I've been thinking about the whole employee class issue, domestic 3 class flights and what UA could maybe do about it that would cost them next to nothing, and retain customer loyalty, and I'd be interested to open a debate on it. Note, NOT a debate about so-called "Employee Class" or availability of upgrades, or stupid policies, etc, but just about what I propose (thanks!)

After hearing a terrible story about an ACA pilot and F/A flying on BP8 passes ending up given positive space seats in F on a 3 class 777 IAD-ORD and bumping a paid 1K C class pax (!) who had been offered F by the agents, but ended up being bumped back to Y (!) I decided this was getting serious.

Here is how I feel UA could do good by loyal customers, at little/no cost and not affecting revenue. How?

Let us invisage a 3 class aircraft on a US domestic run, eg: IAD-ORD/DEN/SFO/LAX, DEN-SEA etc. Given paid F likely doesn't exist, or is at most 1-2 pax per aircraft you'll have an near empty F cabin, and C full of upgrading elites (since who would buy a C fare on a domestic run, even if it is offered?).

Currently one of the banes of contention for FT posters has been that loyal flyers, full fare pax, etc are not allowed to double upgrade into F but employees usually end up in those seats(ignoring flight crew deadheading who get PS F seats as part of their contract).

So hwere is one solution I have come up with:

On day of departure:

* pax may upgrade NC->F, pending space available, either first come, first served basis, or via status/fare class preference (as per current DM list processing, which would be fair).

You could make it better for more elite levels still with the following type of allowances:

* 1K pax may upgrade NC->F on any published fare, ahead of
* Premier Executive may upgrade NC->F on paid C D Y B M H class, ahead of
* Premier may upgrade NC->F on C Y B class fares

ie: reward higher status pax with being able to upgrade on more cheaper fares - in the same way the 500 mile certs are dealt with.

Payment for NC->F would be via cert and/or miles as per the current table (5,000) _in addition_ to the miles/certs taken for Y->NC upgrade.

How is this good?

I am sure many pax would feel quite happy to forego more miles/certs to be able to upgrade that 2nd class. It does not cost UA any more in seat terms as you would already be flying, and on day of departure it is highly unlikely you will get a walk up F ticket. The only cost/issue would be catering, but if you already have them NC, and the domestic F meal is the same as the NC one, then what is the issue?

Benefit to UA may also be increased if you give a 1K a look-in at the bed product on IAD-SFO, they may well decide to purchase a C or F seat on their next roundtrip to asia or europe to get access to that product again. At the very least, UA is keeping it's most loyal pax happy and extending an extra perk on them that doesn't cost the company anything much to give.

Thoughts and comments welcome.


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RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.