100%, FT people just don't get it and need to move on.

It actually appears to be a Reuters piece, but my favorite part was:

Delta Air Lines Inc., United's closest competitor, said Wednesday that its passenger revenue rose 4 percent last month, helped by stable demand and an uptick in higher-paying business travelers.

Not that DL has earned any admirers recently with the stealth award charge changes and AwardWallet blocking...

United, if the high-rollers are leaving you for Delta, that's really gotta hurt.

(And as an aside, let me just say how much I like the FT "ignore" feature.)

Oh, we get it. That's why we're angry.

Never in the history of this forum has there been such swift, broad agreement about a customer-hostile change, one that was clearly made at a time designed to minimize the PR damage. A notable proportion of the posts here are from "non-FTers" -- everyday high-status UA flyers who were also in disbelief at UA's lack of regard for their customer base and registered with FT just to note their disapproval here.

Believe me, the hundreds of us who posted here get it. I'm sorry if that continues to confound you.

I question whether this was actually accounted for by United or, instead, whether you saw it posted on this thread and decided to pretend United was aware of the work-around. By "you," I am referring to United Airlines... I know you're probably just posting what you're told to post.

I understand your stance, don't understand your delivery...change happens when one person stands up for something and then more and more follow. This thread, and this site, is feedback.

United, one would think, would be using FT as a valuable tool to gauge feedback on whatever decisions they make. Yes, United is a business, etc., but there's one principle that hasnt changed the moment man, in a free market, began trading and eventually using currency: the customer is #1. You can't forget your customer in a buy/sell/make money equation.

There will be business cases one day about Smisek and what NOT to do. He must have sold the "we have to swallow the bitter pill" story to the board. The company will be more efficient and leaner this way, by washing out the over-entitled, making $$ on nickle and diming the kettles and selling to high-paying full fare customers who may not care about awards and the such. There's no other way to explain all these non-customer friendly decisions.

Only time will tell. But the more complaining on here, the greater the chance of UA changing policy.

Which are 1% of United customer base.

PLEASE wake up and smell the roses, this thread will not change anything.

United can, with contracts to fly people they make money, sure they use us for feedback, but we are not going to change Kettles getting on a plane for a cheaper price or TOD for the short term profit.

UA is in shrink mode, smaller planes, pack them to the full, nothing we like, but they are running an airline.

Not when 85-95% of the things people complain about are hyperboles or rumors. If FT was used to provide constructive criticism on real issues (like this) instead of saying everything is terrible, then UA would listen I'm sure.

Perhaps not on the new UA. The old UA was fairly good about backing off a significant portion of changes which were poorly received on FT. Other posters upthread have cited several such examples.

We've even had a few, very small such changes made in response to FT complaints post-3/3, like the resumption of correct great circle mileages (remember the uproar over Jeffy's shrinking the globe?). Perhaps you buy the explanation that this was "a different GCM calculation," but as many people pointed out on FT, that didn't pass the sniff test given the way cities like DEN suddenly got closer to both coasts. There was a FT uproar which was picked up, after several days, by the broader travel press, UA got a black eye, and UA backed off.

But if you're so upset by people complaining about a change they don't like, just don't read the thread! (Or put all the posters on your ignore list if you prefer.)

Those are available for free, too.

Actually, I believe they showed that your claim lacked standing since you haven't demonstrated injury. And, my personal favorite line,

I thought that "being professional" is what United supposed to do ...

What if we posted our complaints to twitter: @united
 

Perhaps there might be some further discussion from UA if we posted our complaints firectly to UA to Twitter: @united.

In the pool of 145,000+ followers of UAL on Twitter I am sure are a significant number of mainstream journalists that would notice over 1,000 tweets from a company's most loyal customers.

And whether or not this decision gets fixed or not, I do believe that if you don't like something, speak up! We are argue all day whether or not UAL cares about us or not, but they are in the business of making money and if they feel that bad PR and loyal FT posters moving away from them are going to hurt their bottom line they will be forced to take notice.

And then, maybe next time (?), consult some of the top tier flyers before implementing such a change?

that is a cool idea
so if someone comes up with a cool (clever and to the point) tweet, we will all do it together, should get the message out loud a clear

Just sending a tweet @ a company doesn't mean that everyone who follows them sees it. :-:

Thank you Richard. I've followed the forum for years, wallowed in my own disgust and disbelief with the airlines at times, and greatly appreciated the the ability to silently find solace in other people's similar grievances.

This time however - I became so angry that I had to vent. I'm sick and tired of UA gamesmanship (especially the pay a premium for the chance (aka "privilege") to be added to the GPU wait list. And if the GPU doesn't clear, don't expect any sympathy or a W to L courtesy refund for your troubles.

I fly these guys 100,000-110,000 miles a year. Many of the front line employees are truly exceptional (one local GATE AGENT... not a CSR.. recently called me at home before my flight to change my itinerary because she felt I'd miss my connection) But management is consistently a royal pain in the ... at this airline, and the time has come to take a stand.