United CFO Rainey Implies Certain Elites were "Over Entitled".
May 23, 2012, 12:27 pm
#1036
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
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Be careful who you call a liar when you don't know the facts.
Again, I try to avoid the phone lines but I know the accents I get and what was reported. 1Ks may go to the top of the list, but they don't go exclusively to HNL anymore. Compare to AA - where as an elite I've never reached an offshore center or an incompetent ICC drone.
You obviously haven't flown from SFO. IAH or IAD, the biggest hubs after ORD. All elites funneled into 1 line. And given the # of elites that is not sufficient - there are more elites on the planes than nonelites (most of whom probably prefer to fly VS or B6 for the better product). I do not recall a 1K line at LHR but rather 1 line for all elites (which last time at BA was longer than the non-elite line!). At SFO it even includes the credit card holders. 
Again, last time I visited there was no split at IAD. I stand in the long line with the 2Ps. Of course I try to avoid, but not always possible.
Really? And what happened to the red carpet?
Oh please there are plenty of running threads on how SHARES has made a mess of people's reservations post 3/03. You have zero cred on that one.'
Really the only improvements that I see for 1Ks in the last year are the change in upgrade priority (assuming you purchase full fare), elimination of 2P advance seat rez for E+ (which means I am less likely to get a middle seat when I make a last minute rez) and better North Am. saver award inventory (economy) displayed on SHARES. Am I missing anything?
Not correct: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18590679-post69.html
Really? And what happened to the red carpet?
Not if they are handled correctly. I agree that the process is a mess, but it's certainly possible for companion upgrades to work correctly even with the current implementation if the agents know what they're doing.
There are plenty of things to be frustrated about with UA but there are some real untruths in what you list above, as you can see.
There are plenty of things to be frustrated about with UA but there are some real untruths in what you list above, as you can see.
Really the only improvements that I see for 1Ks in the last year are the change in upgrade priority (assuming you purchase full fare), elimination of 2P advance seat rez for E+ (which means I am less likely to get a middle seat when I make a last minute rez) and better North Am. saver award inventory (economy) displayed on SHARES. Am I missing anything?
May 23, 2012, 12:28 pm
#1037
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
The above post is speaking to itself.
It won't this year.
If only the above were relevant, but it isn't relevant to this thread. The objective conclusion I've communicated about UA failing 1ks goes well beyond being merely derived from one individual's experiences.
Familiar with "short-term gains costing long-term returns" and with the limited returns from simple open short positions? Those with a true clue about finance and the operations of public companies wouldn't suggest what was suggested in the above post absent some hedging.
Can COdbaUA really afford much of a decline in revenue without ending up in bankruptcy yet again? Don't confuse pursuing an increase in revenue with a decline in revenue.
Capacity can be cut in some ways without corresponding revenue declines, and that's more of what COdbaUA seeks than what LarkSFO's post is trying to suggest.
It won't this year.
If only the above were relevant, but it isn't relevant to this thread. The objective conclusion I've communicated about UA failing 1ks goes well beyond being merely derived from one individual's experiences.
Familiar with "short-term gains costing long-term returns" and with the limited returns from simple open short positions? Those with a true clue about finance and the operations of public companies wouldn't suggest what was suggested in the above post absent some hedging.
Can COdbaUA really afford much of a decline in revenue without ending up in bankruptcy yet again? Don't confuse pursuing an increase in revenue with a decline in revenue.
Capacity can be cut in some ways without corresponding revenue declines, and that's more of what COdbaUA seeks than what LarkSFO's post is trying to suggest.
Please do not try and tell others that your experience is universal and that everyone should be dissatisfied with UA because of your personal experience. That does a disservice to anyone who may read (and give any credibility to) your opinion.
How can you in any way, shape, or form say that your comments are 'objective'? I would need some more background from you and understanding of how you believe you are in a position to make objective statements about what 'every elite' is experiencing on United since the merger.
Last edited by LarkSFO; May 23, 2012 at 12:39 pm
May 23, 2012, 12:30 pm
#1038
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,592
Considering that none of the new EXPs are likely to ever walk past row 6, I'll go out on a limb and say virtually none.
May 23, 2012, 12:32 pm
#1039
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
Then I would tell AA to call me when it's on 51% of the fleet. What any airline is doing NEXT YEAR does not do anything for me THIS year
Just took flight on EK Sunday DXB-JFK W WiFi coverage over 90% of the 15 hours. It was great. UA says they are starting to put wifi on more planes but what does that do for me next week when I have a UA flight
Just took flight on EK Sunday DXB-JFK W WiFi coverage over 90% of the 15 hours. It was great. UA says they are starting to put wifi on more planes but what does that do for me next week when I have a UA flight
May 23, 2012, 12:41 pm
#1040
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
The fact AAs SWUs can be used on any fare and UAs require a W fare or above Kind of gets me angry, yet that's the way it's been for years and years w UA and up till now many of us were ok with that.
