Originally Posted by
eightblack
I get it completely as I am in the same boat and am also based out of DEN. I'm not flying anything other than UA domestically. Makes no sense as this is a fortress hub and I'm buying F domestic every time. Long haul is a little different. UA would still get 90% of international but because I control my own schedule and the fact that I lived in Asia for a long time, I do miss carriers like EK and SQ. I'll often pull SQ awards or ticket on EK out of very cost effective cities like CGK or AKL - just because I still love flying and I like premium cabin travel. Did a lot of work in Paris this year, and AF flies direct from DEN, so I was easily able to pull FB awards in J.
There's no right or wrong answer - its whatever fits you best. The program changes are something none of us has any control over anyway. I get that I am in a fortunate position when it comes to travel because I dont have to answer to a travel department or abide by any travel policy.
I agree - I'm always mildly surprised when these discussions filter back to "loyalty" and I think there are a good number of FTers who are going far, far beyond the wildest dreams of UA execs when it comes to being "loyal" despite poor routings, high prices, etc.
For me, "loyalty" always stems first from price and schedule. The benefit of FFP status is (and I assume execs intend it to be) to get me to choose my main carrier among equal options, or maybe spend a modest amount more. I lost my UA status and am a DL DM now simply because I'm a hub captive. DL could have no FFP at all and I would still do most of my flying on DL. Where the difference comes is on something like MSP-NYC where DL and UA (and AA) compete head-to-head, then UA has a higher bar to clear to get me to fly them because of my DL status. That being said, I can and do choose UA for that route when it's appreciably cheaper - but I will weigh status qualification into the equation. I would
never consider flying MSP-DEN-LAS or something in preference to MSP-LAS nonstop unless the price difference were insane.
If people are taking unnecessary connections to "stay loyal to UA", I suspect you are in a tiny minority that executive leadership is not even considering when making these changes. The biggest distinction that seems somewhat reasonable to me is aspiring GS flying UA metal in preference to *A metal on same/similar routings. I was never in the running for GS, so when I was SFO-based I did most of my TATL on LH without a second thought.