Oct 30, 2013, 6:48 pm
Last edit by: jlivengo
Might as well make it a wiki since chances are there will be more devaluations coming along and it's easier to see all in one place:
NEGATIVE Changes:
GPU/SWU only available on W fare class or higher (compared to sCO GPU's)
Change fee increased to $200/300
Severe reduction in saver award availability (Changes to O/ON)
TOD Upgrades
Expert Flyer R/RN search deactivated
Silver elites no-longer have access to E+ until check-in
GF/BF miles & co-pay upgrades considered used if any portion of international itinerary upgraded
Silver Elites downgraded to 1 bag @ 50 lbs
CC holders boarding with elites (Group 2)
The food, oh the food is horrible
Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQD)
No extra elite award inventory (IN > I) even though this is still stated as a benefit
Reduction in RDM bonus for Plat (75%) and Gold (50%)
Reduction in MM benefits (Annual regionals/GPU, RDM bonus, Lifetime UC for 2MM, …)
Change in regional earning (2/qtr to 2 @75K+2 more per 25K)
Awards with *A partners now cost more than similar awards flown only on UA metal.
POSITIVE Changes:
GPU/RPU will be valid longer
Same day change policy
Marriott Gold
Inherit status and associated benefit of sponsoring elite for award redemption
No more *net blocking
Award change fees lowered
NEGATIVE Changes:
GPU/SWU only available on W fare class or higher (compared to sCO GPU's)
Change fee increased to $200/300
Severe reduction in saver award availability (Changes to O/ON)
TOD Upgrades
Expert Flyer R/RN search deactivated
Silver elites no-longer have access to E+ until check-in
GF/BF miles & co-pay upgrades considered used if any portion of international itinerary upgraded
Silver Elites downgraded to 1 bag @ 50 lbs
CC holders boarding with elites (Group 2)
The food, oh the food is horrible
Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQD)
No extra elite award inventory (IN > I) even though this is still stated as a benefit
Reduction in RDM bonus for Plat (75%) and Gold (50%)
Reduction in MM benefits (Annual regionals/GPU, RDM bonus, Lifetime UC for 2MM, …)
Change in regional earning (2/qtr to 2 @75K+2 more per 25K)
Awards with *A partners now cost more than similar awards flown only on UA metal.
POSITIVE Changes:
GPU/RPU will be valid longer
Same day change policy
Marriott Gold
Inherit status and associated benefit of sponsoring elite for award redemption
No more *net blocking
Award change fees lowered
Consolidated UA changes you will / will not like - Frequent Flyer's edition
May 3, 2013, 8:56 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA1MM*GL/1K, AA, BnVy PlatL, HH Silver,
Posts: 681
Dislike:
Elimination of VGML, AVML for paid domestic F
Elimination of anything resembling F domestic service
CO surly employees and their "we don't care, FU service" culture
Craptacularly uncomfortable CO seats and planes.
Rock hard CO F seats with nothing ergonomic about them.
Antiquated CO IT systems in capable of handling basic airline functions, like companion upgrades, or saving a seat assignment, or not screwing up your reservation, or...
Phone systems that disconnect you when the said antiquated airline seems to be too busy.
CEO who wants "to run a business" but doesn't realize it's the 21st century...see under-investment in IT, elimination of healthy/ethical meal choices... And repeat...
Like
Experiencing new airlines and realizing many of them are significantly better than COua.
Elimination of VGML, AVML for paid domestic F
Elimination of anything resembling F domestic service
CO surly employees and their "we don't care, FU service" culture
Craptacularly uncomfortable CO seats and planes.
Rock hard CO F seats with nothing ergonomic about them.
Antiquated CO IT systems in capable of handling basic airline functions, like companion upgrades, or saving a seat assignment, or not screwing up your reservation, or...
Phone systems that disconnect you when the said antiquated airline seems to be too busy.
CEO who wants "to run a business" but doesn't realize it's the 21st century...see under-investment in IT, elimination of healthy/ethical meal choices... And repeat...
Like
Experiencing new airlines and realizing many of them are significantly better than COua.
May 3, 2013, 9:21 pm
#17
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
While the net sum of the changes of merger is one thing, it is hardly rational to say there have been no positive changes.
For the PMUA flyer, the "new" SDC is positive. In generally, many would consider the present food (on the whole) better than PMUA. More partner availability online for awards. No MPM.
For the economy PMCO flyer, E+ is an improvement. More flexible ORC, award OJs, OW awards,
For all, the extended life of GPU/RPUs is a positive. (the availability of R space is a different issue.) Better overall network (putting on flak jacket -- note no mention of 787).
A few (too few) other items, but "Nothing is a net positive" is ignoring the few gems that are wrong to deny.
Another past thread on this subject -- http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-ua-vs-co.html
For the PMUA flyer, the "new" SDC is positive. In generally, many would consider the present food (on the whole) better than PMUA. More partner availability online for awards. No MPM.
For the economy PMCO flyer, E+ is an improvement. More flexible ORC, award OJs, OW awards,
For all, the extended life of GPU/RPUs is a positive. (the availability of R space is a different issue.) Better overall network (putting on flak jacket -- note no mention of 787).
