Since UAInsider stated that they wanted to make the information available but not confuse the kettles, this seemed like the easy solution to me as a non-IT person. I'd even accept this as the permanent solution.

That is the case I don't understand since by removing the expert view will both add the burden to UA members and UA employees. It is a case which will hurt both sides especially let UA members get more dissatisfaction with UA which is really unnecessary. As a 1k member, I sincerely hope UA could consider it thoroughly.

Bombard customer service desk with an email complaint. Explain why our don't like the decision and send it.

Somebody smarter then I could set up an automated email template where you only need to enter name details, email address and hit send.

Send it also to Smisek

That seems to be the only realistic chance of getting this reversed or fixed.

Add me to the list of unhappy loyal United customers at this move. I'm a 1k MM and frequently used the fare class availability tool in all sorts of situations - generally resulting in many less calls to the 1k desk which presumably saved United money.

I really can't understand why they would take away something that helped people navigate their system more easily, particularly when it's still obvious to anyone dealing with irr ops or booking change that UA agents are still struggling with the system conversion. Focus on getting the functionality right and deliver for your customers first.

Wow. I missed this thread. Absolutely terrible move, UA. The one thing I appreciated about the CO system was the transparency on things like upgrade wait lists and availability for same day changes (based on available fare class). Why such a regressive move?

I will literally spend 10 more hours a month on the phone with your agents when trying to book or rebook flights. This is in addition to the 10 more i already spend on the phone since the merger. Quantify that, smisek. Glad to see you're providing jobs, at least temporarily, until the airline suffers.

My AA bookings just increased. They may not always be transparent, but they don't say 'screw you' to the customer like this airline so frequently does.

So glad I am not over-entitled any more
 

The words of UAL trying to offer an angle on it:

"We are committed to improving transparency around this. But, instead of simply exposing fare class inventory (which is quite confusing to most customers), we are working on better ways to share this more meaningful information."

These words, they are terrifying.

As to these words:

"We are committed to improving transparency around this" - that is just a lie.

"which is quite confusing to most customers" - with respect, how it is possibly "confusing".

"better ways to share" - over a bottle of vintage Krug Champagne? Or for a fee?

"this more meaningful information" - what "more" "meaningful" information? This exercise has been about providing less information, not more.

On to my substantive concerns about what UAL are doing:

I have flown United for years, and have a strong attachment to it.

But I know that compared to most airlines it is a heap of s**t. For every class it is inferior to its competitors.

I go to the US a lot, lots of in-laws and friends. Then onto the UK a lot, basically with the same agnenda.

I am not willing to pay the business class airfares over the Pacific. I can afford it btw, but the money is ridiculous for private travel. The reason I fly UAL, have I made myself clear, THE reason, is that I fly UAL is because if you are 1k, and devote your time, and are clever, you normally can get an upgrade. Either using a GPU (I am so sentimental for when one called them SWU's) or for point and cash.

But if you fly a lot, and you play the game with UAL, they had you as a hooked in customer.

But, sadly one suspects no more. Access to fare codes was essential to knowing what flights to get on, where it looked like there was room for an upgrade. Again, did I make myself clear - essential.

Releasing this information was in UAL's interest too, it encouraged seat sales on planes where C has room, and typically were less full in all classes. It was also a good "self selecting" device to get over-entitled (sorry, that word again) frequent travellers getting involved in the booking process, paying attention to the seat sales of the planes they were on, and hence intellectually and emotionally attached to the airline.

If you think by making it harder for me to secure upgrades, you are going to turn me into a fare paying business class passenger on UAL, you are as they say in fantasy land. Without the upgrade lure, I will fly (whether in economy or business) on another airlines, Air New Zealand, SIA, Qatar, even (dare I say it) - Qantas.

"The upgrade lure" depends fundamentally on having access to the "confusing" information about fare codes.

It seems apparent they want to turn the upgrade system into a lottery. May I ask a dumb question: why?

