transpac, I'm nobody extra special at United. I'm not listed as VIP. There is nothing special tagged in my profiles saying "break the rules for this guy." I am a 1K Million Mile Flyer, but what I'm saying is that when even that doesn't cut it alone, this added into the mix often does tip the scale just that much more to my side.

It wouldn't surprise me if someone with no status at all, but a big balance from flying in their account, might not pull this off. I know for a fact that it's helped low status folks that have done it.

cactuspete...one thing you have to keep in mind is that there is UAL Corp, and United Loyalty Programs, Inc. and Mileage Plus, Inc.

And then there is United Airlines.

And United Airlines Reservations and United Airlines Revenue Management, may (and in my experience, does) look at things quite differently, from their own prioritized revenue viewpoint.

Heck, I know some people at United the Airline that think Mileage Plus is often more trouble than it's worth, and don't like not having direct control over the baby.

Perceptions. Divisional differences and divisional priorities. Not always logical to the whole.

In fact, I believe there was an article in a past InsideFlyer that speculated on just this subject...that airlines might subconsciously or even consciously "value" true flyers miles more than affinity "flyer's" miles someday.

[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 11-14-2002).]