United’s Relationship With Chase Bank Under Review?
Nov 8, 2017, 12:18 pm
#106
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Independent
Posts: 470
Amtrak:
Announcement regarding Chase Ultimate Rewards
Korean Air disappeared temporarily:
Chase has stopped transfers to Korean Air [now back]
Announcement regarding Chase Ultimate Rewards
Korean Air disappeared temporarily:
Chase has stopped transfers to Korean Air [now back]
Nov 8, 2017, 1:20 pm
#107
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
RNE, channeling Ferris to say, "Life moves pretty fast..."
Nov 8, 2017, 6:21 pm
#108
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 378
No need to worry now.
Nov 19, 2017, 7:06 am
#111
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
Inferior to what though? Their competitor's cobrand cards? Or the premium cards, which is going to be true of basically all of the $95/yr airline cards?
UA's card isn't *that* different from the competing airlines. The main differences between the MileagePlus Explorer and say the Citi AA Platinum and Amex Delta Gold IMO are: 1) UA gives you 2 club passes a year, the other two don't give any. You can use these or resell them, I mean they're worth $15ish on ebay; 2) UA gives you access to better economy award availability on some flights, YMMV, if that's of any value; and 3) UA makes you buy your ticket with the card for a free checked bag, while AA/DL don't, so that's a bit of a ding for me.
The other competitive argument, who else would UA pair up with for a co-brand card? Every other major issuer already has an airline, or in Barclay's case they have like 4, so.... where would they go without DL or AA throwing a fit? I think UA and Chase, for better or worse, are kinda married to each other for the near/mid term.
Edit: now that I think about it, there really isn't much reason to spend on any of the normal airline cards, because if you're earning faster on other Amex/Chase products and can just transfer to Delta and United/SW, respectively, why use the airline card at all unless you're going for the PQD waiver? Chase/UA actually give you an incentive to spend because you get a 10k mile bonus if you spend $25k/yr on the card. Again, something the AA/DL cards don't have at the $95/AF level, but that's a lot of spend to put on 1 card that has no meaningful multipliers.
UA's card isn't *that* different from the competing airlines. The main differences between the MileagePlus Explorer and say the Citi AA Platinum and Amex Delta Gold IMO are: 1) UA gives you 2 club passes a year, the other two don't give any. You can use these or resell them, I mean they're worth $15ish on ebay; 2) UA gives you access to better economy award availability on some flights, YMMV, if that's of any value; and 3) UA makes you buy your ticket with the card for a free checked bag, while AA/DL don't, so that's a bit of a ding for me.
The other competitive argument, who else would UA pair up with for a co-brand card? Every other major issuer already has an airline, or in Barclay's case they have like 4, so.... where would they go without DL or AA throwing a fit? I think UA and Chase, for better or worse, are kinda married to each other for the near/mid term.
Edit: now that I think about it, there really isn't much reason to spend on any of the normal airline cards, because if you're earning faster on other Amex/Chase products and can just transfer to Delta and United/SW, respectively, why use the airline card at all unless you're going for the PQD waiver? Chase/UA actually give you an incentive to spend because you get a 10k mile bonus if you spend $25k/yr on the card. Again, something the AA/DL cards don't have at the $95/AF level, but that's a lot of spend to put on 1 card that has no meaningful multipliers.
Nov 19, 2017, 9:47 am
#112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Nov 19, 2017, 3:31 pm
#113
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
I'm not sure I understand your statement. But if you're suggesting that there is not much to gain from the cc if you're silver as well - I can believe it. I'm LT Gold so I am not overly versed in Silver level benefits. In any event, my comment still stands... card has almost no value for Gold and above and if I understand your comment correctly, one may find it somewhat worthless even at Silver and above.
Nov 19, 2017, 4:06 pm
#114
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
I'm not sure I understand your statement. But if you're suggesting that there is not much to gain from the cc if you're silver as well - I can believe it. I'm LT Gold so I am not overly versed in Silver level benefits. In any event, my comment still stands... card has almost no value for Gold and above and if I understand your comment correctly, one may find it somewhat worthless even at Silver and above.
Nov 20, 2017, 5:20 pm
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
From my understanding, this card doesn't provide much for Silvers and above. Anybody with status gets access to the special award space, priority boarding, and checked bags. The biggest things the card provides that doesn't come with elite status is a PQD waiver, and upgrades on award tickets (however, I barely get upgraded on revenue tickets as a 1K). I'm sure I'm missing something, but overall these cards aren't anything special for people with elite status. I would love for Chase/UA to come out with a card that elites would want to get. I haven't had a UA card in years as there is no tangible benefits for me.
I spelled out Exploer because Chase has another UA card, the Club card, and that has very different benefits (and higher cost).
Nov 20, 2017, 5:30 pm
#117
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
The inclusion of Aer Lingus and Iberia as UR transfer partners weakens United's bargaining position, methinks.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...ravel-Partners
http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...ravel-Partners
Nov 20, 2017, 6:59 pm
#118
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Discussion here: UR to Aer Lingus and Iberia added November 2017
Nov 20, 2017, 7:22 pm
#119
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
Nov 21, 2017, 7:10 am
#120
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
Doesn't the Explorer come with 2 UA club passes annually? Or is that just the first year? Of course, not all people need UA Club passes, but on domestic travel, you don't get club access from Gold status, do you?
I spelled out Exploer because Chase has another UA card, the Club card, and that has very different benefits (and higher cost).
I spelled out Exploer because Chase has another UA card, the Club card, and that has very different benefits (and higher cost).