www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Starts now, ends December 15th, register here:

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/apps/onepass/promotions/registrationDetails.aspx?promoCode=TB8M40

Senordos,

Thanks for posting this. I have two flights coming up in this time period. I'm registered now.

Lost

Looks like I'll be hitting Gold.. I wonder if I should do a couple Mileage Runs to hit Plat.. Do you think there's that much of a difference between Gold and Plat?

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"El Chino Rico" | el.chino.rico@hotmail.com
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No I get upgraded all the time with gold...platinum is same mileage bonus only you get discount to presidents club and your ahead of gold if you are standby but thats it...not much diff anymore

That's good to hear. Do you get upgraded flying out of EWR or JFK/LGA?

I'm a Silver right now, and I'm crossing my fingers that I can get upgraded on at least one of my legs for my next CR trip... EWR-IAH-SJO-IAH-EWR.. Never flew up front on Continental.

Unfortunately I'm afraid those legs are elite-heavy.

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"El Chino Rico" | el.chino.rico@hotmail.com
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Well you actually get into President's clubs for free, not just discounted right now when traveling internationally on Continental or a Skyteam member flight. It's a Skyteam benefit reserved for OnePass Platinum members, however on Oct 27th Continental is switching from SkyTeam to the larger Star Alliance where BOTH Gold and Plat get a similar benefit.

So Hunter is right, there is not much difference anymore. The biggest benefit of Platinum is still where you are in the queue for free upgrades, additional benefits include less fees, but even these will be mostly reduced for Gold members.

I'm platinum and I've been on many flights to and from Costa Rica where I've snagged the last seat available in first class for myself or for my platinum "companion" (both plats and gold can upgrade one other person). I've also seen flights where silvers get upgraded without any problem, however I think the former situation is much more prevalent. I also think by running this promotion twice this year there are going to be alot more competition for the upgrades.

So while I agree that Gold status is the biggest bang for the buck I would advise Almond to go for Platinum if he can swing it. What's the worse that could happen? He'll have to take a few more trips to San Jose (or one trip to Pattaya).

With the DEQM promotion, EWR-IAH-SJO-IAH-EWR would net me 11,868 EQMs. So two extra trips to CR and that'd practically be another level up for me. lol

Or I can do Mileage Runs from PHL-IAH-SEA-IAH-PHL that would net me 12,796 EQMs. The ticket's less than $300 and I could leave in the morning and get back by the evening of the same day.

Hmm, I wonder how much a trip to Thailand would get me? lol

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"El Chino Rico" | el.chino.rico@hotmail.com
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Almond joked:


In all seriousness it's a valid question to consider. First, depending on how you go, with gold status bonuses, you could earn 35K to 50K miles (enough for a free trip to San Jose or at the high end to Europe). Also, although any mileage over 75K is overkill for attaining elite status, they will count towards your lifetime status, and Continental has a million miler program worth checking out.

***Also don't forget to join Continental's mileathon promotion to get even more bonus miles (for a range of activities).

I had given up on achieving Plat this year, thinking that 'gold is the new platinum' (as discussed in a previous thread). However, there are clear advantages to being Plat, including trumping all other gold for upgrades. And now, when it comes to the infamous battlefield upgrade, I wouldn't get trumped by Platinum companions (right Dino? ). Finally, with CO's new alliance, being Plat certainly can't hurt. Despite the fact that I'd given up on Plat, now it looks like I'll get the status despite myself.
BTW, there is always a lively discussion on this topic over at Flyertalk.

Ciaociao

That's one thing I never really understood. I know one of the benefits on being top-tier in an Alliance grants you use of all the airlines' lounges in that alliance if you're flying internationally.

So if I become a Star Alliance Gold, and I buy a regular economy ticket with Continental from EWR to SJO, would I be able to use the Presidents Club lounges in EWR and IAH?

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"El Chino Rico" | el.chino.rico@hotmail.com
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AA started this promotion and now others are following, including UA. It's worth it to do some end of year planning to take advantage of double Elite Qualifying Miles.

Almond wrote:


Yes.

Senordo,

Thanks for the posting. If I do manage to obtain elite status this year, is there a fee for a space available upgrade to first class--or is it totally complementary?

It looks like I'm going to obtain either silver or gold status--it depends on how many trips I"m taking these next two months.

It's free.

The way its supposed to work, is that if there are empty seats up front, Elites should be given complimentary upgrades.

Without going into the fine print, this is how it generally works:

5 days out, Plats get upgraded.
3 days out, Golds.
1 day out, Silvers.

From what I've been reading, however, right now it's not working out how it's supposed to be.

If you want to read more about it, here's the link to Continental's page concerning Elite Upgrades:

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/co ... rades.aspx

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"El Chino Rico" | el.chino.rico@hotmail.com
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Hi everyone...

does this link still work? first time i tried i get an error msg...then i tried again its asking me for a "promotion code"?