cfischer

agreed, but even if they wanted they probably couldn't ... at least in most major markets.

UA-NYC

Exactly - if you're GS, you're most likely already giving most if not all your biz to UA...you're a slave to the program already. So UA will just reward you more at the expense of everyone else.

abaheti

Or theoretically attract non-UA GS level flyers? My gut says no on this, because most people at that level are probably super wedded to their existing carrier or chose that other carrier because of where they live, etc. Also, splitting between two airlines would mess up your status in both (for most, not all, I know). Maybe the idea is that they can peel off even a handful of super expensive flights per year by having points tip the balance?

But I'm with you, pushing most of us way to do it still seems odd to me.

NiceLanding

Worse yet (for UA), all those extra miles in conjunction with expanded availability for the GS members will fill up more Global First seats with award travelers, making GF look even less profitable to the bean counters. I just don't see this ending well for UA.

FlyerTom111

Yep. Especially with BOGO they might see GS purchasing going down and not up. Never thought of it that way but you're right!

Mike Jacoubowsky

Add to that the notion that the typical GS is likely not the most-efficient at spending award miles, because awards aren't a normal part of their flying. Spoke with a GS today who purchased tickets in GF for a trip to Paris on short notice. He said award tickets weren't available.

Umm... first, award tickets are always available for an upper-level elite, if a seat's available for sale. Second, if only standard awards and you'd rather not spend that many miles, you can convert to saver without penalties at any time, if a saver seat becomes available.

But this isn't stuff that concerns him, because he's basically a retail-paying high-value customer and doesn't live in the same value-conscious world (as far as air travel is concerned) that many of us do. I don't want to make a generalization this way for GS overall, but I'm sure it's appropriate to many.

So what does a GS who accumulates a zillion RDMs do with them? Since he's a customer of mine, it's really not appropriate to ask, partly because it might come across as me asking for a special favor. But got to admit I am a bit curious! Could be he redeems them for hotel stays? Or mall items?

My point is that utilization of award miles is probably more-costly to UA for the "normal" flyer, on a per-RDM basis, than a GS. Probably. Wouldn't surprise me if I was totally wrong on this.

wethereyet

I don't believe GS members get expanded availability for GF...

And even with flying in biz, you need a C fare or higher to just use a GPU. P, Z, D fares require a GPU PLUS miles and money.......

LaserSailor

When I have grossly over accumulated miles I've bought merchandise that I need redeeming at a little over 1cpm. Since I cannot use the miles I conserve cash for stuff I do need.

RealFan

Just to give you some perspective from this GS and I know several like me:

- in the air basically everyday so GS on UA and top status on one other airline (one of my colleagues is GS, CK on AA, and the highest tier on DAL)

- everyone in this group plans to avoid AA next year due to the higher available RDMs on UA and DAL

- I typically spend $150K+ on a airfare annually with two thirds going to UA and the other third to AA; next year, it all goes to UA

- most, if not all of us, plan to give more miles to our elderly parents for leisure travel, our kids for travel back and forth from college, and to take our immediate families on vacay in C or F

UA-NYC

You are of course the dream acquisition customer for UA/DL (whether it's a new acquisition or getting an add'l amount of the pie).

But I have to wonder - how many GS also have status on another airline? And if they do, maybe it's because they have a destination or two where UA isn't optimal (like to OAL hubs, given UA's reluctance to send lift to those)...willing to make the tradeoff to fly a worse product, more inconvenient times, etc?

RealFan

It's a fair point that you make. Those GS I know do have double status because it just makes sense to have options. What AA has basically done is remove itself as an option for now. But, to your point, if you are exclusive to UA and are already GS, then you are receiving incremental benefit without having to provide anything extra to UA. I think UA went to this program to keep its GS/1K population from defecting to DAL.

wxguy

Minor correction: On international flights, D can use GPU. P and Z require miles+$ for upgrading (no GPU). This is true for all MP tiers, including GS. All such transactions require "ON" to be available to upgrade from business to first on three-cabin aircraft.

UA-NYC

Well, to be fair, you're already GS, and they're getting high margin revenue $ for the add'l stuff you get (the same for any increasing their UA spend).

So, honest question - do you return back to AA at least part-time once they do go revenue-based?

Are you going to have to make "sacrifices" of some kind in shifting that AA-level/destination business over to UA?

Agreed that it's more of a reactionary move to DL's changes than anything else...and of course DL has made the product investments to better justify the move, relative to UA.

FlyerTom111

Since all airlines are trying to compete at the higher end, if there is one that can ALSO offer something at the mid to low end then they have the advantage. DL is doing that by trying to improve the actual product. UA is trying to do it via newer planes vs. DL's older planes that have lots of freebies and better service. AA has the better mileage earning program for midlevels but will have to do something at the high level to match UA/DL on earning levels. If AA can do that without sacrificing the middle class flyers then they might come out ahead.

Kacee

You can use a GPU on a D fare. It's just the P and Z that are excluded.

The reference to a GPU PLUS miles and money makes no sense. You would never use both.