Switch to CO?
 

In light of recent changes, I'm considering switching to CO. Given CO already "honors" NW elite, does anyone know if they would consider a status match? If so, does NW offer upgrades to CO elites the same as CO offers to NW elites? Generally, I prefer CO service and they have better schedules out of MCO. It didn't matter much before CO flights became 50% EQM, not to mention the whole coach choice charade.

I appreciate any information and/or opinions.

sorry no matching between NW <-> CO

Also remember, more ERJ's on CO
50% EQM on lower fares if you book co metal anywhere other than co.com
50% EQM on DL & NW equipment with lower fares regardless where booked
CO has less F inventory

(not trying to trash CO...I still fly them) but trying to make sure you go in with open eyes (there are advantages to CO as well, meals in coach, better F product, IFE etc...)

You can get CO elite status if you use a 3rd party airline. Have your elite status matched by UA or US. Upon getting the elite credentials, ask CO to match elite status using the newly acquired status.

Domestic Upgrades are harder to get on CO
 

You will sit in Y more often if you switch to CO because they have less FC seats on most mainline a/c and they operate a lot more ERJ's(regional jets) w/o FC than NWA.

RC

But when you are in Y there will be occasional meals, movies and other entertainment, and pillows and blankets. And when you are in F it will feel like F, not Y with a 2" wider seat.

Flew DFW-DTW in FC last Wed. Had great service, meal (Penne Pasta, salad, thin breadsticks, Dancing Dear brownie) served from the galley, FA's attentive and kept mine wine glass filled (even one passing by from coach asked if he could refill it). But then I remembered -- no hot towels!!! Oh man, this totally s**ks compared to CO.

You miss the point. What totally s**ks about NW is the environment. The recent uproar over CoachChoice is just the most recent example in a long line of events stemming from NW's managements line of thought.

No one denies the serious need for the legacies to find ways to increase revenue, decrease costs and run in the black. However, I for one, seriously protest the manner in which NW goes about this. Rather than brainstorm ways to improve the product the leaders seem to simply shrug their shoulders and figure out ways to cheapen it. :( They restlessly pursue ways to cut costs in a manner that suggests they have lost focus of the world beyond their balance sheet and income statement. :(

NW is not alone in this problem but perhaps they should note how several of their competitors have found ways more amiable to the customer to shore up the bottom line.

On this regard FC upgrades are a great selling point of NW. :) For me they've been consistent, regular and much appreciated. ^ However, one great point cannot outweigh the many smaller negative points (for me at least).

While I don't view hot-towels as a maker/breaker, I do view NW's reasoning in their quest to bring costs under control. For with their current line of thought how long do you think it's going to be where NW puts implements a serious change (e.g. holding back a limited number of FC seats for anyone to buy at the airport)?

Simply put, I've grown weary of Doug's teams enhancements and have lost my faith that they'll be able consider outside-the-box ideas in lieu of their own.

To the OP: CO will normally not comp you. However, there have been scattered reports of comps due to mitigating circumstances (e.g. I just moved to a city with no NW service). You can always try the gate swap but be prepared to loose a EUA if the agent is feeling particularly zealous. And on that note, if you travel on the cheaper fares you'll be in the back more often on CO than NW - but at least you'll be sitting in a clean exit-row seat with the option of watching IFE without paying $15, $1 for nuts or $5 for a sack box. CO does have ERJ's and that's just one of the negatives you'll have to weight out (although 12a, the single exit seat, is not that bad).

Hope that helps.

I'd also add (and this is another factor that steers me away from CO) that the CO 737-300, 500, and 700s do not have extra leg room on the exit rows. These aircraft have the 2/3 exit row configuration with a missing seat at the window of the first exit row. According to CO's Fleet Plan (http://www.continental.com/company/i...1701.pdf#fleet), these are currently about 57% of CO's 737 fleet and 41% of the total full size jet fleet. OTOH CO's ERJs do have extra leg room at the exit row -- in fact the single side exit row is the most comfortable I've ever been on a CRJ, even though I still can't stand up straight.
tom

Coach Choice is not nearly as major a change as CO's UG by fare basis and 50% EQM's for cheap fares not purchased on co.com. In fact many of CO's changes are down right anti-business traveler even those are the one's they hope to keep.

All changes in the airline business have to be seen as short term ( meaning the worst is still to come from everyone). If oil doesn't fall back to a price in the 40's-50's there wioll be many changes to come. Most airlines are projecting oil to be at $40 a barrel to make their business plan work. We may never see that price again.

That said, both NW and CO have been poor communicators of change. I have always found if you reach oou to people early, communicate what's coming, listen to reasonable responses, you can make change less painful and gain something in the process.

NW gets an F for the handling of the Coach Choice process.

However, it is possible for CO to ask you for copies of statements indicating flights on UA/US. They are not totally naive:)

JE,

As always your post is well thought out and I do agree with and as stated the legacy carriers do need to find a way out, myself I left CO when they made cuts significant cuts to OP a few years back (which was funny because Gordo two weeks before said they were making none).....I guess what I'm saying is we can't expect the programs/airlines to stand still and never change but we too shouldn't be expected to stand still either, everyone should make sure the program they are loyal makes the best sense for them, if not vote with your feet....for me personally while I'm not happy with Roach Choice I perfer NWA's IFE System....this way I get to watch a movie I want to watch because I brought it with me :).....NWA still works for me, CO doesn't (doesn't mean I don't fly them just that WP works best for me)

But I think we need to give Jim extra credit for personally answering the thousands of emails he's been receiving over this....so maybe the final grade is a F+ or D-

I can tell you ... this moderator wasn't consulted concerning Coach Choice... so I'm not sure what focus groups went into this decision...

Usually they as for (1) a copy of your elite card and (2) a copy of your recent flights. I really doubt if you would get a comp plat card with anothers plat card and only a few flights on the airline.

MisterNice

There is a reason that CO's program is referred to a "None Pass" in FF circles.

IMO the way to go about this is to write and keep the pressure on. There is starting to be some negative publicity so they are being effected at least on a PR basis.