United Increases Award Ticket Changes for Non-Premier Members as of 19-Jun-2013
Jun 19, 2013, 7:01 am
#31
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
Makes it unattractive to sign up one's family for UA, better choices are
Aegean - *Gold after 20k miles
Avianca - Great redemptions with a $50 cancellation fee
Aegean - *Gold after 20k miles
Avianca - Great redemptions with a $50 cancellation fee
Jun 19, 2013, 7:06 am
#32
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: United MM (formerly 1K), Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 551
Hi amolkold,
Looks like you beat me to this by just a few minutes. I've also posted a link to the updated united.com page in the existing thread about award ticket change/cancellation fees.
You are correct in that Premier members are not impacted by this change. I also wanted to add that these changes are only applicable for tickets issued on or after today, June 19.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
Looks like you beat me to this by just a few minutes. I've also posted a link to the updated united.com page in the existing thread about award ticket change/cancellation fees.
You are correct in that Premier members are not impacted by this change. I also wanted to add that these changes are only applicable for tickets issued on or after today, June 19.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
Jun 19, 2013, 7:09 am
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,628
the writing is on the wall people. the beginning of the end is upon us. if you are sitting on a large pile of miles (elite or not) it is time to start working your balance down while the getting is still good.
Jun 19, 2013, 7:14 am
#34
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: COS/DEN
Programs: UA 1P (w/ no expectations whatsoever); Marriott Gold; Hilton Silver; Hertz Pres
Posts: 693
A big move (PQD announcement with advance notice) hides a smaller move (this change). Way to try to sneak that one under the radar, UA.
I agree with the 5 PM before a weekend comment, this makes such announcements look like a generous courtesy.
A terrible 24 hours for UA flyers.
I agree with the 5 PM before a weekend comment, this makes such announcements look like a generous courtesy.
A terrible 24 hours for UA flyers.
Jun 19, 2013, 7:30 am
#35
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Midwest USA
Programs: BA SIL, WN A, UA SIL, Marriott TIT (LT), Hilton DIA
Posts: 1,969
Wow. This former 1K, now Plat, will drop to no UA status since I switched all my flying to AA and WN. I guess I timed it well.
My flying is 30% business (Domestic F and International C or F) and 70% personal (Y) so I would have met the $$$ requirements, but the way UA is treating their loyal customers just sucks.
Guess it is time to burn all my UA miles.
I have been VERY pleased with my treatment as an AA EXP - much better than as a UA 1K.
My flying is 30% business (Domestic F and International C or F) and 70% personal (Y) so I would have met the $$$ requirements, but the way UA is treating their loyal customers just sucks.
Guess it is time to burn all my UA miles.
I have been VERY pleased with my treatment as an AA EXP - much better than as a UA 1K.
Jun 19, 2013, 7:33 am
#36
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: Shamelessly Gold at Flying Burrito and AirTrain A+ Elite. Turkish Star Gold, 100k at Flying Eskimo
Posts: 739
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am contacting you regarding the “recent enhancements” to the Mileage Plus frequent flyer program. For quite some time, Mileage Plus has been one of my preferred frequent flyer program even though I was based outside the traditional catchment area of United and Continental frequent flyers.
It has been well publicized during the past year that United Airlines CEO, Jeff Smisek, has carried on a campaign against the “over-entitled frequent flyers” although with a questionable track record for United Airlines. Along this line, came yesterday the announcement that the frequent flyer program would add some revenue requirements for earning Elite status.
What is new however is that this campaign has been extended and now also target what I will refer as the general public. I learnt this morning with shock that United Airlines has added some new fees for changes made to award flights outside of the 21-day period. This is definitely a non-customer-friendly step that I believe is in the wrong direction. After all, even the famed former CEO of American Airlines, Robert Crandall said recently “I think the airline industry is making a fundamental mistake when they rely as heavily as they are now on ancillary revenues. The industry cannot have a long future if they are focused on hosing their customers”
It is well admitted that using and reserving capacity constrained awards can be difficult due to the lack of availability at many desirable dates. Some frequent flyers try to grab seats almost a year in advance, as soon as awards become available and before they are gone to other customers. Most of the time, this is done without a full knowledge of our own schedules, meetings and vacations for the following year. However, customers were still allowed to change their awards without penalty whenever more desirable dates became available or if their business schedule warranted so. This will no longer be the case.
