Triangle Trip

JFK Airport is a pretty confusing airport. Delta Airlines used to operate out of two JFK terminals: Terminal 2 and 3. With JFK Terminal 2 connected to Terminal 3 via a bridge, you always check in at Terminal 2 (see previous post for best practice). Back in February 2009, Delta started operating out of Terminal 4 for all of its JFK to LAX flights. Delta did not properly communicate the change with its customers nor did they coordinate with the Port Authority of NY & NJ to put up the proper signage (see previous post for more info).

Some time between the summer and now (I have not flown Delta from JFK to LAX since June), Delta decided to move its JFK to LAX flights from Terminal 4 to Terminal 2. Since JFK terminals repeat its gate numbers, it is very hard to identify which terminal your flight departs from when Delta operates across three terminals. Calling Delta’s customer service is no help as they are lack local knowledge. After searching through many web pages on Delta’s own website, I finally found a map explaining the gate changes to me. For my readers’ convenience, I have attached the map below.

Here are my suggestions to Delta’s team and feel free to contact us for more advice:

1.  Update Delta.com to show JFK Terminal and Gate information

2.  Tell all your JFK customers about the gate changes. I am sure Delta’s customer relationship management system has all the information.

Continental Airlines is trying to bring back some prestige to airline status by introducing an invitation only, Presidential Platinum status. To get Presidential Platinum, you will need to get Elite Platinum status with Continental; and you must have spent $30,000 USD on Continental Airlines, excluding partners.

Presidential Platinum does not offer anything more than Elite Platinum, except for being ahead of Elite Platinum for upgrades. Presidential Platinum status members will be prioritized behind United’s Global Services and 1K members, but ahead of Premier Executive members when traveling on eligible UAL flights. Essentially, Presidential Platinum is a junior United 1K status.

One more thing: Presidential Platinum status holders also get their Continental credit card annual fee waived. But who pays for annual fees on credit cards these days?

Continental missed its mark. What’s the point of another status tier when it doesn’t have any added benefits? Continental should have made Presidential Platinum like Delta’s new Diamond status – which requires 125,000 Delta miles to quality, and comes with tangible benefits like six (6) system-wide upgrades.

Since joining Star Alliance, Continental has been creating closer ties with United. Continental has adopted United’s system-wide upgrade this year. I am not sure if Continental’s OnePass program is heading in the right direction.

United Airlines (UAL) has announced 2010 Mileage Plus program changes that will end of 500 mile certificates a few weeks ago. Starting in the second quarter (probably July) of 2010, United Premier members would get upgrades to first or business class based on availability – similar to Continental, Delta and USAir. This leaves American Airlines to be the only major carrier still requiring certificates for upgrades.

This is a positive move by UAL. However they didn’t tell you the following:

1.  United complimentary upgrades are not available for P.S. (Premium Service) flights. United P.S. are flights between New York and San Francisco and Los Angeles. This means your coast-to-coast travel cost would go up as economy seats generally fills up the fastest (see previous post regarding best coast-to-coast travel option). This forces united customers to buy business class tickets.  You can however use redeem miles to upgrade on these flights, and if you are 1K you will still receive Confirmed Regional and Systemwide Upgrades and may use them on these flights as well.

2.  Your United 500-mile certificates would be useless if you don’t use them. UAL used to convert the 500-mile certificates into miles and put them in your Mileage Plus account. With the devaluation of airline miles and airline cut backs, UAL does not endorse expiring 500 mile certificates nor do they convert the miles for flight redemption.

3.  Complimentary upgrades are limited to flights within Region 1 only, which includes the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico. Also, award flights are not eligible for the complimentary upgrades. Not much different than the 500-mile certificate model.

United Premier and Premier Executive statuses become absolutely worthless.  Good luck trying to get upgraded with all the people that made Premier Exec and 1K (us included) in 2009 for 2010 thanks to the 2 double EQM (and one EQS) promotions.

Another collaboration post from Statusmonger & Captain G