CO Star

They're not going to talk about it! You'll have to try and piece the story together from the various posts on FlyerTalk.

Just out of curiosity, is someone who is a CO* notified that they've made it?

No. Saw it posted at Gate Electronic checkin screen and on passenger lists.

Would you please point me in the direction of the "publicly defined" portion of the GS program????

Outside the requal requirements, I would love to know this!

Pre-boarding/announced early boarding is certainly one. And the qualification requirements. That's WAY more than there is publicly available about the CO* program.

Every once in a while an FA will slip and mention something to the fact that you are a *, usually breaking out in song such as "Baby you're a *, but not always ". Sometimes you'll get a gold star on your napkin before they put your drink down but it's very stealth. Generally, as referenced aboved, it shows up on the gate display.

Our company has a policy of only buying Y and B fares, and I'm Platinum, but I don't think I'm CO*. Then again, I suppose I'd have to check the FA's list to know?

To the best of my knowledgeI have been a CO* for years. I have only once noticed any true recognition of the "status" and that was during an incident where a very helpful gate agent fixed a screwed up PNR that prevented me from getting a boarding pass. She mentioned that I was a CO* and hence she had to be particularly helpful and attentive. It was this event that I first learned of the existance of the program.

On the other hand I have had many occasions where CO folks have been extremely helpful sorting stuff out during IRROPS. Was that because I was a CO* and if I was a regular stiff I would have been on my own.....? Hard to tell.

My experience has been that it can be very helpful in irregular operations, especially during severe weather events.

But most of the time there's no real recognition, which is fine by me.

I was a Co* for years (not sure if I still am one) and had an irrops situation work out well for me but not so well for my friends.

Three of us were booked on EWR-SEA (all tickets purchsed separately at their suggestion so they could earn credit-card points) with the intention of driving up to Whistler for a week of skiing. A snowstorm hit NY/NJ and our flight was canceled. I got a call from CO telling me I was on the next flight to SEA (the following morning) and already confirmed in F. While I was on the phone, I asked about my friends' tickets (I had all the PNR's so they were easy to look up). They were both re-booked on EWR-SEA 5 days later (the day before we were supposed to come home).

My friends wound up obviously canceling their CO tix, bought JFK-YVR on Cathay Pacific, and I met them in Vancouver with my rental car. The ski trip wound up being great (we only missed a half-day of skiing) but the difference in how things were handled really showed how CO takes care of their regular customers.

I'm not sure if I was handled so well because of being Plat or being Co*....either way, it helped further solidify my loyalties.

That's what you'd have to do! If you're on the way to the bathroom, take a quick scan of the manifest.

I thought a * is printed on your BP if you are one.

Nope, not true.

I was CO* for a period of time ending probably a year ago. I had a few international BF trips (mix of full and cheapo fares), probably a handful of domestic F transcons and another handful of shorter discount coach flights. Maybe my total spend was in the $25k range? Definitely not $40k.

Anyway, the only time I think it may have had an impact was when they held up the departure of my flight for a few minutes so maintenance could change the @:-) in my reading light after I mentioned to the FAs that it wasn't working. But I don't know for sure what possessed them to do that.

Nope.

Don't GS's get an earlier upgrade window than 1K's? I seem to remember 120 hours versus 100...