Merger Update – May 2011 (Includes boarding & check-in changes)
May 18, 2011, 8:58 am
#31
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,305
Some good updates there, thank you Scott!
Specifically, I like the fee waiver for pmOP Gold members on same-day changes, and of course, carpet boarding.
I really couldn't care less what color the carpet is when I board, but the really nice thing about Golds being able to use the bypass lane, is that if I get to the gate late for whatever reason, I'm not stuck behind the gargantuan line. I can use the carpet to cut in front. It happens occasionally when catching a connection, and with the pmUA boarding system, it meant I'd get stuck. Not anymore. Cool!
Thanks!
Specifically, I like the fee waiver for pmOP Gold members on same-day changes, and of course, carpet boarding.
I really couldn't care less what color the carpet is when I board, but the really nice thing about Golds being able to use the bypass lane, is that if I get to the gate late for whatever reason, I'm not stuck behind the gargantuan line. I can use the carpet to cut in front. It happens occasionally when catching a connection, and with the pmUA boarding system, it meant I'd get stuck. Not anymore. Cool!
Thanks!
May 18, 2011, 8:59 am
#32
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: CX DM, DL DM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 438
I'm holding US non-immigration visa legally living in the States. Using either online or self check-in machine at the airport would never get me boarding pass for international travel. I would only get DM card and require me reporting to gate agent again. Wasting my time, IMO. Therefore, I would rather see agent to check me in to avoid hassle for international travel. Not everyone has US passport.
I just don't get why both UA and CO change international cut-off time from 45 to 60 minutes.
lves that issue as long as you don't have to check bags.I just don't get why both UA and CO change international cut-off time from 45 to 60 minutes.
May 18, 2011, 9:13 am
#33
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Mr O’Leary,
You are making a mistake in changing the boarding process from Zone to "Back to Front" and I hope you listen to your most loyal (and highest revenue generating) customers. Please reconsider the choice and return to the more efficient Zone Seating process. Surely, someone must have looked at studie on this topic, like the one at http://leeds-faculty.colorado.edu/va...g.htm#section2?
I traveled out from ORD to MCO yesterday and I was not impressed with the new branding, the boarding procees or the condition of the United Red Carpet club in Concourse B South. I hope this is not a preview of the things to come.
United 1K members SPEAK UP! Send your concerns to [customer service] NOW! We can make a difference.....
Pogo
You are making a mistake in changing the boarding process from Zone to "Back to Front" and I hope you listen to your most loyal (and highest revenue generating) customers. Please reconsider the choice and return to the more efficient Zone Seating process. Surely, someone must have looked at studie on this topic, like the one at http://leeds-faculty.colorado.edu/va...g.htm#section2?
I traveled out from ORD to MCO yesterday and I was not impressed with the new branding, the boarding procees or the condition of the United Red Carpet club in Concourse B South. I hope this is not a preview of the things to come.
United 1K members SPEAK UP! Send your concerns to [customer service] NOW! We can make a difference.....
Pogo
if you're a 1K the only difference will be the amount of people on the red carpet and not maybe not being able to simply walk up at any time and find no one standing on the RC after general boarding has startedPersonally I think opening the RC flood gates to almost everyone is a mistake
May 18, 2011, 9:13 am
#34
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Land of King Richard the Second (Chicago)
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 730
did I read that 2p now gets priority tags?
May 18, 2011, 9:27 am
#35
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 12
if you're a 1K the only difference will be the amount of people on the red carpet and not maybe not being able to simply walk up at any time and find no one standing on the RC after general boarding has startedPersonally I think opening the RC flood gates to almost everyone is a mistake
pogo
May 18, 2011, 9:40 am
#36
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: CX DM, DL DM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 438
Looks like it. Both UA/CO website shows 2P/Silver receiving priority baggage handling on UA/CO equipments.
http://www.united.com/page/article/1...cessPrivileges
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...e/default.aspx
http://www.united.com/page/article/1...cessPrivileges
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...e/default.aspx
May 18, 2011, 9:41 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,603
Somebody mentioned on Twitter that the carpet was becoming blue?
