Originally Posted by
threeoh
I think United won't easily get rid of BG2 for Explorer card members for the simple fact that they would have to renegotiate their contract with Chase to do so. And Chase won't like that change, because fewer people will get the card.
Whereas they could eliminate BG2 for Silvers on BE unilaterally, probably without much pushback.
Cardholder with high hopes?
no one knows what is in the details of the contract with Chase. To my knowledge, as in, what is publicly known, is that the benefits is ‘priority’ boarding, not BG2. So they could, within that, shift around the groups. I’ll let lawyers argue over what the permissible use of ‘priority’ is from a marketing perspective, but personally, think any boarding group ahead of the general WilMA order seems like it could suffice.
As for lack of priority boarding with BE, that seems like a logical next step or two to discourage those fares for elites. Actually, probably anyone thinking of BE (ie, includes cardholders, too). There are already premier benefits not included in BE, so not a stretch to think the list could be expanded. 1ks might not like it, but given the amount of items these days one can buy where you choose between a discount or more benefits/features, that would fit right in.
Originally Posted by
aviation425
United really should ideally move Chase Cardholders to Group 3. Would solve a lot of the issues they have.
yup - was thinking that could be a good option. Maybe leave silvers/*S/‘premium’ cardholders (club, PP and maybe Quest?) in BG2, all other cardholders to BG3, then shift the current BG3-6 down to 4-7. That’ll also cut down 2 to a more reasonable amount of people (IMO).
If the cardholders really want to feel special, maybe UA could add a third ‘semi-line’ that folds into the 2 line right at the gate.
of course, then we start to look like AA with the number of groups. Though if the changes has the effect of way more cardholders as UA wants, I feel like the WilMA process is essentially completely useless (that’s only assuming it isn’t already), and so maybe everyone behind cardholders gets their own group. BG4 becomes all other regular fare pax, and BG5 becomes BE. There - now we’ve essentially given cardholders their own group and still reduced the number of groups.