Customer Benefits Grow as US Airways and United Begin Reciprocal Elite Frequent Flyer Recognition Program
Friday February 28, 3:10 pm ET
ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As part of the US Airways-United enhanced marketing relationship, US Airways Dividend Miles Preferred members and United Mileage Plus elite members will enjoy many of the same benefits when traveling on either airline, including expedited check-in and boarding priority.
Beginning tomorrow, the customer benefits of the relationship will be expanded as both carriers begin reciprocal recognition of elite members of both frequent flyer programs. US Airways' and United's elite tier members will be recognized by both airlines with the following benefits:
-- The ability to check-in at US Airways First Class, Envoy Class and
Preferred counters and United Premier counters
-- US Airways Chairman's Preferred members can use United First Class and
Business Class check-in counters, regardless of class-of-service in
which they are traveling
-- United 1K members can use US Airways First Class and Envoy Class check-
in counters, regardless of class-of-service in which they are traveling
-- Early boarding when flying on either carrier
-- Access to each airline's Preferred/Premier/Economy Plus seat
assignments
-- Priority reservations waitlist and clearance on either carrier
-- Priority standby clearance at the gate on either carrier
US Airways has expanded its network with over 700 additional flight segments operated by United through its codeshare relationship. US Airways passengers have greater access to cities throughout the U.S., including new destinations in Hawaii and on the West Coast. United customers have gained greater access to over 30 cities in the U.S., Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean, with nearly 700 code share flight segments operated by US Airways.
US Airways, the US Airways Express carriers and US Airways Shuttle offer service to nearly 200 destinations worldwide. News releases and other information about US Airways is available online at http://www.usairways.com .
United operates nearly 1,700 flights a day on a route network that spans the globe. News releases and other information about United may be found at the company's Web site at http://www.united.com .
Information on United's flight schedules and fares is also available online at http://www.united.com , or by calling United's Reservations at 1-800-UNITED1. For more information on US Airways' flight schedules and fares, contact US Airways online at http://www.usairways.com , or contact US Airways reservations at 1-800-428-4322.
Source: US Airways; United
catwood
Feb 28, 03, 2:34 pm
It's worth noting that only CP's can you the First class/1K counter.
Chris
FlyerAl
Feb 28, 03, 2:48 pm
This contradicts what's stated in the new Gold Prefered guide. It states that Gold members can use United Premier counters, which I'm assuming is the same as First Class check-in?
geo1005
Feb 28, 03, 3:17 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FlyerAl:
Gold members can use United Premier counters, which I'm assuming is the same as First Class check-in?</font>
At some airports (international hubs) UA has three check-in counters: First Class, Business Class, and coach. The Business Class line is often designated for Premiers and the First Class line for 1K's.
HPTunco
Feb 28, 03, 3:32 pm
Allowing the ability to upgrade will be much more complicated, and will result in lessening the US CP upgrade policy.
We can kiss unlimited upgrades goodbye. This is the only way that US/UA elites can be on par regarding upgrades on either airline.
ClueByFour
Feb 28, 03, 4:07 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by HPTunco:
Allowing the ability to upgrade will be much more complicated, and will result in lessening the US CP upgrade policy.
We can kiss unlimited upgrades goodbye. This is the only way that US/UA elites can be on par regarding upgrades on either airline.</font>
True. True.
I've been predicting this one for some time. I'd say that 2003 is the twilight year for the really nice CP benefits.
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Saving the world, one clue at a time.
I've been predicting this one for some time. I'd say that 2003 is the twilight year for the really nice CP benefits.
</font>
Well then US had better get on the stick and start removing some rows of seats. E+ is nice to sit in on UA but US doesn't have the comparable seating arrangement. I had to sit in coach for the first time in almost a year on a 737 and absolutely hated having to be squished in with 2 other big men. Not a fun flight at all. So I guess we can just call all of the US seating arrangement ECONOMY PIG just like they do at UA!! LOL http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
gnaget
Feb 28, 03, 5:20 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by geo1005:
At some airports (international hubs) UA has three check-in counters: First Class, Business Class, and coach. The Business Class line is often designated for Premiers and the First Class line for 1K's.</font>
At IAD it's even more complicated. They have First Class, Business Class, 1k/*Gold, Premier/ Prem Exec and then Coach.
It used to be 1K/F Prem Ex/Business, oh God, I can't remember.....
geo1005
Feb 28, 03, 5:27 pm
Yes. And at IAD some of those counters are not even side by side but around the corner.
ATC
Feb 28, 03, 6:03 pm
Not that I notice these things, but...