A few (too few) other items, but "Nothing is a net positive" is ignoring the few gems that are wrong to deny.
Another past thread on this subject -- http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-ua-vs-co.html
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 3, 2013 at 9:32 pm Reason: past thread
May 4, 2013, 1:26 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ORD, LGA
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 348
Positives
No more *net blocking, can't believe no one brought it up
PMCO BF which I much prefer to PMUA C (YMMV)
Website where I can look for *A award availability, don't forget we used to refer to PMUA website as .bomb
Better GPU success ex-EWR than ex-ORD for LHR, NRT and HKG (YMMV)
SDC (I use it almost every week, money saved for my company probably approach 10K USD)
EWR hub, as a ORD-LGA commuter, it gives me more options for international travel, I know everyone hate EWR but it's hard to say it sucks more than LGA
Neutral
CPU success, 95% of my domestic is ORD-LGA, upgrade success is more influenced by type of aircraft and number of F seats and whether I travel an an elite heavy time, my upgrade success is slightly up this year, but not sure I can read anything into that
Negative
DirecTV, I hate having a TV screen in my face that doesn't have a simple off switch
Mystery changes to existing reservations, only happened twice but annoying to have to call in to get something fixed that shouldn't have gotten broken in the first place
Post 3/3 drama, seemed to die down in a couple of months, but it was annoying when it happened
Usually when booking my ORD-LGA commute, my order of preference is PMUA 757 (not sure their still flying that route), PMCO 737, then any PMUA 320, 319, RJ in that order. Simply because a greater number of F seats improves upgrade chances. Not the domestic F is all that. More comfortable chair and free adult beverages, but otherwise I'm perfectly content in an E+ aisle seat.
I'm a 1K before and after, and used to be an AA EXP, those are my thoughts.
No more *net blocking, can't believe no one brought it up
PMCO BF which I much prefer to PMUA C (YMMV)
Website where I can look for *A award availability, don't forget we used to refer to PMUA website as .bomb
Better GPU success ex-EWR than ex-ORD for LHR, NRT and HKG (YMMV)
SDC (I use it almost every week, money saved for my company probably approach 10K USD)
EWR hub, as a ORD-LGA commuter, it gives me more options for international travel, I know everyone hate EWR but it's hard to say it sucks more than LGA
Neutral
CPU success, 95% of my domestic is ORD-LGA, upgrade success is more influenced by type of aircraft and number of F seats and whether I travel an an elite heavy time, my upgrade success is slightly up this year, but not sure I can read anything into that
Negative
DirecTV, I hate having a TV screen in my face that doesn't have a simple off switch
Mystery changes to existing reservations, only happened twice but annoying to have to call in to get something fixed that shouldn't have gotten broken in the first place
Post 3/3 drama, seemed to die down in a couple of months, but it was annoying when it happened
Usually when booking my ORD-LGA commute, my order of preference is PMUA 757 (not sure their still flying that route), PMCO 737, then any PMUA 320, 319, RJ in that order. Simply because a greater number of F seats improves upgrade chances. Not the domestic F is all that. More comfortable chair and free adult beverages, but otherwise I'm perfectly content in an E+ aisle seat.
I'm a 1K before and after, and used to be an AA EXP, those are my thoughts.
Jun 2, 2013, 9:22 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 638
Changes I would like
Not sure if we already have a consolidated "Changes I Would Like" topic. Here are a few easy ones that shouldn't cost UA all that much.
- A bag status page on united.com. Type in a bag tag number and see all the times/locations the tag was scanned.
- In business class on overnight flights, FAs to offer mid-flight snacks to passengers in window seats who are awake and don't want to climb over their sleeping seat mates to get the snacks themselves.
- Allow families with strollers and car seats to use the priority lane at any time after groups 1 and 2 have finished boarding (if those families are in group 3 or higher)
- A bag status page on united.com. Type in a bag tag number and see all the times/locations the tag was scanned.
- In business class on overnight flights, FAs to offer mid-flight snacks to passengers in window seats who are awake and don't want to climb over their sleeping seat mates to get the snacks themselves.
- Allow families with strollers and car seats to use the priority lane at any time after groups 1 and 2 have finished boarding (if those families are in group 3 or higher)
Jun 2, 2013, 10:22 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Jun 2, 2013, 11:50 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
Web Check In for all UA itineraries
- In business class on overnight flights, FAs to offer mid-flight snacks to passengers in window seats who are awake and don't want to climb over their sleeping seat mates to get the snacks themselves.
It would be nice if UA would upgrade domestic F soft product. I'd appreciate edible food.
Jun 2, 2013, 11:54 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
The argument can be made that this method is less disruptive to sleepers than carts going up and down the isle. Plus I am not sure this is necessary on flights of <7 hours with departure and arrival services already scheduled.
SunLover
Jun 2, 2013, 12:43 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
Jun 2, 2013, 1:06 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Award tickets
When I redeem my miles for my family, they can have my status and associated benefits (e.g., my son had a hotel stay covered after his flight was cancelled). Hope that this benefit will last. Good travels.