There is a big difference between paying a first class fare and paying a cheap coach fare plus a fee for the upgrade that I think you don't understand based on this post. Yes, the benefit would be smaller vis-a-vis a completely free upgrade, but it's still a valuable benefit.

But the other point worth mentioning is that the AA-style program I believe the OP wants to aspire to doesn't necessarily require that one pay for the upgrade. You earn credits based on miles flown, and then you use those credits to "pay" for your upgrades. If you run out of credits, you can buy them, in which case the upgrade does cost $$. On AA, if all you did was fly domestically, you would be able to upgrade 20% of your flight miles for free based on the ratios of earning to spending these credits. For me, much of my AA/OneWorld flying is paid F/J international or transcon, so I earn these credits faster than I can use them. For me my upgrades on AA are free. And the benefit of this program is that the competition for the upgrades is less, because they're not free for everybody and some will opt out. As a mid-level elite, I have a very high success rate with upgrades on AA. Literally the only flights I've sat in coach have been three Thursday evening Chicago-NY flights over the past two years.

Thank you ijgordon! That is exactly what I am talking about. It would be an easier system for a lower level elite to upgrade (which most people here complain about) along with helping CO earn much needed cash. Also, it's funny to read most of the posts on this subject. It seems like free upgrades are a God given right.

Again american airlines and united airlines have the kind of system you desire. If you are having trouble getting upgrades with silver status just fly more and pay higher fares.

Relax airphone and take a deep breath. AA and UA do not have good schedules to where I go, and it's gold not silver.

No one here is claiming that “free upgrades” are a god given right here.

It is clear that you do not understand the benefits of Continental’s loyalty program. Why should CO change their program to be more like AA. CO already offers a great benefit to their elites, by providing them with unlimited complimentary upgrades. If Continental started limiting their upgrades to an earning-based system, then I think they would loose a lot of business. I for one would no longer go out of my way to fly Continental, which often times charges a higher fare than it’s competitors.

I for one have just made gold with Continental. I flew Continental over 50k this year, I often choose flights that were slightly inconvenient for me, unnecessary connections and long layovers, you know why? Because I want to enjoy the benefits of Continental’s Gole Elite status. I am looking forward to more upgrades, the President’s Club discount, companion upgrades and more bonus miles.

Now you point on raising some much-needed cash for Continental. If they need cash, they should raise their fares to cover the cost of their expenses, but we know the airlines do not want to raise fares. Instead, they have started instituting ridiculous fees to nickel and dime their customers. But do you know who they do not nickel and dime? Their most loyal customers. They do not want to drive away the business to other carrier without all the nonsense fees, like Southwest.

The airlines have also made some changes to their loyalty programs, but they have been very selective on what they change. They again, do not want to drive business away. Continental has even rescinded their 500 mile minimum earning for elites. Continental understands that their most loyal customers want to be rewarded for their repeat business. They want upgrades, bonus miles and fewer fees. Continental seems to have a great benefit with platinum. No fees for reward re-deposits.

Never have. CO used to have a coupon system where you earned 2 oneway upgrade certificates every 10K miles. Then it was 2 hours before during checkin, then it was midnight the night before, then EUA. For one year in 1993 CO eliminated upgrades except Y and H - but restored the upgrade system the next year.

I think CO has a good system - least amount of overhead - and it is fair based on status, fare, etc.

The upgrades are a courtesy to its FF'ers. I you want a FC seat buy it. If they have unsold seats then CO upgrades its most FF'ers.

I for one agree with the OP on this. I defintely prefer the AA/UA system where you pay for upgrades with stickers at low or mid level elite. It greatly increases the probality of getting them when you want then.

I was more than happy to pay to get the upgrades as a lowly PLT because I was able to get then 80+% of the time I wanted them. Now as a and EXP, they are free, but I was ok withing paying for the stickers. I would have had a far lower chance of a free upgrade on CO.

I see where CO may loose some customers if it were to change it's system. But, it is also loosing some customers with it's current approach. Now that I've relocated back to the NYC area, CO would be the logical choice for me on many of my trips. However, I avoid them exactly because of the upgrade policy. I have far better upgrade ratios on AA than I could ever get on CO (with a PLT status match I'm sure they would be happy to do).

To each his own.

Glad you're so happy with AA and their system. Please stay over there as it frees up one more CO seat for those of us who find that CO is by far the superior airline!

Enjoy flying a less superior airline. Continental must be doing something right and they know it. Their planes are always full

I will be flying AA in a few months, only because they had a fare from Newark to Belize for $30 each way. I am not sure if it was a mistake fare or AA tried to declare war, but I took advantage of it. I would be stupid not to. What ever their motive was to list that fare from Newark, Continental didn’t respond to their intimidation and AA ultimately pulled the fare after 3 or 4 days.

I have flown with AA about 6 years ago and I thought it was a terrible airline. The planes were filthy and dilapidated. The FA’s were rude and obviously hated their job and 3 out of the 4 flight I took had some type to mechanical delay because they fly one of the oldest fleets in the business.

You know this thread brings up a good point. I am going to be sitting in coach on my AA flights. I think since I have gold with CO and have travel booked with AA, I should give them a ring and get a status match and some “stickers”. No need to sit in coach on a sub-standard airline.

On average, I am paying about $30-50 more per trip when I fly Continental and I think it is money well spent. When I was silver, I was upgraded about 50-60% of the time.

IG
I believe that all I was saying was that if I want to fly in first, I buy either a full Y fare or some type of F fare. This is the only time I "expect" to fly in the front of the plane.

One can have many iterations of a OP perk, be it coupons for upgrade, purchase your place in line or completely free with upgrades based on fare level and loyalty level. CO chooses to pick the third method. Other airlines use other techniques. None is "right" or "wrong". You, as the consumer have the right to pick the airline and program which makes you happiest. If the OP wants a buy up program, choose the airline which has it.

I agree with you 100% on this as well as grahampros "to each his own" comment. I really just wanted to highlight that the buy-up programs are not the devil's spawn as some make it out here.

And jrzyshawn, I'm sorry you had a bad experience with AA. It's really not a bad airline, and in some aspects its better than CO, particularly with respect to their frequent flier program. And particularly if you can fly 100k miles and make their top-tier. Some of AA's advantages over CO: power ports on all their aircraft, internet service on key transcon routes, true international first class service on certain routes (and you can redeem for F awards on partners, unlike nearly all of CO's partners), much better award availability in general, more comfortable domestic FC seats on most of their aircraft, oh, and better upgrade success. As a NYC-based flyer, AA serves as a nice #2 backup to CO for me.

No they wouldn't. Except for the very top level in AAdvantage, for example, people have the option of paying for upgrades through buying "stickers." Others haven't copied AA, why would they follow a lead set by CO?

Please let this thread die off....

There's no evidence to support the claim. Check out any LAX/EWR flight: lots of people pay the FC fare or the full Y equivalent to fly in the front cabin. As it stands, CO doesn't make any customer to anything: the product is offered and people purchase it based on their needs.

RSW
 

RSW - were you the person who was going up to the desk last Monday morning asking why you weren't upgraded? It was RSW-IAH.