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Full Elite Qualification is back. Effective Oct. 27, you’ll earn 100% Elite Qualification Miles and full Elite Qualification Points on discounted fares, regardless of where they’re purchased. To all of our loyal corporate travelers: message received

Scott you are my freakin hero! Thanks for listening to us!

No, I'm not wishing for it. I just don't want to miss out if it does happen. Since we're completely on our own dime, CO is much more attractive at 75K than the competition at 100K. It also works out that CO is best for our destinations, just lousy for EUA's.

If if does happen, I don't believe that it will just be a DL type of move. It is very apparent that the 75K Plat and associated benefits will stay the same for 2010 so anything associated with a 100K level would be additional.

With this DEQM, Mrs. SG will be at 93,400 EQM and if we have to, we'll do our 1st MR of the year to get her to 100K. We'd rather not since that would also put us over budget for the year by a few $.

With all due respect, this policy has been in place for what, 5-6 years now, and CO has steadfastly defended it each time when questioned.

It's only becuase of the UA hook-up that they're changing course here. If anything, you should probably thank UA for setting them straight on this one.

45 segments x 750 EQMs per segment = 34,500 EQMs. The new system has 60 segments x 750 EQMs per segment = 45,000 EQMs. The fact of the matter is that we short hoppers are putting much fewer BIS miles than someone who has to fly 75,000 miles. Since most of the RJ flights I take gives me little choice in the class of service I fly (i.e. it usually is Y because there is nothing else offered for one day flights during the week), I think that CO is still making out like a bandit. Thats good for them, bad for me (or my clients).

You're right here with the UA tie-up being the biggest catalyst... I think that the economy helped too. We started to see some 'cracks' in the policy with reports of certain corporate flyers tied to their corporate travel office being granted 100% EQMs on all fares--this appeared to be some type of negotiated agreement between CO and the companies. I think that CO started to realize that they couldn't leave any corporate travel money behind...even the corporate flyer on the cheapie fare. They had probably seen some of this business go to the competition due to 50% EQM.

Yeah, the other "crack" we saw was when they moved a fare class from the 50% bucket to the 100% bucket about a year ago.

I just can't help but think that the timing of the Star tie-up, the reversal of many anti-customer moves, and Larry's departure have to somehow be related.

;):o:D

It was more like me being lectured about being wrong. Sometimes I joke that I feel like I'm married to CO, but come on...

So have I! :-:

As long as it's on ya'lls radar. As I consistently said in the other thread, and to your colleagues at the WE-:rolleyes: line, that's all I want, a fix. Or, if there's no intention of fixing it -- or it's going to take a while -- make this little quirk a little more transparent to your customers.

You know, don't over promise, under deliver (which you guys hardly ever do, and is why I was so flummoxed over this whole thing).

I hear you about having a lot of things on your plate and I appreciate that. Maybe a little memo to the WE-:rolleyes: folks about this and perhaps a little reminder that customers aren't really the enemy if you have a moment. Please.

Sorry I ambushed you with this and I promise I'll stop beating the dead horse. I'll go back to hiding in the Box emerging randomly to complain about how needlessly confusing CO's companion upgrade process is and maybe making a plea for a snack basket here or there.

Keep up the good work. With the exception of the WE-CARE line you guys run a first class operation (pun absolutely intended).

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to ice my a$s from my DL CRJ "spite flights."

I've been in a customer site and beating up an STS all day, so this is the first that I've been able to sift through the email from CO.... I'm THRILLED, mainly for 2 reasons:
-Obviously the 100% EQM for all tickets since I have to use a TA for my tickets. It'll pull nearly all of my business to CO now since I won't book cheap tickets on other airlines for full miles/points.
-We booked the SEA-NRT B fare last year for 12/31. I've been lazy and procrastinated using miles for the upgrade. I guess I'll now wait 'ti' 10/27 so I don't have the $100 fee x 4 (out and in-bound for 2 people).

This may not be something that many on here will use but thought it was interesting and don't recall it mentioned earlier. CO is giving Plat and Gold a three bag, 70 lb allowance on all flights. I assume this is to align with *A. ;)

Now we just need some swus.

Just few questions???
 

I dont have time to read all 12 pages of replies. i checked a few of them, and couldnt find the anwer....

