"Expert Mode" Changes
Sep 7, 2012, 4:33 pm
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SPI
Programs: AA Gold, UA LT Plat, Mar LTT
Posts: 18,147
Sep 7, 2012, 4:33 pm
#92
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston (IAH,HOU) / Kāʻanapali (JHM,OGG)
Programs: UA GS 2MM, AA P 2MM, DL PM, US P, VS G, SPG LT P, HH D, HYATT P, PC P, AVIS PC, HERTZ PLAT
Posts: 970
I use expert mode almost every every day.
I was really happy when it was added because it saved me tons of manual searching/calling CO. Its a really big loss for me.
I should point out that if they are worried about scraping the data of the site, you can still get the information without expert mode, you just have to make a lot more queries.
9 * #of fare classe instead of 1 query per flight. So you would now have to make ~180 queries to get the same information on average. You could automate this process.
I was really happy when it was added because it saved me tons of manual searching/calling CO. Its a really big loss for me.
I should point out that if they are worried about scraping the data of the site, you can still get the information without expert mode, you just have to make a lot more queries.
9 * #of fare classe instead of 1 query per flight. So you would now have to make ~180 queries to get the same information on average. You could automate this process.
Sep 7, 2012, 4:36 pm
#93
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Bay Area
Programs: United Platinum, American EXP
Posts: 227
I use expert mode almost every every day.
I was really happy when it was added because it saved me tons of manual searching/calling CO. Its a really big loss for me.
I should point out that if they are worried about scraping the data of the site, you can still get the information without expert mode, you just have to make a lot more queries.
9 * #of fare classe instead of 1 query per flight. So you would now have to make ~180 queries to get the same information on average. You could automate this process.
I was really happy when it was added because it saved me tons of manual searching/calling CO. Its a really big loss for me.
I should point out that if they are worried about scraping the data of the site, you can still get the information without expert mode, you just have to make a lot more queries.
9 * #of fare classe instead of 1 query per flight. So you would now have to make ~180 queries to get the same information on average. You could automate this process.
Sep 7, 2012, 4:36 pm
#94
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
My question as well. I have 30 alerts (max for a single subscription without an additional fee) set up to monitor flights over the holidays to the islands. If I call in twice each day and if my wife does the same, that's a total of 120 queries for agents to run through the new and improved method. If we multiply that by others weighing in on this thread, I see a huge staff increase coming. Believe me.....I will call in each day and so will my wife.
Sep 7, 2012, 4:37 pm
#95
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,510
Like many recent changes this mainly affects elites, many of whom rely on this information when booking. The general public doesn't know this information exists nor do they use it when buying a ticket. More and more, it seems like UA's business plan is to diminish elite ranks to those who must fly UA, either because of routings/hubs or because of company contracts or policy. A captive clientele is a subservient and reliable clientele.
Sep 7, 2012, 4:39 pm
#96
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Always on the move
Programs: Something lifetime here and there
Posts: 1,867
shannon,
Will you also remove flight arrival and departure times from united.com as they are rarely accurate and given United's operations, most customers are very confused when comparing your timetable to reality.
The enhancement could be for new flight timings could be: "Crack of dawn" "Sometime after first coffee" "Afternoon Siesta" "Dinnertime for purchase" "Pitch Black" and my favorite "Manana"
Will you also remove flight arrival and departure times from united.com as they are rarely accurate and given United's operations, most customers are very confused when comparing your timetable to reality.
The enhancement could be for new flight timings could be: "Crack of dawn" "Sometime after first coffee" "Afternoon Siesta" "Dinnertime for purchase" "Pitch Black" and my favorite "Manana"
I will say with all these 'enhancements" it is a allowing my SO to actually commute to work a lot easier on UA (vs using other Airlines) which hasn't the case in the past..assuming it is flying close to OT....
Sep 7, 2012, 4:39 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,605
Thanks for making it even harder to use my SWUs and CR1s, UA. 
Sep 7, 2012, 4:41 pm
#99
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: IAD UA1K, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Programs: Random acts of kindness and senseless beauty
Posts: 1,235
sigh!
Sep 7, 2012, 4:42 pm
#100
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP 100K, Amtrak peon, Colbert Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 4,534
Sep 7, 2012, 4:42 pm
#101
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco
Programs: All-Around Kettle
Posts: 3,290
Very poor decision.
Sep 7, 2012, 4:43 pm
#102
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
Just when you thought that this airline couldn't get worse and do another thing customer-unfriendly, we get this thread.
One poster said "race to the bottom" - there is no race - it's over. United has won. No contest.
One poster said "race to the bottom" - there is no race - it's over. United has won. No contest.
Sep 7, 2012, 4:43 pm
#103
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: PHX
Programs: AA PRO
Posts: 352
"Expert Mode" Changes
Heh heh. Soooo glad I jumped on the AA match. One more revenue round trip with UA (booked in December last year) and then never again. Woohoo!
Sep 7, 2012, 4:45 pm
#104
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: UA1k 3mm, HH-LifeDiamond, Mar-LifePlatElite
Posts: 351
Wow?!?! Just blown away!
I was going to say I can't believe they would do something so boneheaded, but I guess that they did.
If I can no longer see info for SDC, and info to verify upgrade shenanigans, then this is the final straw. Hello DL (or maybe AA).
Thanks for making the decision for me to switch to a new home UA! - what a bunch of dumb@$$&$ you have in management!
ps - Shannon - Good luck trying to spin this!
I was going to say I can't believe they would do something so boneheaded, but I guess that they did.
If I can no longer see info for SDC, and info to verify upgrade shenanigans, then this is the final straw. Hello DL (or maybe AA).
Thanks for making the decision for me to switch to a new home UA! - what a bunch of dumb@$$&$ you have in management!
ps - Shannon - Good luck trying to spin this!