Here is my view, shared by some folks. As a 1K myself, earned entirely by busting my butt every week coast to coast, I should be bugged by this deal, even though it benefits a loved one. But -- I am acquainted with many of the people who received (according to the email) this perk and each of them rarely flies commercial airlines. Most of them fly the corporate jet domestically, and internationally, they are in paid F. So I don't think it affects our upgrade inventory -- if I were to guess, most of these folks' extra upgrades will expire. In fact, said company allows senior execs to use the corporate jet for their families on weekends (if available) for personal travel. And they do. So even in personal travel circumstances, its unlikely they themselves will be flying UA and using up the upgrades.

What's genius on United's part is that they woo these Senior Execs with UGS which they will maybe utilize a few times in the 1 year they are granted it (minimal cost to UAL as well as other frequent fliers), while guaranteeing the business of all of the underlings who did not get status, do not hold status (due to previously existing contract with competitor) and will always fly commercial. Seems like a no-brainer to me.