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by geo1005:
Yes. And at IAD some of those counters are not even side by side but around the corner.</font>
ClueByFour
Feb 28, 03, 9:11 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by trvlr64:
Well then US had better get on the stick and start removing some rows of seats. E+ is nice to sit in on UA but US doesn't have the comparable seating arrangement. I had to sit in coach for the first time in almost a year on a 737 and absolutely hated having to be squished in with 2 other big men. Not a fun flight at all. So I guess we can just call all of the US seating arrangement ECONOMY PIG just like they do at UA!! LOL http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>
I think the US exit rows are just as "roomy" as E+ on UA.
Of course, the problem will be that now you have UA elites contending for exit rows.
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Saving the world, one clue at a time.
CoMooter
Feb 28, 03, 10:50 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by geo1005:
Yes. And at IAD some of those counters are not even side by side but around the corner.</font>
Not anymore...they have been on the same (front) side since January at IAD. 1K/Premier to the left/Everyone else to the right.
geo1005
Mar 1, 03, 8:02 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CoMooter:
1K/Premier to the left/Everyone else to the right.</font>
Cool! As a CP, me likey this new arrangement!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
TravelScholar
Mar 1, 03, 10:18 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by HPTunco:
Allowing the ability to upgrade will be much more complicated, and will result in lessening the US CP upgrade policy.
We can kiss unlimited upgrades goodbye. This is the only way that US/UA elites can be on par regarding upgrades on either airline.</font>
Is this actually going to happen (recip. upgrade benefits)? They seem to have dropped all mention of it from recent press information about cross-carrier benefits...
USFlyerUS
Mar 1, 03, 1:36 pm
From what I've been told, we will be able to purchase upgrades on the other carrier. So, a US1/2/3 will be able to buy an upgrade on UA and vice versa. This seems fair as each carrier's elite flier base has earned the upgrades. As a US1 I would have no problem buying an upgrade on UA, and it would definitely make me choose UA over some other carrier (when US is not an option).
kreeft
Mar 1, 03, 5:53 pm
I called UA when I woke up this morning to get put in the E+ seating (I'm Silver) for a flight between WAS (IAD going, DCA returning) and LAX. Might as well get all the benefits I can from this agreement.
I've been predicting this one for some time. I'd say that 2003 is the twilight year for the really nice CP benefits.
</font>
So you're just going to roll over and help Ben turn that into a self-fulfilling prophecy?
It is not a foregone conclusion that any such thing will happen or is even being contemplated.
I for one won't take it lying down if it is being contemplated. Unlimited upgrades are not unique to US Airways (we have choices if Ben tries something...) and there is no reason to think that there is an industry wide trend to roll back the clock on this. In fact the trend has been in quite the opposite direction. This is a strong differentiator for US vis a vis UA, AA & DL and I think even Ben knows it. Trying to Take away upgrades would make the Black Tuesday revolt look like a Sunday school picnic...
BeantownFlyer
Mar 3, 03, 4:02 pm
It would be nice if someone bothered to think about how to implement all these great new benefits during the months they have had to think about it. Both my wife and I are US Gold, and planned a trip on UA. Since the fare we saw was a web only fare, I called UA and asked about the elite seating. Told that we can each take a companion along in E+. I asked if I should book our reservation as two records; told no, that makes it more difficult. So I book us on one record, and call UA to move us into E+ (first problem, why can't I view elite seats online, and do this myself?). I get a lecture about how we need to be on two records, and he will split us up, yadda, yadda, yadda. Then he tells me that we can have (on a 757) a middle and aisle seat in E+ or middle and window seat in E+ (times 2). I say I thought that they block the middle seat, so why can't we have window-aisle-aisle-window? I get a lecture on how the (secret) rules only allow an elite member to bring a companion who sits directly next to the elite member. How about 3 and 1 seating then I ask? Another lecture about how being across the aisle does not count as "next to" in violation of the (secret) rules. So I hang up and call back. No problem with the window-aisle-aisle-window request. I'm still wondering who was right. Next issue, how do I view the reservation on-line? Can't do it from US' website. Can't do it on UA's website since my US number is in the reservation, not my UA number. I ask if they can put my UA number back in the record - answer not if I want to retain the E+ seating. I give up...
Singleflyer
Mar 3, 03, 6:05 pm
Another benefit is being rerouted on UA after a miss-connect. Last week my wife and son missed the connecting flight in PHL. They were traveling on award tickets. The agent was able to reroute them to SEA through ORD on UA. This got them to SEA 2 hours later than the US flight. This was a better option than wait for the next US flight in 5 hours. If it was not for the code share US would not have put them on the earlier flight. This was the better option in a bad situation