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Originally Posted by MillionMilerMan
(Post 19308423)
Going forward, though, does UA seriously think 1Ks are going to have any interest in maintaining that status if the one "real" benefit (the 6 GPUs) is no longer transparent and thus generally "easy to use"? Instead of spending a few minutes (or even hours) online researching my options for ticket purchase and upgrade availability, then actually purchasing my ticket and being done with it, they really want me spending hours of their agents' time on the phone, risking that the (often uninformed) agent can't or won't help me find GPU-available flights, and then having me hang up the phone--not purchasing a ticket throughout the entire process?
Seriously? For the past 7 months I've been one of those UA die-hards that has put up with UA's pitiful integration into UAdbaCO and hoped for better things to come. I didn't status match with AA, and I've continued to fly my 1K+ miles annually and gladly use my 6 SWU/GPUs. But if I can no longer do that with some modicum of ease, forget it. As a 2MM flyer with "lifetime Platinum" (until they take it away), UA has literally taken away my sole practical reason for flying their airline 100,000+ miles per year. If this isn't changed back in fairly short order, I'll finally liquidate my 800,000 miles and take my "Y", "B" and "M" international fares to a different airline. Did they seriously do this? Has anyone in the Willis Tower ever attended "Problem Solving 101"? Rather than fix the "R" inventory issues with IT, they just kill the functionality? If things don't continue to improve, there are alternatives. |
Change in system
Millionmilerman, i could not have said it better! having just crossed to 1K again this year, using my 6 GPU's just got imposable, maybe if they took out the class rate that you need to book in order to use the GPU's this would not be such an issue,
UA you need to concider this move, jsut look at all the post in a shot period of time, we are the ones keep you guys in business! |
Another bad move by an airline going into the toilet.
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Originally Posted by Dub
(Post 19308389)
This change is insane. What on earth do they gain? Fewer phone calls? It was such a useful feature. Bah! :(
as for GPU use I take it they are hpoing we all buy Ws and when we dont clear we just forked over alot more $$$ then we had to in order to sit in the exact same Y seat. If it doesnt look like 1 will clear why buy W or why fly on Mon if we dont need to but now this will no longer be apart of our equation to which day or flight to book. So CO ends up with a better House Advantage , no different then the casinos who always are looking how they can increase the Odds in their favor no matter how small it may be |
"Expert Mode" Changes
I've poked around FT in the past but this is my first time posting. Infact, this thread alone was reason enough for me to register and put in my 2 cents.
I checked the seat inventory within a Fare Class every single time I've booked a ticket through the website. If I see that only a few seats are available within a fare class throughout the day, I'll book the next fare up just incase I'll have to hop on a earlier or later flight once it's time to check-in. Not having the option to take a different flight (within the 24 hour rules) because I booked a lesser fare class puts me at a disadvantage because it affects my schedule and my business. For me, it's not about getting an upgrade, it's about knowing there are seats on other flights in my same fare class and being able to change my flight without paying the price of a new ticket + change fee. Personally, I don't see how some could be confused by the fare class inventory. It was much more useful to frequent flyers like myself (who have very few other nonstop options because I fly from one hub to another) than you're average leisure flyer. And if they are confused, why not just direct them to darling Alex? I apologize if I'm not very articulate. My initial response was just "This sucks. How will I know how many flights have my class?" but I thought I should elaborate some. |
Welcome to FT!,masa9
Originally Posted by masa9
(Post 19308821)
...
I checked the seat inventory within a Fare Class every single time I've booked a ticket through the website. If I see that only a few seats are available within a fare class throughout the day, I'll book the next fare up just incase I'll have to hop on a earlier or later flight once it's time to check-in. Not having the option to take a different flight (within the 24 hour rules) because I booked a lesser fare class puts me at a disadvantage because it affects my schedule and my business. For me, it's not about getting an upgrade, it's about knowing there are seats on other flights in my same fare class and being able to change my flight without paying the price of a new ticket + change fee. .... Until UA provides an alternative method (if ever), you can still see the fare classes on other sites -- such as the subscription services KVS/EF and for free on flightstats, ..... |
Thank you!
