Do You Think UA Will Lose a Lot of Revenue With Fewer MR?
Jul 2, 2013, 12:27 pm
#76
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No one is privy to an exact number of average daily MRers. However, considering the number of folks that travel on UA/UA partner flights worldwide each and every day, I would certainly think that the number does significantly exceed your low ball estimate of "100".
"Stealing upgrades"? Wow. Those who are fortunate to be more flexible with their availability to travel can and do take advantage of booking lower fares on UA, that I might add are published and equally available to everyone. Thus, those that routinely book these less expensive fares (i.e., the $5K 1Ks so often complained about) are not "gaming" the system, any more than are the extremely fortunate FTers that have most/all of their travel paid for by their employer, without having to resort to any out-of-pocket spending.
For those business flyers that are apparently unhappy about upgrades being "stolen" from them, do wish you once might invest the hours upon hours of time required to fly the (now) 120 flights for 1K, and make the dozens upon dozens of required connections, all while doing so on your own dime, as a number of us 1Ks do. We buy valid fares, and meet status requirements. We, too, "earn" our status and benefits. Time to quit calling the kettle black.
"Stealing upgrades"? Wow. Those who are fortunate to be more flexible with their availability to travel can and do take advantage of booking lower fares on UA, that I might add are published and equally available to everyone. Thus, those that routinely book these less expensive fares (i.e., the $5K 1Ks so often complained about) are not "gaming" the system, any more than are the extremely fortunate FTers that have most/all of their travel paid for by their employer, without having to resort to any out-of-pocket spending.
For those business flyers that are apparently unhappy about upgrades being "stolen" from them, do wish you once might invest the hours upon hours of time required to fly the (now) 120 flights for 1K, and make the dozens upon dozens of required connections, all while doing so on your own dime, as a number of us 1Ks do. We buy valid fares, and meet status requirements. We, too, "earn" our status and benefits. Time to quit calling the kettle black.
And as for the rest, dude, I am on your side, so I dont know where thats coming from. All my flying is on my own dime, and none of it is work-related, and none of it are MRs.
I just dont think there are that many MR'ers outside of FT, so a 100 a day is a generous estimate IMO - leisure elites - sure, tons of us, but nowhere near as many as OPM'ers.
When these changes were announced, the only ones jumping for joy were some OPM'ers who dont seem to get it that there are other reasons to fly than work/MR, and think that MR'ers are stealing upgrades from them, and now they will have more upgrades .... lol.. good luck with that.
Jul 2, 2013, 12:28 pm
#77
Join Date: May 2012
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Agreed. There are very few pure MR'ers overall. I do believe there's a significant number of people who might take an extra segment or the long way around to secure more miles. These individuals end up costing the airline a lot of money, especially if the fares are deeply discounted.
Jul 2, 2013, 12:34 pm
#78
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Agreed. There are very few pure MR'ers overall. I do believe there's a significant number of people who might take an extra segment or the long way around to secure more miles. These individuals end up costing the airline a lot of money, especially if the fares are deeply discounted.
Its not like these people go to UA and say, hey sell me this ticket for $200 or else!!! If UA did not want them to buy the $200 ticket to fill the seat, they wouldnt offer it for sale!
Jul 2, 2013, 12:46 pm
#79
Join Date: May 2012
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Not blaming the passenger, just saying it cost the airline a lot of money for MR'ers that might stretch out a trip.
Jul 2, 2013, 12:50 pm
#80
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If UA can get a person from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time that's less fuel, less in-flight service, less baggage handling, and leaves additional seats open on other flights that the part time MR'er might have taken. Pretty obvious how they save money.
Not blaming the passenger, just saying it cost the airline a lot of money for MR'ers that might stretch out a trip.
Not blaming the passenger, just saying it cost the airline a lot of money for MR'ers that might stretch out a trip.
Seems like the MR'er serves as a mythical scapegoat around here, we suspect they may exist, but outside of FT, noone has ever seen one.
Jul 2, 2013, 12:50 pm
#81
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SEA, OGG(I wish)
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Posts: 1,238
New meaning to MR?
In addition to Mileage Run (obvious) & Mattress Run (hotel perks), now maybe a Money Run? Would any pax do creative routings to maximize miles & spend?
Jul 2, 2013, 12:59 pm
#82
Join Date: Sep 2005
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Jul 2, 2013, 12:59 pm
#83
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA IK, Hyatt Plat, Avis PP
Posts: 225
Speaking of MR'ers costing money...did you see the article about GoAir not hiring male FA's because they're heavier? Potentially saving 500K a year in fuel alone? If SMI is worried about splitting cashews to save money then yeah, I'd consider MR'ers potentially costing UA a lot.
