Interesting. Anyone familiar with the Emirates and Qatar products...how do they stack up against each other?

You're talking about LHR in reply to a YYZ comment.

[QUOTE=CO Insider;12358401]There’s more goodness to come, but this is all we can talk about for now. QUOTE]

Soft landing? looking for any reason to to be fully convinced to leave AA.

I know this isn't confirmed yet, but does anyone have a feel for how the upgrades might work with *A partners?

My guess is that they'll be a two, or possibly three, tier structure to deal with: 1. the CO <-> UA relationship, 2. CO <-> JV'd partners, 3. CO <-> *A partners.

Or at least that's my $.02

My understanding as it is now, is that upgrades are only offered from basically full fare, or next bucket down Y class using miles. It should be noted that ST is offereing this now as well, and has been for about the last 6 months...

But, since full-fare Y on AF for example is usually more expensive than advanced purchase "Z" or "J" fares, why bother...at least that's been my experience.

D'oh

I saw "T1", "T3", "Move", and *A and went all stupid.

Think I better proofread the design spec I was working on at the same time. Old brain isn't multitasking all that well on a Friday afternoon!

One major problem that I have with *A is there are no late flights out of Europe (other than the VS code share from London, which I will not fly when in lower class, plus must go through LHR). Last UA/LH is at 5:00 p.m. and it is from FRA. I will miss the very convenient AF at 7:00 p.m.

Also, I now have to cancel my Business Class trip on the five star Kingfisher and switch to the (from what I understand) awful Air India (which is supposed to join the Alliance in 2010) if I want my EQMs.

When I was reading the response I was confused but thought I was having a bad brain day!

I hope Qatar joins *A quickly. I foresee lots of travel on Qatar from IAH due to their low fares and convenient night departure. Disappointed to see the EQM go away for EK but we will still be able to earn Onepass miles on EK. Probably due to UA's flight from IAD to DXB and also competition for CO for flights to India with EK.

CO's changes are very positive. Biggest are EQM and EQP when booked on corporate travel websites and $25 change fees/redeposit fees for Gold Elites (reduced from $150).

I recently received a memo from our corporate travel dept that CO will start giving EQMs on all travel booked on our corporate website, since right now many are booking WN now. This will make some switch away from booking WN.

Its intresting that a Y reward within South Asia is 25K miles
but a Y reward from South Asia to North Asia is on 20K

Effective on 27 October 2009:

- With Continental�s entry into Star Alliance, mileage requirements for reward travel will change, effective for travel booked on or after 27 October 2009.

- Saturday-night stay no longer required for OnePass reward travel.

- 100% Elite Qualification Miles and Elite Qualification Points can be earned on discounted fares regardless of where the ticket is purchased or issued.

- BusinessFirst $100 upgrade co-pay no longer required of members using miles to upgrade from B fare class.

- Elite bonuses will be based on the minimum mileage earned instead of the actual flight miles flown.

Effective on 15 December 2009:

- New reward travel fees will apply for redeposits, reservation changes and flight bookings within 21 days of departure for rewards redeemed on or after 15 December 2009. There will be no fee for Platinum Elite members. The Gold Elite fee will be $25, the Silver Elite fee will be $50 and for all other members the fee will be $75. These fees will apply per customer instead of per reservation. OnePass travel reward changes outside of 21 days of travel will remain free if there is no change to the origin and destination.

Effective 1 January 2010:

- All members worldwide will earn 125% base miles on F, C, J and D fare classes.

- All members worldwide will earn 1.5 Elite Qualification Points when they purchase and fly in fare classes F, C, J, D, Z, Y and B on flights operated by Continental.

Does anyone know whether Continental is planning to alter it's companion upgrade policy? I remember CO Insider saying that the non-elite discounted upgrades being offered at checkin make this benefit sort of a "wildcard."

I am really envious of US Airways companion upgrade policy, but there is no way I'm going to switch back to them simply for that one benefit! Continental is far more superior in almost every other way--in my opinion.

I went on business class on EK to DXB (from IAH) and then onwards to India but economy on Qatar to DOH (from IAH) and then to India.

For Apples to Apples comparison, I enquired with my friends who travelled both in business and economy on EK and QR.

EK: Business class is excellent. Spacious, nearly flat bed, excellent IFE and excellent food, free limo pickup from my home (my house is nearly 40 miles from IAH).

But I heard that economy is cramped with 10 seats in a row (3-4-3) in 777. But IFE is supposed to be good even in economy and food is pretty good, good liquor service even in economy.

DXB is a good airport to connect with all amenities.

QR: Economy class is average. Food was average to below par. They have only one kind of beer. Seating is better than EK (3-3-3 on 777) but when the seat in front of you leans, you have to lean too and it is difficult to view the monitor when the seat is leaning to the maximum. IFE was good. No limo pickup for business class.

Main advantage is QR is much cheaper than EK.

Business class on QR is not as good as EK, but IFE is pretty good.

DOH is not a good airport to connect, cramped, no jetways, very few food choices at DOH.

As a UA star gold, I've been turned away everytime by US lounges on a Caribbean (not PR or USVI) ticket at CLT. I suspect that you had luck going to Mexico via PHX.

I questioned it twice and the lounge dragon got belligerent, once waving a book at me. I haven't tried the last couple of times as nothing drags down the beginning of a vacation as a confrontation with a US lounge dragon.

It's against the rules. It's not right but it happens and happens often. Citing the Star Alliance rules does no good. YMMV