Am I just ignorantly blissful? I'm happy with UA.
Dec 25, 2014, 6:05 pm
#331
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
In the wake of the 2008 crisis, UA elevate tons of people to elite status they would have never reached by flying and that ruined the benefits and the exclusiveness for everyone.
I did not even want to become 1K this year, as I am solidly done with UA but it was soooo damn easy. A bit of SQ flying here, a bit of LH there, and - unfortunately and regrettably as I needed the luggage allowance - very few transpacs with UA and I am well into 1K territory.
So the curse of the crisis lives on.
..it's tales like yours of a bygone era--the dedicated clubs and customer service staff, etc.--that do make today's experience seem to pale in comparison.
<snip>
Short story is that I'm not sure accepting the current state of things is as terrible for the consumer as some fear, because no carrier offers elites the experience that was available in the glory days.
<snip>
Short story is that I'm not sure accepting the current state of things is as terrible for the consumer as some fear, because no carrier offers elites the experience that was available in the glory days.
All that has changed happened due to hysteric me-too and more-for-me actions and reactions of UA's management. Sure, most US carriers made some proportional mistakes. But it is an odd joke that while American FFPs were the best by a wide margin 5 years ago, I would only consider AAdvantage these days if I had to start collecting.
If it was "the market" that drove the elite status into the sewer, how come that BA, SQ, EK all offer vastly superior benefits over what they did a few years ago? They tangibly improved on all levels.
Dec 25, 2014, 8:11 pm
#332
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ, PDX
Programs: UA 1 MM, AA, DL
Posts: 930
While that was true then, today without those bonus there are too, too many 1Ks and in general all elite levels. Just look at boarding groups, elite security, .... Business travel has changed over the last 10, 20, 30, ... years. The world and business are far more global.
100,000 milers were so rare in the 70s into the 80s they were given plaques. MMers were rare at one time but now most folks who have been road warriors for 10-15 years are at least 1MM with some airline. Folks are gaining these status elites in the first third of their work lives, not the last third.
Elites are not the 1%ers of travelers, they are the "salaryman" of the traveling population.
So as much as I don't like, 1Ks (even at the PQD level) are just not the same as 100,000 milers of 20,30, .. years ago. My guess there are just a many earned GSs today as there were 1Ks 20 years ago. It is a different world and the system has got to change.
100,000 milers were so rare in the 70s into the 80s they were given plaques. MMers were rare at one time but now most folks who have been road warriors for 10-15 years are at least 1MM with some airline. Folks are gaining these status elites in the first third of their work lives, not the last third.
Elites are not the 1%ers of travelers, they are the "salaryman" of the traveling population.
So as much as I don't like, 1Ks (even at the PQD level) are just not the same as 100,000 milers of 20,30, .. years ago. My guess there are just a many earned GSs today as there were 1Ks 20 years ago. It is a different world and the system has got to change.
Totally agree with your assessment of who they were then and who they are now.
Dec 30, 2014, 10:17 am
#333
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: UA 1K Premier, LH Senator
Posts: 36
Thanks OP for the post, even though I didn't pick it up for a long time. I haven't lurked here near as much as I used to, mostly because it was just a forum for BGC (B#$(U, Gripes, and Complaints) and I got jaded.
I had a great year on UA as well. I have flown consistently to Europe and back and forth from South America with great service and with my GPU's clearing most of the time off my W or H fares...so I really have nothing to complain about.
It all started back in January, too, returning from the holidays at home in Texas to Sao Paulo where I reside and when we went to check in, it offered my whole family upgrades to BusinessFirst for a couple hundred bucks a piece for a 9 hour flight! Admittedly they were oversold in coach and not B1 but holy moly! That was great!
I've bought some business fares this year, and a lot of coach, and thought that I might get close to GS but I think I was fooling myself. Maybe this year as I have a few trips to Europe to take on Biz and will come back and forth the US with more regularity (United sponsored relationship with a girl in the States, well, not so much sponsored as supported)....
So cheers, thanks for the post, and no, UA is not all bad. I have had great experiences that I hope carry forward!
I had a great year on UA as well. I have flown consistently to Europe and back and forth from South America with great service and with my GPU's clearing most of the time off my W or H fares...so I really have nothing to complain about.
It all started back in January, too, returning from the holidays at home in Texas to Sao Paulo where I reside and when we went to check in, it offered my whole family upgrades to BusinessFirst for a couple hundred bucks a piece for a 9 hour flight! Admittedly they were oversold in coach and not B1 but holy moly! That was great!