May 23, 2012, 12:45 pm
#1041
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 251
“The claim that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer has not been scientifically proven………..it is a reductionist error and not keeping with the current theories of cancer causation to attempt to assign each cancer to an exclusive single cause…………the use of results from flawed population studies to frighten people by attributing large numbers of death yearly to smoking may be misleading and is most regrettable……….that emotionalism can override objective analysis is illustrated by the headlines………despite millions of dollars spent by the government on smoking and health-related research, many questions about the relationship between smoking and disease remain unanswered…………indeed, many scientists are becoming concerned that preoccupation with smoking may be both unfounded and dangerous – unfounded because evidence on many critical points is conflicting, dangerous because it diverts attention from other suspected hazards.”
-from Smoking and Health: 1964-1979: The Continuing Controversy, published in 1979 by the Tobacco Institute
-from Smoking and Health: 1964-1979: The Continuing Controversy, published in 1979 by the Tobacco Institute
May 23, 2012, 12:51 pm
#1043
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
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I don't buy that upgrades are THAT much easier on AA. I know I have stated a few times that upgrades are NOT my complaint w UA. When I said this and posted I am now 28/29 on UA A LOT of 1Ks came out of the wood work to say they too, have had little or no problems with upgrades. In a nutshell, most of us are angry about something but we are not all angry about upgrades.
May 23, 2012, 12:52 pm
#1044
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,488
I'm posting this from Australia on our way to Oz Fest, where the upgradable fares have gone up and up. I've never been a fan of buying lottery tickets, which is what those W-and-up fares are now. We also found out that this was probably the last time UA will arrange our Australian visa for free. A number of issues big and small start to add up.
UA broke what IMHO were promises about its Million Mile benefits and a top UA executive makes "over-entitled" pronouncements.
I may be dumb but I ain't stupid and I'm starting to get the picture.
May 23, 2012, 12:56 pm
#1045
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Pikes Peak COS
Programs: 3 Month Delta Plat, UA PP 2.4mm, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Lifetime Diamond, National EE
Posts: 426
Because I also feel that things have changed, for me, for the worse, I have been reading other forums a bunch. I still come to the same conclusion, the grass isn't greener, it's just different grass.
Like a co-worker who changes jobs, and tells you how great the new job is, once the honeymoon is over, you still have to mow the lawn.
Like a co-worker who changes jobs, and tells you how great the new job is, once the honeymoon is over, you still have to mow the lawn.
May 23, 2012, 12:56 pm
#1046
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Hyatt GLOB, Marriott Lifetime PLT, UA 1K 1MM.
Posts: 1,728
I recall when I last flew US frequently (basically before PMUA eliminated the 500-mile minimums on US), no one seemed to like US much at all. And they did a lot of what UA is trying to do now: TOD upgrades (though US hawked them aggressively at the gate), nickel-and-diming for basic amenities in Y, pushing credit card sales throughout the flight, etc. Being able to buy up to F on the cheap didn't endear US to Ma or Pa Kettle from what I could tell; the horrid CS, call center, and inflight experiences did drive those pax away in droves, though.
now i'm stuck taking the regional jets from IAD-NYC and it's a pretty miserable leg. i might just start taking the shuttle again and stick them on my empty OZ account or something. at least 40K there in 2 years will get me free UC access domestically...
May 23, 2012, 1:09 pm
#1047
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
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May 23, 2012, 1:15 pm
#1048
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Pikes Peak COS
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Posts: 426
May 23, 2012, 1:20 pm
#1049
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SEA & RDM
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Posts: 8,037
I haven't been "ok" with it for several years but I put up with it because I looked at the whole package of benefits.
I'm posting this from Australia on our way to Oz Fest, where the upgradable fares have gone up and up. I've never been a fan of buying lottery tickets, which is what those W-and-up fares are now. We also found out that this was probably the last time UA will arrange our Australian visa for free. A number of issues big and small start to add up.
UA broke what IMHO were promises about its Million Mile benefits and a top UA executive makes "over-entitled" pronouncements.
I may be dumb but I ain't stupid and I'm starting to get the picture.
I'm posting this from Australia on our way to Oz Fest, where the upgradable fares have gone up and up. I've never been a fan of buying lottery tickets, which is what those W-and-up fares are now. We also found out that this was probably the last time UA will arrange our Australian visa for free. A number of issues big and small start to add up.
UA broke what IMHO were promises about its Million Mile benefits and a top UA executive makes "over-entitled" pronouncements.
I may be dumb but I ain't stupid and I'm starting to get the picture.
May 23, 2012, 1:21 pm
#1050
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
...Well up to a few months ago, most of us 1K/GS/BIS-MM were pretty ok with what we had. However, the rest of the plane was not. Think about how many people you know, people that fly limited amounts, even Kettles (we can admit we know Kettles on FT?), that loathed United. Unless it was one of us, everyone hated United.
So maybe the management is going after this crowd. Part of the .....ing, and I'm sure that this isn't just for United, was everyone in back resented all of us getting perks. I do think this is a misguided attempt by COdbaUA to win that crowd, and get that market share from other carriers...
So maybe the management is going after this crowd. Part of the .....ing, and I'm sure that this isn't just for United, was everyone in back resented all of us getting perks. I do think this is a misguided attempt by COdbaUA to win that crowd, and get that market share from other carriers...