EUA Launches (one glitch, however)
Oct 25, 2000 | 2:36 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Between SNA and ONT
Posts: 1,486
Well, at least the 2-hours-before-departure rule is the same. So provided they release seats sometime after midnight day of your flight, Silvers (and soon-to-be Silvers like myself) can at least still show up early and if necessary and try to "earn" the upgrade.
Oct 25, 2000 | 2:45 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,768
On my way out the door to work but stopping to tell the crowd that I have received an automatic upgrade for my flight on Saturday, the 28th. I did not receive an e-mail and the agent asked me for my e-mail address so that it could go into my profile. I did need to give her my PIN for that change. As I said above, this does not answer a lot f our questions because FC was wide open on this flight as of 9PM EDT last night.
Oct 25, 2000 | 3:11 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,768
Check that - My final e-mail look this morning showed a new message from CO sent 336AM (I presume CDT). This showed my entire itinerary with the return (Saturday) flight listed in F with a seat assignment.
Oct 25, 2000 | 3:17 am
#19
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Kfar Saba, Israel
Posts: 4,172
What does "If your reservation includes companions who do not qualify for OnePass Elite upgrades, your upgrade will not be processed automatically" mean?
Usualy, when I travel with someone from my team we are booked on the same booking code. That other person is not Plat as I am, usualy he is not even Silver. Does this mean that I will be passed on with the automatic process?
Usualy, when I travel with someone from my team we are booked on the same booking code. That other person is not Plat as I am, usualy he is not even Silver. Does this mean that I will be passed on with the automatic process?
Oct 25, 2000 | 6:39 am
#20
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
I've been signed up for e mail notification from CO for about 3 months now, but have only receieved one notice from them telling me my statement was on line. (This came 2 days after I had already found it on line). And no, I was never told by CO of the upgrade policy change. I even spoke with the CO help desk, and they agreed that yes, I was signed up---but no I wasn't receiving communications from them on a regular basis and they didn't know why! I've got a flight to ORD this Sun am, I think I'll call at midnight tonight anyway.
Oct 25, 2000 | 10:55 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 8,179
apirchik:
Yes, you are correct. If there is another passenger on the same PNR that has a lower elite status than you, both of you will be upgraded based on the lowest passenger's elite status (or lack thereof). This can be overridden by requesting a manual upgrade by telephone as we all have done in the past.
Yes, you are correct. If there is another passenger on the same PNR that has a lower elite status than you, both of you will be upgraded based on the lowest passenger's elite status (or lack thereof). This can be overridden by requesting a manual upgrade by telephone as we all have done in the past.
Oct 26, 2000 | 8:08 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,122
Steve M:
The other way to do this is to be certain that the two passengers are ticketed separately. The autoupgrade should then run "normally". It might also be possible for this to occur if each person was on separate records. I'm not sure if sepate records means the same as separate tickets.
The other way to do this is to be certain that the two passengers are ticketed separately. The autoupgrade should then run "normally". It might also be possible for this to occur if each person was on separate records. I'm not sure if sepate records means the same as separate tickets.
Oct 26, 2000 | 10:38 pm
#23
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 8,179
Unfortunately, my first experience with the EUA program uncovered another problem with the new system.
According to the various reports, the official launch date for the new EUA program was October 24, 2000. However, I can report from personal experience that I was upgraded via the EUA on a flight on Oct 21. Unfortunately, this was one of the rare flights when I was traveling with a non-elite passenger. I had carefully arranged for us to have adjacent seats in coach, and was planning on not requesting an upgrade so that we could sit together. I had read in this forum that the EUA program would begin on Oct 24, so I thought that this would not affect my Oct 21 flight. Also, I had received no official correspondance from CO on the EUA program.
At checkin for my Oct 21 flight, I was informed that I had been upgraded to First. Since I had not requested this upgrade myself, I can only assume that this was as a result of an early "stealth" implementation of the EUA. Since all coach seats were full, I was unable to travel next to my travel companion (the two seats next to him were taken by a married couple, who didn't want to split up, even when offered a First Class seat). Since all other seats in coach were full, there was not an opportunity to find another combination of passengers where one would take my upgrade so that my friend and I could sit together.
