United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - No longer selling "premier access" services...

I dont fly United all that much for business but when I do its usually on my own dime so I tend to buy an E+ seat and use the money on the little upgrades they used to offer. Just was a nice way as a non-frequent UA flier to get quickly through security and have club access for my flight.

No more. "Normal folks" can no longer just add premier access services to their ticket and one time club passes are now $50 each. Why wouldnt they continute to offer this post-merger? Not making enough money off it?

CO now wants you to get the Chase credit card instead, if you want Premier Access, free bags, or priority boarding. Actually, CO would love it if they could force everyone to get the credit card.

Also, I am sure some people below will cheer and ^, saying that this will improve wait times in the Premier Access lane, but now that UACO is giving away priority boarding and/or Premier Access to anyone with a credit card, I think that it's at best a wash.

Previously, UA sold a la carte Premier Access, whereas CO didn't sell it individually but gave it to credit card holders. So, surprise surprise, post-merger, only the CO policy survives.

CO now wants you to get the Chase credit card instead, if you want Premier Access, free bags, or priority boarding. Actually, CO would love it if they could force everyone to get the credit card.

Also, I am sure some people below will cheer and ^, saying that this will improve wait times in the Premier Access lane, but now that UACO is giving away priority boarding and/or Premier Access to anyone with a credit card, I think that it's at best a wash.

Previously, UA sold a la carte Premier Access, whereas CO didn't sell it individually but gave it to credit card holders. So, surprise surprise, post-merger, only the CO policy survives.

I think you are right. Instead of paying whatever the price was with PMUA per flight, people can now pay the 85 dollar a year annual fee and get most of the travel day benefits of Silver, Gold, Plat and 1K flyers. I would like to think GS get a little more but you can probably include GS in that also now.

I think you are right. Instead of paying whatever the price was with PMUA per flight, people can now pay the 85 dollar a year annual fee and get most of the travel day benefits of Silver, Gold, Plat and 1K flyers. I would like to think GS get a little more but you can probably include GS in that also now.

Okay. I'll pay you the money for the credit card.

Then you can reimburse me for 3 bags x 70 lbs, and 50% or 100% RDM bonuses.

After all, you having the credit card is the same benefits as Gold/Silver/Plat and 1K.

Oh, right, and the card gives EUAs and IRROPs help.

Some days the hyperbole/willful ignorance on this forum gets to me. It's like I'm reading the comments on yahoo from Ma/Pa Kettle.

Okay. I'll pay you the money for the credit card.

Then you can reimburse me for 3 bags x 70 lbs, and 50% or 100% RDM bonuses.

After all, you having the credit card is the same benefits as Gold/Silver/Plat and 1K.

Oh, right, and the card gives EUAs and IRROPs help.

Some days the hyperbole/willful ignorance on this forum gets to me. It's like I'm reading the comments on yahoo from Ma/Pa Kettle.

point taken. Maybe it's because I do tend to recognize the benefits that I use in a normal travel day. the bags are not something I use often except maybe 1 (benefit of card holder), express security (I might be wrong about this but I think this is also granted to card holders), early boarding (also granted to card holders). they don't get E+ seating, EUA (only a real benefit if that percentages get better of these clearing) and RDM bonus.

It should have been written, people can now pay the 85 dollar a year annual fee (plus additional rev. from purchases) and get half of the travel day benefits of my 1K experience.

Is that better?:p

I know I did not mention this in the original post, but I would prefer they sell the premier access each day in addition to the CC benefits, but stop the EUA TOD's upgrades. Again because this is one of the benefits of 1K status that I valued the most so take from that what you will.

point taken. Maybe it's because I do tend to recognize the benefits that I use in a normal travel day. the bags are not something I use often except maybe 1 (benefit of card holder), express security (I might be wrong about this but I think this is also granted to card holders), early boarding (also granted to card holders). they don't get E+ seating, EUA (only a real benefit if that percentages get better of these clearing) and RDM bonus.

It should have been written, people can now pay the 85 dollar a year annual fee (plus additional rev. from purchases) and get half of the travel day benefits of my 1K experience.

Is that better?:p

Cardholders might get premier access for security.
Their early boarding status falls in Zone 5, after all Elites and *G/*S.

I'd say they get 25% of the benefits. A 1K is getting E+, boarding zone 1, a decent upgrade chance (if domestic), and lounge access if international.

It should have been written, people can now pay the 85 dollar a year annual fee (plus additional rev. from purchases) and get half of the travel day benefits of my 1K experience.



Where do you see half of the 1K benefits may I ask ? How about do some reading on your own first ? :rolleyes:

https://www.theexplorercard.com/MPYoureIn40kAFW.aspx

Other than 1 free checked bag, I can't see anything else. Priority boarding is priority over general non-status members, not board with 1K/Platinum/Gold at the same time. Therefore, it doesn't count as 1K, or Platinum, or gold benefits

You want to know why they're not selling it?

because their inferior reservation system can't handle it.

