Might be late to this party, but must vent re HP's new, restrictive upgrade policy implemented at the direct expense of CO and NW top-grade elites. To ask this CO Platinum member to wait until two hours prior to takeoff to take a swing on sitting up front when using HP is going to cost HP a goodly amount of revenue from this heavy user -- and, I'm sure, from others.

I wonder if this isn't a little payback by America West to Continental. As an HP elite (with supposed upgrade abilities on CO), I can relate a couple stories where I was unable to upgrade to first on a CO flight until two hours before the flight. On more than one occasion the Americ1a West agent confirmed there were still first class seats available, but Continental wouldn't release them to an America West silver even though it was only around six hours prior to the flight.

It would take way too much bandwidth to share all my I'm-a-CO-Platinum-who-has-been-terribly-mistreated by HP stories.

Long and short: screw HP. They are a terrible airline. I'd rather fly coach on Aeroflot.

I'll never, ever fly them again. I'm sure thousands of other CO / NW elites are saying the same thing. If this had been a partner with good service, friendly people, fair policies implemented with regularity, then maybe a different story.

But this isn't the case. America West is striaght up the worse airline in the United States. See ya HP.

(I might take a look at selling their stock short. With (a) higher fuel costs combined with (b) almost certain lower load factors due to (i) National Airlines selling cheaper tickets to Vegas with real food and more seat pitch and (ii) the loss of high fare, regular CO/NW customers, I think a decline in revenue and rise in costs is in store for these guys).

Yes, America West (HP) is at the low end. Personally, I think that it is the worst that there is in the U.S. They would probably be fractionally better than Aerofloat used to be on the domestic USSR flights (which were hideous nightmares).

I live in Phx, and would like to "support the hometeam" as it were. Sadly, I do everything possible to avoid Am West. There staff are very sadly underpaid, and have bad attitudes as a result.

I don't agree. I've flown America West and have found them generally

1) friendly FAs and gate staff
2) newer, comfortable planes
3) reasonable fares

I have always perceived them as a low fare airline, not quite up to the standards of UA, DL or AA, but quite good.

Empathize with Brad C.'s plight, but my latest Elite guidebook reiterates to me that unless you're Platinum or Gold, you can't upgrade on a partner line until day-of. Just came back from Vegas, and there was some remodeling of the HP check-in areas which gave me the distinct imprewssion that HP is trying to put a little distance between themselves and CO. On most longer routes, HP's food is better, especially up front, but otherwise, no contest.

Richard, I generally agree with you. I dumped UA for CO-HP and found that HP staffers were on average friendlier and more helpful than many on UA.

I sent a letter today to Mr. Mark Bergsrud, VP Marketing at CO, saying that, although I am happy using CO-HP, if this two hour thing changes the number of times I am upgraded on HP, I may have to look elsewhere when I travel west of Denver.

You said it, Al . . . especially the friendliness comparison between HP and UA (not to mention AA) attendants. UA and AA attendants take themselves FAR too seriously.

You might want to check the Continental board for recent discussion about the new CO/HP Elite upgrade policy. I would post a link to the posts concerning this issue, but unfortunately a quick scan of the board could not find them.

Just look for posts with subjects of 2000 Elite Program or things like that.

BizJet