I agree with you 100%. I believe the changes made were done for compatibility with UA. The CO/UA relationship will be stronger than other CO relationship in the past. It can only get stronger.

Comments about Larry's departure and the changes are unfounded. I think the top person who makes the decisions on OnePass are Mark Bergsrud. Mark is very smart and astute on FF programs. I believe the changes are very logical.

Upgrade reciprocity has yet to be announced (whether there will be any). Just my gut feel - I do not think there will be any upgrade reciprocity for this year. Something could evolve next year - but if I were to guess - I think UA would move over to a system more like CO.

Inquiring minds want to know... what makes you think that? I think UA's sysmte cuts down on shenanigans, thoughts of shenanigans, last minute wait and see and gives more hope of upgrading traveling companions and others. Personally I prefer UA's (especially because of SWUs), but I know that's just a personal preference. If it wasn't for the direct flights (especially internationally) out of EWR, I would be over with UA.

If it were just the FF program changes, I would agree.

But we've seen these changes, alongside a more open mind this year towards things CO has traditionally shied away from. Things like codeshares or combination tickets with OALs in the past year. If you recall, several years ago, co.com would glady sell you a codeshare. Then they removed them made them tough to make them come up, or in select markets. Now they're starting to relax that a bit, and they're even allowing non-partner OALs to be booked at the site.

Combine that with the fact that CO is now more open to flights that don't follow the traditional hub-and-spoke model (e.g., LAX-HAV flight, some of the new LAX stuff, and there are even rumors of opening a crew base at LAX). CO had historically been a strong hub player, with no focus cities. Now they're looking at things like focus cities.

So what I'm saying is that the direction they're going in is changing. Instead of looking at running the place from an operations perspective, they're looking at it from more of a business perspective. Everything we've seen this year has been far less beancounteresque, if that's a word, with less of a focus on cost control vs. a focus on revenue expansion. Hence the Larry reference.

Long story short, everything I'm smelling regarding the direction CO is moving in is a net positive. Conicidence with Larry's departure? I'm not so sure...

UA has made comments that they like the simplicity of the EUA system, so I think they may be looking at that.

Cert management is a turn-off for customers, and it has a cost for the airline (e.g., handling of issues like recrediting certs that are overcharged in a rebook, for example).

The question is whether UA makes out by selling certs. Lower-level Elites in particular don't get too many certs and some buy additional ones. Or if people are short in certs, they have to buy more or downgrade.

This is why I think AA does EUA for EXP only, and still uses certs for lower-level Elites. Top tiers get enough upgrades to upgrade most flights anyway, that those who buy additional certs are probably not buying too many, so they can get the ease of automation without losing the cert revenue from the others.

Where do I buy tix?!:eek:;)

Start a blog and become a "reporter" so you can get a media pass.

These changes are good for me -- I'm especially pleased with the full EQM! Thanks COInsider for keeping us up to date!

Emirates - Possible to collect miles?
 

Dear all,
Since Continental will be changing to Star Alliance, does anyone know if I will still be able to collect miles on Emirates Flights in November 2010?
Thank you all!

November 2010 is too far away to know anything definitively. If things do not change further than they are today then you will receive award miles (RDMs) but not elite miles (EQMs). But things could easily change in the next 14 months.

Dear sbm12

Thank you for your reply. I got wrong with the date; I mean November 2009 I’m flying with EK.
So should I receive award miles (RDMs) but not elite miles (EQMs), right? This is the change as of October 24?

Regards

Correct. In the very near term (and I think November 2009 is safe) you will receive RDMs but not EQMs on your EK flights.

Scott,

Thanks for the early release of this information.

One question of clarification for European members. Will the TATL point qualification method still exist (i.e. 15 TATL flights for Plat)?

It was never clearly documented, so if it is going to continue, would it be possible to have a webpage somewhere to lists the qualification requirements?

Thanks and cheers,

GenevaFlyer

So if these new fees apply to reward tickets reissued after Dec 15...
Does this mean that a reward booked now but changed, for example, on Dec 20 under the old fees/rules, this reward will then have the new fees applied to it for further changes/redeposit?

The notice on the CO website says the new fees are "for rewards redeemed on or after Dec. 15, 2009" which sounds like the reward has to be initially booked after Dec 15.

Scott,
Will "A" fares still earn 150% EQM? If not, what will the "A" fare earning be?

Thanks!

Earning on EVA is already gone ... I traveled on EVA last month (returning this month) and had to sign up with their reward program to earn the actual mileage flown because they told me that they no longer credit my Cont OnePass account for EVA paid flights.

How about rewards on EVA? Will EVA Air Series 1 Travel Rewards outlined below still be available after Oct. 27?

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...art_eva_1.aspx

One can still earn on EVA so long as the ticket is in a more expensive fare bucket.

Searhing this thread for "EVA" brings up this answer from CO Insider:

Probably 100%, just like today, since no notice was given of that changing. @:-)

Don't A fares earn 150% EQM now?

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...e/qualify.aspx

Since they're not specifically addressed in the upcoming changes as earning 150% (as F, C, J, D, Z, Y, and B are), maybe they're dropping it to 100%. I'd rather they didn't, but it does kind of make sense.

