Originally Posted by
BearX220
Ask Australians how they perceive United versus Qantas.
Ask Japanese how they perceive United versus ANA OR JAL.
As the Brits how they perceive United versus Virgin or BA.
For that matter, ask knowledgeable Americans traveling to those places which carrier they'd prefer to buy a business or F class seat with their own money (not score a cheap or free upgrade).
In each case United is seen as the distant quality also-ran... the bottom-feeder, the cheap-and-cheerful choice of last resort, the airline for people on budgets and addicted FFers who can score easy upgrades.
The perception is not merely a function of aging, clapped-out aircraft but on-time performance (I know about the most recent quarter, but consider the last ten years) and dragon-class RCC / gate / inflight personnel.
United has a lot of negative equity to run away from. There's greater global name recognition than CO has, but that name recognition is often accompanied by hollow laughter and / or retching sounds. That's why this hybrid brand is brilliant. It makes United overseas appear to be a new, upgraded United which may warrant a second look. And those who know CO are unlikely to turn away from the combined airline without giving it a shot.
All VERY true, but for the comparisons of National carriers with United. You're not taking into consideration Nationalism. Of course Aussies are going to prefer Qantas, and the Japanese are proud of JAL (don't as me why on that one, as I think it's tandamount to torture in Y cabin). The Germans love Lufthansa no matter how inflexible they are. And the French adore Air France no matter how late they are.
As to your implication that upgrades are somehow free, I think you are forgetting that it was the airlines that created the concepts of loyality rewards when they reconogized it would provide them with business travelers that pay higher fares. Let's say a business person take 20 flights a year with an average fare of $1,200, the way it bottom-lines for the airline is that this person has paid for an upgrade. Referring to reward tickets or upgrades as free is simply not true, they are not free they are
earned.