C opa Airlines — which had a long relationship with Continental Airlines and now United Airlines — is launching its own frequent flier loyalty program called ConnectMiles as of July 1, 2015; and details have been released earlier today as scheduled, with open enrollment commencing in May of 2015.
Additionally, if you subscribe today to receive updates on the ConnectMiles frequent flier loyalty program, you will earn 1,000 ConnectMiles, which will be awarded when you join the program and four to six weeks after the launch of the program on July 1, 2015. You must subscribe by Thursday, April 30, 2015 to receive the 1,000 ConnectMiles; and you should ensure that the e-mail address you use will be the same e-mail address you use to register for ConnectMiles.
You will be awarded a minimum of one ConnectMile for every mile that you fly on Copa — never less; and in some cases, many more ConnectMiles will be earned because of its purported generous bonus structure for higher fares and additional bonuses from its PreferProgram, which is designed to recognize the most loyal and frequent customers of Copa Airlines. Also, you always earn a minimum of 500 ConnectMiles for every flight segment that you fly as a passenger.
Is this a little jab at the United Airlines MileagePlus frequent flier loyalty program, which earlier this month switched to earnings based on revenue instead of distance?
Earning ConnectMiles
All members of the ConnectMiles frequent flier loyalty program earn a minimum of 500 base miles on all purchased fare classes. Qualifying ConnectMiles are calculated as a percentage of base — or actual flight — miles. All other fare classes not shown below do not accrue mileage. Copa Airlines reserve the right to change the eligible fare classes at any time without notice. ConnectMiles will expire after 24 months of inactivity.
Accrual structure for international flights in Copa Airlines
| Fare Families | Fare Class | Base Miles | Bonus Miles | Prefer Qualifying Miles (PQM) | Prefer Qualifying Segments (PQS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Flex | C | 100 Percent | 75 Percent | 150 Percent | 2 |
| Business Promo | D | 100 Percent | 50 Percent | 150 Percent | 2 |
| Economy Flex | Y, B, M, H, Q | 100 Percent | 25 Percent | 150 Percent | 2 |
| Economy Extra | K, V, U, S, W, E | 100 Percent | 0 Percent | 100 Percent | 1 |
| Economy Promo | L, T, N | 100 Percent | 0 Percent | 100 Percent | 1 |
* Includes domestic flights within Panama
Accrual structure for domestic flights in Copa Airlines — Colombia Only
| Fare Families | Fare Class | Base Miles | Bonus Miles | Prefer Qualifying Miles or PQM | Prefer Qualifying Segments or PQS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Flex | C | 100 Percent | 75 Percent | 150 Percent | 2 |
| Business Promo | D | 100 Percent | 50 Percent | 150 Percent | 2 |
| Super Flexi | Y, B, M, H | 100 Percent | 25 Percent | 150 Percent | 2 |
| Economy Flex | Q, K, V | 100 Percent | 0 Percent | 150 Percent | 2 |
| Economy Extra | U, S, W | 100 Percent | 0 Percent | 100 Percent | 1 |
| Economy Promo | E, L, T, N | 100 Percent | 0 Percent | 100 Percent | 1 |
ConnectMiles Required to Redeem for an Award Ticket Per One-Way Flight
Business class redemption chart
Economy class redemption chart
The amounts shown in both charts above are for one direction of travel.
Awards
Saver Awards
Economy, Business and First on flights operated by member airlines of Star Alliance
- Can be used to travel anywhere Copa and its ConnectMiles airline partners fly.
- Attractively priced.
- Capacity-controlled with limited availability on flights where demand is high.
Standard Awards
Economy, Business and First on flights operated by United Airlines
- Can be used on any available flight operated by Copa Airlines or United.
- Premium availability.
- Minimal capacity controls and high availability on most flights at most times.
PreferProgram and PreferMember Elite Level Status
When the ConnectMiles frequent flier loyalty program is officially introduced in July of 2015, you will be recognized for your loyalty and offered appropriate status if you have previously traveled as a passenger on Copa Airlines.
Additionally, Copa Airlines will extend the period for qualifying for preferred elite level status until December 2016. In other words, you will have 18 months from the launch of the ConnectMiles frequent flier loyalty program to retain and enhance your initial elite level status placement.
As soon as you achieve a new PreferMember threshold, you will be upgraded to the new elite level status and enjoy that upgraded status during that program year — as well as the following program year.