May 18, 2011, 9:50 am
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat
Posts: 11,500
May 18, 2011, 9:56 am
#40
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: Various
Posts: 6,526
Well, most of these I can handle, I guess. I like the free SDC for Premier Exec+ - even though I'm 1K, I thought that the 50k+ fliers should get that perk all along. I do NOT like the elimination of 1K+ only check-in, though. Assuming that this will be implemented in European airports as well, I could see this making my travel from LHR, in particular, becoming a lot more onerous.
May 18, 2011, 9:57 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
The Premier Access webpage mentions International First, Business Class, and Business First as being eligible for Premier Access (along with elites and credit card members)
What about domestic first? Is this an oversight, or if I buy a domestic first class ticket will I not be eligible for Premier Access check-in and security lines?
What about domestic first? Is this an oversight, or if I buy a domestic first class ticket will I not be eligible for Premier Access check-in and security lines?
May 18, 2011, 9:58 am
#42
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: AA, AS, TZ, UA, Clipper, EZ-Link, Hop, Navigo, Octopus, Oyster
Posts: 417
Same-Day Flight Changes.
We’ve also aligned and expanded who is exempt from these fees: OnePass Gold/Platinum/Presidential Platinum and Mileage Plus Premier Executive/1K/Global Services members when traveling on either airline.
Excellent!
Also, 1Kpogoyoyo we get that you feel strongly about boarding, but you don't have to post the same comment multiple times.
We’ve also aligned and expanded who is exempt from these fees: OnePass Gold/Platinum/Presidential Platinum and Mileage Plus Premier Executive/1K/Global Services members when traveling on either airline.
Excellent!
Also, 1Kpogoyoyo we get that you feel strongly about boarding, but you don't have to post the same comment multiple times.
May 18, 2011, 10:00 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: EWR, BDL
Posts: 4,471
Mr. O’Leary,
You are making a mistake in changing the boarding process from Zone to "Back to Front" and I hope you listen to your most loyal (and highest revenue generating) customers. Please reconsider the choice and return to the more efficient Zone Seating process. Surely, someone must have looked at studies on this topic, like the one at http://leeds-faculty.colorado.edu/va...g/boarding.htmI traveled out from ORD to MCO yesterday and I was not impressed with the new branding, the boarding procees or the condition of the United Red Carpet club in Concourse B South. I hope this is not a preview of the things to come.
United 1K members SPEAK UP! Send your concerns to [private elite contact info deleted by moderator] NOW! We can make a difference.....
Pogo
You are making a mistake in changing the boarding process from Zone to "Back to Front" and I hope you listen to your most loyal (and highest revenue generating) customers. Please reconsider the choice and return to the more efficient Zone Seating process. Surely, someone must have looked at studies on this topic, like the one at http://leeds-faculty.colorado.edu/va...g/boarding.htmI traveled out from ORD to MCO yesterday and I was not impressed with the new branding, the boarding procees or the condition of the United Red Carpet club in Concourse B South. I hope this is not a preview of the things to come.
United 1K members SPEAK UP! Send your concerns to [private elite contact info deleted by moderator] NOW! We can make a difference.....
Pogo
Mr O'Leary is a spokesperson. It wasn't him who thought up the new boarding process it was several upper level employees as a whole who decided on this. Also wht is emailing someone at UA gonna do? With the exception of a few who actually do respond, your jus gonna get a canned response tht says :
Dear so and so thank you so much for contacting us about the new boarding procedures we apprecitate your time blah blah blah our staff is looking into blah blah blah I seriously doubt there gonna revert back to zone boarding.
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; May 18, 2011 at 1:55 pm Reason: conforming edit to original quoted material
May 18, 2011, 10:02 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,222
I can't see that this change makes a big difference to me.
May 18, 2011, 10:05 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
United 1K members SPEAK UP! Send your concerns to [email protected] NOW! We can make a difference.....
Eh, I'll save it for when they gut something more substantial. If they want to screw up their #1 ON TIME performance, let them.