UA Charges more for Elites than Non-Elites
Jun 10, 2012, 7:40 am
#1
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UA Charges more for Elites than Non-Elites
There's been talk of how UA charges more for elites than non-elites for different types of fares and services. I've thought I've seen examples where a first class fare is lower for a non-elite than an elite when logged on or not to the website, but I haven't been able to replicate that lately. If anyone else has, they should post a picture here.
But with the mileage maximizer, I have an upcoming itinerary that doesn't have my MileagePlus number in it. When I check it out, they offer me the opportunity to buy 6,992 miles for $140 or 13,984 for $280. But when I log in or put in my MileagePlus number, those fees jump to $280 and $420 respectively, with the elite maximizer going up at the same jump too. Maybe UA wants to zap me more because more elite miles now = more GPUs/RPUs for me?
Anyone have other examples where you're charged more because you have status?
But with the mileage maximizer, I have an upcoming itinerary that doesn't have my MileagePlus number in it. When I check it out, they offer me the opportunity to buy 6,992 miles for $140 or 13,984 for $280. But when I log in or put in my MileagePlus number, those fees jump to $280 and $420 respectively, with the elite maximizer going up at the same jump too. Maybe UA wants to zap me more because more elite miles now = more GPUs/RPUs for me?
Anyone have other examples where you're charged more because you have status?
Jun 10, 2012, 7:49 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
There's been talk of how UA charges more for elites than non-elites for different types of fares and services. I've thought I've seen examples where a first class fare is lower for a non-elite than an elite when logged on or not to the website, but I haven't been able to replicate that lately. If anyone else has, they should post a picture here.
But with the mileage maximizer, I have an upcoming itinerary that doesn't have my MileagePlus number in it. When I check it out, they offer me the opportunity to buy 6,992 miles for $140 or 13,984 for $280. But when I log in or put in my MileagePlus number, those fees jump to $280 and $420 respectively, with the elite maximizer going up at the same jump too. Maybe UA wants to zap me more because more elite miles now = more GPUs/RPUs for me?
Anyone have other examples where you're charged more because you have status?
But with the mileage maximizer, I have an upcoming itinerary that doesn't have my MileagePlus number in it. When I check it out, they offer me the opportunity to buy 6,992 miles for $140 or 13,984 for $280. But when I log in or put in my MileagePlus number, those fees jump to $280 and $420 respectively, with the elite maximizer going up at the same jump too. Maybe UA wants to zap me more because more elite miles now = more GPUs/RPUs for me?
Anyone have other examples where you're charged more because you have status?
I have long suspected, based on reports here in FT, that they are only offering the TODs to flyers without status or with low status. That was reinforced by a posted conversation where someone reported being told that SHARES has a fancy algorithm that basically knows how much it can extract from you based on your flying pattern.
My impression, which your post reinforces, is that SHARES is designed so that it will not give good offers to people that it knows fly a lot and/or spend a lot of money - whether that's the price of a fare, the price of a UG offer, or in your case, it seems, the price of buying miles.
Just another apparent example of the war that Rainey, $mi$ek, and the rest of this regime have declared against loyal flyers. It seems like they want to create an American version of Ryanair and their goal is to clear us (frequently, loyal, high-value fliers) out of the system so they can transform UA into the WalMart of the skies.
Jun 10, 2012, 7:50 am
#4
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What the screenshots actually show is that UA "charges" more for MP members than non-MP members - not elite vs. non-elite. I say "charges" because as it says above, you need to have a MileagePlus account to be able to purchase the miles. The first offer shown above doesn't appear to be possible to purchase because there is no MP account to credit the miles to.
It looks like an error in how the miles are shown before a MP number is added - rather than something you can actually purchase. Do you have a non-elite MP friend you could test this theory with?
It looks like an error in how the miles are shown before a MP number is added - rather than something you can actually purchase. Do you have a non-elite MP friend you could test this theory with?
Jun 10, 2012, 8:41 am
#5
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What the screenshots actually show is that UA "charges" more for MP members than non-MP members - not elite vs. non-elite. I say "charges" because as it says above, you need to have a MileagePlus account to be able to purchase the miles. The first offer shown above doesn't appear to be possible to purchase because there is no MP account to credit the miles to.
It looks like an error in how the miles are shown before a MP number is added - rather than something you can actually purchase. Do you have a non-elite MP friend you could test this theory with?
It looks like an error in how the miles are shown before a MP number is added - rather than something you can actually purchase. Do you have a non-elite MP friend you could test this theory with?
Jun 10, 2012, 8:44 am
#6
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Busted? On what basis you do believe there's some sort of scam going on here?Did you notice in the screenshot that you can't actually accept the lower offer? The checkboxes are grayed out. And the OP's own post said that when you enter an MP number the higher price is shown.
How do the screenshots posted above relate to the subject of "UA charges more for elites than non-elites"?
Jun 10, 2012, 8:52 am
#7
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Busted? On what basis you do believe there's some sort of scam going on here?Did you notice in the screenshot that you can't actually accept the lower offer? The checkboxes are grayed out. And the OP's own post said that when you enter an MP number the higher price is shown.
