Kudos to you for remaining calm and professional after so many rude replies which are classic examples of over-entitled elites. No other airline (to my knowledge) ever offered this feature and you don't see their elite members rant like this.

So because no other airline offers it, when it's taken away it's not a big deal?? That's like saying since nobody else had E+ 3 years ago it should've gone away. These things are differentiators, they're what build loyalty. Certain fare bucket displays are used mostly by in the know FF's but if it's this now, what's next???

There is nothing pleasant about UA let alone any announcement UA Insider may make. Only bad customer unfriendly news.

I've noticed lately when gate agents ask Uniformed Service Members and GS to board first there is often no GS. None on my flight this evening either in the F cabin.

Shannon - UA has become incredibly disrespectful of its customers.

I just made 1K this week after moving from AS last year. I tolerated all of the MP changes, IT issues, and operations problems. This tempers my excitement, and I am starting to regret switching to UA.

We don't all try to game the system.

PS - I met you in June at the SFO tour, and you seem like a person who genuinely listens. I don't blame you; I blame the top UA management.

This is terrible. The one thing I really, really liked about the site! Absolutely a slap in the fact of top fliers. Grrrrrr.

Exactly! I don't need this feature on Delta either, because things just work! UA has clearly taken the wrong turn here.

Please considering delaying this change until you have the replacement system in place.

I feel bad for Shannon. She has to comply with the messaging gnomes and various counterproductive decisions by the masters of the universe who think they can do no wrong and view us as a bunch of spoiled whiners (and impression not helped tonight). I'm sure they think they don't need us as long as they have their precious kettle gold mine.

I'm guessing Shannon told them we would react like this, and that it's stupid to just arbitrarily take this action without the path forward already in place. Many of UA's elite flyers are drifting away, but I don't think it's enough to get on the radars of said masters of the universe and the rubber stampers they "answer" to.

OK, so I was wrong. But it took over 300 posts...

+1
Same with AS - their systems work, unlike UA's.

:D

Thanks for a laugh at the end of a very dark day courtesy of UA.

This couldn't be stated any better. I'd be happy to do this as well, all for free...but of course, we know what UA wants - money.

All I can think of is ......... 'jeffy jeff' Smisek touting his really cool "APPS" which he has no clue of what they actually do or how to use anything...but of course, he thinks his 'largest airline in the world' is such a great company.

Either he is a complete idiot and doesn't realise any of the truths or he is really good at deflecting criticism and milking money out of ignorant kettles...well at least he has been, but that will most likely change with the next few changes he makes.

Stupid UA - I'm glad my 3 years of 1K have been met with something much more important - EXP at AA :)

You are right about rude and emotional commenting. You are dead wrong, however, about the substance of removing this feature.

Yes, other airlines don't have it. But it is effectively available to the public in that all travel agents can see it as well.

Further, it is important to note that UA loyal-flyers base their loyalty on the features UA does offer, not what other airlines don't offer. And UA loyal flyers make decisions to tolerate negative things on UA but not on competitors in exchange for positive things that UA has (for example DL & AA with no min fare class for int'l upgrades and AA with 8 upgrades vs. UA with 6).

Many folks like me have long treasured the ability to see not only R and award availability, but also how many seats in each class are available which allows more flexibility in timing of my purchases.

So it is quite fair and reasonable to be upset when a feature which many treasured and heavily relied upon is yanked away from us. Not cool.

+1. Why not introduce a replacement first?

I can tolerate operational issues, system transition, integration bugs etc etc however actions like this erode the transparency that was a foundation of my business with ua.

+1 on another potential 1K going away due to this.

What I don't understand, that if the "confusion" statement is to be true, is the little bit of extra confusion caused worth the amount of high-end customers that will stop buying high-end tickets? Or do they believe that will not happen (people will blindly buy W fares?)

The call volume will increase in the short-term, as the hordes of us make phone calls to get the information we simply pulled from United.com. I will call every day seeing if inventory has freed up for the list of flights I have upcoming. I realize not everyone has time to be this persistent, but I have to imagine quite a few 1Ks spend a lot of time sitting in airports and hotel rooms, with cell phones with unlimited minutes and plenty of battery life.

I know Shannon the United Insider is just the messenger, but to echo the sentiments of the other 300 posts, her bosses are either extremely incompetent and short sighted, and plain and simple lying.

The worse part is, I don't see how this makes United more money. Most evil I can appreciate if it's profitable, but will anyone actually buy more TODs just cause they can't see R inventory? For the most part, seeing the packed inventory might actually convince me that buying it is the right move. With no information, 99.99% of people will accept their fate in economy and hope for the freebie. United loses money on the deal, and then thousands from loyal customers on international tickets.

Anyway, I'll finish the trips I already have scheduled, burn up mine and wife's miles accounts (another 1K), and next year enjoy 1K status on a handful of flights while the majority of my travels will be on another carrier.