"Expert Mode" Changes
Sep 7, 2012 | 9:46 pm
#256
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United Global Services and 1MM, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 10,307
Does anyone notice the lack of further response from the UA flack? I sure did. They know the stink will die down and we'll continue to heel. Flyertalkers don't matter to United. We're over-entitled customers whether or not we're elite because we're the main ones capable of using this information to our advantage. United doesn't want that.
I read through this entire thread. With the exception of one apologist post that weirdly blames KVS for this situation, there is unanimity of opposition. I've never seen such unanimity on FT. But it doesn't matter, more "changes that I think you'll like" lay ahead. After all, in many places UA is effectively a monopoly and doesn't have to play fair.
The right action would be an anti-trust lawsuit by the government. Won't happen, but we can write and ask for it.
I read through this entire thread. With the exception of one apologist post that weirdly blames KVS for this situation, there is unanimity of opposition. I've never seen such unanimity on FT. But it doesn't matter, more "changes that I think you'll like" lay ahead. After all, in many places UA is effectively a monopoly and doesn't have to play fair.
The right action would be an anti-trust lawsuit by the government. Won't happen, but we can write and ask for it.
I am wondering about Freedom of Info Act.
Can US Congress pass a law requiring airlines to disclose fare info before selling tickets?
Sep 7, 2012 | 9:48 pm
#257
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ORD, MKE
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 710
Immediate $ loss to UA
I am very disappointed this level of information will no longer be available. This weekend I planned to book a UA flight to Europe with R availability to use a SWU. Gateway city didn't really matter as long as I could connect to my final destination.
Now that I can't find R on UA I plan to fly LH, as I believe I'll have a much better chance of clearing an SWU. That cost UA at least $1,600, not counting any code shares they may have picked up from the other segments.
I'll burn the last of my SWU's on LH and won't care about re-qualifying for 1K. The SWU's have just not proven to be as valuable as I hoped. I'll reallocate my travel budget to the lowest price C fares, which I've noticed is almost never UA (and also meaning I'll get better service), rather than buy UA Y hoping for an upgrade. That's probably $10,000-$15,000 of revenue UA will lose annually. The value of the MP program is not worth the hassle of flying UA.
Now that I can't find R on UA I plan to fly LH, as I believe I'll have a much better chance of clearing an SWU. That cost UA at least $1,600, not counting any code shares they may have picked up from the other segments.
I'll burn the last of my SWU's on LH and won't care about re-qualifying for 1K. The SWU's have just not proven to be as valuable as I hoped. I'll reallocate my travel budget to the lowest price C fares, which I've noticed is almost never UA (and also meaning I'll get better service), rather than buy UA Y hoping for an upgrade. That's probably $10,000-$15,000 of revenue UA will lose annually. The value of the MP program is not worth the hassle of flying UA.
Sep 7, 2012 | 9:51 pm
#258
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 72,672
Sep 7, 2012 | 9:52 pm
#259
Join Date: May 2012
Location: LNY
Programs: UA 1KMM, AA EXP, ASMVPG
Posts: 89
Just when I start to think about maintaining 1K for another year.......More negative reinforcement from the new "UA".......I get it......you really do not want us "over entitled elites" as a customers anymore.... changing my behavior accordingly......no flights on you since 7/1 and $15K booked on the dAArkside.........Thank You UA for helping me break the 1K habit!
Sep 7, 2012 | 9:55 pm
#260
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ORD, MKE
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 710
Sep 7, 2012 | 10:01 pm
#261
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,164
I went through the OP multiple times, all it says is that ual.com will no longer show this information. Can someone point out where UA said this information would no longer be available on ExpertFlyer?
If it only affects ual.com, then there's really nothing to complain about. As far as I know ual.com is the only airline website that has this feature.
If it only affects ual.com, then there's really nothing to complain about. As far as I know ual.com is the only airline website that has this feature.
Sep 7, 2012 | 10:02 pm
#262
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
After almost 10 years and 2.5 MM (2/ w about 50-60% FF and nearly 85% FF this year) I'm sick and tired of this incremental crap. Before this year I never flew on any other airlines, other than infrequently when I was stuck on USdisparways. Now, all since mid 1st QTR I have flown on DL over 110,000 BIS miles all in PAID A/P/F and vow not to purchase another paid first ticket on UA again. I'm sick of the death of a 1000 cuts! Furthermore this GS, will be calling up GS customer relations Monday morning and canceling 3 refundable A/Z ticket and taking the DL flights I just booked for less money too boot instead.
I am firmly convinced that the new united is no different than a crack head hooker; both are looking to take your money without regard to repeat business or the consequences of their actions. The only difference I can see now is the hooker promises to "love you for a long time", United is only interested in a quickie, wam, bam thank you ma'am and on to the next kettle.
And just think about 4-5 years ago, United was so good to us, I'll never ever forget flying the 777 motion simulator in Denver for flying over 400K miles in a year, now I wonder if my inbound flight will even make it to the gate. How things have changed, so I'm now sure my ~$75K domestic spend is not important to UA anymore, I'm just glad I saw what was happening earlier this year and really enjoyed flying on DL . BTW, I'm typing this from 38,000 FT...ergo I'm not on United at the moment.
I am firmly convinced that the new united is no different than a crack head hooker; both are looking to take your money without regard to repeat business or the consequences of their actions. The only difference I can see now is the hooker promises to "love you for a long time", United is only interested in a quickie, wam, bam thank you ma'am and on to the next kettle.
