Economy Plus is here to stay
Feb 17, 2011, 3:47 pm
#106
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Manhattan
Programs: CO Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,468
And it is obvious that is what will happen. Terribly disappointing to see CO keeping E+ and reducing F seats. I already have a hard time finding enough F inventory to buy and for those of us who pay for F, E+ is a poor substitute.
Feb 17, 2011, 3:51 pm
#107
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,686
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.
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.
Feb 17, 2011, 3:51 pm
#108
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: The World.
Programs: UA MP/UC - "RIP Tulip Plat"
Posts: 1,225
AWESOME NEWS!
Finally something we'll like- ^ ^
edit: man some people can never be happy...
If you really pay for F, you dont have anything to worry about, its the free upgrades that will die down with the F cabin reductions...
Finally something we'll like- ^ ^
edit: man some people can never be happy...
If you really pay for F, you dont have anything to worry about, its the free upgrades that will die down with the F cabin reductions...
Last edited by UAL4life; Feb 17, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Feb 17, 2011, 3:53 pm
#109
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Everywhere but home far too often
Programs: Too many
Posts: 401
^ for keeping E+. I hope they choose to remove Y not F seats to add it.
Feb 17, 2011, 3:54 pm
#110
Join Date: May 2001
Location: HNL
Posts: 1,015
Exactly what I was thinking... Additionally, while they're at it, why not make Int'l E+ more of a premium economy offering with free u/g's limited to top tiers. Throw in free drinks like DL and an upgraded meal, and 8+ hour flights might be bearable again.
Feb 17, 2011, 3:55 pm
#111
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: OMA/DSM
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 164
As a UA 1K, missing an upgrade is very rare, and UA has way less seats in First than CO so I don't see how it's an issue. Do they really need that many First seats? For example on the 737-800, 132 coach seats and 20 first class is a bit much. This about the same size as an A320 for UA and they have 12 First seats on this plane. Maybe if both carriers had 16 FC seats on an aircraft this size, that would be best.
Feb 17, 2011, 3:57 pm
#112
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: MEL
Programs: QR platinum
Posts: 606
Great news ^
Feb 17, 2011, 3:57 pm
#113
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
Big thumbs up
Great news Scott!! I am so so tempted to pull up the threads of the naysayers and bashers; but they know who they are already...
SunLover
SunLover
Feb 17, 2011, 3:58 pm
#114
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,926
As a UA 1K, missing an upgrade is very rare, and UA has way less seats in First than CO so I don't see how it's an issue. Do they really need that many First seats? For example on the 737-800, 132 coach seats and 20 first class is a bit much. This about the same size as an A320 for UA and they have 12 First seats on this plane. Maybe if both carriers had 16 FC seats on an aircraft this size, that would be best.
Feb 17, 2011, 3:58 pm
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
But this doesn't dispute the fact that UA elites have very little to cheer for. We only hope that Smisek keeps status quo and doesn't take away what we have now.
When no news becomes good news and causes mass celebration, you know how sorry we feel about this merger.
Feb 17, 2011, 4:02 pm
#116
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO/STT as often as possible
Programs: UA; Delta; US Air; BA Executive Club
Posts: 212
Great news on E+ being extended to the CO fleet.
I have flown a few flights on CO since the "reciprocal" upgrade policy took effect and have never cleared an upgrade, but instead usually got an exit row seat. With E+ the number of seats that will save you from E- is substantial. Since I first attained Elite Status with United a few years ago I have never had to sit in anything less than E+ on a UA mainline flight. After being on a few Delta and CO flights in straight Y the last year I really noticed the difference.
Every elite would like a fleet with 50-100 First Class seats per aircraft and 20 rows of E+, that will simply not happen.
With the overall increase in elites next year the only way to be pretty sure that your upgrade will clear will be if you are 1K (100,000 miles) or higher. Silvers/Premiers and Golds/Premier Executives will have a harder time of it on hub to hub flights.
I have flown a few flights on CO since the "reciprocal" upgrade policy took effect and have never cleared an upgrade, but instead usually got an exit row seat. With E+ the number of seats that will save you from E- is substantial. Since I first attained Elite Status with United a few years ago I have never had to sit in anything less than E+ on a UA mainline flight. After being on a few Delta and CO flights in straight Y the last year I really noticed the difference.
Every elite would like a fleet with 50-100 First Class seats per aircraft and 20 rows of E+, that will simply not happen.
With the overall increase in elites next year the only way to be pretty sure that your upgrade will clear will be if you are 1K (100,000 miles) or higher. Silvers/Premiers and Golds/Premier Executives will have a harder time of it on hub to hub flights.
Feb 17, 2011, 4:03 pm
#117
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,454
Let's wait and see how it shakes out. Scott's words, "This is yet to be decided. It’s an important decision, especially for our domestic fleet, and one we’re putting a lot of thought into." sound an awful lot like the company line on Economy Plus prior to today's announcement.
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.
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.
Feb 17, 2011, 4:03 pm
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,572
This is fantastic news! CO's seating is one of the top reasons I end up booking on other carriers, especially when flying last minute. This pretty much fixes that issue, and I really don't care if it comes at the expense of some F seats.
So far it looks like this merger is is a net positive for both UA and CO flyers. We get E+, they get rid of UA's fraudulent *Net blocking practice. Let's hope that trend continues and we see DTV on UA aircraft and Gogo on CO.
So far it looks like this merger is is a net positive for both UA and CO flyers. We get E+, they get rid of UA's fraudulent *Net blocking practice. Let's hope that trend continues and we see DTV on UA aircraft and Gogo on CO.
Feb 17, 2011, 4:19 pm
#120
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Good to know we sparked an answer from the Monarchy. And even gladder to know the answer went our way! E+ is the coin of the realm. 
RNE, bragging, "Chalk up another correct prediction for me on the ol' celestial blackboard." ^
P.S. Expect "Off with their heads!" for a row of FC seats on many planes. If you're not platinum or better, you'd've never gotten those seats anyway.
RNE, bragging, "Chalk up another correct prediction for me on the ol' celestial blackboard." ^
P.S. Expect "Off with their heads!" for a row of FC seats on many planes. If you're not platinum or better, you'd've never gotten those seats anyway.