To a certain degree, that's Polaris already in terms of soft product.

Looks like I need to focus on maintaining OWE because I'm not going to pay for a business class seat on UA.

Might be premature as UA has not signaled their intent yet.

UA elites with UA branded CCs will likely be exempt from some of the restrictions if they go with it, IMHO. But I also expect it will further adversely affect upgrade rates.

Not worth stressing out over until they actually announce something, IMO.

Until Delta goes there, we won’t see UA move. Quite complicated with all the different JVs - that’s not going to be easy. UA will jump on the unbundling bandwagon, but they also know that corporate customers want their seat assignments and may have limited option on what they can book.

This entire thread is premature, as UA has not signaled its intent yet.

Perhaps, But there are some signs suggesting changes are coming. UA and LH, as a part of the TATL JV have had always had a unified fare structure (doubt this was a surprise to UA). Plus this makes some sense of the booking UI change. And UA in their survey's has hinted at some feature unbundling, And finally UA has openly stated Basic Economy has been very successful. So some pretty strong hints. Maybe more not if, but when. A d what benefits are unbundled.

No hints yet on how elites and/or credit card holders would be impacted (except to note what LH did).

More so, as in UAs case there are two JVs involved: TATL (AC and LH group) and TPAC (ANA).

But UA's primary TATL JV partner LH has now implemented "light" business class fares, thus this thread. Hard to believe that LH will forever carve out North America from its new fare structure.

US carriers are still pretty good on seat fees and industry leading on no change fees and award cancel policies, so perhaps there is some measure of hope. Still a bit hard to believe LH is really going this alone though.

Perhaps not forever, but this is what AF/KL are doing currently. They have had Business Light fare offerings for awhile now, but not on the TATL routes where they coordinate fare filings with DL/VS JV partners.

I hope and pray UA does not follow LH down this road. Premium travel should be smooth and easy, not complicated with multiple decisions like buying car insurance. Imagine if ticketing becomes like visiting the rental car counter with all the upsells. No thank you.

Maybe they can fix the beyond HKG and NRT segment issues first before charging for seats or meals that don't stick to the reservation anyway.

The US legacies are currently ultra-bullish on long-haul travel. Premium travel demand and prices are at record highs. Last year, trade-related uncertainty discouraged some from booking. And now some are trying to catch up, not entirely unlike post covid-19 "revenge" travel.

An article in today's FT suspects the US3 might have to revise their expectations downwards next quarter (due to the Iran war, oil prices near $100 etc.), but business is very strong still.

I would argue UA does not need business light. Also, keep in mind LH group does not introduce PE/J light on TATL routes. I think that will follow within a year. But, for now, there is no argument to be made that UA needs to follow LH group in order to keep their pricing scheme aligned with that of the JV partner.

Also stated in the original LH thread
So no urgency as TATL is off the table for now.

There's a reason for that - they can't do it without their JV partners going along. The fares are set in common.

They don't need to, but some bean counter will figure the extra couple of hundred on each flight will make them millions. Once one major airline does it, the rest follow suit and there will be no turning back, just like BE. The ensh*ttification of everything continues. Seems like everything peaked in 2010. I wouldn't stick to a single alliance if they start nickel and diming the premium cabins also.