Jan 3, 2014, 7:11 pm
Last edit by: PTahCha
A recap of some of the key features of the refreshed p.s. product:
The Global First Lounge at JFK is scheduled to remain open, welcoming Global Services members seated in United BusinessFirst on p.s. flights, as well as customers on connecting United Global First itineraries.
Upgrade policies are the same. No CPU. Only miles or instrument-supported upgrades.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20168422-post1.html (UA Insider)
For mileage upgrades requested on or after 1 Feb 2015, Premier members are no longer exempt from upgrade co-pay on the p.s. routes. The co-pay varies by fare basis:
Fare Basis (Co-Pay Each Way)
Y, B (no co-pay)
M,E,U ($75)
H,Q ($125)
V ($175)
W ($225)
S,T,K,L,G,N ($250)
- 28 seats in United BusinessFirst with 180-degree flat-bed seats
- 48 seats in Economy Plus (36" pitch)
- 66 seats in United Economy
- Complimentary in-seat audio video on-demand entertainment. However, headsets are no longer complimentary in economy as of 9/2014.
- USB and standard 110v power outlets accessible from every seat
- Gogo Wi-Fi for a fee (all cabins; no waivers for elite or premium cabin passengers)
The Global First Lounge at JFK is scheduled to remain open, welcoming Global Services members seated in United BusinessFirst on p.s. flights, as well as customers on connecting United Global First itineraries.
Upgrade policies are the same. No CPU. Only miles or instrument-supported upgrades.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20168422-post1.html (UA Insider)
For mileage upgrades requested on or after 1 Feb 2015, Premier members are no longer exempt from upgrade co-pay on the p.s. routes. The co-pay varies by fare basis:
Fare Basis (Co-Pay Each Way)
Y, B (no co-pay)
M,E,U ($75)
H,Q ($125)
V ($175)
W ($225)
S,T,K,L,G,N ($250)
p.s.® Premium Service (LAX/SFO-JFK) Flights on UA - Questions and Experience (2014)
Jul 22, 2014, 9:42 pm
#377
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
So UA will make $299.00 on that TOD upgrade (and compared to the cost of buying C over Y on that route, it is a TOD upgrade), but how much will it lose by alienating its customers who fly enough to earn regional upgrades?
With UA's myopic view, they don't look at the other half of the equation. But you can look at its PRASM and see the answer. Penny wise; pound foolish. Welcome to the new United.
Jul 22, 2014, 10:34 pm
#379
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Welcome to the new UA
Jul 22, 2014, 11:14 pm
#380
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
W. Roughly $1,800 diff between my fare and the P fare I could have booked at T-24. So they offer an UG for 1/6 the price.
Yup. I do blame myself. Back to UA after two amazing AA trips. Been an epic fail so far. To be fair, I was using my last two RPUs. Last biz trip of the year on UA. Unreliable and poor. Just booked another $500 AA ticket for my next trip, and they will get all remaining ones this year.
Yeah I know. After two straight MX flights plus the single worst meal I've had - just amazed at how bad it's gotten.
Sorry UA-NYC. You know what this airline has become, yet you continue to fly them.
At some point, you have to personally accept the blame for choosing to continue flying United. This is what you get for that choice.
This airline simply will not give you an upgrade unless they are certain they cannot sell the seat, obtain a currency paid upgrade, or give it away for mileage (and hopefully at a standard award rate).
At some point, you have to personally accept the blame for choosing to continue flying United. This is what you get for that choice.
This airline simply will not give you an upgrade unless they are certain they cannot sell the seat, obtain a currency paid upgrade, or give it away for mileage (and hopefully at a standard award rate).
Yeah I know. After two straight MX flights plus the single worst meal I've had - just amazed at how bad it's gotten.
Jul 22, 2014, 11:47 pm
#381
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,468
Jul 23, 2014, 8:07 am
#382
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
for them just not running the damn UG list like they should be.Poor schlub still waitlisted (was ahead of me). I don't feel totally guilty as it was R2 and we were the only two on the list. That's another GS or higher-fare 1K likely wondering what's going on.
Good job UA.
Jul 23, 2014, 8:32 am
#383
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,468
Happy ending - woke up this morning (9 hours out) to see R2 (still J6). Just for fun, I re-OLCI'd...still a $299 UG offer. Called in, forced the UG, quick and easy, no push back ^ Of course, a for them just not running the damn UG list like they should be.
Poor schlub still waitlisted (was ahead of me). I don't feel totally guilty as it was R2 and we were the only two on the list. That's another GS or higher-fare 1K likely wondering what's going on.
Good job UA.
for them just not running the damn UG list like they should be.Poor schlub still waitlisted (was ahead of me). I don't feel totally guilty as it was R2 and we were the only two on the list. That's another GS or higher-fare 1K likely wondering what's going on.
Good job UA.
What's interesting to me (apart from the extremely FF-unfriendly change to upgrade policies) is that they couldn't sell all those seats for $299.
They've cut the P fare on this route in half (to $2105 from over four grand) to compete with B6 and AA, and they still can't sell that cabin out.
Jul 23, 2014, 8:44 am
#384
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX & EWR/JFK
Programs: Fomerly UA 1K, now Gold... next year, who knows?
