Oct 30, 2013, 6:48 pm
Last edit by: jlivengo
Might as well make it a wiki since chances are there will be more devaluations coming along and it's easier to see all in one place:
NEGATIVE Changes:
GPU/SWU only available on W fare class or higher (compared to sCO GPU's)
Change fee increased to $200/300
Severe reduction in saver award availability (Changes to O/ON)
TOD Upgrades
Expert Flyer R/RN search deactivated
Silver elites no-longer have access to E+ until check-in
GF/BF miles & co-pay upgrades considered used if any portion of international itinerary upgraded
Silver Elites downgraded to 1 bag @ 50 lbs
CC holders boarding with elites (Group 2)
The food, oh the food is horrible
Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQD)
No extra elite award inventory (IN > I) even though this is still stated as a benefit
Reduction in RDM bonus for Plat (75%) and Gold (50%)
Reduction in MM benefits (Annual regionals/GPU, RDM bonus, Lifetime UC for 2MM, …)
Change in regional earning (2/qtr to 2 @75K+2 more per 25K)
Awards with *A partners now cost more than similar awards flown only on UA metal.
POSITIVE Changes:
GPU/RPU will be valid longer
Same day change policy
Marriott Gold
Inherit status and associated benefit of sponsoring elite for award redemption
No more *net blocking
Award change fees lowered
NEGATIVE Changes:
GPU/SWU only available on W fare class or higher (compared to sCO GPU's)
Change fee increased to $200/300
Severe reduction in saver award availability (Changes to O/ON)
TOD Upgrades
Expert Flyer R/RN search deactivated
Silver elites no-longer have access to E+ until check-in
GF/BF miles & co-pay upgrades considered used if any portion of international itinerary upgraded
Silver Elites downgraded to 1 bag @ 50 lbs
CC holders boarding with elites (Group 2)
The food, oh the food is horrible
Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQD)
No extra elite award inventory (IN > I) even though this is still stated as a benefit
Reduction in RDM bonus for Plat (75%) and Gold (50%)
Reduction in MM benefits (Annual regionals/GPU, RDM bonus, Lifetime UC for 2MM, …)
Change in regional earning (2/qtr to 2 @75K+2 more per 25K)
Awards with *A partners now cost more than similar awards flown only on UA metal.
POSITIVE Changes:
GPU/RPU will be valid longer
Same day change policy
Marriott Gold
Inherit status and associated benefit of sponsoring elite for award redemption
No more *net blocking
Award change fees lowered
Consolidated UA changes you will / will not like - Frequent Flyer's edition
May 2, 2013, 1:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA IK, Hyatt Plat, Avis PP
Posts: 225
Consolidated UA changes you will / will not like - Frequent Flyer's edition
I'm wondering if there's a consolidated thread that highlights the improvements and/or degradation of services to elites since the merger. There's a ton of threads regarding specific topics but there's a lot going on and sometimes these little tweak's have broader impacts. I feel it would have more of an impact when seeing a consolidated list. Only looking for tangible elements, like the fare class rules for GPU's, saver award elimination, elimination (and re-introduction) of expert mode and so on.
Some of you will feel that certain elements benefit some while impacting lower elite tiers. Not trying to take sides, just highlight anything that's positive or negative to any elite flyer.
UA changes you will "not" like
UA changes you will like
Some of you will feel that certain elements benefit some while impacting lower elite tiers. Not trying to take sides, just highlight anything that's positive or negative to any elite flyer.
UA changes you will "not" like
- GPU/SWU only available on W fare class or higher
- Change fee increased to $200/300
- Severe reduction in saver award availability (Changes to O/ON)
- TOD Upgrades
- Expert Flyer R/RN search deactivated
- Silver elites no-longer have access to E+ until check-in
- GF/BF miles & co-pay upgrades considered used if any portion of international itinerary upgraded
- Silver Elites downgraded to 1 bag @ 50 lbs
- CC holders boarding with elites (Group 2)
- The food, oh the food is horrible
- Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQD)
- No extra elite award inventory (IN > I) even though this is still stated as a benefit
UA changes you will like
- GPU/RPU will be valid longer
- Expert mode reactivated
- Same day change policy
- Marriott Gold
Last edited by jlivengo; Oct 30, 2013 at 3:27 pm
May 2, 2013, 1:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Silicon wasteland
Programs: UA 1KMM
Posts: 1,381
I'm wondering if there's a consolidated thread that highlights the improvements and/or degradation of services to elites since the merger. There's a ton of threads regarding specific topics but there's a lot going on and sometimes these little tweak's have broader impacts. I feel it would have more of an impact when seeing a consolidated list. Only looking for tangible elements, like the fare class rules for GPU's, saver award elimination, elimination (and re-introduction) of expert mode and so on.
