UA Economy Plus (E+) - Questions/Worth It?/Experiences [Archive]
Jul 4, 2017, 8:07 pm
#1411
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
$200 each way for E+ On a 12 hour flight sounds perfectly reasonable to me, and I know several friends who pay it for their occasional trips to Europe and Asia. YMMV.
Jul 4, 2017, 10:17 pm
#1412
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
I agree with the OP, UA's pricing is often silly considering all you get is 3-4" extra pitch.
Pretending this is an actual competitive market ignores reality
Jul 8, 2017, 3:58 pm
#1413
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,415
People pay not because E+ has such awesome extra legroom, but because if they don't, they risk getting a blood clot, or a claustrophobia attack, or if you're fortunate to survive medically (which would be most people admittedly), you will be incredibly exhausted after such a long flight in such cramped quarters.
In other words, it's a stick, not a carrot, approach.
In other words, it's a stick, not a carrot, approach.
survive E- every day.
Jul 10, 2017, 3:37 pm
#1414
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
My girlfriend and I were flying EWR-CLT yesterday. She has no status or UA FF# but was on an H Fare. United.com allowed her to pick any E+ seat for free at check in. That was a nice surprise for us.
Jul 10, 2017, 7:01 pm
#1415
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: 66,850
Jul 10, 2017, 8:23 pm
#1416
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 107
The flight was full (and then ended up going out with 1 seat empty after an hour delay), so possibly operational 'upgrade'? Surprisingly odd, or maybe it's surprise and delight. Or maybe they're trying to woo the NY - NC crowd?
Jul 10, 2017, 10:49 pm
#1417
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 19
I also got a free E+ seat about two weeks ago. I don't have status but am a primary cardholder of the Explorer card. (And this was not a flight with either end in North Carolina or EWR 
). I was automatically moved to an E+ aisle seat without needing to do anything to select it. It was a very nice surprise.
(Edited to add: this was a regular economy ticket. Not BE.)
). I was automatically moved to an E+ aisle seat without needing to do anything to select it. It was a very nice surprise.(Edited to add: this was a regular economy ticket. Not BE.)
Last edited by Sariellet; Jul 10, 2017 at 10:54 pm
Jul 10, 2017, 11:23 pm
#1418
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
Huh. Maybe they're actually implementing the "op-up to E+ to punish BE" strategy.
Jul 13, 2017, 5:40 am
#1419
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,042
I wish they wouldn't give away free E+ upgrades just because there are empty seats. If you paid or earned status, it is nice to have an empty seat beside you.
Jul 13, 2017, 10:12 am
#1420
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
It's pretty obvious if E- is full, United is going to place passengers without seats (BE buyers or otherwise) into E+.
Jul 13, 2017, 10:21 am
#1421
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
Jul 13, 2017, 10:29 am
#1422
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
Or paying $ for being VDB'd, which ain't gonna happen to preserve an empty seat next to a Premier. I think sbm12 has a blog photo of himself in an overhead bin, so that works for some...
Jul 13, 2017, 3:05 pm
#1423
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,042
There were posts about people being upgraded to their surprise from their E- seat assignment. It did not say they were upgraded because E- was full.
Last edited by Tizzette; Jul 13, 2017 at 3:12 pm
Jul 13, 2017, 4:08 pm
#1424
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: 66,850
Jul 13, 2017, 4:30 pm
#1425
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452