If Mr Smisek and his mates think the airline has any future as an international carrier without its frequent fliers he is, to repeat my language, in fantasy land. If he wants to de "full service" (joke, I know) the airline and run it as a rival to SWA: he has got so many problems in doing this, the hub system, the extent of the network, the United Express operations. Indeed he has the problem of the airline's basic business model,.

I suspect Mr Smisek knows all this. He manifestly is a clever man - he must know. I think his problem at that he does not really know what to do. The UAL:CO "merger" quite clearly in fact has been a reverse takeover. But I do not think Mr Smisek quite knows how to carry it through, or rather he does not know what "carry it through" means.

I am not about to start slagging CO or anything. I have hardly flown them in my life. However, apart from pissing off (I know, but I am Australian, forgive me) frequent flyers, and freaking out the staff of the now merged airline, it is difficult to know what Simsek wants.

Me? I am simple. I want to know the fare codes on my flights when I book a flight.

And so do A LOT of other frequent flyers. Who you are doing your best to loose.

It's actually pretty standard for Scott McCartney; he doesn't pull any punches. Think of a "refined" Joe Brancatelli (no insult intended toward Joe, his writing can just be a bit wilder, for lack of a better phrase).

I disagree with the posts suggesting a renewal of the feature being limited to elites, super-elites, or anyone else. Just because I'm not an elite doesn't mean I don't know how to use the feature; I'm not an elite due to job circumstances requiring less personal travel (when I was elite, it was all on personal travel, none for business).

In general, I'll just say it looks like Catbert got promoted and is now running the whole company with equal contempt for the employees, the customers, and especially the retirees.

Stat of the day

This thread: over 1,070 replies and ~79,000 views

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...will-like.html: 69 replies and ~3,800 views (last post 3/10/12)

I'll just add to the overwhelming sentiment:
I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT, HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT

UNITED does not like that we can see what kind of choices there is, I would not like it either that my clients can see my info.

But the clients do use this tool, I do always, are not the mass of bookers, only idiots like most of us. I think we all will discover all the info we need, but it will take more time, more data up and down on the United server, more 1K desk, more frustrated ladies, since we need our info and will get it...somehow...I will

But it will not come back, otherwise they would have the alternative all ready installed.

Is this the future: in the next months the adjustments will come on the program for our miles, upgrades, benefits .....I think we all will be not happy. This was the start of less.....

pitty

It's me again
 

I am beyond angry about this.

This is the first thing the airline has done in the post merger that has seriously shocked me.

It has been delivered with contempt to the Frequent Flyers, sorry the Over-Entitled. Will achieve nothing, and will further burn the goodwill of the airline.

To be frank I regard this as resignation material for very senior people in the company.

The damage that this will have done requires fixing. And the longer the delay in fixing is, the more fixing will be required.

I do think that if it if is not fixed soon, it will be an issue for the Board to solve.

I was about to book two very long flights, when looking I saw that fare class was no longer details offered. Now I am wondering what I will do, whether or not to flush my 2 unused SWU's, as I defiantly call them, down the toilet and walk.

They can take my 920,000 lifetime miles and shove it.

Air New Zealand calling?

You are, if nothing else, NOT easily shocked! ;) :D

Dave

Terrible change. This was a featurethat really set UA apart. Dumbing it down so as not to "confuse" people makes no sense.

Wow, I took the weekend off and get hit with this UA bomb. This is an absolutely terrible thing. I have been loyal to United, often questioning myself on it. This function has helped me stay loyal, and was one of the nicest functions about booking UA. With it now gone, I am really thinking I will be moving to AA. I am not a big fish, but I usually fly 40-60K miles per year for pleasure--my own dime. That dime is flipping in another direction now. Horrible, horrible idea and it really ticks me off.

+1 I used 2 of my GPUs (1 yesterday which was a story of computer screw ups and using Skype from FRA to get it done) and I have 4 more to use by 11/30. I dont see it happening. On my flt yesterday I told the FAs I was talking with that I will be over 75K this year and am not going for 1K. They said they were sad about that but understood. All they hear is complaints. I also had a mileage run planned. It had some schedule changes that were very extreme and would allow me to xl. Now I am xling. I see no point in going for the next level

Sad state of affairs.