CO/UA Million Mile (and Beyond) Flyer Benefits, Effective Spring 2012
#3841
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1PMM; JetSmarter; HHonors Gold
Posts: 9,723
You're right that I have no idea what is planned, all I've seen is a lot of talk about things happening behind the scenes. But frankly, planning and filing are two entirely different things. You can plan all you want, but until something actually happens, the threats of legal action are worth about as much as the conjecture.
To do this, I would identify some key stakeholders and form some type of task force. Then I would take the task force offline for awhile and have that team come up with a consensus for how to approach this. By consensus, I mean that the most vocal must be willing to listen to the other stakeholders and mutually agree. I would keep the fire alive in the public forum but tone down the rhetoric until the task force has figured out the approach and the messaging. Then I would have the task force come back here and outline the strategy to the larger community.
That would be my approach. YMMV.
#3842
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1
Scott: As one of the 'limited few' Infinite Elites in CO One Pass, I'm bummed that GPUs are not part of the new program. I used to get upgraded all the time on NW flights pre DL merger, including international flights. All those years as a CO Infinite Elite and now have restrictions put on GPUs is a slap in the face for loyalty to CO through the good, the bad, and the ugly days of the late 80's and early 90's.
#3843
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,169
Scott: As one of the 'limited few' Infinite Elites in CO One Pass, I'm bummed that GPUs are not part of the new program. I used to get upgraded all the time on NW flights pre DL merger, including international flights. All those years as a CO Infinite Elite and now have restrictions put on GPUs is a slap in the face for loyalty to CO through the good, the bad, and the ugly days of the late 80's and early 90's.
#3844
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1PMM; JetSmarter; HHonors Gold
Posts: 9,723
One other idea that I would have: declare a protest for April, and have each MM member take the purchase of at least one flight that would normally go to United and divert it to another carrier. Then have each member record what they spent on the alternate carrier, and upload it to the website. Also post a review of the experience on the other flight. This shows an immediate financial impact to UA, and makes it clear that the MM have a choice and are willing to use that choice.
#3845
Join Date: May 2003
Location: At This Point, Only G*d Knows!
Posts: 3,467
I do understand the displeasure, it is rational and it does make sense, but here is my point, we can debate this till the cows come home, but nothing is going to change, unless UNITED wants to make a change.
UNITED has made their decision, determined what they perceive to be best for the company and are going forward with that plan.
I am not thrilled with many of the changes (read downgrades) but without sitting in on the meetings at UA HQ where this stuff is discussed and without knowing how each decision is affecting their bottom line (posting here that "my friends are leaving UA and taking our $$$$$ with us, does give us [FTers] an idea of your displeasure but not the entire UA pax base) we cannot understand the whys and wherewithal for their decisions and their choice to either stand their ground or backtrack.
IMHO, it is as simple as that, to be clear, I am not excusing their decisions, I am just being as rational as I can be.
Dan
UNITED has made their decision, determined what they perceive to be best for the company and are going forward with that plan.
I am not thrilled with many of the changes (read downgrades) but without sitting in on the meetings at UA HQ where this stuff is discussed and without knowing how each decision is affecting their bottom line (posting here that "my friends are leaving UA and taking our $$$$$ with us, does give us [FTers] an idea of your displeasure but not the entire UA pax base) we cannot understand the whys and wherewithal for their decisions and their choice to either stand their ground or backtrack.
IMHO, it is as simple as that, to be clear, I am not excusing their decisions, I am just being as rational as I can be.
Dan
#3846
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold Million Miler, SPG Lifetime Plat
Posts: 76
One other idea that I would have: declare a protest for April, and have each MM member take the purchase of at least one flight that would normally go to United and divert it to another carrier. Then have each member record what they spent on the alternate carrier, and upload it to the website. Also post a review of the experience on the other flight. This shows an immediate financial impact to UA, and makes it clear that the MM have a choice and are willing to use that choice.
After 100% travel on UA (approx. 20K miles) in Jan/Feb, for March $2,900 spent on AA that would have gone to UA, and $1,600 for my wife on LAN that would have gone to UA.
