UA Promotion - Access to GFL for 1ks ?
Jul 30, 2015, 10:34 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: LHR
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, mLife Platinum
Posts: 380
The LHR routes are:
- EWR (6). Mostly operated by 2-class equipment
- ORD (3). Will become all 2-class when the 767 mod takes place next year
- IAH (3). All 2-class
- LAX (1). 3-class 777
- SFO (2). 3-class 777 or 747
EWR only gets 3-class in the summer when it operates "all wide body" however, those 767 will be refurbished to 2-class.
This would leave only 3 flights of 15 daily with Global First.
Why would you in 2014 build a GFL in your new hub if the plan is to phase out this class of service? Maybe the LHR GFL access for 1K BF customers is a forthcoming new process to make use of a space that would otherwise have no more than 28 GF customers plus whatever number of GS passengers daily.
- EWR (6). Mostly operated by 2-class equipment
- ORD (3). Will become all 2-class when the 767 mod takes place next year
- IAH (3). All 2-class
- LAX (1). 3-class 777
- SFO (2). 3-class 777 or 747
EWR only gets 3-class in the summer when it operates "all wide body" however, those 767 will be refurbished to 2-class.
This would leave only 3 flights of 15 daily with Global First.
Why would you in 2014 build a GFL in your new hub if the plan is to phase out this class of service? Maybe the LHR GFL access for 1K BF customers is a forthcoming new process to make use of a space that would otherwise have no more than 28 GF customers plus whatever number of GS passengers daily.
Jul 30, 2015, 10:43 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,061
Jul 30, 2015, 10:54 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Corvallis, OR, USA
Programs: UA GS; Hilton LT Diamond, Marriott, Hyatt; Hertz
Posts: 321
This happened to me (travelling with daughter) a couple of weeks ago. The woman at the desk called it their "surprise and delight" program and I thought it was a great gesture, and we enjoyed being served breakfast. Sure, it's good PR and marketing, but I don't know why it is necessary to ascribe deep ulterior motives to it.
Jul 31, 2015, 5:33 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,771
Over the last year, however, the 3 class 763 has become the most dominant aircraft on this route, regardless of season, as there seems a policy to fly 'wide bodies' on this route as much as possible to compete more with other carriers. At least one flight a day had been with a 3 Class 763 most of this year, and for a while four flights a day have been 763. In September some flights will again be 752 but at least one or two flights most days will remain 3 class 763. By October, November the 3 class 763s and 777 are again used exclusively for LHR-EWR. Indeed for a while they will be flying two flights a day with 2 class 777.
I think there is a deliberate effort to run GF seats ex LHR (to EWR), and to put more seats on this route to compete with OW et al so for now GF and GFL are here to stay. I suspect when those 763s are converted to 2 class, LHR will be one of the last to switch to two class.
Jul 31, 2015, 6:43 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,158
The LHR routes are:
- EWR (6). Mostly operated by 2-class equipment
- ORD (3). Will become all 2-class when the 767 mod takes place next year
- IAH (3). All 2-class
- LAX (1). 3-class 777
- SFO (2). 3-class 777 or 747
EWR only gets 3-class in the summer when it operates "all wide body" however, those 767 will be refurbished to 2-class.
This would leave only 3 flights of 15 daily with Global First.
Why would you in 2014 build a GFL in your new hub if the plan is to phase out this class of service? Maybe the LHR GFL access for 1K BF customers is a forthcoming new process to make use of a space that would otherwise have no more than 28 GF customers plus whatever number of GS passengers daily.
- EWR (6). Mostly operated by 2-class equipment
- ORD (3). Will become all 2-class when the 767 mod takes place next year
- IAH (3). All 2-class
- LAX (1). 3-class 777
- SFO (2). 3-class 777 or 747
EWR only gets 3-class in the summer when it operates "all wide body" however, those 767 will be refurbished to 2-class.
This would leave only 3 flights of 15 daily with Global First.
Why would you in 2014 build a GFL in your new hub if the plan is to phase out this class of service? Maybe the LHR GFL access for 1K BF customers is a forthcoming new process to make use of a space that would otherwise have no more than 28 GF customers plus whatever number of GS passengers daily.