Besides, this new $75 fee has nothing to do with costs. Instead it is merely another revenue stream, trying to nickel and dime customers. Indeed, the cost for United of letting customers change awards more than three weeks before departure is minimal. On the other side, changes made less than 21 days in advance, when it becomes critical for United Airlines to find new customers to replace newly vacant seats have always come with a fee which I believe is fair.
I urge United Airlines to reconsider this decision although I am skeptical this will not be the case given the recent consolidation in the airline industry and the resulting bargaining power legacy/network airlines now have compared to their customer base. I will nonetheless reconsider my flying choices whenever I can because I don’t want my business to favor non-customer-friendly airlines.
My regards,
Minos
I am contacting you regarding the “recent enhancements” to the Mileage Plus frequent flyer program. For quite some time, Mileage Plus has been one of my preferred frequent flyer program even though I was based outside the traditional catchment area of United and Continental frequent flyers.
It has been well publicized during the past year that United Airlines CEO, Jeff Smisek, has carried on a campaign against the “over-entitled frequent flyers” although with a questionable track record for United Airlines. Along this line, came yesterday the announcement that the frequent flyer program would add some revenue requirements for earning Elite status.
What is new however is that this campaign has been extended and now also target what I will refer as the general public. I learnt this morning with shock that United Airlines has added some new fees for changes made to award flights outside of the 21-day period. This is definitely a non-customer-friendly step that I believe is in the wrong direction. After all, even the famed former CEO of American Airlines, Robert Crandall said recently “I think the airline industry is making a fundamental mistake when they rely as heavily as they are now on ancillary revenues. The industry cannot have a long future if they are focused on hosing their customers”
It is well admitted that using and reserving capacity constrained awards can be difficult due to the lack of availability at many desirable dates. Some frequent flyers try to grab seats almost a year in advance, as soon as awards become available and before they are gone to other customers. Most of the time, this is done without a full knowledge of our own schedules, meetings and vacations for the following year. However, customers were still allowed to change their awards without penalty whenever more desirable dates became available or if their business schedule warranted so. This will no longer be the case.
Besides, this new $75 fee has nothing to do with costs. Instead it is merely another revenue stream, trying to nickel and dime customers. Indeed, the cost for United of letting customers change awards more than three weeks before departure is minimal. On the other side, changes made less than 21 days in advance, when it becomes critical for United Airlines to find new customers to replace newly vacant seats have always come with a fee which I believe is fair.
I urge United Airlines to reconsider this decision although I am skeptical this will not be the case given the recent consolidation in the airline industry and the resulting bargaining power legacy/network airlines now have compared to their customer base. I will nonetheless reconsider my flying choices whenever I can because I don’t want my business to favor non-customer-friendly airlines.
My regards,
Minos
Jun 19, 2013, 7:37 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,628
Jun 19, 2013, 7:45 am
#38
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: Shamelessly Gold at Flying Burrito and AirTrain A+ Elite. Turkish Star Gold, 100k at Flying Eskimo
Posts: 739
Jun 19, 2013, 8:15 am
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
Jun 19, 2013, 8:19 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 300
Wow - glad this came out today, I was considering applying for the UA Chase card this week - guess I'll get the Southwest card instead and focus my efforts there.
I fly fairly often, but not enough for elite status, and with this new fee, the chances of successfully redeeming my UA miles move from slim to slimmer.
I fly fairly often, but not enough for elite status, and with this new fee, the chances of successfully redeeming my UA miles move from slim to slimmer.
Jun 19, 2013, 8:30 am
#42
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,426
Jun 19, 2013, 8:34 am
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
By the way, don't assume UA is being gracious by allowing previous tickets under the new rules. That's just contract law.
And United, you better not spin this as a benefit of elites. Charging more for non-elites does not benefit elite.
And United, you better not spin this as a benefit of elites. Charging more for non-elites does not benefit elite.
Jun 19, 2013, 9:02 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Where I'm at
Programs: UA 1P 1MM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,732
Jun 19, 2013, 9:23 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,906
same story here - I don't think spending on UA to qualify for status is worth it as UA will extract money out of my family members because I try to stay loyal.. rather pathetic...