Posts: 1,432
Happy ending - woke up this morning (9 hours out) to see R2 (still J6). Just for fun, I re-OLCI'd...still a $299 UG offer. Called in, forced the UG, quick and easy, no push back ^ Of course, a for them just not running the damn UG list like they should be.
Poor schlub still waitlisted (was ahead of me). I don't feel totally guilty as it was R2 and we were the only two on the list. That's another GS or higher-fare 1K likely wondering what's going on.
Good job UA.
for them just not running the damn UG list like they should be.Poor schlub still waitlisted (was ahead of me). I don't feel totally guilty as it was R2 and we were the only two on the list. That's another GS or higher-fare 1K likely wondering what's going on.
Good job UA.
Jul 23, 2014, 8:45 am
#385
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,646
Happy ending - woke up this morning (9 hours out) to see R2 (still J6). Just for fun, I re-OLCI'd...still a $299 UG offer. Called in, forced the UG, quick and easy, no push back ^ Of course, a for them just not running the damn UG list like they should be.
Poor schlub still waitlisted (was ahead of me). I don't feel totally guilty as it was R2 and we were the only two on the list. That's another GS or higher-fare 1K likely wondering what's going on.
Good job UA.
for them just not running the damn UG list like they should be.Poor schlub still waitlisted (was ahead of me). I don't feel totally guilty as it was R2 and we were the only two on the list. That's another GS or higher-fare 1K likely wondering what's going on.
Good job UA.
to this situation. that being said it's not any different than the $799 upgrades to J from K fares on INTL when folks are GPU waitlisted. 
Jul 23, 2014, 8:46 am
#386
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Happy ending - woke up this morning (9 hours out) to see R2 (still J6). Just for fun, I re-OLCI'd...still a $299 UG offer. Called in, forced the UG, quick and easy, no push back ^ Of course, a for them just not running the damn UG list like they should be.
Poor schlub still waitlisted (was ahead of me). I don't feel totally guilty as it was R2 and we were the only two on the list. That's another GS or higher-fare 1K likely wondering what's going on.
Good job UA.
for them just not running the damn UG list like they should be.Poor schlub still waitlisted (was ahead of me). I don't feel totally guilty as it was R2 and we were the only two on the list. That's another GS or higher-fare 1K likely wondering what's going on.
Good job UA.
Everyone should make a note of this, its UAs new way of handling the R bucket, they will open a couple of seats max far out and once they are taken most likley nothing will be put into the R bucket till the morning of the flight
Not sure if they will put anything into R for the morning flights out of JFK but for sure they wait now till the day of and not T-24 for late morning and flights after that. have no idea how they are playing the Sat or Sun flights wouldnt be surprised to learn its the same with them
Jul 23, 2014, 8:50 am
#387
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,468
Jul 23, 2014, 9:09 am
#388
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
those Idiots really expect someone to wake up at 5am and have to jump onto the 6am flight, yea its possible once in a blue moon someone will have to so hold back 1 seat but all of them. No wonder the ship is sinking . Guess they are hoping others will pony up the TODsguess my late Aug flight will remain the 6am flight only 1 at the time with R>0. works out for the car rental timing but was hoping for a late morn- early afternoon flight
Jul 23, 2014, 9:15 am
#389
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX & EWR/JFK
Programs: Fomerly UA 1K, now Gold... next year, who knows?
Posts: 1,432
Everyone should make a note of this, its UAs new way of handling the R bucket, they will open a couple of seats max far out and once they are taken most likley nothing will be put into the R bucket till the morning of the flight
Not sure if they will put anything into R for the morning flights out of JFK but for sure they wait now till the day of and not T-24 for late morning and flights after that. have no idea how they are playing the Sat or Sun flights wouldnt be surprised to learn its the same with them
Not sure if they will put anything into R for the morning flights out of JFK but for sure they wait now till the day of and not T-24 for late morning and flights after that. have no idea how they are playing the Sat or Sun flights wouldnt be surprised to learn its the same with them
re: Saturday, and maybe you are addressing ex-JFK only, but I'm currently waitlisted on Saturday Sep 6 LAX-JFK. All 4 flights on Sep 6 are showing J9 R0. In the old days, a Saturday waitlist would usually clear within 3 days of booking. Now... who knows?
For past 4 years, I take family of 4 to NYC to visit grandparents in July. Up until this year, we traveled Saturday-Saturday as the UGs were easy. This year, we did Tuesday-Tuesday as the return had R4+ when I booked the tix, and the outbound was R1. The other 3 UGs cleared one at a time on different dates. Both Saturdays showed R0.
Jul 23, 2014, 9:24 am
#390
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
As a purchaser of economy class tickets, UNITED still represents (for me) the best option to upgrade into a premium cabin on this route. Yeah times have changed and upgrades process later, but I don't get RPU equivalent on other carriers and their Y is not better than BF. From a pure comfort standpoint BF->Y and I pay for Y. After 40-50 ps flights over the years I still have not sat in my purchased cabin. Say what you will, but that means something to me.
If I was paying for BF, my analysis would be entirely different.
If I was paying for BF, my analysis would be entirely different.