Originally Posted by
daslax
Having not followed the history of the discussions about top tier treatments or the personalities/statements raised here, I can only give my perspective as a 10 year UA 1K and 2 year CO Plat. I also find UA to be far superior in their treatment of 1K's. I've never been mistreated by CO and I have no major beefs with them, but it's unquestionable to me that on UA I was made to feel "special" while on CO I merely have a higher rank than other elites with no noticeable difference in service.
I discussed this with a friend of mine recently - we both were forced to move from UA for reasons out of our control and both of us received comp status with another carrier: me to CO, him to DL. We were both trying to figure out why we missed UA so much. And it's really nothing all that tangible - UA just goes out of it's way to remind you that you're important: meal choice, SWU's, preferential treatment at ticket counters, boarding, and so on (above and beyond what they give to other elites). We both felt the same about CO and DL - we're treated like everyone else except we clear waitlists sooner. Since I fly primarily paid F class, not such a major benefit to me.
An excellent post that demonstrates that it wouldn't take much-nor, heaven forbid--cost CO any significant sums, to make their top-tier elites feel more valued.
As I have written earlier, I have flown UA fairly consistently since 2006 (4-8 times a year) without achieving any elite status, until recently (although I have not flown UA since achieving Premier).
In all that time I have always felt the service I received from UA was excellent and never perceived any tangible difference from the way I have been treated at CO.
I write this because there seems to be a general consensus on this board that UA does not treat its sub-elites well. That certainly has not been my experience.