2013 Mileage Plus Program Speculation
Nov 16, 2012 | 12:39 pm
#136
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Nov 16, 2012 | 12:42 pm
#137
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Nov 16, 2012 | 1:11 pm
#138
Join Date: Jul 2006
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All I want is removal of the W+ restriction for GPUs. It is absurd that we should have to play upgrade roulette to use these hard earned instruments.
Nov 16, 2012 | 1:43 pm
#139
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
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oh please .... 
and how do you keep track of spend on partner airlines?
this would be suicide for UA unless everyone did it. There are plenty of people who are not corporate drones, that fly enough to be considered valuable customers, this would alienate all of them, without a chance of status - why should the person flying UA twice a year TPAC choose United, if everyone else would offer them status for the same price?
and how do you keep track of spend on partner airlines?
this would be suicide for UA unless everyone did it. There are plenty of people who are not corporate drones, that fly enough to be considered valuable customers, this would alienate all of them, without a chance of status - why should the person flying UA twice a year TPAC choose United, if everyone else would offer them status for the same price?
The only people who are REALLY worth more are those that are buying higher fare class tickets even though lower fare classes are still available.
Because elites become loyal to an airline that gives them those upgrades. Simple, not a new concept. The key is finding the right balance of free vs. offered for cash. If I wasn't upgraded with swu/rpu/cpu like I enjoy now I would look elsewhere. This is the primary benefit I see for being an elite free upgrades. I get them, they get my business.
You must have been getting surprised for years as this has always been the case. I don't trivialize "a couple east coast to Sin or Mel" those are LONG haul flights and at least 1500-2500 I would guess in economy. That isn't a small amount of money and a significant year of travel for almost all US based fliers. I would guess less than 5% of UA fliers take 2 of these 20k + RT's a year. Because you fly all over creation don't discount 2 LONG haul flights and some other domestic flying. This is earned and deserved by all who take them.
You must have been getting surprised for years as this has always been the case. I don't trivialize "a couple east coast to Sin or Mel" those are LONG haul flights and at least 1500-2500 I would guess in economy. That isn't a small amount of money and a significant year of travel for almost all US based fliers. I would guess less than 5% of UA fliers take 2 of these 20k + RT's a year. Because you fly all over creation don't discount 2 LONG haul flights and some other domestic flying. This is earned and deserved by all who take them.
I take 4-5 TPA-BKK per year @ 21,000 miles. Thanks for your support
Last edited by iluv2fly; Nov 16, 2012 at 2:23 pm Reason: merge
Nov 16, 2012 | 1:52 pm
#140
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120 segments deserves 1K from wear & tear, personally I would not call it a gift. Plus has probably spent >$12K (more than some).
Nov 17, 2012 | 5:31 am
#142
Join Date: Oct 2012
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why should the person flying UA twice a year TPAC choose United, if everyone else would offer them status for the same price?
Nov 17, 2012 | 5:42 am
#143
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Nov 17, 2012 | 5:46 am
#144
Join Date: Oct 2012
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And people spending more are not necessarily more valuable anyway. As I have pointed out before, if you book the last ticket in V class the next guy is being forced to buy Q class BECAUSE you bought the last V class ticket. Filling the seats is more important than the total spending by an individual.
The only people who are REALLY worth more are those that are buying higher fare class tickets even though lower fare classes are still available.
The only people who are REALLY worth more are those that are buying higher fare class tickets even though lower fare classes are still available.
It seems to me that, as long as Economy is (nearly) full, UA simply gets the revenue it wants, regardless of how much each individual customer spends. A revenue-based model for economy travelers doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense this way. UA would simply be giving a freebie to the people who book late. It might create an incentive for people to try to book as late as possible, or it might create an incentive for people to book into a higher fare class, but in the end, the total revenue will be largely the same. For every person who pays more, another person pays less.
Carrying this a step forward, if FT'ers game the system by buying into a higher fare class, the regular economy travelers would end up with the cheaper tickets, and they would not have a chance at achieving status. They might as well then travel with an airline that does offer them a reasonable opportunity for status.
Carrying this another step forward, UA would benefit from a revenue based program only if it could fill all seats on all planes with people who purposely buy into a higher fare class. But that's just not going to happen. There just aren't enough people who are able and willing to do that.
Nov 17, 2012 | 5:54 am
#145
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Carrying this another step forward, UA would benefit from a revenue based program only if it could fill all seats on all planes with people who purposely buy into a higher fare class. But that's just not going to happen. There just aren't enough people who are able and willing to do that.
Now, there would perhaps be companies/businesses that may spend more than they have to for whatever reason (flexibility, etc), but that is not rational for a person out of pocket.
Depsite what some believe here - most of the plane is filled by people who are rational buyers, and will always choose lowest price, and would weigh benefits if choosing a higher priced ticket.
Sounds like people proposing a revenue system have never actually bought a ticket for themselves out of their own pocket.
Nov 17, 2012 | 8:27 am
#146
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Nov 17, 2012 | 8:49 am
#147
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Those preferring a revenue system generally have others purchasing the preponderance of their fares. Should airlines go in that direction I'd be content if the purchaser reaped the FF rewards rather than the flyer (should they not be the same entity).
Nov 17, 2012 | 9:06 am
#148
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Life is tough for segment folks. I'll be one or two segments over 150 when the year comes to an end. Thankfully I spent 75%+ of my RJ segments in an E-145 where I was able to get the single A seat most flights. Those that do segments on a CRJ-200 are the true warriors. If only they'd reduce the segment thresholds, wishful thinking I suppose.
Nov 17, 2012 | 9:12 am
#149
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Nov 17, 2012 | 9:15 am
#150
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Life is tough for segment folks. I'll be one or two segments over 150 when the year comes to an end. Thankfully I spent 75%+ of my RJ segments in an E-145 where I was able to get the single A seat most flights. Those that do segments on a CRJ-200 are the true warriors. If only they'd reduce the segment thresholds, wishful thinking I suppose.