Customer satisfaction means nothing. Customer LOYALTY means EVERYTHING!
http://www.millionmilersunited.com/
#3847
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Chicago USA
Programs: *A Junkie, SQ PPS, Skywards Gold, 2 Million Mile Flyer;*wood LT Plat, BA MM
Posts: 1,762
I do understand the displeasure, it is rational and it does make sense, but here is my point, we can debate this till the cows come home, but nothing is going to change, unless UNITED wants to make a change.
UNITED has made their decision, determined what they perceive to be best for the company and are going forward with that plan.
I am not thrilled with many of the changes (read downgrades) but without sitting in on the meetings at UA HQ where this stuff is discussed and without knowing how each decision is affecting their bottom line (posting here that "my friends are leaving UA and taking our $$$$$ with us, does give us [FTers] an idea of your displeasure but not the entire UA pax base) we cannot understand the whys and wherewithal for their decisions and their choice to either stand their ground or backtrack.
IMHO, it is as simple as that, to be clear, I am not excusing their decisions, I am just being as rational as I can be.
Dan
UNITED has made their decision, determined what they perceive to be best for the company and are going forward with that plan.
I am not thrilled with many of the changes (read downgrades) but without sitting in on the meetings at UA HQ where this stuff is discussed and without knowing how each decision is affecting their bottom line (posting here that "my friends are leaving UA and taking our $$$$$ with us, does give us [FTers] an idea of your displeasure but not the entire UA pax base) we cannot understand the whys and wherewithal for their decisions and their choice to either stand their ground or backtrack.
IMHO, it is as simple as that, to be clear, I am not excusing their decisions, I am just being as rational as I can be.
Dan
The key is to keep it moving along and making sure we speak with our words and our actions. Most of $70k worth of travel for 2012 has been moved to British Airways, American (for the first time since 1988!), LAN, Emirates, and SQ. Add me to the pot of others and it adds up very quickly. Now whether it matters to corporate is another thing.
I just wonder if United even cares anymore. It's like we are dealing with Olympic Airways or Alitalia (laughing)....
UG
Correct.
I shook my head with disbelief when I got the lavish hard box this year with all the "wonderful" MM bennies and looked at a friends paper envelope as a mere 1K.
They had made a huge effort and a great deal of expense this year over MM Status, when in fact it was diluted heavily.
If the Board saw that box, and read what those who got it think of the "New UA" they'd be pretty annoyed I think.
200,000 page views of just this thread alone is incredibly BAD for business. And gets worse each week.
In tough market conditions p!ssing off some of your VERY best long time clients all over a couple of lousy CR1s is just insane.
We were promised 2 x CR1s "for life" and I want that written promise of only a few months back honoured.
IE's were given '1K For Life" for often medium level flying decades back, and real heavy flying existing Elites have been dumped on. Makes zero business sense.
Any Harvard Business School Professor can tell them that for free.
.
I shook my head with disbelief when I got the lavish hard box this year with all the "wonderful" MM bennies and looked at a friends paper envelope as a mere 1K.
They had made a huge effort and a great deal of expense this year over MM Status, when in fact it was diluted heavily.
If the Board saw that box, and read what those who got it think of the "New UA" they'd be pretty annoyed I think.
200,000 page views of just this thread alone is incredibly BAD for business. And gets worse each week.
In tough market conditions p!ssing off some of your VERY best long time clients all over a couple of lousy CR1s is just insane.
We were promised 2 x CR1s "for life" and I want that written promise of only a few months back honoured.
IE's were given '1K For Life" for often medium level flying decades back, and real heavy flying existing Elites have been dumped on. Makes zero business sense.
Any Harvard Business School Professor can tell them that for free.
.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Mar 26, 2012 at 9:58 pm Reason: merge
#3848
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
anyone received the spouse cards yet?
My spouse was given GS as part of the 1MM match. But no card yet. Anyone else gotten their spouse cards?
#3849
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,358
I am eagerly waiting to review the first quarter "cash flow statement" of United Continental Holding, Inc. which will be released in a couple of weeks. The cash flow statement will tell us more than the first quarter income statement will reveal.
