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 23, 2014, 9:29 am
#391
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
But a status match to AA, with comp upgrades for EXP's, looks better all the time.
Or just ditch the game and fly VX/B6 on this route. That's increasingly looking like a viable option to me, particularly with the 3/15/15 changes ahead.
Jul 23, 2014, 9:54 am
#392
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
DL's upgrade policies on this route are still worse than UA's.
But a status match to AA, with comp upgrades for EXP's, looks better all the time.
Or just ditch the game and fly VX/B6 on this route. That's increasingly looking like a viable option to me, particularly with the 3/15/15 changes ahead.
But a status match to AA, with comp upgrades for EXP's, looks better all the time.
Or just ditch the game and fly VX/B6 on this route. That's increasingly looking like a viable option to me, particularly with the 3/15/15 changes ahead.
Maintaining EVP on AA is very hard for me as their Intl network isnt what UAs is at least at present. Having to fly on a BA flight and paying all their surcharges as well as the UKs defeats the purpose and makes it not worthwhile for me, although Germany+ is fast approaching the UK
I've seen it as you describe, but I've also had waitlisted UG clear days out.
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.
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.
The gauge to use is what occured in the past 6 months when it seems they implemented the changes, rather then what was the case before that
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Jul 23, 2014 at 10:21 am Reason: Merge
Jul 23, 2014, 10:04 am
#393
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: SNA
Programs: United Premier 1K | GHA Black
Posts: 8
Jul 23, 2014, 10:28 am
#394
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
DL's upgrade policies on this route are still worse than UA's.
But a status match to AA, with comp upgrades for EXP's, looks better all the time.
Or just ditch the game and fly VX/B6 on this route. That's increasingly looking like a viable option to me, particularly with the 3/15/15 changes ahead.
But a status match to AA, with comp upgrades for EXP's, looks better all the time.
Or just ditch the game and fly VX/B6 on this route. That's increasingly looking like a viable option to me, particularly with the 3/15/15 changes ahead.
Not sure why take comp close in upgrades on AA over confirmed in advance upgrades on UNITED. So the food is better in AA business, but that alone would not make me switch. Also I would start at Plat with some kind of challenge (and no comp upgrades) and then work my way up to EXP? I'm good.
My calculus will change next year as I will lose 1K, but for the past 7 years the ps upgrade system worked fine. It should continue to do so, especially if UNITED can't get takers for paid upgrades.
Jul 23, 2014, 10:38 am
#395
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
This definitely changes the UA value proposition for me.
Jul 23, 2014, 10:49 am
#396
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
But UA has within the past few weeks changed its upgrade policies on this route much for the worse. They are no longer releasing R until a few hours prior to departure, even when BF is wide open. This is a huge negative change. Not only for the inability to confirm R the day prior to departure, but to confirm through an SDC. Moreover, it increases UA's ability to sell those seats out from under waitlisted elites, rendering the RPUs it is currently handing out like candy less and less valuable.
This definitely changes the UA value proposition for me.
This definitely changes the UA value proposition for me.
Jul 23, 2014, 10:56 am
#397
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
it changed alot more then a few weeks ago. My only question is when will they follow DL and make it almost impossible to UP on a ps flight, could be since their product is now so inferior they will leave everything as is in place and simply do a sthey are basically only very last min UPs with anything but TODing
Also fitting that they've eliminated the R releases without fixing the basic and well-known IT flaw so that even when R finally opens at T-3 (or whatever) the list still does not process.
Jul 23, 2014, 11:09 am
#398
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
They've been moving in this direction, but the change to zero R on any flight is quite recent. My last ps flight was mid-April and it was very very easy to find R at T-24.
Also fitting that they've eliminated the R releases without fixing the basic and well-known IT flaw so that even when R finally opens at T-3 (or whatever) the list still does not process.
Also fitting that they've eliminated the R releases without fixing the basic and well-known IT flaw so that even when R finally opens at T-3 (or whatever) the list still does not process.
For the price Im paying its still workable, since it wont happen on anyone else , but I wont blow my miles to UP and once flying in E+ theres no reason to make it only UA and '14 will be my last year as a 1K and '15 probably as a Plat, so I will be a Gold due to being a 1MM = no RPUs
If theres 1 thing I wont do its to be drawn in and play COs games in order to be a top Elite. Heck with that Id rather keep the $$ in my pocket then Jeffs. So up till 3/1/15 UA will get my few $s, if I get close enough to 75K then I will continue with them till I hit it but seeing as they arent Reliable any longer due to the massive # of MXs Ive run into rolling delays till they finally CX the flight or it does go out 6 hrs late is not a company that I should be loyal to
Jul 23, 2014, 12:18 pm
#399
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
My thoughts exactly.
Jul 23, 2014, 12:32 pm
#400
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion; IHG Platinum; Marriott Gold; Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,071
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.
I haven't missed an upgrade in years - I cannot remember the last time. And I fly the route roundtrip every 4-6 weeks. I do often purchase tickets with R availability at booking so that helps.
Jul 23, 2014, 1:09 pm
#401
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
This too is my feeling. I stay with United because I primarily fly JFK-LAX and United offers the best upgrade opportunities. DL won't let me use miles at deep discounted fares and I use miles most of the time.
I haven't missed an upgrade in years - I cannot remember the last time. And I fly the route roundtrip every 4-6 weeks. I do often purchase tickets with R availability at booking so that helps.
I haven't missed an upgrade in years - I cannot remember the last time. And I fly the route roundtrip every 4-6 weeks. I do often purchase tickets with R availability at booking so that helps.
Jul 24, 2014, 11:00 am
#402
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EWR
Programs: UA .5M, Vistana 1-Star owner
Posts: 992
Booked on JAN26 for I (Saver Business) LAX-JFK SEP21 1-way, Premier Silver, it has yet to clear waitlist & apparently never will as there's no Saver Business for any PS on any date set on united.com. Misfortune for me but pure profit for UA, sigh.
Jul 24, 2014, 11:03 am
#403
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Too early to decide that. It might still clear in September.
Jul 24, 2014, 11:08 am
#404
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EWR
Programs: UA .5M, Vistana 1-Star owner
Posts: 992
United Airlines sucks
I believe UA removed all saver for all ps flights per experience.
To quote myself in another less related thread, I confirm all the above:
Jul 24, 2014, 3:05 pm
#405
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 123
So when does United offer the $299 upgrades? Are these offers for everyone or just lower level elites?