dinoscool3

I'm talking about pretzels, not BOB, UA, brought that.
Plenty? About 20 if that even. And last time I checked, the AVOD is free in Y, which is more then you can say for UA.
It's still scrunched together. I much prefer COs BF seat.
I said hubs, CO has multiple showers at EWR and IAH. UA doesn't have as many (and they have more lounges).


Excuse me then, I thought we both received the downgrade at the same time, after the merger was announced.

I'd say it's pretty balanced. UA gets soft product upgrades (mainly in food), entertainment upgrades, many more destinations, and a better award booking system (as well as the elimination of StarNet blocking). And CO gets the things you described. If that's not balanced, I don't know what is.

COSPILOT

Good point. I think it will increase.

COSPILOT

I guess if you consider going from a Lincoln to a Ford Focus to be no big deal, then your post makes sense. Otherwise I don't see where the balance is. Yes, neither was a Mercedes, but still a change for the less.

Regarding AVOD, I bet that is more important to the infrequent traveler not the guy flying to the next meeting.

Bottom line is that the "new" program is a downgrade from previous years, for many if not most of the elites. I'm happy for you to look at the positive and ignore the negative, more power to you.

dinoscool3

Where am I ignoring the negative? I try to balance out the good and the bad, and frankly, the bad doesn't look that bad. Obviously there are downgrades, I reconize that. I don't like the fact that I will only be getting a 50% RDM bonus. But is that something to get worked up about? No. Is not having Starbucks coffee? No.


And just to say, I went berserk when CO introduced BOB.

joel67

In looking at the negatives that each party brings to the merger, I'm trying to separate out the subjective attributes, where people will generally prefer the things they're used to. For example I personally find the F seats on CO much less comfortable than CO's, but don't doubt that others feel the opposite. While I do find the CO food tastier, their heavy use of high-cholestoral ingredients and avoidance of things green or fresh leaves me feeling a bit uncomfortable. The obnoxious and loud DirecTV commercials at the beginning of each flight make me wish for the AVODs to be removed. I've had a number of CO cabin crews who seem like the kettles that I hear are common on CO flights, but I'm willing to assume that staffing quality is uneven on both airlines. In recent years I had come to like regional jets, flying in F or E+, but CO has introduced me to the wonderful world of E145s and D200s. Yes, the new C cabins on UA equipment feel more crowded than BF on CO, but the seats themselves are pretty comparable and you now have a true F cabin as well. Okay, the PC's had showers in IAH and EWR, while the RCCs just had better food; now the UCs have downgraded food, but still have showers in IAH and EWR.

All of the above items, in my opinion, are subjective attributes where a reasonable person might prefer one or the other, so they pretty well balance out. Looking at the more objective differences that don't seem to balance, I see negatives that CO has brought like: removal of pillows (and flimsy blankets), downgrade of coffee, screwed up boarding process, major crowding at "priority" check-in and security lines, payment policies that take my money earlier and make it harder to get back, and blatant efforts to sell my upgrades out from under me (or possibly systems that are so screwed up they do this by mistake!).

This brings me back to my original question, is there anything brought from the UA side that is objectively negative versus what CO had previously?

FriendlySkies

How hard is it to keep miles from expiring? Generating some activity once every 18 months isn't that hard, is it? Many here have said that UA is a business, and not a charity. What benefit do they get from allowing miles to stay on the books for an infinite amount of time?

How many 735s does CO have? They don't have any IFE.. Even though it's overhead, UA has IFE on every mainline domestic aircraft, and PTVs on the 767s & the reconfigured 777s.

The list is endless, unfortunately. It seems that the new leadership team (aren't they mostly CO? ) decided to choose the cheaper option of the two carriers.. Terrible blankets and no pillows? Check. Bad snacks in the RCCs? Check. etc, etc, etc.

COSPILOT

So what do you get worked up about, if not RDM bonus, upgrade certificates, etc?

LIke I said, I'm still moving forward with UA, but I've never been more aware of other options. I now consider UA a vendor and not a partner. Those in sales know this is not good.

dinoscool3

It's not hard to keep miles from expiring, however as I've mentioned before, it's the principle of the thing.

They don't have many.
UA may have IFE, however for the most part it's crappy.

Actually the board is almost split down the middle.


As I said in my last sentence, I went berserk when CO introduced BOB. I often get worked up over service things like when CO took away free food in Y, and then took pretzels away. And when they put BOB on Hawaii flights (which BTW is something UA brought).

UA-NYC

Actually, at last check I think it hat shifted to 60-65% PMCO IIRC

andrewwm

Sundaes on transcons. Check. Free decent booze in the RCCs. Check. Free wifi for all in the RCCs. Check. Free entertainment on all international 777s. Check. No Starnet blocking. Check. Generous boost to 1MM qualification. Check. Fleetwide rollout of Channel 9. Check. Fleetwide rollout of snack baskets and warm nuts. Check. Fleetwide E+. Check.

People around here act like UA hadn't slowly degraded their own product for the last 10 years. Both UA and CO had highly degraded products relative to where we were even 5 years ago. We're just now getting a more or less same level of degraded product in a slightly different configuration. I don't see why it's worth getting so worked up about :shrug:

rob_flies_ua

Feel free to suggest changes to http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-ua-vs-co.html

dinoscool3

Notice I said almost. I think 40%-60% is almost split down the middle, theres no major majority for either.

91StealthES

Just FYI if the holograms don't arrive before the end of January...

Upon entering the Senators lounge in Hamburg, I was asked to provide my Star Gold card. I supplied both my MP and OP card. The greeter looked at the United card and told me it is expired. She then corrected herself and stated, "oh no, it expires the end of the month, enjoy a cocktail" and waived me in.

Looks like if those holograms don't show up we will have problems with lounge access due to United not informing other airlines about the delay in cards. Hopefully they accept the holograms!

Rush2112SFO

Last week I booked SMF-DEN-SMF for a trip in May. As a P2 I selected an E+ seat. I will have Silver status in 2012. When the transition is made later this quarter, and Silver's can no longer get E+ at time of booking, do you think UA will strip my E+ seat?

I've read about people booking E+ when they had Elite status and then having it taken away when they do not maintain status near the time of the flight.

But since my status is not really changing - UA is "just" devaluing it - I would be pretty upset if they strip my E+ seat after the program transition is complete.

RNE

You may sit in E- steaming, but you'll sit there nonetheless and you'll continue to book flights on COdbaUA. Ho hum.