In early September Continental OnePass announced changes to the OnePass program, including the elimination of a 500-mile minimum on short flights. But in mid-September Scott O’Leary, Managing Director Customer Experience of Continental Airlines, announced on FlyerTalk.com that OnePass is revising the new policy and reinstating the 500-mile minimum for base miles and EQMs for elite members, “… suffice to say after the hundreds of posts and messages received here at headquarters, it was clear that the elimination of the 500-mile minimum was the most impactful to many of you. Especially those of you who are Elite members.”

Non-elite members will earn actual miles on flights operated by Continental and most OnePass partners for tickets purchased on or after Nov. 15 for travel on or after Jan. 1, 2009. Members will continue to earn the 500-mile minimum on flights with Aero Republica, Copa Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air and US Helicopter. No word from United Airlines or US Airways as to whether they plan to follow Continental’s concession to elite members and reinstate the 500-mile minimum for their most loyal customers. But it’s clear that the programs do sometimes listen to members. As stated by O’Leary in his FlyerTalk.com thread, “As always, thanks for your feedback. It really does make a difference.”