Yeep -- looks like the only thing oversea elites will enjoy is the 500 booking bonus.

Unless CO outsources their production to UA, in which case you'll see them about next April. :D

Great changes, CO! The program has become far more competitive overnight.
^

Am I the only one? Why would they seperate out Japan with a whole different redemption rate? I was so hoping to redeem for HKG-NRT on ANA next year, and now it is 40K for Y (vs. 20K to ICN). It's not quite worth it anymore... :(

wow.
The changes make OnePass competitive again, especially with the removal of the SDC fee for plats, 3-cabin F and relative to UA, no *net blocking

This is an odd one. They're essentially copying UA's award chart, and UA does this too, but UA has a UA metal award NRT-South Asia for a discounted rate.

CO obviously can't offer that, since they don't have the NRT hub, so they have instead put in discounted CO Micronesia rates for some awards in Asia/Oceania.

As a UA flyer, I have to say THIS LOOKS AWESOME. I am also extremely impressed at COInsider's (positive and useful) participation in FT. I just applied for a status match, and if it goes through, CO can certainly count on my giving them enough business to maintain platinum for years to come (will still maintain 1K at UA though.) I have never flown CO before but now I am going to be a regular CO flyer. I'm sure I'm not the only one - so CO get ready for lots of new customers! Welcome to * Alliance!!!

Free meals in coach, no Starnet blocking, and staff who have good morale are worth giving up economy plus in my book!

on the whole excellent changes and a big improvement to the program. my favorites:

more 50% eqm!
no more fees whatsoever as a plat!

fantastic.

Thank you Scott for such incredible communication! ^^^

I'm in a very different group that most of you, I'm an elite (silver) passenger qualifying purely on leisure travels, and #4, which is so great for corporate travel, changes a lot of things for me:

It looks like there's gonna be a big increase in "I'm elite and I didn't know it" leisure pax, families booking vacations through expedia and orbitz, and therefore more and more silver elites. This in addition to the double EQM promo which helped things go in the same direction (albeit not for the same kind of pax).

So now we get maybe twice as many silvers (or more?), while in the same time Gold is becoming more and more rewarding (being *A gold). The gap between silver and gold is increasing, and the number of reasons to qualify for Gold as well. I'm finally making Gold next month (yes, only on leisure, and mainly with cheap fares bought on co.com), so I'm... mmm... golden ;)

But of course, I'm not naif enough not to know that elite levels are here to reward and encourage corporate travel, i.e. big spenders, and not leisure, i.e. cheapo's. So this makes a lot of sense for continental - and it makes for a happy CO board here on FT, which is just as well :)

I'm guessing that's why they're printing new cards. Otherwise, it seems rather pointless, but perhaps it can be financially justified as part of a "look, we're now in the Star Alliance" campaign.

FWIW, I have occasionally been required to show my "Skyteam Elite Plus" card for lounge admission overseas.

BTW, my impression is that the overseas Star Alliance lounges will be a bit better than the SkyTeam lounges. Like Lufthansa always seems to put out a better spread in their lounge than does Air France.

Well, in many cases the reward was 50K before intra-Asia, so it isn't all bad news.

Why would you maintain both? Without knowing what additional benefits will exist between the two it seems rather premature to make that move now. I understand wanting to shift some flying if that makes sense for you, but if you can keep all your miles in one place and get the benefits that would make the most sense, no?
I have been every time.

I just moved back from YouRope for Mileathon...

Wow, never thought I would see a post like this....:D

I agree, though AF lounges in Terminal E at CDG are VERY nice, the ones in the same airport at Terminal D and B were total trash.

When I read that I tried to imagine how many people on Smith St. had just fallen out of their chairs. :p