I've bought some business fares this year, and a lot of coach, and thought that I might get close to GS but I think I was fooling myself. Maybe this year as I have a few trips to Europe to take on Biz and will come back and forth the US with more regularity (United sponsored relationship with a girl in the States, well, not so much sponsored as supported)....
So cheers, thanks for the post, and no, UA is not all bad. I have had great experiences that I hope carry forward!
Dec 31, 2014, 7:13 am
#334
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K 1.45MM, Marriott+SPG Plat, Clear, Nexus, Global Entry and MEX Viajero Confiable
Posts: 1,777
agree with the sentiments that we are flying in a "new era" .. and the demographics of flying have changed. I made 1K my first time in 1999-2000 ... I think I was all in at 105K domestic miles... remember the 1K lounge at ORD .. and every now and then peek at the "closet" whenever I'm running through the terminal .. was also a time that the pre-boarding call was maybe a handful of elites.. and you actually got thanked for being an elite flyer with UA (true story believe it or not 
). On one of my numerous 757 flights I even got a signed business card and book from Capt. Flanagan ... and that is priceless! ^
Nowadays, boarding group 1 is oftentimes larger than the rest of the groups combined.... upgrade lists run 30 deep and I'm lucky if I get a smile from a GA.
Based in BOS (previously MHT.. and UX ruined that
) I still enjoy flying UA... I enjoy E+ and despite being an AA and B6 city .. I will continue to fly UA. No pipe dreams... and I can hope (and hold my breath) that UA treated elites better.. but the sad reality is it won't happen... and frankly, never will.
Sure, I can stomp, pout .. complain.. but the only thing that will do is make me bitter and give me sore feet ... I've embraced mediocrity and am ok with it. Plus, I've ridden in the back of a C130.. even jumped out of them.. and that is infinitely worse than what I experience with UA
Happy New Year my fellow frequent flyers!!
). On one of my numerous 757 flights I even got a signed business card and book from Capt. Flanagan ... and that is priceless! ^Nowadays, boarding group 1 is oftentimes larger than the rest of the groups combined.... upgrade lists run 30 deep and I'm lucky if I get a smile from a GA.
Based in BOS (previously MHT.. and UX ruined that
) I still enjoy flying UA... I enjoy E+ and despite being an AA and B6 city .. I will continue to fly UA. No pipe dreams... and I can hope (and hold my breath) that UA treated elites better.. but the sad reality is it won't happen... and frankly, never will. Sure, I can stomp, pout .. complain.. but the only thing that will do is make me bitter and give me sore feet ... I've embraced mediocrity and am ok with it. Plus, I've ridden in the back of a C130.. even jumped out of them.. and that is infinitely worse than what I experience with UA
Happy New Year my fellow frequent flyers!!
Dec 31, 2014, 8:43 am
#335
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
I've also been top-level United since the early 1990s and have watched things change. I don't know about others, but the thing that bothers me the most is how United is sneaky and misleading. I know they have to monetize as much as possible but I wish they would be clear about it. Using analytics to upsell an upgrade instead of giving it to someone who flies a ton is very bad for customer satisfaction - unless the process is clearly published. Everything is about expectations and being sneaky destroys any relationship (customer, marriage, whatever).
Overall I've had an ok year on United. My upgrade percentage (GPUs/CPUs) has been the lowest in my history. Boarding has become a nightmare. I've had more middle seats then any year in my history. I've also had a lot of positives, especially with IRROPS, and the number of delays/cancellations has been way down (excluding UX which is a disaster).
My recommendations to United are:
1) Fix the boarding process. Group 1 should be 1K and First Class only. Hopefully this will shrink it - although it will still be large. With both AA and Delta, the number of elites in the first line seems to be a lot smaller.
2) Publish the requirements of GS. The current approach is infuriating your highest spenders. I don't care what it is but make it transparent.
3) Make 1K a real tier with WAY less fliers (e.g. like Delta Diamond). Maybe that means 125K miles and 20K in spend. Ensure 1K means something in terms of upgrades and other benefits. I would be ok with eliminating the mileage requirement and making both GS and 1K spend based.
3) Publish what you are doing with up-sells consistently. For example, if you have 10 1Ks on the upgrade list, send an email to all of them asking if they want to buy up to first for 200 (or some price) - BEFORE - enabling everyone else to compete for these seats.
4) Reserve more of E+ for top fliers. I book a lot of expensive last-minute fares and end up in center seats.
Overall I've had an ok year on United. My upgrade percentage (GPUs/CPUs) has been the lowest in my history. Boarding has become a nightmare. I've had more middle seats then any year in my history. I've also had a lot of positives, especially with IRROPS, and the number of delays/cancellations has been way down (excluding UX which is a disaster).
