There are only a small handful of parking spaces for UA use in front of the terminal (the other thousands of them are nestled in between the kitchens and a runway) at ORD, and they go to top managers. The standard employee parking lot is entered at from the other side of the airport (not near the highways) and then requires a bus (which runs on a fairly frequent schedule during business hours, much less so at odd hours) to the terminal.

While it has no direct negative impact on any employee, such a coveted spot could easily be used for an "employee of the month" or something like that, someone who is continuing to serve UA to a high level, instead of being reserved for a retiree. So if CO employees are the best in the business, wouldn't it make sense to use such a prized spot to reward one of them, who is the best of the best, and still working instead of taking it out of service and reserving it for a retired CEO?

Oh, and these spots, they are right next to the lobby baggage claim, as short of a walk from them to the checkin area as the employee needs to walk to catch the bus. Really nice perk in the winter, when roads to the back can be blocked, but the highway into ORD (which is where these spots are) is always maintained to a high degree of perfection, and secured with lots of airport police (vs a huge, cold dark parking lot in the middle of nowhere.)