What does a CO silver elite get on *A? anything? will we at least get elite privledges on US and UA? like check-in, security, boarding and up front Y seatng?

are we getting 100% EQM's and RDM's on all fares on *A partners (especially UA and US) or are we only getting 100% on CO?

if the answer exists could somebody please repeat it, or tell me where the post is?

thanks.

I think you can safely expect baggage allowances and priority boarding when it comes to US and UA. Beyond that, you probably won't get much. I definitely wouldn't expect upgrades or priority seating - UA and US don't extend that to each other's elites. UA doesn't even offer E+ to *A elites anymore.

This has not yet been answered by CO or UA. Stay tuned.

CO silver is *A Silver in UA's eyes. I agree with MrPink. I do think you will get 100%EQM/RDM on UA paid fare. But however, not sure if you will get 100% EQM/RDM on other *A carrier such as SAS/LH/LO.

For Bonus RDM, for UA and current policy, only UA and US metals will give you double RDM with some exception flight routes (such as Lufthansa metal TATL will also give you bonus RDM). However, but for all other *A flights, I don't think you get bonus RDM. I had flown SQ/TP/SK/TP/TK with other *A carriers, I had not gotten any bonus RDM.

I think if you go to UA website and look up UA's airline partner EQM/RDM policy, CO will more and less mirror UA's *A policy.

Cost increase for reward travel?
 

It looks to me like prices for reward travel have gone up. Before, I could get an Economy return ticket US/Europe for 50,000 miles, now it's 55,000.

Or am I missing something?

Oceania/South Asia to Australia
 

In reviewing the revised reward charts, how do I determine the mileage requirement from Guam (Oceania) or the Philippines (South Asia) to Australia? In both region pairings (ie, GUM-SYD; MNL-SYD), no mileage requirements exist even if the flight pairaings are possible (ie, GUM-SQ-MNL-SQ-SIN-SQ-SYD and back).

If anyone can clarify this for me, there are a number of faithful OnePass members here in GUM, the CNMI, and Micronesia who I know will want to visit Australia.

You're not missing anything. While I wasn't too happy to see an increase there, the business class reward goes from 100k to 105k. That makes the increases 10% and 5%. That's really a pittance extra. I can certainly live with it. In general, the changes announced yesterday are a huge win for customers.

"mostly-improved"??????
 

I have not had a chance to read the 12 or so pages so far..but for me, this is a BIG :td::td::td::td::td:!!!

Currently-CO NEVER releases 4 BF seats-usually have to wait/sweat it out! Now I pay 4X$0, but next year it will be 3X$75, 1X$0. That is huge to me.

I am (WAS) a Y/F/A/B pax...and have moved 55% of my spend to UA-guess this (coupled with the 1.5 EQP's (what does Q400 service EWR-PIT get me???????????)) will just get me to move the remaining 45% to UA.

From looking at the charts for example a saver pass IAH-GIG was 50K but now its 55K. No big deal. But at present can get one way on saver and return on easy pass(mix them up). Its not clear as to whether its going to be possible to do this. For example now can get a 25K one way and get a FC(or BF) return. Any ideas.

EQP's On United
 

I am one of those oh so lucky people that travels almost every week, but does so on short 1 hour flights. So I get Elite on segments. Any word on if I will get EQP credit for my onepass when fly United? I know I didn't get them when I had to fly NW.

I believe that as long as the miles come from a Plat account all changes and fees will be free for the travelers regardless of status.

Edited to add: looks like Scott already addressed this --

As long as the miles are from a platinum account you will continue to pay zero fees.

Coach and BF to Europe became 5000 miles more expensive on Saverpass.

I do see the overall positive changes for many people. Of course what's good for some isn't good for everyone.

In my case, the changes have little value. In fact, the changes probably result in an overall negative.

The end of the same day change fee is good. I'll take advantage of that on occasion.

Giving full EQM and EQP to everyone doesn't affect me directly. I am allowed to book my own tickets, so I always use co.com anyway. Selfishly, it's probably a negative, as it will allow more people to make platinum and I'll have to compete with the for upgrades and seat 12A.

The minimum elite bonus is nice as well. 90% of my connections go through IAH which is less than 500 miles.

The 1.5 EQP is a bad change for me. I make platinum or points long before miles (although this year was closer). Unless my travel drastically drops off next year, I'll still make it on points. However, there's nothing positive about this change.