Also, I'm not necessarily talking about pure MR's. I'm talking about the person with a valid trip, maybe business, that takes the scenic route home.
Jul 2, 2013, 1:45 pm
#84
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Programs: 1MM BIS. Former 18-year segment 1K, 1997-2014...now just a distant memory.
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To the numbers, read the post directly above yours, it sums things up very accurately.
And as for the rest, dude, I am on your side, so I dont know where thats coming from. All my flying is on my own dime, and none of it is work-related, and none of it are MRs.
I just dont think there are that many MR'ers outside of FT, so a 100 a day is a generous estimate IMO - leisure elites - sure, tons of us, but nowhere near as many as OPM'ers.
When these changes were announced, the only ones jumping for joy were some OPM'ers who dont seem to get it that there are other reasons to fly than work/MR, and think that MR'ers are stealing upgrades from them, and now they will have more upgrades .... lol.. good luck with that.
And as for the rest, dude, I am on your side, so I dont know where thats coming from. All my flying is on my own dime, and none of it is work-related, and none of it are MRs.
I just dont think there are that many MR'ers outside of FT, so a 100 a day is a generous estimate IMO - leisure elites - sure, tons of us, but nowhere near as many as OPM'ers.
When these changes were announced, the only ones jumping for joy were some OPM'ers who dont seem to get it that there are other reasons to fly than work/MR, and think that MR'ers are stealing upgrades from them, and now they will have more upgrades .... lol.. good luck with that.
The remainder of my last post was not worded "at" you, as it does seem we are pretty compatible with our thoughts. As far as "stealing", you were only parroting others. I'm sure you, like me, have grown tired of the "unworthy" label heaped upon some UA elites, by others in this community, even though we have played by the rules.
Last edited by ColoBill1; Jul 2, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Jul 2, 2013, 2:04 pm
#85
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This change doesnt affect me negatively, if anything, some here would like me to believe that upgrades will improve because the herd will be thinned, and elite will mean something again.... to which I say... I got some magic beans to sell ya....
As another subplot to this, the MR'ers that were smart enough to figure out the game and get status purely from MRs are smart enough to figure out how to "move" outside of the USA
Jul 2, 2013, 4:56 pm
#86
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: UA 1k, AA plat, HH, Marriott Platinum,
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I recently tried booking a flight from DEL to IAH in biz class through EWR. The flight thru EWR went to BOS and then to IAH. This was cheaper than the flight from EWR to IAH directly. The additional time was 1 hour to IAH (flight to BOS left earlier). So, the additional miles I would have received would have actually put me over 1k, but now I am short 300 miles. So not sure how they figure the additional connections and cheaper fare!
Jul 2, 2013, 5:24 pm
#87
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Speaking of MR'ers costing money...did you see the article about GoAir not hiring male FA's because they're heavier? Potentially saving 500K a year in fuel alone? If SMI is worried about splitting cashews to save money then yeah, I'd consider MR'ers potentially costing UA a lot.
And in comparison with the flight crew (which the airline flies around and has to eat the cost of the weight), MRers actually *ARE* contributing revenue. If they are contributing more revenue than the fuel burn they cause, they aren't "costing" the airline anything.
Last edited by STS-134; Jul 2, 2013 at 5:43 pm
Jul 2, 2013, 8:51 pm
#88
Join Date: May 2012
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The answer is SDC
I recently tried booking a flight from DEL to IAH in biz class through EWR. The flight thru EWR went to BOS and then to IAH. This was cheaper than the flight from EWR to IAH directly. The additional time was 1 hour to IAH (flight to BOS left earlier). So, the additional miles I would have received would have actually put me over 1k, but now I am short 300 miles. So not sure how they figure the additional connections and cheaper fare!
Jul 2, 2013, 9:32 pm
#89
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Of course there will be a decrease in revenue. MR by definition is a CHEAP flight where the price per mile is far less the median price. The reason a flight is CHEAP is because it is wide open, if there were a ton of bookings all the lower booking classes would be filled and only premium fares would exist. Now on some of these undercapacity flights which would be filled to a certain extent will now go empty. Even if there is only one MR if he she hasn't taken a seat on an oversold flight is a LOSS if that seat goes out empty.
Jul 3, 2013, 5:12 am
#90
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
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Of course there will be a decrease in revenue. MR by definition is a CHEAP flight where the price per mile is far less the median price. The reason a flight is CHEAP is because it is wide open, if there were a ton of bookings all the lower booking classes would be filled and only premium fares would exist. Now on some of these undercapacity flights which would be filled to a certain extent will now go empty. Even if there is only one MR if he she hasn't taken a seat on an oversold flight is a LOSS if that seat goes out empty.