Good question... I hope they only mean EQM earnings on Acela only tickets but no change on connecting Codeshares via EWR. There really is no need to have those PHL-EWR flights which idle longer on the tarmac than the train takes from downtown Philly to EWR.. Losing EQM on those codeshares would probably be due to US Scarways wanting it like that!

Some travel sites give you more points if you buy through their site with their credit card. Or with expedia, if you book a flight+hotel you get ThankYou points. Speaking of ThankYou points, I can now use them for flying without having to worry if I'll get 100% EQM or not now! (5% mtvU card for the win)

Agree 100%.

Whilst most of the changes are good news for US-based guys (& I also applaud Scott for his marketing nous in announcing these changes so early), the overall impact on us non-US based guys seems pretty negative.

As xyzzy points out above (#27), there seems to be a drop from 200% to 125% in EQMs for pointy end fares, and the miles needed for reward tix to US (and let's fact it, we are unlikely to fly anywhere else on CO from Europe) have increased. I might benefit from the SDC free change, I guess, but that's about it. Looks like I'll find it very difficult to justify paying for the pointy end again (whether cash or reward) - and that saddens me greatly!

Sorry to be negative when so many of you seem pleased - this is just my European perspective :(

You are still better off buying direct from CO. If you need to make changes, refunds, etc. you then deal with CO. If you buy ticket from someone else then you have to deal with them for ticket changes.

Well it involves other airlines in the same itin, plus I'm using an old ticket that I have that I can't change on co.com. So I was planning on booking the CO segs in "G" to get the 100EQM, but now that they would offer 100EQM even for lower fares I could just save the $$.

Also the connecting flights I specifically want are not offered on co.com. So I either have to do it through a travel agent, or by calling CO directly. Travel is not until Nov 05-12. But I'm not sure if the tickets have to be issued after Oct 27th, or if it's just travel after Oct 27. Does anyone know?

You can always reserve the CO flights you need on the web site, choose "Pay with cash" and call the CO web support desk to add the other flights.

Hi Everyone, I’ve edited my original post to make some clarifications about the front cabin earning changes. Specifically, I had erroneously left out B class, the EQM amounts (which will be 150% EQMs for F, C, J, D, Z, Y and B for all members worldwide), and the fact this applied to travel on Continental. Sorry for the omission. Continental.com will be updated accordingly. Here are some answers to your other questions.

Hi sbm12, we do plan to participate in the Star Alliance Upgrade Award program, however, the launch date is yet to be finalized. That's why we didn't include it in the announcement.

Thanks sbm12, nice catches. Will address.

Hi cova, good question. If you have a reward booked before Oct, 27, 2009, you will be able to make changes without an additional collection provided you stick with the carriers listed on your original ticket. If you change carriers, then you'll be subject to the new reward amount.

That’s correct, cova, BusinessFirst is categorized as Business Class.

Yes, within 24 hours of your original departure and your original fare class needs to be available. If it's not, you'll be able to stand by for no fee.

Hi xyzzy, no need to read too deep into this. There are no anticipated changes to our codeshare agreements with these carriers. With this change, our Elite Qualification earnings will essentially be limited to Continental, Copa, our Virgin Atlantic codeshares and our Star Alliance members.

Hi Hartmann, as of now, Emirates will remain as partner for reward redemption.

Hi SuperG1955, there are no changes to our current Elite level thresholds.

Hi mfhstid, Virgin Atlantic's Premium Economy product will not be a part of our travel reward redemption offering, nor will any of our future partners’ comparable product. For Virgin Atlantic, we offer reward options in their Economy Class and Upper Class, the latter of which is considered Business Class. In some markets, we will charge a higher mileage amount due to some contractual restrictions, and when applicable, it's denoted as such on the new reward charts.

Hi jrzyshawn, you'll be able to do this after Oct. 27 when the change goes into effect. You will however, be required to redeposit and re-redeem your reward.

Hi Funnyguy, I knew you'd be happy with this change. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until Oct. 27 to redeem at the new levels.

Hi benolaa, we'll continue to purpose O class on Continental flights as an internal-only bucket used for Platinum-only inventory on BusinessFirst itineraries. Our pricing will be set up to recognize this as Business Class, and will have no impact to our reward pricing for three-cabin first class rewards on Star Alliance members.

Thanks sbm12, looks like I left an important word out in my original post. If you are an Elite member, you will receive a new membership card by late Oct., which will reflect your Star Alliance elite level.

Hi Alpha Golf, nothing to announce at this time. Our first order of business has been to get our programs ready for entry into Star Alliance.

Hi bajrbajr, to clarify, our reward fees apply based on the Elite status of the account from which the miles were redeemed. So, if a reward was redeemed from a Platinum member's account (regardless of whether it's the member traveling) the Platinum-level fees (or lack thereof) will apply. Really... it's a good thing.

Hi flyldavid, the full Elite Qualification credit changes apply to the date of travel, not the date of purchase.

I'm very pleased with the elimination of 50% elite qualifying mileage penalty on discounted fares and the restoration of the 500-mile minimum. ^

I'm hoping that OnePass members flying on UA will earn a minimum of 100% elite qualifying miles on all fares and regardless of where the ticket was purchased and vice versa for MileagePlus members flying on CO. CO Insider, are you at liberty to shed further light on this?

Thanks! That answers my question.

Stepping in from the UA side.

About the question of earning miles on discount fares when flying various *members. I would think that the deal for CO would be more or less the same as for UA pax, and some of the partners are much stingier that others. For a general idea, see the chart in the UA FAQ:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...y-partner.html

Since the miles granted are the decision of the individual *airline, I would think the list will be very similar for CO pax. Even frequent fliers sometimes get tripped up, and the lack of miles on cheap LH fares has been a well-documented source of frustration and confusion to many MP members.

On the issue of your *Gold card. LH in particular is adament about the need to have that card for admission into their Senator lounges. Maybe they'll find a way to temporarily let CO people in with their old CO card, but many people report having been turned away even when presenting other evidence of their status - BP, printout, etc. LH runs by the rules. Period. Don't expect to get let in without a card that has the *Gold logo on it.

My take on it was that EQMs will remain at the current levels - at least for US members. B+ fares will earn EQMs at 150% (don't know about non-US based members.)

I got it wrong. It's 125% RDM and 150% EQM:Note the word I bolded...

How very German of them. ;)

No need to worry about this unless you're mid-trip and haven't picked up your mail when the change happens. We're getting new cards with *A logos.

And additional drink chits, right?? :p