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Changes to CO and UA frequent flyer programs
CO and UA are merging and have announced changes to their ff programs effective for travel ticketed after June 15.
Generally, the cost of upgrading is going up, and there are more increases than decreases in miles required for tickets. Generally most of the decreases are for business class, and most of the increases are for economy, but for some regions all are increased. For trans-Atlantic (TATL), economy tickets will go from 55K to 60K miles while business class will go from 105K miles to 100K. CO will offer one way award tickets for half the miles which they do not presently offer.
While not nearly as drastic as what DL did on taking over NW, there is more bad than good in these changes. The consumer takes it on the chin for less competition.
This change makes AA much more attractive. While they have always charged 60K for a summer TATL award ticket for off season and much of shoulder season it is only 40K miles on AA.
What is really galling is the airline trying to pass this off as ''aligning the programs''. UA and CO have both been 55K miles for a TATL ticket. They were ALREADY aligned. This is just a brazen milage increase, not an ''alignment'' and they should be honest enough to say so.
Generally, the cost of upgrading is going up, and there are more increases than decreases in miles required for tickets. Generally most of the decreases are for business class, and most of the increases are for economy, but for some regions all are increased. For trans-Atlantic (TATL), economy tickets will go from 55K to 60K miles while business class will go from 105K miles to 100K. CO will offer one way award tickets for half the miles which they do not presently offer.
While not nearly as drastic as what DL did on taking over NW, there is more bad than good in these changes. The consumer takes it on the chin for less competition.
This change makes AA much more attractive. While they have always charged 60K for a summer TATL award ticket for off season and much of shoulder season it is only 40K miles on AA.
What is really galling is the airline trying to pass this off as ''aligning the programs''. UA and CO have both been 55K miles for a TATL ticket. They were ALREADY aligned. This is just a brazen milage increase, not an ''alignment'' and they should be honest enough to say so.