Am I right in noticing that there are no real benefits to being UA 1K vs. CO Platinum for 2012 (besides being a little higher in the UDU priority)?

That's approximately two less transpac trips that I have to make on UA/CO. Now I can fly OZ and get their *G so I can use the lounge during domestic trips.

I agree completely and didn't UA have and then eliminate the close in booking fee?

Now for me, who may not be able to re-up to 1k this year, let me share an example.....

last may 15th, my best and oldest friend's father passed away. Being Jewish, one must be buried within 24 hours (excluding the Sabbath) and where died in Florida and was to be buried in Boston, an exception was made so the funeral was on may 19th. I was able to use my miles and book a ticket as soon as I knew the date of the funeral but if that happened under "the new changes I will like" :td: and I was not a 1k, the close in booking fee afaic, would in very simple terms, $uck.

The reintroduction of the "close in" fee (at 21 days, that's a fairly silly term for it) is an enormous devaluation.

Updated here:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0...k=%2Fawardfees

Note the references to the status of the person ( in some scenarios) at time of ticketing or cancelling.

so why are they not alligning the programs?
this makes no sense, if your going to have a merger, realign to one program

BUT THANK YOU for showing the changes to us

Even fee-crazed DL does not have close in fees. That really says smth.

Ok. Maybe a dumb question here...but what's the difference between "All members" and "General members"?

They did :td:, but they gave it up. ^

I can see revenue management wanting a close in booking fee to discourage the use of award tickets for last minute travel. :td: :td:

David

close-in fee
 

All of this seems reasonable except the reintroduction of the close-in fee. Didn't UA just get rid of this fee less than a year ago? And now they are reintroducing it again?!! blah

The "Cancelling your trip and re-crediting miles" fee of $150.00, even for 1K's on trips booked prior to June 15 is an insult. Please explain why existing 1K booked award trips are penalized???:td:

I think you misread it.

Agree with both of this.

Don't sugar coat it. This is another change from the horrid CEO that I absolutely do not like - especially removing the competitive advantage of no close-in booking fee.

I am daily hopeful for Smisek's removal ASAP.

And they better eliminate the tagline "the mileage program that wants you to use your miles" because that is no longer true.

I understand the outcries for the close-in booking fee, but overall the changes are reasonably balanced.

And if a general/low-level elite member is interested in booking at the last minute in an international premium cabin (which is when availability is often released), the fee is still modest compared to the value of the ticket.

The fee really hurts for domestic last-minute trips, though. But opportunistically this could lead to improved availability of connecting flights for last-minute TATL/TPAC awards, which are the ones I care most about.

You forgot to mention the reduction in award ticket change fees (to below many competitors) and the reduction in mileage re-deposit fees (to below many competitors).

Thats exactly it. I can see the second year MBA at 77 W Wacker emailing his boss an excel spreadsheet as to why:

Lost $$ revenue using miles 21 days prior to flight >> the change in fee at $150

Significantly devalues my miles as a 2P