How do the screenshots posted above relate to the subject of "UA charges more for elites than non-elites"?
It's also worth noting that while carriers closely guard the actual # of elites at each tier level, it's estimated that for USA legacy carriers, approximately 6% of members of a program have some elite status. That's clearly not the anecdotal situation on certain routes, but OP is simply confused.
Jun 10, 2012, 8:58 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Sorry
I thought we already put the "Scam" rumors away
1. You MUST be a mileage plus member to buy miles. The price you got as a NON MEMBER (not non Elite) as you stated is less then .02 a mile which has not been offered since FASTAIR went to heaven. There is no scam there since you can't buy miles unless your a member. It's a MISTAKE. It does happen without it having to be a scam
Same with cheap TODs for non Elites. Did it happen a few times after 3/3? YES. Can ANY Elite Or non Elite get a 39.00 upgrade any longer (except MAYBE on a Exp flight)? NO. It just plain no longer happens. Buy ups are now expensive for EVERYONE and the price goes down closer to departure
SHARES can't even keep a reservation intact. Just cuz one guy who just learned the word algorithm says there is some fancy way the computer has of ripping us off does not make it true
There are SO MANY real problems with UA.....Do we really have to make problems where they don't exhist?
I thought we already put the "Scam" rumors away
1. You MUST be a mileage plus member to buy miles. The price you got as a NON MEMBER (not non Elite) as you stated is less then .02 a mile which has not been offered since FASTAIR went to heaven. There is no scam there since you can't buy miles unless your a member. It's a MISTAKE. It does happen without it having to be a scam
Same with cheap TODs for non Elites. Did it happen a few times after 3/3? YES. Can ANY Elite Or non Elite get a 39.00 upgrade any longer (except MAYBE on a Exp flight)? NO. It just plain no longer happens. Buy ups are now expensive for EVERYONE and the price goes down closer to departure
SHARES can't even keep a reservation intact. Just cuz one guy who just learned the word algorithm says there is some fancy way the computer has of ripping us off does not make it true
There are SO MANY real problems with UA.....Do we really have to make problems where they don't exhist?
Jun 10, 2012, 9:00 am
#9
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Jun 10, 2012, 9:16 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
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There's been talk of how UA charges more for elites than non-elites for different types of fares and services. I've thought I've seen examples where a first class fare is lower for a non-elite than an elite when logged on or not to the website, but I haven't been able to replicate that lately. If anyone else has, they should post a picture here.
But with the mileage maximizer, I have an upcoming itinerary that doesn't have my MileagePlus number in it. When I check it out, they offer me the opportunity to buy 6,992 miles for $140 or 13,984 for $280. But when I log in or put in my MileagePlus number, those fees jump to $280 and $420 respectively, with the elite maximizer going up at the same jump too. Maybe UA wants to zap me more because more elite miles now = more GPUs/RPUs for me?
Anyone have other examples where you're charged more because you have status?
But with the mileage maximizer, I have an upcoming itinerary that doesn't have my MileagePlus number in it. When I check it out, they offer me the opportunity to buy 6,992 miles for $140 or 13,984 for $280. But when I log in or put in my MileagePlus number, those fees jump to $280 and $420 respectively, with the elite maximizer going up at the same jump too. Maybe UA wants to zap me more because more elite miles now = more GPUs/RPUs for me?
Anyone have other examples where you're charged more because you have status?
Jun 10, 2012, 9:20 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
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According to this post, you should simply hit the refresh button after you enter your MP account, and then receive the lower offer again.
Jun 10, 2012, 9:24 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
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He got a $140 offer.
Or the other way around:
$140 / 6992 miles = $0.020022883 > $0.02
Am I missing something?
Jun 10, 2012, 9:34 am
#13
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According to this post, you should simply hit the refresh button after you enter your MP account, and then receive the lower offer again.
The 2 cpm offer for RDMs has been quite common in the right situation, international flights w/ partner segment seems to get this. However USA domestic only flights seems to get higher offers, such as 3cpm for RDMs. (reverified both of these before posting based on my future itins)
Jun 10, 2012, 9:38 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2007
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This seems the most likely explanation -- there have been multiple reports of this refresh issue / bug / ????
The 2 cpm offer for RDMs has been quite common in the right situation, international flights w/ partner segment seems to get this. However USA domestic only flights seems to get higher offers, such as 3cpm for RDMs. (reverified both of these before posting based on my future itins)
The 2 cpm offer for RDMs has been quite common in the right situation, international flights w/ partner segment seems to get this. However USA domestic only flights seems to get higher offers, such as 3cpm for RDMs. (reverified both of these before posting based on my future itins)
1 all UA domestic. .028 / mile
2 UA/LH/TG intl res .02 / mile
I said earlier UA does not offer 02 A mile any longer but should have said "on all domestic itin". The actual offer he got is VERY high. The most expensive I have anywhere is .028 (I think it goes up at T-48)
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jun 10, 2012 at 11:07 am Reason: merge
Jun 10, 2012, 9:45 am
#15
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According to this post, you should simply hit the refresh button after you enter your MP account, and then receive the lower offer again.