To be fair, sometimes it's only a $30 increase. But plenty of times I've often gotten away with a G fare and having availability on nearly every flight within the 24 hour check-in period. I guess it's piece of mind |
Before 3/3, I would have never thought to check another airline. After the EXP match, I regularly check AA for alternative flights. The loss of expert mode was the last straw.
Today, I booked my fourth domestic RT on AA, even though there was a UA flight with a similar schedule and price. That's well over $3k of revenue lost to AA. |
Originally Posted by masa9
(Post 19308821)
I've poked around FT in the past but this is my first time posting. Infact, this thread alone was reason enough for me to register and put in my 2 cents.
I checked the seat inventory within a Fare Class every single time I've booked a ticket through the website. If I see that only a few seats are available within a fare class throughout the day, I'll book the next fare up just incase I'll have to hop on a earlier or later flight once it's time to check-in. Not having the option to take a different flight (within the 24 hour rules) because I booked a lesser fare class puts me at a disadvantage because it affects my schedule and my business. For me, it's not about getting an upgrade, it's about knowing there are seats on other flights in my same fare class and being able to change my flight without paying the price of a new ticket + change fee. Personally, I don't see how some could be confused by the fare class inventory. It was much more useful to frequent flyers like myself (who have very few other nonstop options because I fly from one hub to another) than you're average leisure flyer. And if they are confused, why not just direct them to darling Alex? I apologize if I'm not very articulate. My initial response was just "This sucks. How will I know how many flights have my class?" but I thought I should elaborate some. You do know that you can hop on to an earlier or later flight even if the same fare class is not available, by going standby? If you're worried about being confirmed, you must be talking about flights that are sold out or nearly so, in which case the only way to get on it would be a Y fare, which you don't need to check, it will always be available (if lower fare classes are).
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
(Post 19308510)
United says hardware issue caused outage
Other references toward the end of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ssion-etc.html. |
Originally Posted by HumbleBee
(Post 19309181)
...You do know that you can hop on to an earlier or later flight even if the same fare class is not available, by going standby?
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Originally Posted by Bonehead
(Post 19309275)
Basically correct. Many flights open up all fare buckets at some point relatively close to flight time in order to accommodate SDCs (same-day changes), depending upon the real (and possibly historic) demand for a given flight. Unless I misunderstood the poster, I'm not sure that anything is gained by booking a higher fare class for a given flight, with the possible exception of a booking done close to the flight date.
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Originally Posted by Bonehead
(Post 19309275)
Basically correct. Many flights open up all fare buckets at some point relatively close to flight time in order to accommodate SDCs (same-day changes), depending upon the real (and possibly historic) demand for a given flight. Unless I misunderstood the poster, I'm not sure that anything is gained by booking a higher fare class for a given flight, with the possible exception of a booking done close to the flight date.
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
(Post 19309319)
wanting to do SDC closer to the 24 window versus sweating it out to a few hours before original / changed flight?
I personally generally enjoy the process at the airport, but I can see why someone would prefer to do it earlier (not to mention the chance of grabbing a seat that will later become unavailable). |
Originally Posted by HumbleBee
(Post 19309339)
My understanding is that as long as there is any seat open in the cabin, he can get it at the gate.
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Originally Posted by masa9
(Post 19308821)
I've poked around FT in the past but this is my first time posting. In fact, this thread alone was reason enough for me to register and put in my 2 cents.
I checked the seat inventory within a Fare Class every single time I've booked a ticket through the website... I too check the fare classes, although I do it to find the aircraft with the best upgrade space. Losing the Fare Class list makes my flight search significantly more irritating. Why would they remove something so useful? :td: |
Originally Posted by HumbleBee
(Post 19309181)
Welcome!
You do know that you can hop on to an earlier or later flight even if the same fare class is not available, by going standby? If you're worried about being confirmed, you must be talking about flights that are sold out or nearly so, in which case the only way to get on it would be a Y fare, which you don't need to check, it will always be available (if lower fare classes are). I've flown standby a few times but because I fly from busier airports with full/nearly full flights I don't always want to rely on it. If I can get a confirmed seat on a flight before having to head to the airport, it's just easier and less stressful for me. But in order to do that, the fare class has to be available. (Right?) And true, Y fare will always be available... But sweet mercy, it's expensive. |
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