GUWonder

I have more than that, even as I understand you have your opinions and your own personal experiences.

A recommendation without applicability, as nowhere have I done what you suggest above.

It may, if only there was any merit in your post's suggestion in your sentence prior to the above one.

Nowhere have I claimed anything about the experiences of "every elite" being monolithic in nature. When false suggestion, as in your post above, is the basis of the entire paragraph above or of a position, that seems to indicate poor position to acknowledge in public what is objective and not. No surprise that there is going to have to be agreement to disagree, when those who doubt objectivity are not interested in objectivity and transparency as much as interested in some sort of defense effort of the status quo.

exerda

There is actually a slight split at IAD (and has been for several months TMK). The entrance to the 1K and 1P/2P lines is served by a single line matron and are immediately adjacent to each other; 1K/C/domestic F to the right, 1P/2P to the left (I don't recall seeing signage as to Plats--I assume with 1Ks). No-status pax get sent all the way down to the left IIRC.

Granted, the two lines mostly feed into the same set of counters, though they have been labeling the rightmost ones (just to the left of the "Special Services" counter and beyond that the GS/Int'l F counters) as "1K/Business" via the lighted signs over the counters. I don't think anyone or anything stops pax from the 2P/1P line from walking the couple of extra steps to those 1K/C counters, but presumably their lines may be longer to get there than the 1K one.

bseller

I haven't yet figured this out, but I am more and MORE certain that there is a REASON they are not offered to elites.

And, that reason isn't a "glitch". Something is "missing" in UAI's posts on the topic. It is never addressed directly and always just seems a bit too cagey for my tastes.

Maybe it's just the paranoia being brought on as an overentitled UA elite. Gosh, I hope that won't have an impact on my experience at the other AAirline.

Dave

andersjt

I had to get it off my chest and send a letter to Mr. Rainey. Here is a link to that letter:

http://keepingtheskiesfriendly.blogspot.com

It will probably just meets its end in a shredder, but I do hope Mr. Rainey has been overwhelmed by letters from us "over-entitled."

stephenbgarvan

Wonderful, poignant, polite ,logical REAL letter from another longtermloyal PMUA flier.....

mmack

Wow: just read the blog. Amazing, thoughtful...^^

UnitedEF

First I wanted to say thanks for your cancellation of UA tickets. The response you posted from UA was very informative and yes I got that part about them calling you back past your scheduled time and that you were up late. Didn't think anything of it as I thought it was par for the course for UA management. Just curious though do you know how upgrades work on AA? As a newly minted EXP I am ecstatic as to how their program works. In case you don't know, basically EXP is top tier unlike 1k with GS above us. As EXP you get the CPU equivalent on every flight. The 1P and 2P equivalents aren't automatically upgraded unless they request it because they have to have 500 mile stickers like UA in the old days. So as an EXP you have a better shot at getting upgraded even if you buy your ticket after your upgrade window and within the GLD or PLT upgrade window and because not every GLD or PLAT is going to upgrade on your flight since they are limited in the number of stickers they receive. Unless they want to buy extra stickers they are limited to 2,000 upgraded miles for every 10,000 flown or 20% of all their flights. On top of that their F cabin on their domestic mainline are at least 16 seats compared with 8 on the 319, 12 on the 320 and their CR7's have 9 instead of 6 seats. Plus I have read somewhere on the AA forum that sometimes their CSR's would reroute them to make sure their upgrades clear assuming the passenger is willing to go through the trouble. I think the odds of getting an upgrade are much easier on AA than UA. Will let you know when I take my first flight as EXP next week!

haddon90

amazingly written letter...sadly, i feel UA will do nothing.

MR_MAMA

Great letter, if he is smart he will pick up the phone and call you to discuss.

star_world

Why have you chosen to interpret his comments as referring to you specifically? We seem to be over-run here with people (from Silvers to 1K / GS) jumping at the chance to say that the comments MUST apply to them, and then are suitably outraged. I just don't get the mentality.

After reading your long letter I can only conclude that your complaint (besides wanting him to take back his comment about "you") is that as a Silver elite you can't reserve E+ seats in advance, after a letter that focuses exclusively on your purchasing F / C fares. Is this it?

Less really is more when trying to make a point to executives.

Vulcan

Back in the 'good old days', Larry Kellner would have picked up the phone and called him right away. There are many, many ex-CONS here that received those calls, including myself.

But that was then and this is now.

gradsflyer

Really thoughtful letter.

gegarrenton

I agree, well done.

chinatraderjmr

Thanks for that info. No, I did not think about all of that. I guess people being people, we tend to get angry about what hurts us personally first. Since I'm in good shape upgrade wise w UA, I've had other things to concentrate my anger on with them (mm benies, Rude CS, 1K line (phone and airport). I am not moving to AA only because I don't think they are better for my use. For someone else though they may be perfect. I'm very happy with BA right now and I realize they are partners w UA, But it's PSBL to keep 1K on UA and direct travel to BA as well (I'll be happy to give up the miles on UA for the service)

rowingman

From F on AA using GoGo (free for the next year as a gift from AA for loyalty). As a former customer of PMUA, I always thought United generally hates their customers and wished they would just go away and stop bothering them, so I find it amusing to see MP members figuring it out and joining AA. I am at least 99% on upgrades over the last five years as EXP. Can anyone from UA say that? From any fare purchased?

Ever since witnessing a SFO gate agent deride a frantic father for creating a scene when UA lost his seven year old daughter with a missed connection, offering no information, I would rather crawl than fly UA.

Welcome to AA, where the staff actually seems to be grateful to help you out and have you as a customer.