As a result, after the flight I called my elite line, explained the situation, and said that I didn't want this to happen on the return segment. The agent contacted her support desk, and we jointly came to the following conclusions:
- The situation of a passenger NOT wanting to get an automatic upgrade because they are traveling with another passenger on a different PNR (or for any other reason) had not been considered.
- There is no way to flag a reservation such that the EUA is not done. This is true even if the reservation is linked with another reservation for a non-elite passenger. So, the "lowest elite level prevails for all passengers" applies only to multiple passengers in the same reservation, and not passengers in separate but linked reservations.
- The only solution that they could come up with to prevent an EUA for an elite member was to remove the OnePass number from the reservation. Of course, this necessitates the passenger remembering to add the OnePass number at checkin, or having to go through the "missed credit" procedure after the flight in order to get miles for the flight.
Since this particular situation is rare for me, and since it by bad luck happened to coincide with the (early) launch of the EUA, here are my conclusions (yours may vary):
- I'm very happy in general with the EUA, in that it enforces the pre-existing pecking order for elite upgrades, and gets rid of the necessity of me staying up past 12am to get upgrades.
- I'm very disappointed that the details of the EUA program were not disclosed to customers in advance of its implentation, especially considering that actual implentation started earlier than even the unofficial announcement indicated.
- I'm disappointed that there is no way to prevent an EUA other than removing your OnePass number from the reservation, even if you link your reservation to that of another passenger.
According to the various reports, the official launch date for the new EUA program was October 24, 2000. However, I can report from personal experience that I was upgraded via the EUA on a flight on Oct 21. Unfortunately, this was one of the rare flights when I was traveling with a non-elite passenger. I had carefully arranged for us to have adjacent seats in coach, and was planning on not requesting an upgrade so that we could sit together. I had read in this forum that the EUA program would begin on Oct 24, so I thought that this would not affect my Oct 21 flight. Also, I had received no official correspondance from CO on the EUA program.
At checkin for my Oct 21 flight, I was informed that I had been upgraded to First. Since I had not requested this upgrade myself, I can only assume that this was as a result of an early "stealth" implementation of the EUA. Since all coach seats were full, I was unable to travel next to my travel companion (the two seats next to him were taken by a married couple, who didn't want to split up, even when offered a First Class seat). Since all other seats in coach were full, there was not an opportunity to find another combination of passengers where one would take my upgrade so that my friend and I could sit together.
As a result, after the flight I called my elite line, explained the situation, and said that I didn't want this to happen on the return segment. The agent contacted her support desk, and we jointly came to the following conclusions:
- The situation of a passenger NOT wanting to get an automatic upgrade because they are traveling with another passenger on a different PNR (or for any other reason) had not been considered.
- There is no way to flag a reservation such that the EUA is not done. This is true even if the reservation is linked with another reservation for a non-elite passenger. So, the "lowest elite level prevails for all passengers" applies only to multiple passengers in the same reservation, and not passengers in separate but linked reservations.
- The only solution that they could come up with to prevent an EUA for an elite member was to remove the OnePass number from the reservation. Of course, this necessitates the passenger remembering to add the OnePass number at checkin, or having to go through the "missed credit" procedure after the flight in order to get miles for the flight.
Since this particular situation is rare for me, and since it by bad luck happened to coincide with the (early) launch of the EUA, here are my conclusions (yours may vary):
- I'm very happy in general with the EUA, in that it enforces the pre-existing pecking order for elite upgrades, and gets rid of the necessity of me staying up past 12am to get upgrades.
- I'm very disappointed that the details of the EUA program were not disclosed to customers in advance of its implentation, especially considering that actual implentation started earlier than even the unofficial announcement indicated.
- I'm disappointed that there is no way to prevent an EUA other than removing your OnePass number from the reservation, even if you link your reservation to that of another passenger.
