Originally Posted by
SF1K
But shouldn't United then at least stop advertising CPU and possibly RPU as elite benefits? Or somehow openly say that upgrades may be sold to anyone before these are processed. Just seems like a little bit of "truth in advertising" issue? Or not?
How is that?
UA is a business that is selling seats to customers who are willing to buy them. Whether selling them on the web site in advance, or selling them at the gate just before the flight, what is really the difference? Do folks really get upset when UA or other carriers sell out the premium cabin ahead of time with F tickets from the getgo (and yes, many of those are also discount F fares)? Or should they not be allowed to do that, either?
It is implied that UA will try to sell available seats, and that upgrades will be given when there is remaining availability.
UA does give certain benefits to elites, and sometimes, that includes an upgrade to a premium cabin. Maybe elites shouldn't be expecting upgrades 100% of the time. UA as a business decides their strategy for selling seats vs. upgrades. You don't have to like how they do it, but they control their business, not the customers, and presumably, do it in a way that they thinks will maximize profit.
I also find it curious that many on this board (though not necessarily you, specifically) will complain about this, yet will admittedly take a buy up last minute if there are X seats left but they are X+2 on the upgrade list.
Originally Posted by
BlissWorld
I'm sick of hearing that we are a business and we are here to make money BS.
Then maybe you should fly a non-profit airline?
Fact is, UA is a business, and they are there to make money (or do shareholders hold stock for a different reason?). If UA thought holding more seats for free upgrades would make them more money, I'm sure they would do it. Clearly, they think selling them will work out better. Again, you don't have to agree, but they are the ones making those decisions.
Originally Posted by
MatthewLAX
Airlines have no concept of loyalty if they merely view it on a transactional basis.
And I'll completely disagree, here.
Their concept of loyalty may be different than yours, but I don't know what the point of status programs are if its not to help build further loyalty. Are they showering benefits on people to uselessly spend money that could be profit?
Originally Posted by
bocastephen
Ummm No.
There is no policy that tells, or even permits a GA to sell upgrades when people are on the upgrade list. First, if there was, we would know about it, second, given this only happens at one airport and apparently with one or small subset of agents, they are obviously making this up as they go otherwise it would be fairly common-place across the system.
Are you privy to UAs internal memos showing that they can't sell upgrades at the gate?
They sell upgrades online, over the phone, on the app and at the kiosk when you check in. I'm not sure why they can't sell them at the gate if they so choose.
I get people like their upgrades (I do too, I just don't complain when I don't get them). Last month, I put up for a miles upgrade from IAD-SFO - as a gold, and even when trying to pay with miles, I was 8 on the list (of 90 or so). Did I come back on FT to complain? No - I sat in my assigned seat in economy, and 5 hours later, got off the plane in SFO, in the product that I paid for. Miles were back in my account in a day or two. Was it ideal? Not really. Was it a big deal, much less the worst thing to happen to me that day? No, absolutely not, either.
My opinion has always been if you need or really want to sit in F, than you pay for that fare outright. Otherwise, you have no guarantee of getting an F seat. Next, we'll have people in here complaining that UA sells E+ seats instead of letting an elite have a free middle next to them.