Originally Posted by
escapefromphl
The primary one is this: Because the market has changed since segment or miileage based programs were introduced, they can sell the seat regardless and selling it to someone who is elite actually costs them more if that elite customer does not pay above average for a fare.
Yes, but segment- and mileage-based programs were introduced
decades ago, and UA has already moved away from the original formula with the intro of EQM-plus-spend and the current PQF/PQD scheme. The question is whether things have substantially changed over the past
year such that UA is prepared to make M+ purely spend-based, and I just don't see that they have. Of course it's
possible UA will take this opportunity to make the leap and fire all of its elite customers who qualify with PQF, but I consulted my Magic 8 Ball and it said "Very doubtful."
