pptp

You know how you wait in great anticipation of getting upgraded and the satisfaction/relief/joy you feel when you get called up front? Well, multiply that by 1000 and you'll know what it's like to be a non-rev. It's so rare for us and such a nice treat that to propose taking it away is just plain mean. With all due respect, F' that idea!

CO_Nonrev_elite

While I am the original poster on this thread, I am not anti non-rev, and am not at all against them being in the F cabin. I am however about sticking to the agreement that Continental offered us in return for flying our asses off.

I non-rev quite a bit, and as the last poster mentioned, it is great when you get upgraded, especially on BF routes. Domestic Upgrades for non-revs are near impossible these days

Non-NonRev

This may have changed in the intervening years, but "back when", CO Vice Presidents traveling on company business were booked positive space as PS2, and the biggest bigwigs (CEO, Chairman, Board members, etc) were booked as PS1. Both of these ranks were confirmed in F, with that F seat immediately coming out of available-to-sell inventory, and IIRC they were not subject to being bumped.

Below that, it went in something like this order - Senior Directors at PS3, Directors at PS4, flight crews, cabin staff and mechanics traveling to protect a trip at PS0, worker bees (including first level managers) at PS5, and job applicants and others at PS6. All passengers at P3 and lower rank booked in Y.

PS0 passengers were considered to have "must-ride" status, and could not be bumped (for obvious reasons). Every other PS3 and lower positive space passenger was subject to being bumped if their seat was needed for a revenue passenger.

Once it was determined that a positive-space PS3 through PS6 passenger had a seat on the plane would have a seat, they then became eligible for upgrading. However, their position on the upgrade list followed all eligible revenue passengers (so the Senior Director in Y was a distinct possibility, especially on flights with high concentrations of Elite revenue passengers).

Lastly, all space-available travelers were accomodated, if possible, after all of the PS ranks were processed.

Bonehead

Thanks, Scott...I feel better now. The integrity of the system matters to us (a lot), and we are lucky to be associated with a company that gives a hoot when that integrity is compromised.

rlbmorton

ditto

craz

Welcome to the Club, its pretty much the same for us Plats as well

TWA Fan 1

While I am certainly not condoning breaking the rules under any circumstance, and while I acknowledge the immeasurable benefit of "unlimited" free upgrades for OP elites, I also feel it is important for all CO customers to acknowledge that CAL's hard-working employees deserve this perk, at least as occasionally as it might come available to them.

Working in the front lines in the airline business is virtually akin to doing a tour of battle duty. The work is arduous and often unrewarding, the pay, for most positions, is really nothing to write home about.

One of the few perks left in the business is the ability to score a pass in the premium cabin.

I would argue that allowing non-revs in the premium cabin is, ultimately, in the best interest of elites as well, in the respect that happier employees will make for a better overall flying experience.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

EVERYONE (Continental employees AND passengers) needs to play by ALL the rules and there will be fewer problems. If one doesn't get upgraded because others are ahead of you in status or fare class, that's fine, but if you don't get upgraded beacaue a GA is upgrading buddies/schmoozers/etc that's just plain wrong.

The threat of serious disciplinary measures is something that's probably lacking and explains the upgrade gaming by a small portion of GAs. Most GAs are great at what they have to deal with. Unfortunately, a few rogue GAs probably makes their jobs even more difficult.

Bonehead

I agree 100%. I think that there was only one poster who suggested that such a Draconian step be taken, and I suspect that after further consideration that individual would retract that suggestion. Almost all of the CO employees that I've come in contact with are great, and certainly deserve to ride up front when space is available. Heck, I'd love to sit next to an FA and discuss getting rid of the cheeseburger.

mdaecher

Obviously, Scott's already posted but, I could have told you that this board is monitored better than any other on this site. Also, I have always had CO follow up on legit complaints - even those sent through CO.com. This airline IMO is the best at taking care of mistakes when it comes to elites

CO_Nonrev_elite

This has not been my experience. While I am sure it is tough on EWR-LAX/SFO, I find I get upgraded on more or less every flight. I have no problem with the upgrade percentages at all

craz

I found that since the B-Up started that FC gets filled very fast. Thats besides LAX/SFO where CO probably gets some simple FC being purchased outright.

Also for the last min purchase the difference between anything below a B is usually so small that it probably justifies paying the little extra and confirming the FC. I imagine on the short hops its not too much of a problem but for a mid to long haul flight you can almost forget about an UP coming thru.

I fully Understand its in COs best interest to do whatever it can in order to bring as much extra $$ to the bottom line as possible, which just so happens to be the exact opposite of what Im trying to do, keep as much $$ in my pocket. So with a UA comp to PE Ive just booked 3 trips total actual EQMs 40k = 80k under DEQMs. Every flight I was able to get a decnt seat in the E+ section. Now I understand UA doesnt serve hot snacks at meal times as CO does, but since I can eat only a Special meal and CO only offers them on its Trancons and Intl flights and UA offers them on its Intl flights I wont be missing much in that regard.

I havent decided if I will jump ship 100%, I need to experience UA 1st and see how the Alliance will workout. But safe to say it will nice knowing I can fly any # of carriers out of EWR or JFK to get non-stop to Europe and not have to rely only on CO so even if I remain with CO I dont know how much of my Intl flights will be on CO any longer

No question COs FC is much better then being in UAs E+, but Id rather be in UAs E+ then COs Y anyday, and with speaking with friends I find more and more are not getting the UP and end up in COs Y, so under that situation Id rather book UA and know I will be in E+ and if I use the certs I earn possibily even FC or Biz

idayvuelta

I've wondered why the system can't be modified to give employees a better chance to fly up front occasionally... e.g. a certain number of passes a year that put them at the top of the silver or gold list. Something to make it more likely they get a seat on occasion over lower-level elites (like me). Then severely punish GAs who deviate from the list for reasons like those in this post. It would be a fairer system to everyone. Silvers and Golds really have no place to argue DYKIA nor that they have any realistic expectation of an upgrade... employees get upgraded a little more often (admittedly a nice perk), and the integrity of the system is better maintained from errant GAs who just want to put their friends up front.

BigPoppaCO

I am loving the B-up fare... my last 2 transcons were both B-up's that were actually "in policy" according to my company's Travelport. It's like Christmas in April...

bocastephen

Are you kidding me?

CO has over 20,000 employees - you're suggesting the company issue 40,000+ upgrade passes which put them ahead of paying Silvers and Golds?

No offense, but if you want to give up your seat to an employee, feel free to do so.

I never worked for CO, but I was a pass-rider on both Delta, Eastern and used Buddy Passes on CO. I knew how the system worked, what the rules were, and what "free" travel meant. An employee pass rider flying up front is fine - but only after paying customers are accommodated. Airline pay is low, true - but so is Walmart pay, McDonalds pay and work in a plethora of other industries and positions.

CO already puts employees in BF on Int'l flights in lieu of upgrading paying Elites.