Whoopsie...I was thinking of RDMs even while reading EQMs. :o

They are retiring "A" Class and converting them to "Z". See this post frrom CO Insider from the Mileathon thread...sorry...no link to the post cause I don't know how to link to a single post. :p

"If you're buying an A class fare for travel a little further out, there's some good news. Next month, we'll be retiring the letter A from our fare class lineup, and the fares currently sold as A class will turn into Z class for travel on or after Oct. 25, 2009. This means if you buy an A class fare for Oct. 25 or later, your booking will be converted into Z class and you'll get the corresponding Z class Mileathon credit. If you're traveling Oct. 24 or before, however, you're out of luck."

Click on the post number in the top right corner. Copy and paste that Web address into your post. @:-) :)

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12384719-post261.html

Clickable link to quoted post, if anyone is interested:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12317273-post55.html

Thanks for the info hyho61. Hopefully redemption on Emirates remains an option for OnePass members. I always wanted to try their business class product. Based on this info it appears Emirates is superior in that respect as well as the connecting airport (DXB).

More on the *gold lounge access question ...

I know some of this is likely not clear yet, but would love any educated thoughts or input from someone like CO Insider.

Will trips from Canada to US (or Canada via US to Caribbean) be considered International?

I'm most interested in access in Canada at Maple Leaf lounge (if flying AC or if CO moves to T1 at YYZ) and then access at a PC en-route or on the return leg. That's a huge bonus for me. It drives me nuts when Canada isn't counted as international :)

*G's have access to the MLL's when flying between the US and Canada.

UA gives *G's access to RCC's when flying between the US and Canada (and Mexico).

US does not give *G's access to the US Clubs when flying between the US and Canada/Mexico.

I am betting that CO will follow UA's example.

Do we know yet if other Star Alliance members will honor our Plat Status on CO and give us automatic upgrades? I'm confused about that.

I wouldn't count on that. It doesn't happen now on Star carriers, so I see no reason why it would happen once CO joins Star.

Free SDC for Plats
 

"There will be no same-day change fees for Platinum Elite members for tickets purchased on or after Oct. 1, 2009."

This is one of my favorite new plat benefits. But to clarify, must I wait until October 1st to book tickets with this benefit or will I enjoy free SDC on October 12th with a ticket booked today?

Sorry if this was already addressed

This is not correct.

US does not give US*G's access to the US Clubs when flying between teh US and Canada/Mexico.

They are not allowed to deny other airlines' *G's access on these itins.

I agree...Besides, weren't upgrades with NWA due to a bi-lateral agreement? I didn't think it had anything to do with SkyTeam.

That's correct. The partnership with NW started in the late 1990s and predated either airline's involvement with SkyTeam by 4-5 years.

But be prepared for a fight at CLT. YMMV

The way I hear it. Star *gold members will be allowed access into a lounge only from the international leg departing city. It was explained that routing from San Antonio to Houston to London. * Gold members will only have access to the lounge in Houston, not San Antonio. Caribbean destinations probably still won't be considered international either :(

[QUOTE=SS255;12397082]
This is not correct.

It's any lounge so long as you have a same-day international boarding pass.

The *A Lounge Access Policy is clearly posted at the *A website. Probably best to familiarize yourself with it rather than posting factually incorrect information that could be confusing to others.

As for Caribbean destinations, they are considered international. However, an airline may restrict its own members on that type of ticket. So if CO decides to say Caribbean does not qualify, then CO *G's can be denied access on Caribbean tickets. However, CO would not be allowed to deny UA or US *G's on Caribbean tickets.

This is very similar to how it works with Mexico presently. US denies their own US *G members access to the US Clubs when travelling to/from Mexico. However, US may not deny UA *G's or any other *Gs because they meet the int'l BP definiation.

I believe this is the rule for international business class tickets, but not for *G. This may only apply to US, UA, and CO, since a C ticket on ex-US airlines IME typically comes with lounge access regardless of destination.

Except that it is not CO's policy on International premium cabin tickets either. If you have SAT-IAH-LHR in BF you get access to the PCs in SAT and IAH, as well as arrivals access in LHR.

Hi CO Insider. I am the guy who has been tracking comparison of all Star Alliance frequent flyer progams since 1998 through my comparison charts.

To get ready for CO's induction into Star, I have prepared a preliminary comparison. I would love to get the comparison correct, so would appreciate any input you can provide into the chart. I realize that some things may not be finalized for a while but anything you can say would be great--the chart is designed to be applicable once all changes are made in January 2010 and won't deal with short term transitional issues.

The chart can be found at:

http://lb.redirectingat.com/?id=42X1...ontinental.doc

True, but the *A lounge policy linked above says that, for an international business class ticket, the passenger must be departing the local airport in international business class. So what I suppose this means is that, if you are flying CLT-EWR-BRS in BF, for example, the US clubs in CLT don't need to let you in?

Technically, yes, though most airlines allow it on biz tickets. It would be up to US, if you're on a biz class ticket.

However, this assumes no *G status. If you have *G status, and present your card, they must let you in.

So, as a OP Gold (soon to be Plat) if I buy an L fare from BOS - IAH - GIG, I can use the lounge in Boston and in Houston?

And I'll be able to use the lounge in Houston on my return trip to the US? I usually have a 2 - 3 hour window between flights coming back to Boston..