Free economy plus access (non-status passenger)
Jul 26, 2013, 9:07 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,426
Jul 26, 2013, 9:10 am
#17
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Aug 17, 2017, 11:40 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1
Same
Flying on 660 LAX-ORD today (and about to board now) and there was a link After I changed in that said select free economy plus while available. The link took me to seat selection where I could pick E+ seats for the first leg of my trip but not the second. That was this morning. However I just checked again and it gave me the same option for the second leg as well.
Aug 18, 2017, 2:37 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
I've once seen a glitch in the seatmap where the entire cabin showed as E-, including E+ seats. I was able to select an E+ exit row seat, which stuck. However the glitch was only for one segment of a multi-segment booking, and I've never seen it again since. Strange.
Aug 20, 2017, 1:24 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,335
Flying on 660 LAX-ORD today (and about to board now) and there was a link After I changed in that said select free economy plus while available. The link took me to seat selection where I could pick E+ seats for the first leg of my trip but not the second. That was this morning. However I just checked again and it gave me the same option for the second leg as well.
I've once seen a glitch in the seatmap where the entire cabin showed as E-, including E+ seats. I was able to select an E+ exit row seat, which stuck. However the glitch was only for one segment of a multi-segment booking, and I've never seen it again since. Strange.
Aug 20, 2017, 5:19 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: POZ
Programs: LH*S (FTL), OZ*G, Accor gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 270
According to the blok mentioned above - internal UA memo to employees:
"There will be instances where the only seats available for customers who purchased Basic Economy are Economy Plus seats. In order to minimize this occurrence, we are working on a few initiatives that will help to identify high-value customers with a standard Economy ticket. We can then offer a free Economy Plus seat to these customers prior to the check-in window opening in order to free up seats in economy for customers who purchased a Basic Economy ticket."
I hope, that non-UA *A are "high-value customers" ;-)
"There will be instances where the only seats available for customers who purchased Basic Economy are Economy Plus seats. In order to minimize this occurrence, we are working on a few initiatives that will help to identify high-value customers with a standard Economy ticket. We can then offer a free Economy Plus seat to these customers prior to the check-in window opening in order to free up seats in economy for customers who purchased a Basic Economy ticket."
I hope, that non-UA *A are "high-value customers" ;-)
Aug 20, 2017, 6:10 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Not a glitch! UA realized the problem with BE getting E+ for free. Since it's not possible (from a custserv standpoint) to move people around wo/permission, they've decided to let regular E pax select E+ when flights are full. Link to UA quote in blog.
Aug 20, 2017, 6:13 pm
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,331
According to the blok mentioned above - internal UA memo to employees:
"There will be instances where the only seats available for customers who purchased Basic Economy are Economy Plus seats. In order to minimize this occurrence, we are working on a few initiatives that will help to identify high-value customers with a standard Economy ticket. We can then offer a free Economy Plus seat to these customers prior to the check-in window opening in order to free up seats in economy for customers who purchased a Basic Economy ticket."
I hope, that non-UA *A are "high-value customers" ;-)
"There will be instances where the only seats available for customers who purchased Basic Economy are Economy Plus seats. In order to minimize this occurrence, we are working on a few initiatives that will help to identify high-value customers with a standard Economy ticket. We can then offer a free Economy Plus seat to these customers prior to the check-in window opening in order to free up seats in economy for customers who purchased a Basic Economy ticket."
I hope, that non-UA *A are "high-value customers" ;-)
For example, Y and B fares on Air Canada entitle you to the equivalent of E+ at no charge.
And I suspect someone buying a B fare is much higher value than a foreign *G
Aug 20, 2017, 6:47 pm
#25
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
These new E+ access are one-time and it is speculated related to freeing space in E- for BE customers.
Aug 21, 2017, 3:50 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: ORD
Programs: MileagePlus, Mileage Plan
Posts: 46
Here's a thought (probably a stupid one at that) - If they moved the free E+ for silvers from check in to time of booking, do you think that'd free enough E- seats? Or do most silvers upgrade at check in so it wouldn't really make a difference?
Aug 21, 2017, 9:10 am
#27
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,878
Aug 21, 2017, 9:32 am
#28
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston/DC
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 564
Silver gets free E+ at checkin when available, that is a good perk for an "entry level" elite. Maybe you could move it to T-36 hours or even T-48 hours, but time of booking would cause problems.
Aug 21, 2017, 1:15 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PEK, AUS, WAS, HKG
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 1,122
I want to provide another data point. I am also a non-status pax, travelling domestically on a W fare. Strangely, when I first did my online check-in at T-24, I was only able to select E- seats (and I did get confirmed seats in the E- cabin). However, several hours later, when I went through the check-in process again, I saw a banner saying that "While available, enjoy Free Economy Plus". At first, I couldn't believe it, but I was indeed able to select any open E+ seats for free! Was this a promotion of some kind?
Aug 21, 2017, 1:20 pm
#30
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 215