Originally Posted by
kokonutz
I have taken the approach for 2012 of taking Z or A fares ('discounted' business or first) on other airlines over flying on UA on an upgradable fare.
Often the difference between, say, a Delta or BA or etc. Z or Y-up type fare and a UA W fare is minimal, yet the business class cabin is guaranteed.
I'll only ever buy a W fare on UA anymore if there is NC/NF space at booking, ie, rarely.
Obviously this will affect my retaining 1k for the first time in 15 years, but as markets change, market players must react. Besides, apparently I will get better buy-up offers as a lower tier elite if I do end up on UA without any SWUs after 2012....
I saw this coming in 2009 and made a move for EXP on AA. And while my upgrade rates on AA have been exemplary, my upgrade rates on CO/UA have fallen through the floor. In the last two months of 2011, I was batting barely over 20% as a CO Plat flying on CO metal. I actually had a better batting average on UA metal on the 3 segments I flew them.
This is how CO has been doing business ever since Jeff took the helm and I am personally disgusted by what he has done to the CO (and now UA) that I once loved.
The bottom line is that this year I will drop to silver on UA and ALL my flying except for the occasionally required non-stop on UA (because of price or schedule) will go to AA.
I refuse to reward Jeff and its team for their business practices. I will miss the award redemptions on Star Alliance, but I will gladly pay fuel surcharges once or twice a year so I can sit at the pointy end most of the time.