Qualification requirements to Reach a PreferMember Elite Status Level in ConnectMiles
A minimum of four paid segments must be flown as a passenger on flights operated by Copa Airlines during a calendar year in order to qualify for any PreferMember elite status level. Qualifying miles or segments flown must be on flights operated by Copa Airlines, Star Alliance member carriers, and/or any other eligible airline partner in a calendar year between January 1 and December 31.
| Silver | Gold | Platinum | Presidential Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Alliance Elite Status Match Level | Silver | Gold | Gold | Gold |
| Qualifying Miles Flown* | 25,000 | 45,000 | 75,000 | 95,000 |
| Qualifying Segments Flown* | 20 | 40 | 70 | 90 |
Benefits of Silver PreferMembers in Star Alliance
- Priority Airport Standby Your Star Alliance Gold status ensures you are given higher priority when standing by for a flight at the airport. This is not permitted for Star Alliance award tickets.
Benefits of Gold, Platinum and Presidential Platinum PreferMembers in Star Alliance
- Priority Airport Standby Your Star Alliance Gold status ensures you are given higher priority when standing by for a flight at the airport. This is not permitted for Star Alliance award tickets.
- Priority Airport Check-in Star Alliance Gold Status allows you to check in through the Priority check-in counters where available.
- Airport Lounge Access When you travel with any Star Alliance member airline, you and a guest can relax in over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide, regardless of your class of travel. When traveling on a Star Alliance member-operated flight, eligible Star Alliance Gold members — Gold, Platinum and Presidential Platinum ConnectMiles elite level status members — may visit designated Star Alliance member lounges. Copa Star Alliance Gold members may access any Copa Club only when holding a boarding pass for a same-day international Star Alliance member flight. Copa Star Alliance Gold members may access other Star Alliance member lounges before any departure on a Star Alliance member airline flight. Guests must enter with eligible Star Alliance Gold members — Gold, Platinum and Presidential Platinum ConnectMiles elite level status members — and must depart on a Star Alliance airline, though not necessarily on the same flight as the member. At some destinations, where no member carrier lounge is present, a contract lounge may be available. Star Alliance Gold members may access these facilities when traveling with a Star Alliance member airline that has an agreement with the contract lounge. The same rules and restrictions for member carrier lounge access apply to a contract lounge facility.
- Priority Boarding With priority boarding you can enjoy the freedom of boarding at your convenience along with First and Business Class passengers.
- Extra Baggage Allowance An additional 20 kilograms or 44 pounds is allowed where the weight concept applies; or one additional piece of luggage where the piece concept applies. Please refer to baggage allowance policies of each member carrier for further information.
- Priority Baggage Handling Your bags get priority treatment and are among the first to be unloaded from the aircraft.
Exclusive benefits of PreferMember
In addition to the following benefits for all Silver, Gold, Platinum and Presidential Platinum elite status level PreferMembers…
- Fee discounts and waivers
- Better Saver Award availability on flights operated by Copa Airlines
- Preferential seating
…the following benefits are also available — depending on your particular PreferMember elite status level:
| Accrual Benefit | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Presidential Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PreferMember Bonus | 25 Percent | 50 Percent | 75 Percent | 100 Percent |
| Free Checked Baggage Allowance — International Flights | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Presidential Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 Pounds or 32 Kilograms Each | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Airport Benefits | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Presidential Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lounge access ¹ | • | • | • | |
| PreferAccess in Airports | • | • | • | • |
| Upgrade Benefits | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Presidential Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complimentary Upgrade | 24 hours | 48 hours | 72 hours | 120 hours |
| Connect Regional Upgrade² | Three | Three | ||
| Connect Global Upgrade³ | Six |
- You can only access the lounge when traveling internationally
- Connect Regional Upgrades are available on flights operated by Copa Airlines and flights operated by United Airlines in certain regions — but fare restrictions apply
- Connect Global Upgrades are available on flights operated by Copa Airlines and flights operated by United Airlines systemwide — but fare restrictions apply
Partners
In addition to the 27 airlines which are part of Star Alliance, partners will also include National Car Rental; Alamo Rent a Car; the Marriott Rewards frequent guest loyalty program; and BAC Credomatic Network, which will have a co-branded credit card with the ConnectMiles frequent flier loyalty program and whose ConnectMiles which are earned will not count towards PreferMember elite level status. Other partners are expected to be added.
Summary
The ConnectMiles frequent flier loyalty program appears to be one worthy of joining; and it could possibly even replace the United Airlines MileagePlus frequent flier loyalty program if you fly a minimum of four paid segments as a passenger on flights operated by Copa Airlines during a calendar year in order to qualify for any PreferMember elite status level — especially if you prefer a frequent flier loyalty program based on distance flown instead of based on revenue.
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.