Oct 27, 2000 | 3:10 am
#24
Commander Catcop
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 10,259
No e-mail on the automatic upgrades and again, this was done abruptly and not in the best way.
I guess they found out JAWS and I are best buddies!!!
I guess they found out JAWS and I are best buddies!!!
Oct 27, 2000 | 7:26 am
#25
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: In protest of Flyertalk's uncalledfor censoring of my point of view, I cancelled my InsideFlyer subscription. So long, and thanks for everything.
Posts: 3,325
from: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum20/HTML/001393.html
SteveM, this is precicely what we speculated. I assume your seatmate was an adult and you were just inconvnenienced. What if your seatmate was your 4 year old child? Or elderly mother needing assistance?
And as I stated in another thread yesterday, there are significant reasons to strenuously object to this new EUA process:
The EUA mantra again, IF IT AINT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!!!
[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 10-27-2000).]
Wow - I hadn't even thought of that. Here's an air rage incident that will happen:
I'm flying with my wife and two kids(6 and 4) on a 737 from EWR-SAN on vacation. We booked it 8 months earlier, meticoulously planning to be in 8A&B and 9A&B, so we can sit directly in front/behind of each other...managing the kids would be impossible for 5 hours if we didn't arrange it that way. Three of the tickets are reward seats, mine is a paid ticket, and therefore on a different locator. Two days before the filght, I (and only I) get upgraded automatically. Then CO (as it's a full flight) gives the seat I had meticoulously arranged to be next to my 4 year old son to a stranger.
They would have to have the airport police take me away from the check-in counter, I swear. Livid wouldn't even begin to describe my feelings.
There had better be a field in the locator that can be checked requesting or refusing automatic upgrade, or this will be the fatal flaw that kills the proposal.
I'm flying with my wife and two kids(6 and 4) on a 737 from EWR-SAN on vacation. We booked it 8 months earlier, meticoulously planning to be in 8A&B and 9A&B, so we can sit directly in front/behind of each other...managing the kids would be impossible for 5 hours if we didn't arrange it that way. Three of the tickets are reward seats, mine is a paid ticket, and therefore on a different locator. Two days before the filght, I (and only I) get upgraded automatically. Then CO (as it's a full flight) gives the seat I had meticoulously arranged to be next to my 4 year old son to a stranger.
They would have to have the airport police take me away from the check-in counter, I swear. Livid wouldn't even begin to describe my feelings.
There had better be a field in the locator that can be checked requesting or refusing automatic upgrade, or this will be the fatal flaw that kills the proposal.
SteveM, this is precicely what we speculated. I assume your seatmate was an adult and you were just inconvnenienced. What if your seatmate was your 4 year old child? Or elderly mother needing assistance?
And as I stated in another thread yesterday, there are significant reasons to strenuously object to this new EUA process:
Why the vehement objection to this? - the same reasons we objected to the new mileage levels for the new platinum status a few years ago:
1) They're skewing the program again to the upper spenders, or the "elite, elite". This hurts the lower and mid elite and the economy traveler at all levels.
2) They're doing it IN THE MIDDLE / END OF THE YEAR AGAIN!!!. Hey, if this is announced in January, maybe I and others pick another company to fly on for the year. To be a person planning out my 25k or 50k milles of loyalty and expecting a specific level of service, to now find out that that service will be rare or non-existant unless I reach 75K, or expecting a level of service for 75K, and finding out that the equation is now more heavily influenced by $$ than the loyalty miles I've been working on all year is an insulting slap in the face. It's like changing the rules in the world series, to only 2 outs per inning...fair people don't change the rules in the middle of the game. Fair companys (one's running a loyalty program) ought to know what changing the rules in the middle of the game does to loyalty.
