Originally Posted by
fastair
I understand the perk of previous flying. But it is not a sale, it is not a guarantee, and there is nothing given to you in in't place when it is not available. It is "spoilage", much like the NRSA seat I sit in. They sell it if they can, when they can, and if they can't then people with certain qualifications (elites/employees) get it on a space available basis.
I don't disagree with that. But there is a certain contractual understanding between UA/CO and its employees that the employee status will come with "free" premium class travel, if space is available (unused for customers). If UA/CO then turns around and ensures that there is a significantly reduced chance that there will be space available, it may not be a breach of the formal labor contract, but it shouldn't be shocking to anyone if the employees (a) don't like it and (b) look at renegotiating the deal.
Oh wait, we're not talking about employees here... let's rewrite that:
I don't disagree with that. But there is a certain understanding between UA/CO and elite flyers that the elite status will come with "free" upgrades, if space is available (unsold for cash). If UA/CO then turns around and ensures that there is a significantly reduced chance that there will be space available, it may not be a breach of the T&Cs, but it shouldn't be shocking to anyone if the elites (a) don't like it and (b) look at renegotiating the deal.
In the case of elites, the renegotiating is somewhat different, though. We can try and express our opinion and hope that UA/CO listens and maybe reconsiders. If not, we can either accept it or "strike" by moving part or all of our business elsewhere. In the case of employees... well, you know what your options are (airline employees often enough get told here to find a different job if they don't like their current one)
I know I will sound like the evil beast for this comment, but I have had dinner recently with a UA IM manager. I told her that on many flights, NF is sold out in advance, to the point there are zero remaining F seats to clear at the gate or to even sell.
Don't disagree with that and don't think you're evil
but my personal experience as a 1K is that I don't always clear at the window. Last weekend I cleared at the airport on a 757 from SFO to LAX. A SWU upgrade IAD-FRA flight next weekend finally cleared today, after being waitlisted for six months (and seat map was virtually empty in C). But you certainly have a better data set to work with here.
I don't think that it would be that far of a stretch for CO's few ELR seats to be allocated the same way, if not bought by 30 min or an hour prior to dptr, then let them go into the elite pool.
Ability to get a good economy seat even if the upgrade doesn't clear is a key elite benefit for me that keeps me (so far) loyal with UA/CO. Take away that near certainty and you remove a significant reason for me to be loyal.
Cash is king, loyalty can be fickle, and loyalty doesn't promise future revenue, only past, as all of the threads of all the "loyal" UA flyers begging for a top tier match to AA shows.
Disagree. The benefits I get as a UA elite (E+, upgrades, ...) are a key reason to remain loyal with UA. I've said it many times here when people ask if they should switch to another airline after securing status with the first one: why "work" towards status and then not use it? I think there is a very strong correlation between loyalty and future revenue.... unless the program messes with the reasons for remaining loyal. The "AA deserters" simply feel that UA has messed to much with their program. Not everyone agrees with them, of course. Personally, I'd rather lose all CR1s than E+ and/or the high likelihood of getting exit row seats. Others will disagree with that.