The income statement will show matching of flying, (income recognition) and related costs, while the cash flow statement will disclose whether there actually is a huge dip in cash, indicating there is a lessening of those making new reservations with UA.
We will be reasonably assured whether the threats made by loyal customers to leave UA actually has occurred in large numbers of customers.
A possible major dip in cash flow is likely the only way, short of a class action route, that will get the new UA management to rescind those discriminatory and deceptive demotions related to "lifetime" promises made to million-mile flyers and intentionally breached by the new UA management.
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#3850
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
I think FT'ers are well ahead of the game at most times.
My feeling is the heavier fliers really only started experiencing glitches from March 3.
I really believe a ton of Million Milers STILL have no idea they get no CR1s a year "For Life" despite being assured in writing they would, and no 100% bonus going forward etc, etc.
So a large % of MM'ers right NOW have little idea of these changes.
And while they may well get annoyed later and curtail some or a lot of their flying,they have not done so YET.
So I'd be curious to see the Q2 and Q3 figures when they come out - not the Q1.
My wife and I both flew 35,000 EQM in very early Q1 for instance, but plan on none in Q2 unless the broken promises are honoured.
So Q2 for the both of us, will show 70,000 less miles right there.
But the rot is there and this thread getting over 200,000 views, just on one BB is a scary statistic for anyone in Management.
Kettles on once a year Priceline tickets of $68 are not to the way to long term profit, unless your livery reads SOUTHWEST.
They better start re-thinking the MM Bennies real fast, or in 12 months time many of them will have jumped ship, as in truth there are near ZERO bennies out there right now for most of that group, so why choose UA.
.
My feeling is the heavier fliers really only started experiencing glitches from March 3.
I really believe a ton of Million Milers STILL have no idea they get no CR1s a year "For Life" despite being assured in writing they would, and no 100% bonus going forward etc, etc.
So a large % of MM'ers right NOW have little idea of these changes.
And while they may well get annoyed later and curtail some or a lot of their flying,they have not done so YET.
So I'd be curious to see the Q2 and Q3 figures when they come out - not the Q1.
My wife and I both flew 35,000 EQM in very early Q1 for instance, but plan on none in Q2 unless the broken promises are honoured.
So Q2 for the both of us, will show 70,000 less miles right there.
But the rot is there and this thread getting over 200,000 views, just on one BB is a scary statistic for anyone in Management.
Kettles on once a year Priceline tickets of $68 are not to the way to long term profit, unless your livery reads SOUTHWEST.
They better start re-thinking the MM Bennies real fast, or in 12 months time many of them will have jumped ship, as in truth there are near ZERO bennies out there right now for most of that group, so why choose UA.
.
#3851
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,358
I think FT'ers are well ahead of the game at most times.
My feeling is the heavier fliers really only started experiencing glitches from March 3.
I really believe a ton of Million Milers STILL have no idea they get no CR1s a year "For Life" despite being assured in writing they would, and no 100% bonus going forward etc, etc.
So a large % of MM'ers right NOW have little idea of these changes.
And while they may well get annoyed later and curtail some or a lot of their flying,they have not done so YET.
So I'd be curious to see the Q2 and Q3 figures when they come out - not the Q1.
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Actually, the first quarter should be telling as far as cash coming into the company goes.
Even though you flew a lot early in the first quarter of this year, you most likely bought your ticket in 2011. The first quarter income statement would move your 2011 ticket purchase to the first quarter of 2012, the year and quarter you actually took your flights (when UA earned the money).
This is called "matching" income (flying) with the expense even though your ticket was purchased in an earlier year.
If you bought your tickets in 2012, you would not be part of the equation that reflects defection of prior loyal flyers.
The cash flow statement does not center around income, it centers around the changes in cash. Therefore, even though the second and third quarters will be interesting to see, I suspect, if loyal customers really did change their allegiance to other airlines (as many reported they did), we should see a marked reduction in cash based on the statement of cash flows.