My recommendations to United are:
1) Fix the boarding process. Group 1 should be 1K and First Class only. Hopefully this will shrink it - although it will still be large. With both AA and Delta, the number of elites in the first line seems to be a lot smaller.
2) Publish the requirements of GS. The current approach is infuriating your highest spenders. I don't care what it is but make it transparent.
3) Make 1K a real tier with WAY less fliers (e.g. like Delta Diamond). Maybe that means 125K miles and 20K in spend. Ensure 1K means something in terms of upgrades and other benefits. I would be ok with eliminating the mileage requirement and making both GS and 1K spend based.
3) Publish what you are doing with up-sells consistently. For example, if you have 10 1Ks on the upgrade list, send an email to all of them asking if they want to buy up to first for 200 (or some price) - BEFORE - enabling everyone else to compete for these seats.
4) Reserve more of E+ for top fliers. I book a lot of expensive last-minute fares and end up in center seats.
Dec 31, 2014, 9:32 am
#336
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,617
Fix the boarding process. Group 1 should be 1K and First Class only. Hopefully this will shrink it - although it will still be large. With both AA and Delta, the number of elites in the first line seems to be a lot smaller.
Publish what you are doing with up-sells consistently. For example, if you have 10 1Ks on the upgrade list, send an email to all of them asking if they want to buy up to first for 200 (or some price) - BEFORE - enabling everyone else to compete for these seats.
Dec 31, 2014, 9:50 am
#337
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,201
I've also been top-level United since the early 1990s and have watched things change. I don't know about others, but the thing that bothers me the most is how United is sneaky and misleading. I know they have to monetize as much as possible but I wish they would be clear about it. Using analytics to upsell an upgrade instead of giving it to someone who flies a ton is very bad for customer satisfaction - unless the process is clearly published. Everything is about expectations and being sneaky destroys any relationship (customer, marriage, whatever).
Overall I've had an ok year on United. My upgrade percentage (GPUs/CPUs) has been the lowest in my history. Boarding has become a nightmare. I've had more middle seats then any year in my history. I've also had a lot of positives, especially with IRROPS, and the number of delays/cancellations has been way down (excluding UX which is a disaster).
My recommendations to United are:
1) Fix the boarding process. Group 1 should be 1K and First Class only. Hopefully this will shrink it - although it will still be large. With both AA and Delta, the number of elites in the first line seems to be a lot smaller.
2) Publish the requirements of GS. The current approach is infuriating your highest spenders. I don't care what it is but make it transparent.
3) Make 1K a real tier with WAY less fliers (e.g. like Delta Diamond). Maybe that means 125K miles and 20K in spend. Ensure 1K means something in terms of upgrades and other benefits. I would be ok with eliminating the mileage requirement and making both GS and 1K spend based.
3) Publish what you are doing with up-sells consistently. For example, if you have 10 1Ks on the upgrade list, send an email to all of them asking if they want to buy up to first for 200 (or some price) - BEFORE - enabling everyone else to compete for these seats.
4) Reserve more of E+ for top fliers. I book a lot of expensive last-minute fares and end up in center seats.
Overall I've had an ok year on United. My upgrade percentage (GPUs/CPUs) has been the lowest in my history. Boarding has become a nightmare. I've had more middle seats then any year in my history. I've also had a lot of positives, especially with IRROPS, and the number of delays/cancellations has been way down (excluding UX which is a disaster).
My recommendations to United are:
1) Fix the boarding process. Group 1 should be 1K and First Class only. Hopefully this will shrink it - although it will still be large. With both AA and Delta, the number of elites in the first line seems to be a lot smaller.
2) Publish the requirements of GS. The current approach is infuriating your highest spenders. I don't care what it is but make it transparent.
3) Make 1K a real tier with WAY less fliers (e.g. like Delta Diamond). Maybe that means 125K miles and 20K in spend. Ensure 1K means something in terms of upgrades and other benefits. I would be ok with eliminating the mileage requirement and making both GS and 1K spend based.
3) Publish what you are doing with up-sells consistently. For example, if you have 10 1Ks on the upgrade list, send an email to all of them asking if they want to buy up to first for 200 (or some price) - BEFORE - enabling everyone else to compete for these seats.
4) Reserve more of E+ for top fliers. I book a lot of expensive last-minute fares and end up in center seats.
Dec 31, 2014, 11:18 am
#338
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
My recommendations to United are:
1) Fix the boarding process. Group 1 should be 1K and First Class only. Hopefully this will shrink it - although it will still be large. With both AA and Delta, the number of elites in the first line seems to be a lot smaller.
