flyhighajw

Come Summer next year, United Management can look at all those MP accounts that had lots of transactions going through them up to February 28 and then March onwards a big, fat nothing!

Maybe they will be dismayed by the fact that a number of people retain the MP account, give up on getting status, and use other *A members to run up award miles? Then they will have to give out free flights or upgrades whilst for the majority of the time look at empty seats on their flights, as bums will not be on United's seats running up the credits.

Or they re-brand as UniTED - a cheap budget airline, who treat the world with contempt?

kluau88

Just flew an itinerary spanning almost 20k miles and to think if I did the same next year I probably would earn about 10K RDM based on the price i paid. That's almost a 75% reduction in RDM

LaserSailor

Status dependent award availability will kill that path. In the long run, only people bringing profitable revenue to UA will get award benefits.

Aka, there is no free ride.

dnwaldmann

And there's the rub.

We want one. Think we deserve one. That we used to get one.

But when you put it that way, I want to say "No I don't, I understand TANSTAAFL".

goodeats21

Totally disagree. Status dependent award availability would KILL profitable business with Chase credit cards and will not happen.

United is stupid...but not that stupid.

Superguy

As are "insights" provided by people who fly on OPM that would likely be singing a different tune if they had to pay out of pocket themselves. @:-)

rankourabu

^ or if the system was set up to reward those who actually spend, not those who fly.

LaserSailor

I spend OPM every time I fly, OPM that doesn't go into employee salaries, 401k matches, etc. Im acutely aware of this every time I travel - I would even wager more aware than the crowd who spends 600 USD after tax money to MR to IST....hey, its America (usually) - you can spend your money however you want, but that is truly financial idiocy.

From the viewpoint of the airline, OPM manifests itself as business vs leisure travel. I don't know why the leisure travelers here claim moral superiority to their claim to airline loyalty - its probably a good textbook chapter in a psych book.

Superguy

Not sure how that's relevant?

It's not about business vs leisure travel. It's about the attitude of those flying on OPM on expensive fares and reaping the benefits of said travel looking down on those who don't spend as much (OPM or personal) and telling them they deserve what they get - like they themselves are "earning" what they get. It's easy to sneer from the ivory tower when something doesn't affect you - especially if the perks don't cost one personally. This attitude conveys an air of moral superiority and rubs people the wrong way.

It's a valuable skill to be able to see things from another perspective. One can empathize and understand the feelings of those feeling the effects without being a jerk - even if it doesn't affect them.

I'm one who would benefit from the change, and yes, I fly on OPM as well. That doesn't mean I think it's a great change, nor does it mean I think I'm above those that will take the hit. OPM can easily dry up and I can find myself in the same boat.

If you don't get that, then I can't help you. A little empathy goes a long way. @:-)

bocastephen

I think I'm having a senior moment, so apologize if this was already covered upthread or in the announcement, but are RDMs earned by distance or by spend in the following scenarios:

1. I buy a ticket plated on UA that includes US>NRT on UA and NRT>intraAsia on a partner

2. I buy a ticket force-plated on a partner that includes US>NRT on UA and NRT>intraAsia on a partner

3. I buy a ticket with travel (assume domestic) wholly on UA, but force plated through my GDS on a partner (assuming the fare works out)

While I know I will earn RDM based on spend with a UA plated, UA operated ticket, it's the mixed scenarios above that seem to escape my memory.

RealFan

The attitude of the "non OPM" crowd on this board is just as smug and annoying as that of the "OPM" crowd. As you say yourself, it is a valuable skill to see things from another perspective. I really wish this wouldn't keep coming up over and over but the same posters like to bring it up again and again.

From my perspective, it is one and the same. If I can save my company (of which I am a part owner) money on travel, I am way better off. So I try and book far out, consciously avoid booking in first, take advantage of fare sales, etc. Most of the folks I know treat their company's money as their own because they are senior level stakeholders in their businesses. This is something I don't think the "non OPM" crowd truly understands. There are a rare few folks out there who just book whatever fare they want when they want. The rest of us are in the same boat.

emcampbe

I'll try and help - as far as I understand, anything on 016 stock, as well as any UA-operated flights (aside from bulk/blind fares) earns based on rev. Anything else earns on distance/fare class/status - presumably similar to today - but exact details have not been announced - suspect there may be some changes in percentages, etc. Based on this, for your scenarios:

As this is all on 016 stock, all segments are based on the new system on revenue. Partner metal doesn't matter if the ticket is 016 stock. I'm going to assume you have a foreign address as your primary address with UA, so not relevant to you personally, but if not, or for those who don't, you'll get full PQD for the base fare + carrier imposed surcharges.

You'll get rev-based for the UA segment, distance-based for the partner. PQD (if applicable), for UA-operated segments only

All on revenue - any UA segment - no matter what airline the ticket comes from, goes by revenue. Also, full PQD, again, if applicable.

AAExPlat

These posts from you are almost comical LaserSailor. By now, I understand the travel scheme your firm employs. It is very generous. As in extremely generous. Most global huge firms and most small and midsize firms do NOT have as generous a policy as your employer.

If you doubt me, talk to some senior folks at IBM. One of my best friends runs a large sales organization for IBM for North and Central America and guess where he flies? Back of the bus. Another friend of mine ran a large business unit for Citi in Asia (GM level) and guess where he flies? Back of the bus unless it is back to the US. Another guy I just met on a plane who sold his last company for $100mm+ told me that he ALWAYS books in coach and expects his employees to do the same.

And those are only a few examples. There are plenty more where that came from.

You may be right that great travel policy will bring great employees, but it just isn't what is happening out there for most people in the real world even on OPM.

So count yourself lucky but don't underestimate just how large the number of folks is that will get shafted by this change and in some cases very severely.

UA-NYC

Amen to all that ^

SkiAdcock

+1.

Cheers.