3) As the radio commercial I'm listening to just said, "...winning Inside Flyer's Freddie awards and J.D. Power's awards for best frequent flyer program three years in a row..." You have a system here that has struck the PERFECT balance to please all of it's customers - at all levels from twice a year flyer to Platinum elite. WHY CHANGE SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE LIKES AND THAT ISN'T BROKEN?????????? I've read these forums...So have some of the folks from Continental I suspect. Have we asked for this??? Even hinted at this??? I've never seen a word about it. I've seen (thanks Boomer) a pretty comprehensive annual list of what changes and improvements to One Pass that we, the elite, loyal flyers would like to see (more and better international upgrade possibilities, ability to use miles for President's club memberships, additional awards for Platinums over 100K, etc.). This stupid autoupgrade change then not only represents a slap in the face to all of the people who use the system and are not the top tier and highest payers, but it's also an additional slap in the face to all of the elite flyers who voiced what would represent good changes to them, and who have been completely ignored.
If this change were to be made fairly, it would be announced in January/February 2001 to take effect in January 2002. Then all of the passengers could choose to accrue status miles under the new system, or choose not to. I've spent the last 4 years as a Continental elite fighting my corporate travel policy and not flying American Airlines. I had to take flights at odd times and with wierd routings to maintain my loyalty and status. But this year, when I couldn't get a fairly priced CO ticket from EWR-SFO-LAX-EWR, I instead booked EWR-SFO round trip on CO and SFO-LAX in coach on AA. Know what, AA HAS pulled a lot of seats out of coach! I had as much legroom in 27c on AA's 737 as I had on CO's 737 in seat 3E. The seat was not as wide, but the legroom was really nice. It would be a lot easier to not fight the corporate travel group every year. COWARDLY AND STUPID is how I describe this change and it's timing by CO. I'm mad, and I and others will consider taking my business elsewhere.
1) They're skewing the program again to the upper spenders, or the "elite, elite". This hurts the lower and mid elite and the economy traveler at all levels.
2) They're doing it IN THE MIDDLE / END OF THE YEAR AGAIN!!!. Hey, if this is announced in January, maybe I and others pick another company to fly on for the year. To be a person planning out my 25k or 50k milles of loyalty and expecting a specific level of service, to now find out that that service will be rare or non-existant unless I reach 75K, or expecting a level of service for 75K, and finding out that the equation is now more heavily influenced by $$ than the loyalty miles I've been working on all year is an insulting slap in the face. It's like changing the rules in the world series, to only 2 outs per inning...fair people don't change the rules in the middle of the game. Fair companys (one's running a loyalty program) ought to know what changing the rules in the middle of the game does to loyalty.
3) As the radio commercial I'm listening to just said, "...winning Inside Flyer's Freddie awards and J.D. Power's awards for best frequent flyer program three years in a row..." You have a system here that has struck the PERFECT balance to please all of it's customers - at all levels from twice a year flyer to Platinum elite. WHY CHANGE SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE LIKES AND THAT ISN'T BROKEN?????????? I've read these forums...So have some of the folks from Continental I suspect. Have we asked for this??? Even hinted at this??? I've never seen a word about it. I've seen (thanks Boomer) a pretty comprehensive annual list of what changes and improvements to One Pass that we, the elite, loyal flyers would like to see (more and better international upgrade possibilities, ability to use miles for President's club memberships, additional awards for Platinums over 100K, etc.). This stupid autoupgrade change then not only represents a slap in the face to all of the people who use the system and are not the top tier and highest payers, but it's also an additional slap in the face to all of the elite flyers who voiced what would represent good changes to them, and who have been completely ignored.
If this change were to be made fairly, it would be announced in January/February 2001 to take effect in January 2002. Then all of the passengers could choose to accrue status miles under the new system, or choose not to. I've spent the last 4 years as a Continental elite fighting my corporate travel policy and not flying American Airlines. I had to take flights at odd times and with wierd routings to maintain my loyalty and status. But this year, when I couldn't get a fairly priced CO ticket from EWR-SFO-LAX-EWR, I instead booked EWR-SFO round trip on CO and SFO-LAX in coach on AA. Know what, AA HAS pulled a lot of seats out of coach! I had as much legroom in 27c on AA's 737 as I had on CO's 737 in seat 3E. The seat was not as wide, but the legroom was really nice. It would be a lot easier to not fight the corporate travel group every year. COWARDLY AND STUPID is how I describe this change and it's timing by CO. I'm mad, and I and others will consider taking my business elsewhere.
