Originally Posted by BlackMountain

FWIW, the RASM numbers are posted by the major carriers every month. For June, Delta and AA posted year on year June RASM growth around 8%, United posted growth in the 4-6% range.

Originally Posted by DCEsquire

Yep. And Goldman initiated a *sell* on Thursday. I disagree with the author here, but the headwinds for UAL are significant going forward.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/7193...ng-unwarranted

Apparently modeling UAL RASM gains just above 2% in the second half.

Originally Posted by star_world

...Add me to the list of people who has been consistently upgraded on all expected flights since 3/3, never had to wait more than a minute any time I called the 1K line and have had terrific rebooking experiences during the IRROPs I encountered...

Originally Posted by dgcpaphd

With all due respect, I hope you realize one probable reason for your upgrade success.

Thousands of UA elites abandoned UA and took the status match at AA. Of course, this removes those elites competing for upgrades. Consequently, your being treated "right" by UA is merely a fallout from fewer customers competing for the same seats...

Originally Posted by dgcpaphd

...On the other hand, many UA customers are not happy with the new UA management as is obvious from reading this forum.
-

Originally Posted by spin88

I don't know where you made this up from, if you have a cite, I would like to see it...

I have heard it said that most GS members are international passengers (I'm one of the few, or so I have been told, who is mostly domestic) But I know of nothing UA has ever said on the point. Ditto total elite members, you are probably correct that there are more domestically (just total numbers) but I've never seen anything that says this.

Clearly changes in the MP program will have different effects on both sets of passengers, but then I think for the top elites flying internationally, many also fly domestically. Regardless, I see no reason why one would not look at both domestic and international Loads/profitability metrics to know if the current approach is working. The ability to attract premium traffic is the broader issue, and the complaints/issues don't just effects folks with MP status. The loss of a $10K C fare is a loss, wither its to a MP member or someone who is not.

And since you main point is that international is (so you allege) effected more by international conditions, that is why UA's PRASM is compared to other global airlines (DL and AA). Its the relative spread that one looks at to see how UA is stacking up, not the absolute numbers. I've posted these absolute numbers elsewhere, as you know. No surprise UA is doing poorly compared to other airlines.

obviously if you wanted to see how UA was stacking up to SW or JetBlue or US with its lighter international footprint) then you might look at the domestic PRASM numbers, but I don't think that is your point.

Originally Posted by mmack

Do you have confirmed extension of 2013 GPUs to the end of the year ie Dec2013? Nothing i have seen has suggested this will happen.

Originally Posted by cova

..

Better seat in F,
- 98% upgrade rate (always upgraded out of DCA),
- meals in F on shorter flights - like DCA-ORD at meal time (UA serves a junk food basket),
- free drinks and free food in coach as EXP (if you are ever in coach),
- SWU work on any fare,
- no TODs (you buy instant F upgrade fare at ticket time, if available),
- availability of Costco 10% coupons, etc.
- fancier, larger lounges (like at LAX, SFO, DFW, etc)
.

Originally Posted by emcsweeney

Definitely cool stuff...hopefully it will still be around when they exit bankruptcy...or dare I say...merge. Might depend on what Smisek...er, I mean Parker has to say about it.

Originally Posted by ibuyyoufly

Should the US-AA merger ever occur, at least they will have a historical business template for what not to do.

Originally Posted by emcsweeney

From a merger process/planning/implementation standpoint, I completely agree. However, I also think there might be 'thousands and thousands' of disillusioned AA elites looking for greener pastures...at UA!

Originally Posted by ibuyyoufly

Should the US-AA merger ever occur, at least they will have a historical business template for what not to do.

Originally Posted by cova

These were 4 GPUs expiring Sept 2012, which I had extended to Dec 2012. I used them for a 950 mile nonstop flight on UA for two of us, Roundtrip.
<snip>

Originally Posted by dgcpaphd

Given the disastrous results of the UA/CO takeover, I doubt that any government agency would permit another merger of two more major air carriers.

Originally Posted by spin88

Anyway, UALs PRASM sucked from 2002-2006/7 compared to others, and those who have been around know why (melt down in 2000 drove away lots of traffic). But I have never been one to think the market will quickly cause changes.

Originally Posted by emcsweeney

You may be right about this, but there are also thousands more who will be taking their places soon...and will love the new program as they get to know it. I wonder if there's a correlation between the thousands you're refering to and the group of elites the CFO was referring to?



Hopefully they'll be in the next wave of thousands...

Originally Posted by DCEsquire

Government regulators *rarely* ever block deals and usually seek conditions. I don't see any reason this deal would get blocked. Conditions perhaps.