This is from UA forum about 'Systemwide Upgrades' started by DronekLax.

This post is with reference to rumors (and I don't like to rumormonger, but this is a persistent rumor that UA refuses to deny!!) about cutbacks in UA SWUs for 2002.


I don't have the exact language, but the airlines-
'We can change our program at any time' and 'Other terms and conditions may apply'
unfortunately TRUMP your
'Well I got it in writing'!

And I write this with great frustration that the airlines have the potential (hopefully NOT the will!) to be a kangaroo court with their policy decisions.

To give you an idea of the absurdity of these blanket protection clauses used by the airlines-

If I had the same clauses as a consumer...I could pay the airlines for my ticket, but unpay if I wanted to, needed to, desired to, felt like it, changed my mind, went delusional, etc. The airlines probably wouldn't want to do business with me. Yet, on a more sophisticated basis, that's what they are doing to us.

I want UA to succeed, I don't want to soak them, but I don't want to get screwed either.

I understand that the airlines don't want to confess their changes until end of calendar year, so as to maximize the number of customers gunning for their maximum status for 2002. Plus, if they confess too early (like June/July), and the news is bad, then customers will still have time to hightail to other airlines to get their status and better program deals.

So, the airlines have NO motive to provide full disclosure on a timely basis on their own; gang we're gonna have to do some heavy lifting here. We can start with lobbying United (again Randy editorial is crucial start because we can leverge his credibility with other local and national publications, news/travel outlets), but this truly is an industrywide problem.

If you think you are getting Benefit A and the Company does nothing for 11 1/2 months to
contradict your expectation, then they announce right before program renewal you will be getting greatly reduced Benefit B, that is callled BAIT-AND-SWITCH. I don't want to accuse my airline of 19 years of this deplorable tactic, so hopefully they'll make an announcement VERY SOON about 2002. In the meantime, lets try and expedite the process.

BTW- The airlines have no problem 'planning' MONTHS in advance about all their other logistics, why does MP benefit planning need to take so long. If there is indeed a good reason for the delay, I'm a reasonable, lets hear it fom the programs.

[This message has been edited by beaubo (edited 09-05-2001).][/B][/QUOTE]