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
Oct 30, 2013, 6:17 pm
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: UA1K, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 212
Oct 31, 2013, 5:26 am
#35
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: MDT
Programs: UA 1MM
Posts: 281
Jan 7, 2014, 7:35 pm
#36
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
I'd like this credit card change
Virgin America card waives change fees on non refundable tickets. We 'll never get this from United as it would be a change we'd like, and they just don't do that.
VirginAmerica Premium Visa card waives change fees on non-ref tickets http://t.co/PVTFcMM09e
VirginAmerica Premium Visa card waives change fees on non-ref tickets http://t.co/PVTFcMM09e
Jan 8, 2014, 11:53 am
#38
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
I stand by my original statement. And in 2014, even more so.
Jan 8, 2014, 12:25 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,893
Virgin America card waives change fees on non refundable tickets. We 'll never get this from United as it would be a change we'd like, and they just don't do that.
VirginAmerica Premium Visa card waives change fees on non-ref tickets http://t.co/PVTFcMM09e
VirginAmerica Premium Visa card waives change fees on non-ref tickets http://t.co/PVTFcMM09e
Jan 29, 2014, 10:05 pm
#40
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Maui HI
Programs: 1k MM, Hyatt Diamond,Marriott Gold, IHG Sphire, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, Carson Gold
Posts: 329
Who else is happy with the UAL changes
MM change - Im 1K wife flies 60k a year spouse to 1 K better than not getting RPU
Award travel gets my 1k benifits
Witn a credit card Exploer award travel can get upgraded
Never use awards for *A so increase is awards is nothing
Cancel award travel witn no fee
Seams like the winners are the churners trying to get *A F on non United metal
Award travel gets my 1k benifits
Witn a credit card Exploer award travel can get upgraded
Never use awards for *A so increase is awards is nothing
Cancel award travel witn no fee
Seams like the winners are the churners trying to get *A F on non United metal
Jan 29, 2014, 10:28 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
MM change - Im 1K wife flies 60k a year spouse to 1 K better than not getting RPU
Award travel gets my 1k benifits
Witn a credit card Exploer award travel can get upgraded
Never use awards for *A so increase is awards is nothing
Cancel award travel witn no fee
Seams like the winners are the churners trying to get *A F on non United metal
Award travel gets my 1k benifits
Witn a credit card Exploer award travel can get upgraded
Never use awards for *A so increase is awards is nothing
Cancel award travel witn no fee
Seams like the winners are the churners trying to get *A F on non United metal
Jan 29, 2014, 10:40 pm
#43
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: near to SFO and LHR
Programs: BA Gold, B6 Mosiac, VS, AA, DL (and a legacy UA 2MM)
Posts: 2,274
Although I might point out that even a couple of years is "short term" as far as the trajectory of any airline. IMO, the OP is not doing anything wrong by simply evaluating what's important to him right now - determining his personal value equation. I do the same thing, and UA is working fine for me - I'm happy at the moment anyway.
Jan 29, 2014, 10:51 pm
#44
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: DL BA Amex
Posts: 916
MM change - Im 1K wife flies 60k a year spouse to 1 K better than not getting RPU
Award travel gets my 1k benifits
Witn a credit card Exploer award travel can get upgraded
Never use awards for *A so increase is awards is nothing
Cancel award travel witn no fee
Seams like the winners are the churners trying to get *A F on non United metal
Award travel gets my 1k benifits
Witn a credit card Exploer award travel can get upgraded
Never use awards for *A so increase is awards is nothing
Cancel award travel witn no fee
Seams like the winners are the churners trying to get *A F on non United metal
Jan 29, 2014, 11:35 pm
#45
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
Like many on here, it will be interesting to see if:
a) PDQ thins the ranks
b) If the thinning of the ranks is noticeable in any way whatsoever to other elites as a positive.
Personally while I think it will thin the ranks, it almost has to, I doubt their will be any significant change to the noticeable benefits (upgrades, boarding lines, lounges, etc).
Lastly, I'm beginning to think that maybe it's true that UA does not value the regular elite flyer at all, and maybe not for the mean spirited reasons that get touted about on here. They may just simply feel that loyalty no longer matters, and that x million people per day need to fly, and they'll fly on whatever is most convenient to them at the time, and they will buy (ala carte) the perks they want as they need them. For the first time ever, I actually think they may be right too.
a) PDQ thins the ranks
b) If the thinning of the ranks is noticeable in any way whatsoever to other elites as a positive.
Personally while I think it will thin the ranks, it almost has to, I doubt their will be any significant change to the noticeable benefits (upgrades, boarding lines, lounges, etc).
Lastly, I'm beginning to think that maybe it's true that UA does not value the regular elite flyer at all, and maybe not for the mean spirited reasons that get touted about on here. They may just simply feel that loyalty no longer matters, and that x million people per day need to fly, and they'll fly on whatever is most convenient to them at the time, and they will buy (ala carte) the perks they want as they need them. For the first time ever, I actually think they may be right too.