Continental Status Match for all United Flyers?
 

Funny thing happened today. I had to fly Continental just due to the routing. When I checked in, my boarding pass printed out "elite access". I do not have status on Continental, Delta, NW, etc. I know that they've announced a plan to switch to Star Alliance, however, I was surprised that they were even able to identify me as Continental does not have my Star Alliance number or anything. Has this happened to anyone else? The last time I flew Continental was a week ago and my boarding pass did not print as elite accesss at that time.

I believe CO does this for all Y/full fare customers.

Elite Access is available for all passengers on a full fare economy ticket or first class/business first/Int'l Business ticket or all elites. It doesn't necessarily mean that you are an elite. It's their premium program.

Their elite status is indicated next to the OnePass number

AB123456 / ST2

ST 2 = Elite Plus or Platinum
ST 1 = Elite or Gold and Silver

Name: BLISS/BLISSWORLD
Date: MON 01 JAN 2008
OnePass: AB123456 / ST2
ABCDEFG 1,416 Miles
Flight: CO 133 F
Gate: A3 Seat: 2B

Depart: New York-LaGuardia 2:40 PM
Arrive: Houston-Bush Intl 5:35 PM
Board Time: 2:05 PM

eTicket xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

sometimes it will say your status fully next to One Pass

AB123456 / ST 2 PLATINUM

Aren't UA and CO doing some kind of cooperative work right now? before they're changing to *A?

Yes, UA and CO and working together at the moment, but almost all of what they are working on won't be available until late 2009.

However if you don't want to wait, CO will match UA status level-for-level.

The issue then becomes, if you are still planning on flying mostly UA next year, CO will not be in *A for most (or all) of the year so you won't requalify with CO status for 2010 program year. If you plan to mostly switch to CO next year, then that doesn't matter, and eventually your CO status will work as *S or *G status on UA (which will get you seating 1 but not get you E+).