flyertalkingallday

Annual fee posted yesterday. Called today and got a $100 credit statement. The card will remain in my sock drawer for another year as I put my AA and US cards to use.

GrizShel

Bingo!
Gone forever is the (relative) security many of us felt with our United miles. They were harder to accumulate, but easier to redeem with (overall) more options and some great premium cabin redemptions. Since the merger UA has meticulously gone through the list of items their customers value about the MileagePlusToMinus program and taken them away step-by-step. You can go through the list of things customers most valued as presented in online forums and social media and see this.

Sorry to see the additional attack on Upgrades in the Western Hemisphere as well - the changes seem to be more punitive than something that is going to earn them much extra revenue.

No reason at all now to fly UA except when they have best value, most convenient, and most comfortable alternative.

CaptKornDog

Same exact message on Facebook also.

Exleftseat

I have had the opportunity a couple of times to grab one seat in F from NRT to FRA. Only grabbed it once and let Mrs. EX enjoy the ride, while I was in C. But usually she loves to travel close to me, so we pass on the F seat, which seems to be available as one seat always. But we usually check and usually the seat, which if available for redemption, goes empty. Proves, it's better to take pennies from a redemption than nothing. Again, I am not saying a seat is available all the time.

exerda

I'm sure UA's spin on this one will be that people have complained about the integrity of the F cabin, so they are taking steps to make it harder to upgrade. Reading between the lines, though, we'll note they say nothing about fixing TODs or the many other upgrade-related problems.

Fanjet

If that is the case, then why did LX recently announce that F redemptions are only going to be available for top level M&M members? Why are they going to be shutting out all other Star FFers and turn away that incremental revenue?

Exleftseat

As far as I can see LX and LH have 8 seats in F out of NRT on their flights. I will try LX next year and see what is going on. For now I would guess that the situation is not different from LH, but I haven't seen it in person.

5khours

Takes a bit of work, but I can almost always get 2 seats if I have a little flexibility on date. Have several times traveled with my spouse in LH F when there was another couple also traveling on UA miles. That's half the seats in the cabin sold as awards.

Very good question. SQ used to do the same thing with their Suites, but now it's easy to get Suites with SQ miles.

Presumably LX, believes they get additional full fare F revenue , which is greater than the lost award revenue, by making F more exclusive. (Hard for me to believe that's the case, but that's just MHO).

bocastephen

So let me get this straight - we need to hit PQD spend to keep our Elite benefits, and now the MP redemptions are literally gutted (to the point where redemptions on Delta start to look similar) - what exactly is the benefit of flying or remaining loyal to UA again? What is the value proposition of the overall UA product? I'm trying to stretch here because as a supporter of the company, these changes are wearing my patience thin.

Why the devaluation? Why not just restrict GF award saver inventory if the number of seats available for sale is a problem (do people really pay for GF? they really shouldn't be - it's not close to comparable with a 'real' airline). GF is not "exclusive" - it's a run-of-the-mill premium class product (I know, I've flown in it a few times, and before the inflight product cutbacks). I can sell full J and upgrade customers into GF without miles/instruments - so it's not that 'exclusive'.

The sheer arrogance demonstrated by this airline's leadership is truly startling - they must really believe their customers don't have a choice. What is it with the constant lock-step changes in line with Delta?

I need to check out the AA marketing response to this - if they are aggressively slamming UA and actively courting UA loyal customers and elites again, I think it's great, and I hope they keep it up - and thrive without US so they remain a viable alternative.

Edited to add: the increase on intra-Asia awards (which I actually redeem) is startling - 50% increase in Y!!

freeupgrade

To be honest, I hope not. AA has already been way too generous to UA 1ks this year.

I'm sorry and truly wish you luck; however as an AA person who is earning Executive Platinum the hard way on segments - my violin is in the shop.

TravellingMan

+1 Add the $200 domestic change fees and RJs taking over most of the flying, why would one want to consider them any more? It is going to be interesting to watch how 2014 shapes up for United Airlines (or should I call it by its more appropriate name United Express Airlines)

LarkSFO

But can you book SQ Suites or F with UA MP miles?

I don't have any SQ miles...

exmike

Nope, Krisflyer via AX MR is the way to go there


count me as one of those what will be abandoning MileageMinus and UA and most of my chase spending. CitiAA and Amex MR here I come. I'll keep CSP and Ink around for hyatt, but thats about it.

Michael D

What are you smoking? <joke>

Who is easier?

5khours

Intra-Asia F yes. Suites and long haul F no. Maybe that's the next step. If you have a product that beats all the competition and you can fill it on full fare, there's no need for price discrimination. (IMHO neither condition is true for LX).

Get an Amex card. (as exmike suggests).