2) Publish the requirements of GS. The current approach is infuriating your highest spenders. I don't care what it is but make it transparent.
3) Make 1K a real tier with WAY less fliers (e.g. like Delta Diamond). Maybe that means 125K miles and 20K in spend. Ensure 1K means something in terms of upgrades and other benefits. I would be ok with eliminating the mileage requirement and making both GS and 1K spend based.
3) Publish what you are doing with up-sells consistently. For example, if you have 10 1Ks on the upgrade list, send an email to all of them asking if they want to buy up to first for 200 (or some price) - BEFORE - enabling everyone else to compete for these seats.
4) Reserve more of E+ for top fliers. I book a lot of expensive last-minute fares and end up in center seats.
1) Fix the boarding process. Group 1 should be 1K and First Class only. Hopefully this will shrink it - although it will still be large. With both AA and Delta, the number of elites in the first line seems to be a lot smaller.
2) Publish the requirements of GS. The current approach is infuriating your highest spenders. I don't care what it is but make it transparent.
3) Make 1K a real tier with WAY less fliers (e.g. like Delta Diamond). Maybe that means 125K miles and 20K in spend. Ensure 1K means something in terms of upgrades and other benefits. I would be ok with eliminating the mileage requirement and making both GS and 1K spend based.
3) Publish what you are doing with up-sells consistently. For example, if you have 10 1Ks on the upgrade list, send an email to all of them asking if they want to buy up to first for 200 (or some price) - BEFORE - enabling everyone else to compete for these seats.
4) Reserve more of E+ for top fliers. I book a lot of expensive last-minute fares and end up in center seats.
That said, of all of them, I think the only item that is likely to be implemented by UA is the first half of #3: "Make 1K a real tier with WAY less fliers (e.g. like Delta Diamond). Maybe that means 125K miles and 20K in spend. "
It's the only one that provides benefit to UA without meaningful cost. The rest of them cost them something.
Unfortunately, I'm being serious and not sarcastic here...
Greg
Dec 31, 2014, 7:56 pm
#339
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Toronto YYZ UA-1K 1MM,QFgold
Programs: Royal Ambassador/ SPG Platinum 75/Marriott gold
Posts: 14,283
i assume with all the cuts 1K with UA will have less people this year and a even less next year.
So our upgrades should become easier, and hopefully UA will add back some of the 1k perks.
So our upgrades should become easier, and hopefully UA will add back some of the 1k perks.
Dec 31, 2014, 8:06 pm
#340
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
Dec 31, 2014, 8:53 pm
#341
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: GS, Marriott Titanium LT, IHG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 66
I flew 102.5 segments on UA last year and altough flying is not as much fun as it used to be, UA treated me right most of the time. On some of the LAX-JFK-LAX P.S. flights, I got outstanding service, same on the LAX-SHA-LAX flights. No complaints. It helps to have a positive attitude and healthy outlook on life. Smile at the FA as soon as you can and there is a very good chance that she/he/it will smile back and will take good care of you.
Last edited by goalie; Jan 1, 2015 at 12:58 pm Reason: removed off topic comments
Dec 31, 2014, 11:16 pm
#342
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
That's a nice philosophy, but it doesn't always work.
Last edited by goalie; Jan 1, 2015 at 1:01 pm Reason: removed off topic trolling comments
Jan 1, 2015, 5:10 am
#343
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,926
I agree. I only flew ~75K last year, but I only had one or two bad crews during the whole year. I always try to be pleasant with FAs, always smile, and always say please and thank you, and it works pretty well.
Jan 1, 2015, 5:37 am
#344
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: AMS
Posts: 899
Are there already some indications that there are less 1Ks this year due to the PQD requirements?
Jan 1, 2015, 9:30 am
#345
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
I flew 102.5 segments on UA last year and altough flying is not as much fun as it used to be, UA treated me right most of the time. On some of the LAX-JFK-LAX P.S. flights, I got outstanding service, same on the LAX-SHA-LAX flights. No complaints. It helps to have a positive attitude and healthy outlook on life. Smile at the FA as soon as you can and there is a very good chance that she/he/it will smile back and will take good care of you.[/QUOTE]
^ And I might add that while having a positive attitude makes life better, having the opposite kind of attitude leads to viewing every single negative incident in life as an evil plot by someone to make you unhappy. I think I saw a post once like that.
^ And I might add that while having a positive attitude makes life better, having the opposite kind of attitude leads to viewing every single negative incident in life as an evil plot by someone to make you unhappy. I think I saw a post once like that.
Last edited by goalie; Jan 1, 2015 at 12:59 pm Reason: edited quoted post to match edited original post