Originally Posted by
Jetlagged
Thanks for the replies. I am ok if they (COdbaUA) want to implement a different policy- I just don't get why they can't come out and say so. The UGS materials I got in March pretty much implied status quo in terms of UGS priority regards wait lists; every PMUA employee I have asked says "UGS gets top priority for upgrades" and yet are completely mystified when Premiers clear vs UGS (as the agent at IAD told me had happened) and when wait lists get "deleted".
If fare trumps UGS status then there is little value in UGS per se. I travel often, at short notice (so don't get discount fares) , and my company gets similar discounts from the majors, plus I have 1K locked in in theory (3+MM miles), so if this is truly the case I can and will try other airlines. And, in theory, I am the type of high fare paying customer United wants..
Welcome to the "newly enhanced airline." I have found that the way to go forward for travel is (for me):
Domestic:
1) Evaluate where you are going and who can get you there based on your criteria (fare, convenience, service etc.)
2) If UA is apart of the criteria, then Domestically, if Fare on UA for Y, B, M fares (with upgrade space avail at time of ticketing) compared to others is equal or lower, book UA. If not book other preferred carrier that you can get the upgrade with.
3) If F is only available on the carriers for the route, go with who you feel most comfortable with in respect to service.
International:
On step #2:
If INTL premium, buy UA ONLY if the C fare has upgrade space avail to F AND the fare is less than its competitors in C (especially for CX, SQ, NH, OZ)....I have found the overall experience in foreign carriers C cabin to be better than United F....(from the booking of the flight all the way through to the arrival lounges) I used to pay a little extra to be loyal to PMUA, but not the new entity....
Bottom line...keep it simple, (shift loyalty to other airlines), and only use this airline when it is to YOUR ADVANTAGE....a one way street....Yeah...they may get a slightly higher RPM from me (i.e. 45-50 cents vs my lifetime number at PMUA of 40 cents), but instead they are only getting a "one off" here and there vs almost weekly volume and if that is ok with them, good for Jeffco (and the NEWCO) and more power to them.....quite frankly, I could care less.....