Originally Posted by epiding

as much as protecting revenue is important, the bitterness it engenders from non-elites flying UA shouldn't be discounted long-term....

For something flying in E- that day.... had they chosen to fly US Air or Delta or Southwest instead that day, and they wouldn't likely be in the cramped sardine situation in the overcrowded E- cabin (but empty E+). Again, it engenders anti-UA bitterness, and makes the non-status GM want to fly another airline where there would be lower seating density with a similar situation of 1/2 plane full (but 100% E- full).

Sitting in the exit row E+ one row ahead of E-, I'm personally heard of lot of E- seated people in this situation mumble bitterness about the above. And it is sorta true that (with all other plane capacity factors equal) they would have more spacing if they flew another airline without E+. Over time this makes an effect on non-elite fliers.

...thus the alternative in their mind is not them BUYING up to E+ next time, but simply booking another airline altogether period.