United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Re-realizing the elite perk of E+ travel

This past weekend I traveled SAN-LAX-PHL and PHL-SFO-SAN with wife and son. There used to be a time when I was a 1K and they were 2P and I have been 1P/1K since 2006 on the UA network but last year I barely missed the 75K EQM mark by 1 transcon. Anyway, this time I decided to not shell out the dime for E+ as I could have taken one of the 2 companions for free but T-24 my PNR splited due to my mistake of opting for upgrade. We all ended up on separate PNRs and was happy to find a row together in the back of the three of our flights.

Sitting in E- after 6 years gave me some visions I had completely forgotten. Me and family still boarded in group 2 so the back of the plane was completely empty. As we passed the E+ and my usual Exit rows, the seat pitch seemed like some luxury for the royals. Then as the masses came aboard, the constant reminder of the FA from the back alley to hurry up, take the seat, fight over finding overhead space, people trying to swap seats to sit together. I would try to get a peek at the Boarding Card of people to see if they were elites but most of them didnt even have a number listed. All the joys and experiences of non frequent fliers and listening to their conversation about anywhere from how to tie the seat belt to complains about nickle and dime-ing by the airlines.

Once we took off the engine sound was a little less in the back compared to exit rows and front of E+ but the wind swishing by was more loud. Also I had forgotten how many moving parts are on the wing when you are looking from the back. Also, the fresh food items pretty much finished by the time the cart made its way back to the 3rd last row. Our seats were crammed but we were family so we were comfortable. It would be very uncomfortable to do the 6 hour PHL-SFO flight in the middle seat of E- with two strangers around me.

I am so much looking forward to Platinum status that I will achieve 3 weeks down the road so I could bring my entire family to E+ again.

I think I've heard that, in the event of a crash, you are safer in the back of the plane. I hope that's some consolation :)

I think I've heard that, in the event of a crash, you are safer in the back of the plane. I hope that's some consolation :)

yes there have been situations where a child or one person in the back row survived... so yes, but when you have to go... you have to go :)

I think I've heard that, in the event of a crash, you are safer in the back of the plane. I hope that's some consolation :)

When's the last time you heard of a plane backing into a mountain?

It's too bad Gold can't get two e+ seats in same family/houshold etc.

So, if UA gives each Gold an extra E+ seat, from whom would you take those seats? Gotta be somebody sitting in E-.

I had a similar experience recently. I got on an earlier flight and had a choice of an aisle 2nd row in E+ or a window in the back 2 rows from the lav. It was a 4 hr flight and I wanted to chill and thought how bad can it be? It was so, so bad! What an awakening. That extra 3" (or whatever it is) makes a huge difference. And the smell!

So, if UA gives each Gold an extra E+ seat, from whom would you take those seats? Gotta be somebody sitting in E-.

Ideally, Silver should bring 1 guest... Gold should bring atleast 2 guests. Currently Platinum and 1K can bring 8 guests. So where is the correlation between 1 guest and 8 guests?

Ideally, Silver should bring 1 guest... Gold should bring atleast 2 guests. Currently Platinum and 1K can bring 8 guests. So where is the correlation between 1 guest and 8 guests?

that is crazy. in this instance i have to aggree 1ks are over entitled. must you bring the entire brass band section?
silver should be 1, gold 2, plat 3, 1k 4. Make the kids sit in the back -- they have short legs, they don't care.

We're talking about a perk which is worth more in $ than many of the low-level elites actually spend on UA in a year. I'd be happier with the AA sticker system where Silvers gets 5, Golds 10 and so on. You want to use all 5 of your stickers on your familt trip, that's it for the year.

Remember, it's not as though you can't pay for E+ if you think your companion(s) deserve it.

We're talking about a perk which is worth more in $ than many of the low-level elites actually spend on UA in a year. I'd be happier with the AA sticker system where Silvers gets 5, Golds 10 and so on. You want to use all 5 of your stickers on your familt trip, that's it for the year.


As a silver I like this idea! When I fly solo there is normally some E+ at T-24 and even if it is a middle still better than an aisle/window in E- IMO.

I had a similar experience recently. I got on an earlier flight and had a choice of an aisle 2nd row in E+ or a window in the back 2 rows from the lav. It was a 4 hr flight and I wanted to chill and thought how bad can it be? It was so, so bad! What an awakening. That extra 3" (or whatever it is) makes a huge difference. And the smell!

From reading these forums I get the impression that many "elites" have been "elite" for so long that they've forgotten what it's like to travel like a normal person.

Last time I flew E- was last year, on the flight I first qualified for silver. ORD-SFO in the second-last row of a 772. Y'know how long it takes to disembark from the second-last row of a 772? A reaaaaally long time.

From reading these forums I get the impression that many "elites" have been "elite" for so long that they've forgotten what it's like to travel like a normal person.

you are so right!

So, if UA gives each Gold an extra E+ seat, from whom would you take those seats? Gotta be somebody sitting in E-.

I know quite a few UA PAX with silver or no status.

The reason these perks keep us loyal is so that we save time and are more comfortable. These are really valuable things when you have to travel a lot.