raehl311

The fundamental issue is that UA aircraft have WAY more E+ seats than CO aircraft have ELR seats. And many of CO's ELR seats have drawbacks like no underseat storage or no/reduced recline.

So UA can let any elite sit in E+ without running out of E+ seats for all their elites. CO can't.

Long-term, I would expect E+ access to be available to any elite any time. Short term, UA (and higher-status elites) may not want the limited number of ELR seats on CO aircraft filled out by Silvers/2Ps prior to check-in.



More generally, I would rather have more F seats and more E+ seats, but I'd also rather have E+ seats than more F seats. I wouldn't be too upset if I lost some F upgrades in trade for ALWAYS having at least E+.

E+ is, for me, a major step-up over E-. F isn't as much of a step up over E+. Especially if, say, Plats in E+ got a comp drink.

EsquireFlyer

One of the things that won't change in the months ahead that I think I'll like.

Other possibilites would be: retain 3-cabin F, p.s., Channel 9, and pillows and real blankets. Basically, stop making changes.

Except Starnet. Please kill Starnet.

nov11

Thank you!!! This is excellent news and thanks for sharing Scott! ^

LAXOGG

Funny how the members how said there was no way that E+ would be retained have gone silent! Let me rub it in......you missed it big time.

ijgordon

Well, I've sort of arrived at a similar conclusion, except the problem is they probably need more F seats on the transcons. I don't think there are enough PS-configured planes (obviously that could be rectified) to handle all those routes. Though maybe UA has some other high-F capacity equipment that could be redeployed on some of the ex-EWR transcons?

squarestatejeff

Great news!

As for taking away F seats, I think we all hope they reduce Y capacity instead; however, if the choice was fewer F seats in order to have E+, then I'd be willing to make that sacrifice.

joshwex90

I knew that the return of Scott was a good thing! Glad to hear, and looking forward!!

flaii

I agree with you. When I first heard the announcement, I rejoiced because it seemed like things would be "like they've always been." But after reading the post from UA Insider, it seems like there at least is a possibility for some changes down the line as far as access goes. This makes me a bit worried.

UA-NYC

Will definitely celebrate for a day, and try to stay cautiously optimistic for future "changes we'll like". But this is definitely huge.

Interesting to note that it looks like the DL int'l E+ announcement may have spurred an acceleration of the Jan 26 announced "30-60 days for configuration decision" statement on the earnings conference call.

eugene flyer

Great news for now. We will have to see what changes still lie ahead.

channa

It's a change for CO planes. It's no change for UA planes.


You mean keep UA as is?


StarNet is good. Look at how easy it is to book OAL awards on Star vs. say SkyTeam.

StarNet blocking is bad. Not sure we've seen much if any of it in the past several months, but from a policy perspective, yeah, it needs to go.

kb1992

There is no change for UA flyers, channa. We always get E+ since 1999.

Nice change for CO flyers.

When they decide to maintain status quo, people are cheering like it's the best news ever since the merger.

This further verifies the sorry state of this merger. People pray that SMI/J doesn't destroy what we have now.

If UA announces that 1Ks get 6 SWUs without fare restriction and can be used on CO flights, then that is a change I like.

Until then, I maintain that UA elites have not received any major benefits from this merger. All "changes" are negative so far.

tanlines

While that would be preferable, I just don't see it happening... especially on the -700, -800 and -900 aircraft. Logic says 4 F seats will disappear from each of those planes to make room for E+.

adambadam

Awesome news. Glad management got it right. ^^

cova

We really need to see the rest of this announcement before we make conclusions:

1. Reduction of F would be bad. Still TBD

2. EUA/UDU to E+ for low level elites would be bad for them. Who can reserve E+ or ELR in advance is TBD.

What if:

1. UA/CO reduces F cabins

2. Top tiers PPlat/Plat/Gold/GS/1K/1P get E+ at time of ticket. But have to pay for upgrade to F. With the buy up program we sort of see this now.

3. Silver/2P only get EUA/UDU into E+ if there are E+ seats available.

While the good news has been announced, the TBDs could be the bad news.

I think UA/CO is trying to differentiate from LLC with E+. But E+ becomes the elite seating option and F becomes a buy up or requires a high fare code (B or M) to get F. These buyups or high fare only to F helps pay for the loss of 1 row of Y to create E+.

What would you do if auto upgrades to F go away and only upgradeable for set or variable fees or only apply to high level fare codes? Would you switch to DL or AA (if you earn AA Exec Plat)?