He covered in the announcement that they are not.

I am not reading as much into this announcement as other folks are with regards to e+. We've been pressing them for awhile now to release more details on the shape of the program going forward as we begin planning our remaining 2010 and 2011 travel. I see this announcement as a response to that demand, and I appreciate it.

Whatever they do on e+ will likely require a major investment if they wish to standardize the fleet, and there are many options potentially on the table (e.g., only int'l or domestic; only certain aircraft types; what about regional jets, etc.). It's one of the major decisions of the new management team, and any aircraft modification will likely accompany the move to a new, integrated airline. For that reason, I don't expect to receive word on e+ until they have a much clearer idea on what the new airline will look like, and how they'll manage the transition between now and then.

It may look "better" but...
 

Although I haven't read all the comments, some seem to be saying this is "better" for OnePass people.

What might not be so obvious is that what United is CURRENTLY doing -- giving 2 regionals for flying 10,000 miles in a calendar quarter -- is EVEN BETTER for current OnePass elites, since you can earn up to 8 regionals without getting to 75K.

I have no objection to giving "more" to people who fly more (e.g., maybe give 4 per quarter if you fly 20K, etc.) but all this does is postpone them and limit their number for the average 75K or 100K flier (probably the idea).

Yes, Continental people are better off, but they could be even BETTER off...something not to be forgotten.

1. SWUs: You hardly have to purchase 'very expensive coach tickets' to use SWUs. They are NOT like Delta's which are only good on their three highest coach fares. Exact case-in-point...I just returned from Asia. Flew in and out of Seoul. Cheapest available fare was $900 roundtrip. My upgradable fare was $1025. Last month, I booked another r/t to Asia for April--Into PEK and out of PVG, my fare was $1250.00--upgradable, and the lowest fare available. SWUs are a VERY valuable instrument. Fares to Germany, for example, might be $200 more for an upgradable fare...Sure beats paying a $500 EACH WAY co-pay AND using your miles.

2. CR-1s: No need to play the upgrade lottery when those times come where you definitely want to ride in F. I'm going to LAX in a few weeks, booked on a A320 with 12 F seats. I'm already booked in F. I didn't want to sweat the upgrade.

On another trip, I'm taking a redeye home from LAS...Another upgrade I DEFINITELY want, and I DEFINITELY have already.

My parents are going to Maui in a few weeks, while my dad is a Million Miler, he rarely travels now, so is relatively low on the upgrade pecking order (there were only 10 F seats left, probably assume that there are 10 1Ks plus companions), what I saw was a pretty full ORD-OGG (8 hour flight) in F. There were 2 upgradable seats left, so I blew 2 CR-1s to ensure that he and my mom (both approaching 70) are more comfortable on the long flight.

You CO people don't seem to understand how good we UA 1Ks had it. It was a great program. We are the ones, as expected, that lost today. We gained nothing...I just can't wait to hear how bad they're going to mess up the Million Miler program.

Anyone take a look at the news on the UA forum? Man, theres smoke coming from that thread. People are really ticked. Looks like 1K's are getting screwed at the EQS goes to 120 for qual vs 100 prior. I hope Unitental takes a look at this forum. There are a lot of big revenue customers on here. If not, looks like people are going to be jumping ship. Forget calling AA, I'm going to email twa and see if I can do a status match with their Aviator's program. :D

As expected. There is little upside to the merger from the 1K perspective. Nearly every program item or policy that CO brings to the table is a potential negative to a 1K.

As for me, I'm just relieved it wasn't worse. Being familiar with CO, I knew that having CO's hand in there meant the potential for a bigger devaluation was a real possibility.

Now to see what they do with the products -- E+, PS, etc.

I'd expect a fare basis code alignment process to start almost immediately in order that all tickets for 1/1/2012 and beyond are consistent. Since the open for sale date is generally 330 days before departure, I'd expect the alignment to be complete no later than 1/31/2011.

I wish that were the case. Unfortunately given that I fly 60 to 80 times a year to earn my 8 RU's... I still face the "lottery" 85% of the time... and the odds are now increasingly against my interest.

I guess, generically, what I'm saying is that while in all likelihood I'm in the upper 1% of their customers, I don't see this as an improvement. The sweet spot seems to be around 100k in travel. I'll do that by March next year, if I'm unlucky.

+1 If E+ is yanked I see UA going through a mass exodus of p-o'd elites to other airlines. I bet DL, AA, US are looking carefully at what is going to be said about PS, end especially economy plus.

I have no doubt the elites would be p.o.'d but why would they leave UA for other airlines that also don't have E+?

What would that accomplish?

DL has announced E+ on int'l routes.

But to answer your question, the real calculation is how many UA Elites give UA their business (even more expensive or less convenient business) because of E+? Those are the ones that are your biggest "flight" risk. ;)

Vengeance

Understood, but if the only other E+ is on DL's international flights, that's not much of a sword of damocles to hold over UaCo's head.

Even with DL int'l E+ I would argue there is essentially zero flight risk to UaCo if they get ride of E+, because the other Y cabins are more or less equally cramped.

There might be flight risk based on other programmatic benefits, but I actually think UaCo can get rid of this with virtual impunity, because, really, the only other carrier that has anything close to equivalent is B6.

I believe this calculus holds even if it can be shown that 100% of UA's elites choose UA principally for E+ (which, of course, they don't)

Ha Ha...but who would pay the price?

Just imagine the really angry UA 1K, all cramped in his US 734 seat, with his big-boy plastic cup in hand, no IFE, no WiFi...who would get the short end of the stick on that one?

The 120 segments thing was one of the straws that caused me to leave US.

One could be a serious road warrior who leaves every Sunday night or Monday morning to go to a client site, and returns every Thirsday or Friday for the entire year except a couple weeks off for vacation. If that commute is less than 1000 miles each way (a solid 2 hour flight covering a good chunk of the country), no top tier status for you.

Let me chime in as a 3-time 1K and say not all of us are up in arms about this. There is a lot of misleading info by 1Ks on FT. Not untruths but scenarios that are very travel-dependent held up as fact.

I flew 150k EQM in 2007 and only earned 4 CR1s. In the new rules I would earn (edited)8. So it doesn't mean that every 1K will get fewer CR1s with the new program! There could have been many 1K's earning less than 8 CR1s a year, I don't think I ever earned all 8 since I rarely fly in fall/winter. Now 125k gives you 6, matching the most I ever earned in the 'good old days'. And it throws 75k flyers a bone which I think is nice.

The old system was very complex in how you earned CR1s. It was checked every quarter and dependent on UA metal, BIS only. You could never earn more than 2 CR1s each quarter. In 2007 I flew ANA internationally for half the year and earned no CR1s for two quarters, even though I was racking up the EQM.

The new system is much simpler, allows you to reach CR1 thresholds on partner airlines or with CC bonus EQM, and rewards those who travel more. I can't argue with that.

The 120 segments IS a devaluation plain and simple, but it doesn't affect me. If it did, I would fight for it, or likely go to AA.

RE: E+; Leaving UA if E+ goes would not 'fix' the loss of E+, but other programs have benefits or services that are superior to UA (like call centers, routing, or even pricing), you might give them a try if E+ was your main 'retainer.'