Getting into UAL E+
Nov 12, 2009 | 1:28 pm
#16
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Nov 12, 2009 | 1:32 pm
#17
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Yes and no -- the exit rows on CO are the poor mans version of first and on the bulk of the fleet, only 6 (!) good seats exist. As such, I think CO should be a little proactive in protecting these seats in limiting their access to Golds and Plats until check-in. Hence the concern that CO's "giving away" the already tiny number of differentiated Y seats before check-in catches folks attention.
I personally don't think UA kicking over E+ for CO in return for CO's exit rows is a fair trade -- just like I don't think it's fair for customer who's not a CO gold/plat to book exit rows on CO in advance. (And of course I'd argue that exit rows on both carriers for Gold/1Ps, Plat/1ks, GS seems to be a fair exchange.)
However as I said in a post upthread, I think this is all temporary and we'll see E+ access for CO elites & EUA harmonization by the end of 2010, rendering all this moot.
No need to now. The question phase was seeing who'd change and now IMHO the writing's on the wall as to where it's going. <shrug>
I personally don't think UA kicking over E+ for CO in return for CO's exit rows is a fair trade -- just like I don't think it's fair for customer who's not a CO gold/plat to book exit rows on CO in advance. (And of course I'd argue that exit rows on both carriers for Gold/1Ps, Plat/1ks, GS seems to be a fair exchange.)
However as I said in a post upthread, I think this is all temporary and we'll see E+ access for CO elites & EUA harmonization by the end of 2010, rendering all this moot.
No need to now. The question phase was seeing who'd change and now IMHO the writing's on the wall as to where it's going. <shrug>
Nov 12, 2009 | 1:33 pm
#19
Formerly known as I_Hate_US_Airways
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Come On Now...
(-:
Oh, and a big THANK YOU at that very nice lady at the President's Club at IAH that upgraded me to F. What she said was musics to me ear's...
"A 1K should not have to sit in economy". I have to tell ya, had she not been wearing a wedding ring, I believe I would have proposed right then & there (-;
Nov 12, 2009 | 1:34 pm
#20
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I see the CO+UA relationship as being at least as deep as the NW one, and as such, I suspect we'll see each carrier treat their partners elite as one of their own.
On CO this would mean that 2Ps/1Ps/1ks/GSs are eligible for automatic upgrades and can score the exit row. On UA I see this as meaning CO elites become eligible for upgrades and E+ access. I see this as almost given (and I also see it become far harder to score upgrades on UA regardless of whatever reciprocity will form between the two carriers
)Not sure on the SWU issues -- you'd think UA/LH/AC offering them will in turn force CO do something, even if it means honoring partners at the bare minimum...but I guess that's for a different thread (and hopefully matching each others product offerings.)
Ditto for CO finally coming around and offering E+ ^^^ but again...different thread.
Anyways, you wanted to know what my logic was and it's that I see both carrier seeking to offer seamless benefits between each other, and this entails treating the other's elites like their own.
Nov 12, 2009 | 1:35 pm
#22
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Now that we're all "one big happy family", let's learn to play nicely together
(-:
Oh, and a big THANK YOU at that very nice lady at the President's Club at IAH that upgraded me to F. What she said was musics to me ear's...
"A 1K should not have to sit in economy". I have to tell ya, had she not been wearing a wedding ring, I believe I would have proposed right then & there (-;
(-:
Oh, and a big THANK YOU at that very nice lady at the President's Club at IAH that upgraded me to F. What she said was musics to me ear's...
"A 1K should not have to sit in economy". I have to tell ya, had she not been wearing a wedding ring, I believe I would have proposed right then & there (-;
Nov 12, 2009 | 1:51 pm
#23
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Route. Schedule. Price.
Remember, not everyone is a FTer and I doubt you'll see a mass exodus of customers from one airline to the other.
What you will see is customers booking partner non-stops over connections and I'd wager the average customer (not FTer) would rather endure a non-stop in 31" Y then a connection for E+ or F.
In other words you might see a SFO based 1K opt for a CO flight to CLE or a WAS based Plat choose a UA service out of IAD rather then connect or trek to EWR.
But in any event I seriously doubt the majority of customers of either airline will go out of their way to take a connection over a non-stop for E+ or upgrades.
Remember, not everyone is a FTer and I doubt you'll see a mass exodus of customers from one airline to the other.
What you will see is customers booking partner non-stops over connections and I'd wager the average customer (not FTer) would rather endure a non-stop in 31" Y then a connection for E+ or F.
In other words you might see a SFO based 1K opt for a CO flight to CLE or a WAS based Plat choose a UA service out of IAD rather then connect or trek to EWR.
But in any event I seriously doubt the majority of customers of either airline will go out of their way to take a connection over a non-stop for E+ or upgrades.
Nov 12, 2009 | 1:58 pm
#24
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UA exit row is blocked even tigher than E+. 2Ps cannot get into Exit Row on UA, just 1P and 1K.
CO, OTOH, is a free-for-all when OLCI opens. Great for the non-Elite or partner Elite. Not so great for the CO Elite who gets rebooked or changes flights.
CO, OTOH, is a free-for-all when OLCI opens. Great for the non-Elite or partner Elite. Not so great for the CO Elite who gets rebooked or changes flights.
Nov 12, 2009 | 2:04 pm
#25
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Don't forget that US Elites and other Star Alliance Elites can poach the CO premium seats also!
The whole E+ access for Star Alliance Elites (Golds and Silvers) has been a source of contention since UA eliminated access.
IMHO if UA places and same seating restrictions (E-) on Star Alliance Elites as they do to the general public, then the fellow Star Alliance carriers should follow suit as well.
US and CO (as well as others) should not permit UA Elites (or any other Star Alliance Elite) access to the premium (or choice) seats.
The whole E+ access for Star Alliance Elites (Golds and Silvers) has been a source of contention since UA eliminated access.
IMHO if UA places and same seating restrictions (E-) on Star Alliance Elites as they do to the general public, then the fellow Star Alliance carriers should follow suit as well.
US and CO (as well as others) should not permit UA Elites (or any other Star Alliance Elite) access to the premium (or choice) seats.
Nov 12, 2009 | 2:10 pm
#26
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IMHO if UA places and same seating restrictions (E-) on Star Alliance Elites as they do to the general public, then the fellow Star Alliance carriers should follow suit as well.
US and CO (as well as others) should not permit UA Elites (or any other Star Alliance Elite) access to the premium (or choice) seats.
US and CO (as well as others) should not permit UA Elites (or any other Star Alliance Elite) access to the premium (or choice) seats.
Apples and oranges. US/CO don't offer extra legroom for premium seats. UA does not have a premium seating option without extra legroom. If they did, I'm sure that would be offered to OAL elites.
Nov 12, 2009 | 2:33 pm
#27
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I can't imagine a UA 1K choosing CO for any reason absent reciprocal upgrades.
Nov 12, 2009 | 2:42 pm
#28
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Seriously, though, it's going to be price or schedule.
Out of SFO, for example, CO has 6-8 SFO-IAH flights, while UA has one (1). If you need to go to IAH, CO will likely have the best schedule.
UA also has a big hole in the Caribbean, Latin America, and South Florida (though you could argue that Latin America includes South Florida, but that's a different thread.
)Plus with CO's IAH hub, even for destinations served by both carriers, some southerly destinations are more efficiently served via IAH than IAD or ORD. If you want to get there as quickly as posisble, CO via IAH may be the way to go for West Coasters.
lets not start this discussion for the Nth time.