Programs: Eh+ Rapid Rolleyes
Posts: 14,518
I just won a bet. Thank you.

#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IAH/LIM
Programs: CO Plat, PC Lifex, SPG Gold
Posts: 448
Came to FT to check the start date of the no 500 mile min. and I saw this WONDERFUL news!
Nice Job!!
Nice Job!!

#10
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Columbus OH
Programs: DL Diamond, CO Gold, US Silver, Natl Exec, Hertz #1, Avis Preferred, Elite w/ All US Hotel Programs
Posts: 401
Good move, I was dreading Delta in 2010. Thanks to Scott and all at HQ for addressing our concerns! You will see an associated revenue bump from me in the next few weeks as I re-up for Platinum.

#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
Posts: 18,733

#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA Priemier Gold
Posts: 55,846
Thank you CO Insider.
I'm mostly long haul but it is still nice to see the effort and the change!
I'm mostly long haul but it is still nice to see the effort and the change!

#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 27 minutes north of EWR (on a good day)
Programs: UA PLAT, SPG PLAT. Collector of Chase UR points
Posts: 11,527
Thank you for listening to us Scott and Continental.

#15
Moderator: United MileagePlus
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: 9,072
Damnit all...I just found my pitchfork. 
^ for keeping this product differentiator.

^ for keeping this product differentiator.
