Originally Posted by
AirbusFan2B
So you must be GS. Are you saying you'd be okay with NEVER sitting up front unless you paid? For some of us, the RPUs NEVER clear, which feels like deceptive marketing. UA has become ENAMORED with upgrading only GS on some routes and then collecting ~$30 from a general member to sit up front leaving all the Premier members in the dust. If paying for first is the paradigm at play, that's the end of the concept of loyalty as the other 'loyalty' benefits are miniscule by comparison.
Yes, I am GS as of June 2016, only because I reached the 4MM lifetime milestone. Before that I was 1K or lower since 1991, I've paid my dues. My comments were from the perspective of a customer that has only bought coach tickets for his entire flying life. True, I enjoy priority today, but by no means am I guaranteed an upgrade even now, but the point of my original comment was how to deal with the emotional realities of not buying J or better fares. Like it or not UA doesn't owe any coach ticketed passenger an upgrade, it's a perk and deciding who gets them is a no win proposition, guaranteed someone's going to be pissed off. I learned years ago to expect not to be upgraded, while at the same time making a game out of trying to improve my odds. The result is I'm never disappointed, I get where I need to be just like the J and F cabin and while I may be a little more tired I'm never disappointed.