Originally Posted by
emanon256
Last week I also heard the following conversation.
PAX to FA, "Wow, Ive never flown first class, this was worth the $150 to upgrade, how much is it normally."
FA to PAX, "It costs about $500 to fly first class, but I guarantee you not a single person up here paid to fly first class, no one actually pays, United even give free upgrades to all of their frequent fliers, they just started doing that, they all fly for free."
I can't tell you how much that pissed me off.
Ouch.
To be fair, this is not terribly distant from the language we've seen from the union:
Originally Posted by http://www.unitedafa.org/news/details.aspx?id=5433
Good Bye First Class
In November last year, we informed you about United’s decision to give elite status flyers unlimited, complimentary domestic upgrades. This new policy went into effect at the beginning of March, and applies to domestic upgrades to first class and preferred economy seating when space is available. Upgrades are handled by customer service representatives on the ground prior to take off and do not require any action on the part of Flight Attendant crews.
As if pass travel hasn’t become challenging enough, with the implementation of this program we can effectively say good-bye to most opportunities to NRSA in the first class cabin. This is another erosion of a benefit once enjoyed by employees, and is even ironic that United makes a decision to “give” anything away and not contemplate a way to increase passenger productivity in exchange for the complimentary upgrade.
Originally Posted by http://www.unitedafa.org/news/dearafa/archives/details.aspx?id=5257
Fly With Your Pet for Free? Don’t Buy It
United announced yesterday, a change to their travel policy for NRSA that allows the employee to be accompanied by a pet with no associated charge. Beginning next Tuesday, December 1, employees, retirees and their travel eligibles, excluding companions, will be able to fly with their pet, in the cabin to a domestic location without paying a fee.
The process and procedures remain the same as they have been, but a fee that has previously been charged is no longer being assessed. This news comes on the heels of the announcements made by United, first about their unlimited domestic upgrades for their own “elite” customers and subsequently those of code-share partner Continental as well. We reported to you on this change coming in March 2010 last week.
The news of the “elite” upgrades has understandably resulted in frustration from those of us who have first experienced diminished ability to even fly NRSA because of reduced capacity and full flights, as well as now dealing with the loss of one of the perks of our job to enjoy the first class cabin for pleasure travel.
Because both the NRSA and the “elite” upgrade policy are both governed by United policy, the fight for Contractual improvements we are currently waging becomes even more important. The ability to travel NRSA, with or without your pet flying for free is arguably at least part of the reason most of us became Flight Attendants in the first place. The reduced general availability of NRSA travel, the demise of travel in the first class cabin on domestic flights, the reduced staffing we all experience on a daily basis, and the diminished system-wide flying, all contribute to a degradation of our careers. So while it is “nice” that United is waiving the fee for traveling with your pet, what is not at all “nice” are the proposals they continue to make which seek to further erode our work life.
Originally Posted by https://www.unitedafa.org/news/details.aspx?id=5239
Unlimited Elite Customer Upgrades – Say Goodbye to First Class
As a result of the Antitrust Immunity granted to United and Continental, the airlines are allowed to coordinate products, services, schedules and other business related practices. Today, United and Continental announced that members of each carrier’s frequent flyer program who have earned elite status will receive unlimited, complimentary domestic upgrades and preferred economy class seating on either airline when space is available. United had previously announced their intention to implement this program last month to United’s elite customers, and is just another kick in the teeth to Flight Attendants and other loyal employees. These upgrades will be handled by the customer service representatives on the ground before the flight takes off, and Flight Attendants are not responsible or required to implement this new policy once the plane leaves the gate. The upgrade program becomes effective in March, 2010 and applies only to domestic flights on a space available basis.