The EUA mantra again, IF IT AINT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!!!
[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 10-27-2000).]
Oct 27, 2000 | 8:06 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,122
Steve M:
So as I understand it, if I (Platinum) am traveling with my wife (Gold), and want to be certain that I get a shot at the 3 day window, then we should be travelling on "separate, linked reservations". I presume that this means separte confirmation numbers.
Next question: How do I do this on the COOL web site. I guess I would just make two separate reservations, but then they wouldn't be linked. This would probably casue other problems.
All this could have been avoided if they had just done a focus group with some of use before they went ahead and implemented the program.
So as I understand it, if I (Platinum) am traveling with my wife (Gold), and want to be certain that I get a shot at the 3 day window, then we should be travelling on "separate, linked reservations". I presume that this means separte confirmation numbers.
Next question: How do I do this on the COOL web site. I guess I would just make two separate reservations, but then they wouldn't be linked. This would probably casue other problems.
All this could have been avoided if they had just done a focus group with some of use before they went ahead and implemented the program.
Oct 27, 2000 | 3:41 pm
#27
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Houston, Texas, TEXAS
Posts: 1,510
Well folks, it's official=================>
JAWS is the "Rodney Dangerfield" of CO. Take a look at the e-mail I received from OnePass after I had inquired as to why I, as a current Platinum and already qualified for 2001, had not received the details of the EUA.
"Thank you for your e-mail inquiry.I apologize you were not notified of our new Automated Elite Upgrade process. This information was sent to members with registered email addresses on file and just made available on our website.
Please access http://www.onepass.com and click on Elite Upgrade Automation
for details."
OnePass Service Center Representative
So, I replied:
The statement "Members with registered e-mail addresses on file" alarms me.
How do I get a registered e-mail address on file? I get my OnePass statements via e-mail, I get E-ticket receipts by e-mail, I get CO O.L. Travel Specials via e-mail, and I have already qualified for Platinum for
2001. How will I be notified by e-mail for upgrades under the Elite Automated Upgrade
program if you do not have my e-mail address on file?
Very sincerely,
There is more than one glitch with EUA.
JAWS is the "Rodney Dangerfield" of CO. Take a look at the e-mail I received from OnePass after I had inquired as to why I, as a current Platinum and already qualified for 2001, had not received the details of the EUA.
"Thank you for your e-mail inquiry.I apologize you were not notified of our new Automated Elite Upgrade process. This information was sent to members with registered email addresses on file and just made available on our website.
Please access http://www.onepass.com and click on Elite Upgrade Automation
for details."
OnePass Service Center Representative
So, I replied:
The statement "Members with registered e-mail addresses on file" alarms me.
How do I get a registered e-mail address on file? I get my OnePass statements via e-mail, I get E-ticket receipts by e-mail, I get CO O.L. Travel Specials via e-mail, and I have already qualified for Platinum for
2001. How will I be notified by e-mail for upgrades under the Elite Automated Upgrade
program if you do not have my e-mail address on file?
Very sincerely,
There is more than one glitch with EUA.
Oct 27, 2000 | 4:22 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,122
I still have not gotten the notice. Last night I went thru all the profile areas I could find and my e-mail address was listed there. Things are really screwed up. It appears that my records may be linked to JAWS.
[This message has been edited by Vulcan (edited 10-27-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Vulcan (edited 10-27-2000).]
Oct 27, 2000 | 4:25 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Smoke filled room, TPA and FLL/MIA :UAL 1K and 2MM,AA EX PLAT and 2MM,Lifetime Plat Starwood
Posts: 4,318
Jaws, you have to seperatly sign up on the onepass page on CO's web site. I still get paper statements and I got the e-mail. It is a seperate function.
Oct 27, 2000 | 10:09 pm
#30
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Houston, Texas, TEXAS
Posts: 1,510
Thanks, cigarman. One more place to scatter my e-mail address. What the heck, I cannot get any more disrespect.