Also, doesn't the United GlobalFirst lounge serve as the *A First Class Lounge for LHR Terminal 2? (I don't really travel to LHR so no idea how many *A flights with F are there besides UA.)
Jul 31, 2015, 6:58 am
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 397
Originally Posted by skycrab
The LHR routes are:
- EWR (6). Mostly operated by 2-class equipment
- ORD (3). Will become all 2-class when the 767 mod takes place next year
- IAH (3). All 2-class
- LAX (1). 3-class 777
- SFO (2). 3-class 777 or 747
- EWR (6). Mostly operated by 2-class equipment
- ORD (3). Will become all 2-class when the 767 mod takes place next year
- IAH (3). All 2-class
- LAX (1). 3-class 777
- SFO (2). 3-class 777 or 747
Jul 31, 2015, 7:03 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,300
I agree. I'm not sure why a limited time promotion for 1Ks flying business class attracts criticism. This may well be due to balancing numbers at UC vs GFL at any particular time. Personally I think UA fliers have put up with a lot recently and this would be a nice surprise.
Jul 31, 2015, 12:17 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
This happened to me (travelling with daughter) a couple of weeks ago. The woman at the desk called it their "surprise and delight" program and I thought it was a great gesture, and we enjoyed being served breakfast. Sure, it's good PR and marketing, but I don't know why it is necessary to ascribe deep ulterior motives to it.
I'm with you - it's a nice gesture - end of story.
Aug 2, 2015, 8:45 am
#39
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,528
Wish this would occur a little more frequently. I'll be headed to LHR in Sept so we'll see if an offer is given to me for GFL access. Would be nice!
On the point of why have a GFL w/o a GF. You could use GFL's at select international destinations "focus cities" as a benefit to HVFs like GS or 1K.
On the point of why have a GFL w/o a GF. You could use GFL's at select international destinations "focus cities" as a benefit to HVFs like GS or 1K.
Aug 2, 2015, 9:08 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
Hopefully still the Ruinart BdB.
Aug 2, 2015, 12:53 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,222
My wife (who is a 1K courtesy of my MM status), travelling in J, got fished out of the UC at ORD yesterday and invited to go to the GFL. She only had 20 minutes to go before boarding so only went because she thought it might be a precursor to an op-up to First - no such luck but she liked being escorted with a couple of others to the gate.
Aug 2, 2015, 3:18 pm
#43
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: United mileage Plus 1k and Million Miler, Krisflyer, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin
Posts: 211
Flying out of LHR yesterday in C (R fare), I went to the United club before the flight. The lady at the checkin desk told me that they were running a promotion "for our most loyal customers" and invited me to the Global First Lounge instead. She said this promotion has been going on for a few weeks, but this is the first I've heard of it. Does anyone have more details?
I flew SFO to SYD business last week and I was invited to GS lounge.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 2, 2015 at 8:57 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member -- please use multi-quote
Aug 2, 2015, 8:30 pm
#44
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,340
The LHR routes are:
- EWR (6). Mostly operated by 2-class equipment
- ORD (3). Will become all 2-class when the 767 mod takes place next year
- IAH (3). All 2-class
- LAX (1). 3-class 777
- SFO (2). 3-class 777 or 747
EWR only gets 3-class in the summer when it operates "all wide body" however, those 767 will be refurbished to 2-class.
This would leave only 3 flights of 15 daily with Global First.
Why would you in 2014 build a GFL in your new hub if the plan is to phase out this class of service? Maybe the LHR GFL access for 1K BF customers is a forthcoming new process to make use of a space that would otherwise have no more than 28 GF customers plus whatever number of GS passengers daily.
- EWR (6). Mostly operated by 2-class equipment
- ORD (3). Will become all 2-class when the 767 mod takes place next year
- IAH (3). All 2-class
- LAX (1). 3-class 777
- SFO (2). 3-class 777 or 747
EWR only gets 3-class in the summer when it operates "all wide body" however, those 767 will be refurbished to 2-class.
This would leave only 3 flights of 15 daily with Global First.
Why would you in 2014 build a GFL in your new hub if the plan is to phase out this class of service? Maybe the LHR GFL access for 1K BF customers is a forthcoming new process to make use of a space that would otherwise have no more than 28 GF customers plus whatever number of GS passengers daily.