Originally Posted by Ken hAAmer
A couple of "overlooked" details.
1. Unlike Air Canada which normally announces changes of this nature after they have already occurred and usually only after someone "discovers" them when they are denied the benefit, UA has chosen to announce the change 8 months in advance.
Eight months? Last time I checked the calendar, January 1 is less than two months away. But maybe I'm wrong and can't count.
Originally Posted by Ken hAAmer
2. For upgrades, the number of points required is being reduced.
And you're asked for a co-pay.
Originally Posted by Ken hAAmer
3. The requirement for a co-pay is eliminated for higher fares, and for J to F upgrades.
Yeah and how many people buy J fares so they can upgrade to F? Certainly not most pax. But whatever. I suppose that is a positive point.
Originally Posted by Ken hAAmer
4. While AC claims not to have a co-pay, in effect they do. The difference is that with UA (and most other US carrier programs) is that you only need to "co-pay" if you actually get your upgrade. With AC you need to prepay the effective co-pay by purchasing a higher (sometimes much higher) fare, and then cross your finger and hope you can get upgrade space.
Yeah and you don't play the UA lottery to get an upgrade on a T fare to upgrade to C? Right because UA is going to upgrade a T fare before they upgrade a B fare.
Originally Posted by Ken hAAmer
5. Other airlines offer miles/points upgrades, so that even if they do charge a co-pay, they are offering something that AC does not, while they still offer certificate/sticker upgrades, and in many cases offer unlimited, free, and sometimes from any fare upgrades to their most frequent fliers.
Ok, so AC doesn't offer points upgrades. But for elites they have upgrades certs which if they did offer point upgrades, you would all be complaining that they are letting non-elites have access to seats that you believe is rightfully yours.
Go defend UA. I personally don't care because I'm not on anyone's side here. But I will suggest you go look on the UA board and see how many unhappy people there are. I haven't seen many good words (if any) about the program changes.
But to each their own. Pick your poison.