Originally Posted by
wilp888
This subject about full fare tickets keep on coming up but I think United has it right in this instance. The full fare passenger that does not have status on United is not a frequent customer of the airline. Simple as that. Any business values frequent and repeat customers and why should United be any different? Perhaps, on this particular flight, this one passenger spent more on his full fare ticket than some elite members but who's to know when he's going to fly United again whereas the 1Ks, the 1Ps and the 2Ps are flying United over and over again. It may sound unfair to deny a passenger with a full fare economy ticket a seat assignment in E+ but is it really unfair?
Is it unfair? No, it's actually very fair. However, I think it is bad business practice.
A full fare customer is one that UA wants. Whether they fly 25k a year or not, they are far more profitable for UA, probably make UA more money with that one ticket than 25k worth of L fares.
UA should impress these customers and give them E+ IMO, as good business practice. Even if they only fly 3-4 times a year, if it's full fare, these customers are something UA should want as a repeat customer.