Some of you will feel that certain elements benefit some while impacting lower elite tiers. Not trying to take sides, just highlight anything that's positive or negative to any elite flyer.
UA changes you will "not" like
UA changes you will like
Some of you will feel that certain elements benefit some while impacting lower elite tiers. Not trying to take sides, just highlight anything that's positive or negative to any elite flyer.
UA changes you will "not" like
- GPU/SWU only available on W fare class or higher
- Change fee increased to $200/300
- Severe reduction in saver award availability (Changes to O/ON)
- TOD Upgrades
- Expert mode deactivated
- Silver elites no-longer have access to E+ until check-in
- GF/BF miles & co-pay upgrades considered used if any portion of international itinerary upgraded
UA changes you will like
- GPU/RPU will be valid longer
- Expert mode reactivated
FYI -- in pmua, there is no change to GPU (SWU) fare redemption requirements. Also, there was no "enhanced" IN/ON inventory for elites. Only XN.
May 2, 2013, 2:05 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA IK, Hyatt Plat, Avis PP
Posts: 225
Not trying to only look at the negative, trying to highlight the positive changes as well. From my experience, UA has been executing incremental reduction in services and every once in a while will throw out a bone. This trend will likely continue.
Having "Consolidated" in the thread leads you to believe there's something new?
Having "Consolidated" in the thread leads you to believe there's something new?
Last edited by iluv2fly; May 2, 2013 at 10:07 pm Reason: merge
May 2, 2013, 2:07 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,642
+ --> same day change policy
for many in this audience moving cc holders into group 2 is a minus not a plus
in fact the whole boarding process is a big minus to most on this discussion board.
for many in this audience moving cc holders into group 2 is a minus not a plus
in fact the whole boarding process is a big minus to most on this discussion board.
May 3, 2013, 5:49 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Portland
Programs: UA 1K, AK Gold 75K, etc. etc.
Posts: 1,660
As a GS member, I really like the service they provide, but I am getting really sick of:
-Regional jets on flights longer than 90 min and
-Fewer flights--when you miss a connection you can be stranded for hours
-Regional jets on flights longer than 90 min and
-Fewer flights--when you miss a connection you can be stranded for hours
May 3, 2013, 6:22 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YVR SFO
Programs: UA G
Posts: 4,866
IBTL.
Your first list has some incorrect items:
W class on SWUs is nothing new. It's been the PMUA way for at least 4 years.
Expert mode was temporarily disabled. It's currently available.
Partner award books are now available online. PMUA had a terrible online award booking engine.
Your first list has some incorrect items:
W class on SWUs is nothing new. It's been the PMUA way for at least 4 years.
Expert mode was temporarily disabled. It's currently available.
Partner award books are now available online. PMUA had a terrible online award booking engine.
May 3, 2013, 6:45 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,240
May 3, 2013, 7:21 pm
#13
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
from an earlier thread -- some negative items
- Silver losing E+ access at booking
- Silver lost 2 bag allowance
- Reduction in RDM bonus for Plat (75%) and Gold (50%)
- Reduction in MM benefits (Annual regionals/GPU, RDM bonus, Lifetime UC for 2MM, …)
- Four non-fare limited GPUs (PMCO) replaced with six fare limited GPUs (PMUA)
- Loss of FlexEQMs for higher than Plat status (not real a change, but was taken as a lost benefit by many)
- Change in regional earning (2/qtr to 2 @75K+2 more per 25K)
- Dis-Empowered elite phone agents
- Silver losing E+ access at booking
- Silver lost 2 bag allowance
- Reduction in RDM bonus for Plat (75%) and Gold (50%)
- Reduction in MM benefits (Annual regionals/GPU, RDM bonus, Lifetime UC for 2MM, …)
- Four non-fare limited GPUs (PMCO) replaced with six fare limited GPUs (PMUA)
- Loss of FlexEQMs for higher than Plat status (not real a change, but was taken as a lost benefit by many)
- Change in regional earning (2/qtr to 2 @75K+2 more per 25K)
- Dis-Empowered elite phone agents
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 3, 2013 at 7:36 pm Reason: older thread link
May 3, 2013, 8:15 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
Consolidated UA changes you will / will not like - Frequent Flyer's edition
Simple: 100% of the changes are bad. A few of which were rescinded back to PMUA policy.
Nothing is a net positive.
IBTL
Nothing is a net positive.
IBTL