lax2010

I wonder how many big spenders who spend 100's thousands of dollars to get that 100's thousands of points for the GF award tickets? Only UA would have the statistics.

Air Houston

If the change results in more space available for upgrades from Business to First then I am ok with the change, even if award space is reduced for 1Ks. Of course, my view is impacted by the fact that I fly to Asia several times a year in paid Business and would love to use a GPU and be riding in F for 10 hours instead.

halls120

Since I never use my miles for award travel, I'm in the minority who likes this move if it allows for more C to F upgrades.

FlyWorld

In the long run, I expect most GF will be eliminated anyway. So, all this huffing and puffing relates to what I predict will be a short term phenomenon. It's no secret that the CO way is two-cabin aircraft, and we all know that it's CO way or the highway.

kokonutz

A friend and I recently flew LHR-IAD on Z fares. He got the op up, I did not. I was in the row behind him in C so we spent the whole flight comparing experiences. The biggest difference was on the ground, as the booze at the LHR *A FCL is better than at the *A Lounge.

He did get a pre-departure drink while I did not. But the menus were identical (well his menu was printed on larger paper!). The wine list was very similar in quality.

His meal came much faster than mine. But his FA was just as aloof and disappeared at the same time mine did.

And to that point, the only discernible difference between C and F anymore is a slightly bigger seat and no chance of the horrid 4-across business seats.

2-cabin in practice if not reality....

matsonjb

yeah this is almost like the instagram backlash...I am a regular UA flyer but given what I am reading now I think after I come back stateside I will be searching for a new program given that UA and CO are cutting the benefits in the name of profits...yeah that has worked.

UAL Insider hasn't made a response to any of these questions/comments...

787fan

I've just booked 3 one-way trips for my folks on UA GF between HKG and USA using ON inventory while O=0. It would really suck when they take this benefit away.

They'd better increase total O-class inventory to compensate for this loss.

UA-NYC

Yup - the promised special R/I/O elite inventory has become a farce

At least it was observed with O/ON (the only one IME, not including basic coach space), and now that will soon be gone

787fan

RN is a farce, ON is going away, but i think IN still exist as a tangible benefit

UA-NYC

I know it's been reported - but I have yet to see IN>I, and I do a lot of searching

escapefromphl

It is kind of silly, those F award bookings will most likely go to another carrier, which ends up costing UA more?

golfingboy

I have seen XN>X not that I book Y awards.

QBK

All are Standard award space. HN is non-elite economy Standard award space, YN is the elite equivalent (last seat availability), and JN is elite business. Just to keep things confusing, JN does double duty as Y-up space.

Air Houston

I booked IN to YYZ in 2012 when I was zero, so it is possible.

5khours

It's absolutely clear what is happening here. UA is reducing GF saver award space but at the same time they need to maintain upgrade space for pax paying full fare business. It appears that on some routes UA has already eliminated all GF saver space between 2 and 30 days out. NRT<>SEA is a good example. Used to be excellent saver inventory on this route. Now there is none.

I think UA figures some business travelers are using miles for trips instead of paying with cash so they want to eliminate or reduce the availability of space of premium saver space in the window when business travelers buy tickets.

IMHO, this is totally misguided for a number of reasons.

1. Good availability of GF saver fares is one of the main perks of MP and one of the reasons many FF continue to stick with UA.

2. A lot of people (myself included) use miles to make discretionary business trips because they can fly in comfort. If they have to pay full premium fares or ride in the back, they simply won't take the trip.

3. If award inventory is not available on UA, people will take trips to places served by other *A airlines.

4. If UA miles become harder to redeem, people will shift spending from Chase to other credit cards (e.g. Amex where miles can be converted to other airline programs).

I'm beginning think UA management is really stupid. You would have thought that they would have learned after the screw ups back in March, but no.... they still think so poorly of the intelligence of their best "loyal" customers that they believe they can deprecate the MP program benefits with no ill effect on our willingness to continue to fly and spend money with UA.

I spent $100k on UA last year after turning down the AA status match offer, but to be honest, but there is a limit to my patience.

If I'm wrong here, UA Insider please feel free to correct me, but I'm pretty sure this is exactly what is behind the UA change.