I agree, most million-milers do not yet know what the new UA management did to them. Some will not know until next year when their two "lifetime" regional upgrades fail to arrive or when they take their first flight and earn only 50% bonus miles.
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#3852
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Sydney & London
Programs: UA Lifetime Exec Plat (2MM)
Posts: 744
Having had a better look at the 2MM benefits, I am quite happy with what I have got (or have been promised). This is based on the fact I no longer fly paid UA.
Premier Plat for life is better than what the old UA was offering (for me at least), with no charges for changing award bookings. As well, my wife will be the same status as me if UA ever gets around to doing what they have promised. And the lifetime United Club membership is nice too.
So what's not to like if you are a 2MM (as long as you don't actually fly UA)?
Premier Plat for life is better than what the old UA was offering (for me at least), with no charges for changing award bookings. As well, my wife will be the same status as me if UA ever gets around to doing what they have promised. And the lifetime United Club membership is nice too.
So what's not to like if you are a 2MM (as long as you don't actually fly UA)?
#3853
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
They also seem rather pleased with life. And rather miffed anyone else minds.
I may be wrong here, as I sadly do not have a MBA, but Keeping folks happy who ARE actually spending serious money each year right now is plain good business sense.
Incenting folks to strive for a higher level than they now have, is also plain good sense.
Carrot and stick. That's how it was for many years. UA made promises and they KEPT them. What a novel concept.
Making the *NEXT* level something that you already had and lost, is just plain dumb.
Especially as with these weasels, they are likely to make change the bennies on that next level at any second anyway.
.
#3854
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SYD; Central Coast, NSW
Programs: UA, 1K 2MM
Posts: 947
Having had a better look at the 2MM benefits, I am quite happy with what I have got (or have been promised). This is based on the fact I no longer fly paid UA.
Premier Plat for life is better than what the old UA was offering (for me at least), with no charges for changing award bookings. As well, my wife will be the same status as me if UA ever gets around to doing what they have promised. And the lifetime United Club membership is nice too.
So what's not to like if you are a 2MM (as long as you don't actually fly UA)?
Premier Plat for life is better than what the old UA was offering (for me at least), with no charges for changing award bookings. As well, my wife will be the same status as me if UA ever gets around to doing what they have promised. And the lifetime United Club membership is nice too.
So what's not to like if you are a 2MM (as long as you don't actually fly UA)?
#3855
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,490
Subject: Thank you for flying one million miles with United
Date:
From: Mileage Plus
Reply-To: Mileage Plus Replies
To: Fredd
One million miles is a significant achievement. Your travel history with United is truly appreciated.
MILEAGE PLUS#: XXXXXXXXXXX
Dear Fredd,
Congratulations on reaching one million miles.
Your accomplishment of flying one million miles is a significant milestone.
In recognition, you've been awarded lifetime Premier Executive status as a sincere thank you. Of course, since you have already earned 1K® status, you will retain those benefits as long as you meet the requirements.
And, to enhance your travel experience even more, you'll also receive the following benefits:
• Three (3) systemwide upgrades immediately
• Two (2) confirmed regional upgrades at the end of every year
Once again, congratulations on reaching this important milestone.
Best Regards,
Your Mileage Plus Team
Look for your kit in the mail.
Your member kit is due to arrive in four to six weeks
Date:
From: Mileage Plus
Reply-To: Mileage Plus Replies
To: Fredd
One million miles is a significant achievement. Your travel history with United is truly appreciated.
MILEAGE PLUS#: XXXXXXXXXXX
Dear Fredd,
Congratulations on reaching one million miles.
Your accomplishment of flying one million miles is a significant milestone.
In recognition, you've been awarded lifetime Premier Executive status as a sincere thank you. Of course, since you have already earned 1K® status, you will retain those benefits as long as you meet the requirements.
And, to enhance your travel experience even more, you'll also receive the following benefits:
• Three (3) systemwide upgrades immediately
• Two (2) confirmed regional upgrades at the end of every year
Once again, congratulations on reaching this important milestone.
Best Regards,
Your Mileage Plus Team
Look for your kit in the mail.
Your member kit is due to arrive in four to six weeks
I certainly didn't.