The rest of the changes really don't apply to me. (Except the loss of reciprocals on NW, but everyone knew that was coming.)

What it all boils down to in my opinion, is that with these changes as well as DEQM promos, that I don't see much benefit. However, there will just be more people to compete with the few perks I do see.

I see one glitch in the award chart -- Russia is defined as "Europe". With the loss of Aeroflot, most of the eastern Russia destinations are gone.
However, Asiana flies to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (UUS) and Khabarovsk (KHV), and Air China to Chita (HTA). These would probably be classified as northern Asia.

New Elite Cards
 

I think these changes really make the Onepass program much more attractive. Great job CO and CO Insider!

On another note, since we are all getting new elite cards, do you think they would use this as an opportunity to redesign them? I mean, I don't know if anyone agrees with me on this, but I think the cards are completely ugly!

Overall, net positives, even though a few of the changes don't affect me that much - minimum miles on flights, for instance. Sad about the loss of Amtrak, US helicopter (though I've yet to try it and now have an incentive), and Emirates earning. Hope the EK redemptions will stay for that trip to the Maldives I keep in my wish list. (BTW, if it's redemption only on EK from now on, what about adding a FC option, as with some of the new partners?)

I think the true test will be the upcoming earning rules, upgrade policies and reward charts with our new partner airlines.

Just a thought for CO Insider: if one has already qualified for Plat for next year, why not send out the new card with an expiration date of 02/11 and save yourselves a mailing, or printing out cards again in a few months. I realize there may be some new alliance info that you'd want to put out when next year's cards would normally arrive, but you could save the card printing, at least.

Just wanted to add - with the changes to the minimum miles earned and the 100% miles regardless of how booked, CO has only reinforced us, again, to keep the complaints going. Scott even wrote at the end of #4, "Message received". So, for all those folks who gripe about the complaints people sometimes write about CO policies, you've just seen that it can be successful, even if it's really not due to our complaints as opposed to outside forces. Pavlovian reinforcement yet again.

Thanks, Insider, for the communication and the forthrightness.

If Emirates has to go, I vote to replace them with Eithad. Fantastic business product

Vote all you want, but it will likely be Qatar when it happens as they are positioning themselves to join *A.

And their J product isn't bad either, plus they have IAH-DOH service ;)

^
BD and UA already have mileage agreements with QR, im not sure who else.

That's fine with me.

Thanks! I too hope that we move to T1, as I'd really like to use the lounge there. T3 sucks for decent lounges. If I fly AC at least I can use the lounge then (here's hoping earning on miles on AC is decent).

As a CO Gold you'll be Star Alliance Gold. That gets you free access to any *A Gold lounge when departing on any *A carrier. You can use the AC/SK "London Lounge" if flying CO out of T3. If SQ is still in T3 (don't recall) you can also use their smaller but very nice lounge as well. If CO moves to T1, which I'm sure will happen sooner or later, then the shared *A Lounge and the separate BD lounge are available.

The only time you can't use a *A lounge based on your CO G *G status is if you're using a USA-based UA, US, or I expect also CO lounge on a purely domestic itinerary. Since UA, US, and CO sell lounge memberships, and have some many North American-based elites, their lounges don't admit on pure-domestic itineraries. US Clubs define Canada and Mexico as still "domestic" for purposes of denying access. But UA lounges do admit USA-based-program *G members on Canadian and Mexican itins as "international". Also as a *G, if you physically have airside access to where there's a SQ, AC, LH, or other non-UA/US/CO lounge, you can access on any *A itinerary, not just an international itin. For example, the new LH lounge in IAD Terminal B - any UA 1P/1K, any US GE/PE/CP, and as of 10/27, any CO Gold/Plat, will have access when flying any *A itin out of IAD. If you have your card - LH Lounge Dragons are merciless about having a valid current-year card with a Star Gold logo on it.

This is not entirely correct.

For US lounges, they do not deny *G on Mexico/Canada itins. They only deny their own (US members) on Mexico/Canada itins. *A prohibits them from denying other *G members on int'l itineraries.

I have successfully entered US lounges on a US ticket to/from Mexico and a UA*G card. Some agents question it, but if they refer to their documentation, it's quite clear. A US member is to be denied, but a UA (and presumably CO in the future) member is not.

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