You think for a second that $misek doesn't want to suck every penny he can from you?

You can buy up E+ once you buy a ticket, that at least they can do. But they don't have the ability to sell Premier Line or day passes online. They used to have the ability to just put it in the PNR that you're entitled to PL or the club, but SHARES doesn't support that.

Where do you see half of the 1K benefits may I ask ? How about do some reading on your own first ? :rolleyes:

https://www.theexplorercard.com/MPYoureIn40kAFW.aspx

Other than 1 free checked bag, I can't see anything else. Priority boarding is priority over general non-status members, not board with 1K/Platinum/Gold at the same time. Therefore, it doesn't count as 1K, or Platinum, or gold benefits

Man oh man this has gotten OT (my fault admittedly). Sorry I was under the impression that card holders also received priority security. That does lower the benefit of a card holder. I am not saying that having a card is the same as 1K just that on a normal travel day it doesn't feel like I am receiving that many more benefits than someone who has the card. that's it nothing more. this is from my experience that I expressed in my previous post. to me priority boarding is priority boarding. Disagree if you like, but that is my opinion.

Okay. I'll pay you the money for the credit card.

Then you can reimburse me for 3 bags x 70 lbs, and 50% or 100% RDM bonuses.

After all, you having the credit card is the same benefits as Gold/Silver/Plat and 1K.

Oh, right, and the card gives EUAs and IRROPs help.

Some days the hyperbole/willful ignorance on this forum gets to me. It's like I'm reading the comments on yahoo from Ma/Pa Kettle.

+1. Despite my latest rant (SFO>SYD Boomerang!) due to MX, I don't think having a CC would result in:

*ringring* ... Thank you for calling the Mileage Plus hotline. Am I speaking to ADAM, or someone on behalf of ADAM?

... And be talking to the pros @ the 1K desk within about 30 seconds. The longest wait time I've had since 3/3 was a 3 minute hold on a Monday morning. And, I don't think having a CC would have put me on a F ticket back home after IRROPS and given me a full refund, e-certs, etc.

Could be wrong. I don't even care ( ! ) about upgrades, I'll stick around for the 1K desk. If that goes, well, ...

Cheers,
Adam

The Explorer CC is all about making people feel special without actually giving them that much. We get into trashing it because we're looking for excuses to trash the new airline.

The Explorer card-


Doesn't do anything for E+ access, an admittedly huge benefit to higher levels of status with United, or else the 2P folk wouldn't be so upset about things.

Is smoke & mirrors regarding boarding, since it's Group 5, which comes after all elites, military in uniform, and centipedes.

Does nothing for irrops.

Offers no EQM earnings opportunities other than the actual miles flown. It doesn't give you a 500 mile minimum.

Makes you feel like a dork when you watch the commercials and think "I'm a member of that club?"

Doesn't get you through elite security.

Comes with no drink chits.

If you can't see Don Draper (http://fashioncopious.typepad.com/fashioncopious/2011/07/what-would-don-draper-do.html)having one, why would you?

Just think: the new UA discards the ancillary revenue of the various "Premier Access" sales (E+, premier line access, etc.), but expands the ancillary revenue from sales of TODs.

Some people seem to be forgetting that the Explorer card is not the only game in town.

Remember, there are also the Presidential Plus and MileagePlus Club cards.

Those cards entitle you a variety of elite benefits, including, for example:
1. "Premier Access" security and boarding, through the carpet lane just like MP elites:
http://hub.united.com/PublishingImages/Hub%20Images%20120811/articlesplash_524x210/Info-Graphic-PostMarch20-Vertical.png

2. Two free checked bags (more than Premier Silvers get)

3. A United Club membership for the annual fee, which is less than the discounted price for Club membership charged to Premier Silvers, Golds, and Platinums.

Granted, you don't get EUA, but with the advent of YBMs and TODs, Premier Silvers and Golds rarely get EUAs anyway. You have to be Plat/1K to even have a good shot, and even they often fail upgrades because GS and TODs trump 1Ks.

You want to know why they're not selling it?

because their inferior reservation system can't handle it.


Why didn't they ditch SHARES and go to the old UA reservation system?

Why didn't they ditch SHARES and go to the old UA reservation system?

Maybe SHARES was $0.01 more expensive?

Why didn't they ditch SHARES and go to the old UA reservation system?

SHARES was cheaper.

SHARES had all of the TOD 'bugs' in the system already and rewriting them with the same errors would be too expensive ;)

-jeremy

Some days the hyperbole/willful ignorance on this forum gets to me. It's like I'm reading the comments on yahoo from Ma/Pa Kettle.

Some days? Be honest. ;)