And just think about 4-5 years ago, United was so good to us, I'll never ever forget flying the 777 motion simulator in Denver for flying over 400K miles in a year, now I wonder if my inbound flight will even make it to the gate. How things have changed, so I'm now sure my ~$75K domestic spend is not important to UA anymore, I'm just glad I saw what was happening earlier this year and really enjoyed flying on DL . BTW, I'm typing this from 38,000 FT...ergo I'm not on United at the moment.
They stopped responding when $mi$ek took over.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 8, 2012 at 1:23 am Reason: merge
Sep 7, 2012 | 10:02 pm
#263
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston (IAH,HOU) / Kāʻanapali (JHM,OGG)
Programs: UA
Posts: 972
Actually it looks like the preview site is now redirecting to the main site.
Last edited by bdraco; Sep 7, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Sep 7, 2012 | 10:05 pm
#264
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: PIT
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Amex Plat
Posts: 314
Thanks, FT, for making me aware of AA's EXP match offer. Thread of the year so far.
I hadn't flown UA since the match in May, when I had already reached 75k EQM. But I had been considering making it to at least 1k, though not GS, later this year.
Now, it's buh bye, UA.
I hadn't flown UA since the match in May, when I had already reached 75k EQM. But I had been considering making it to at least 1k, though not GS, later this year.
Now, it's buh bye, UA.
Sep 7, 2012 | 10:06 pm
#265
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,122
I just decided to check my flights before this happens. It so happens I have used a GPU for a TPA-IAD-Dub-EWR-TPA trip in October. The two trans Altantic segments cleared, but not the domestic. I just checked and there was now an R seat on the EWR-TPA segment. A quick call to the 1K desk and 5 clicks of his mouse and I was in F.
The question is why did I not clear automatically. Not to have this functionality IS a big deal.
The question is why did I not clear automatically. Not to have this functionality IS a big deal.
Sep 7, 2012 | 10:08 pm
#266
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
I just decided to check my flights before this happens. It so happens I have used a GPU for a TPA-IAD-Dub-EWR-TPA trip in October. The two trans Altantic segments cleared, but not the domestic. I just checked and there was now an R seat on the EWR-TPA segment. A quick call to the 1K desk and 5 clicks of his mouse and I was in F.
The question is why did I not clear automatically. Not to have this functionality IS a big deal.
The question is why did I not clear automatically. Not to have this functionality IS a big deal.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 8, 2012 at 1:24 am Reason: merge
Sep 7, 2012 | 10:09 pm
#267
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K 1MM | Marriott LTT | National Car Exec
Posts: 712
I've been trying to tough it out - the new UA hasn't done me too wrong so far... though the bloody RJ service network out east that gets delay upon delay for MX somewhere up the chain or waiting for crew, like the flight i just jumped out of tomorrow AM. and of course i was able to get a better routing that I could switch into knowing what fares were available via Expert Mode and then calling the change in.
Expert Mode coupled with the SDC policy is amazing - it has given me so much flexibility and it allows me to plan ahead of time without having to just hope to see what i can change into 24 hours prior which is always more of a crapshoot. This flexibility allows me to get what I need to accomplish and save my project dollars when last minute changes are needed.
I'll cry when they take the SDC policy away or amend it until it becomes much less useful. I guess if they want to monetize us even more, they'll strip that one down too. It's also one of the features I really came to love with CO.
Well, my email addressing my concern went into 1Kvoice... I did match with AA this year, only have flown them once since and will likely stay with UA at least for now because the network makes sense for my travel patterns, but this is going to make me think some more about whether I stay and start slogging somewhere else. I lived without Expert Mode on CO.com, and just did the old Upgrade Inventory Search which was really a brute force and time consuming process. But this change is baffling and definitely not one that I like.
Expert Mode coupled with the SDC policy is amazing - it has given me so much flexibility and it allows me to plan ahead of time without having to just hope to see what i can change into 24 hours prior which is always more of a crapshoot. This flexibility allows me to get what I need to accomplish and save my project dollars when last minute changes are needed.
I'll cry when they take the SDC policy away or amend it until it becomes much less useful. I guess if they want to monetize us even more, they'll strip that one down too. It's also one of the features I really came to love with CO.
Well, my email addressing my concern went into 1Kvoice... I did match with AA this year, only have flown them once since and will likely stay with UA at least for now because the network makes sense for my travel patterns, but this is going to make me think some more about whether I stay and start slogging somewhere else. I lived without Expert Mode on CO.com, and just did the old Upgrade Inventory Search which was really a brute force and time consuming process. But this change is baffling and definitely not one that I like.
Sep 7, 2012 | 10:20 pm
#268
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,811
I just decided to check my flights before this happens. It so happens I have used a GPU for a TPA-IAD-Dub-EWR-TPA trip in October. The two trans Altantic segments cleared, but not the domestic. I just checked and there was now an R seat on the EWR-TPA segment. A quick call to the 1K desk and 5 clicks of his mouse and I was in F.
The question is why did I not clear automatically. Not to have this functionality IS a big deal.
The question is why did I not clear automatically. Not to have this functionality IS a big deal.
Sep 7, 2012 | 10:20 pm
#269
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,941
This is terrible~
Sep 7, 2012 | 10:20 pm
#270
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,122
I'm starting to see changes. On my flight EWR-TPA that I was able to get the 1K line to move me to FC when I saw R=1 a half hour ago, now R does NOT even show!