Any Interest?
Dec 24, 2005, 7:50 pm
#31
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: IAD
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Originally Posted by ClimbGuy
Well there is allways the "my flight lives in 5 minutes i can't wait in this line" method. Anyway does anyone know if DCA has an elite line?
Dec 24, 2005, 9:54 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,072
Correct me if i am run both both IAD and DCA are run by the DC transit authority. So if they could get an elite line at one airport why not another?
Originally Posted by DHAST
Which terminal/pier? DCA has four different ones. Terminal A which I use has one.
Dec 25, 2005, 12:21 am
#33
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: IAD
Programs: Chase Million Miler, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,729
Originally Posted by ClimbGuy
Correct me if i am run both both IAD and DCA are run by the DC transit authority. So if they could get an elite line at one airport why not another?
Technically, you're wrong It's not the DC transit authority that runs the airport, the transit authority runs the subway and bus system in the city, with other regions running other bus systems.DCA/IAD are run by the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA). Reference the above posts in this thread and over on the various UA threads on the issue -- nobody seems to know why there are no elite lines at IAD. I'm not sure if the B/C piers at DCA have elite lines, but I know NW pretty much controls the A terminal at DCA. But like I said, nobody here knows the answer to that question, so asking about it is futile.
Dec 25, 2005, 9:15 am
#34
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,072
Well I haven't had too much when I wrote that, but I'll be going to San Juan on DH tomorrow and while I am there I will not be posting because I will be in a constant intoxicated state.
Originally Posted by DHAST
A little too much to drink when you wrote that ? Technically, you're wrong It's not the DC transit authority that runs the airport, the transit authority runs the subway and bus system in the city, with other regions running other bus systems.
DCA/IAD are run by the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA). Reference the above posts in this thread and over on the various UA threads on the issue -- nobody seems to know why there are no elite lines at IAD. I'm not sure if the B/C piers at DCA have elite lines, but I know NW pretty much controls the A terminal at DCA. But like I said, nobody here knows the answer to that question, so asking about it is futile.
Technically, you're wrong It's not the DC transit authority that runs the airport, the transit authority runs the subway and bus system in the city, with other regions running other bus systems.DCA/IAD are run by the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA). Reference the above posts in this thread and over on the various UA threads on the issue -- nobody seems to know why there are no elite lines at IAD. I'm not sure if the B/C piers at DCA have elite lines, but I know NW pretty much controls the A terminal at DCA. But like I said, nobody here knows the answer to that question, so asking about it is futile.
Dec 25, 2005, 1:17 pm
#35
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Location: London
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Originally Posted by ClimbGuy
Well there is allways the "my flight lives in 5 minutes i can't wait in this line" method. Anyway does anyone now if DCA has an elite line?
Dec 25, 2005, 1:18 pm
#36
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Location: London
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Originally Posted by ILv2Fly
If you are uninterested in the airline then why are you on this board?
Dec 25, 2005, 1:20 pm
#37
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Originally Posted by DHAST
I know elite status is more than F class upgrades, but check over on the boards of airlines that offer unlimited free domestic upgrades... the % of times one gets upgraded seems to be a deal breaker with airline loyalty. That and "too many elites, no preboard today" seem to be the biggest complaints.
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My signiature shows my upgrade success in the past year on US Airways but it's basically about 90% and most of that time was spent at the lowest level of elite, Silver. Yes, I tried to schedule flights with bigger F cabins and I don't fly the busiest of business routes but have been upgrade into and out of LGA as a Silver on sold out flights, etc.
My United Premier (also lowest level) mother is constantly upgraded on ORD-PHL - a prime business route.
Dec 26, 2005, 6:56 am
#38
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: IAD
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Originally Posted by sts603
In reality though - most fliers, especially mid and top tier fliers get upgraded on most routes. There are a group of fliers which complain since they fly those routes with enormous numbers of elite fliers and fly at the busiest business traveler times.
My signiature shows my upgrade success in the past year on US Airways but it's basically about 90% and most of that time was spent at the lowest level of elite, Silver. Yes, I tried to schedule flights with bigger F cabins and I don't fly the busiest of business routes but have been upgrade into and out of LGA as a Silver on sold out flights, etc.
My United Premier (also lowest level) mother is constantly upgraded on ORD-PHL - a prime business route.
My signiature shows my upgrade success in the past year on US Airways but it's basically about 90% and most of that time was spent at the lowest level of elite, Silver. Yes, I tried to schedule flights with bigger F cabins and I don't fly the busiest of business routes but have been upgrade into and out of LGA as a Silver on sold out flights, etc.
My United Premier (also lowest level) mother is constantly upgraded on ORD-PHL - a prime business route.
NW west coast elites have it tough. With the shortest one way flight being 1500 miles (out of LAX anyway), tack on a connection and you have 500 miles minimums, you've got a 4000 mile round trip flight. Do it through DTW and you have 5000 miles roundtrip. At those rates, just 5-6 trips makes one a silver. That means if you actually do a decent amount of flying, you hit top tier without too much effort. I made PLAT this year on, oh, 13 domestic roundtrips.
So, I submit that your "small group" is actually quite large on the west coast. If you live on the west coast and never get upgraded, you won't be too happy. I guess that the real reality is that if you live in a tough market, you could care less about "everbody else's" luck. It's easy to suck it up if you visit a tough market and say "it's tough" but when you base there it gets annoying. I'm about 50/50 this year as a silver on my LA trips. Incidentally, I have as difficult of time upgrading my MKE-HUB trips as I do LAX-HUB.
Dec 28, 2005, 9:11 am
#39
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Bethesda, MD, USA
Programs: UA GS 1K, CO PLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG PLAT, Hyatt PLAT
Posts: 93
Originally Posted by DHAST
When they operated as ACA for United, they had a little lounge in the A concourse. Originally, it was only marketed/open to those who flew ACA itself quite frequently, without regard to their status on UA. Over time, it also became open to 1K's or something like that.