An idea about million milers
Aug 9, 2014, 3:20 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Potomac MD
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 7,182
Why would I spend money to fly to an event with a cash bar and presumably no free hotel room? Seems to be a waste of money when I could spend a nice weekend at home for free. I could not imagine any raffle that would be worth my time or miles.
Aug 9, 2014, 3:40 pm
#18
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
And FT organized events which UA officials attend (at least once Smisek)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ports-etc.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...r-12-13-a.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ar-2014-a.html
and other DOs (long history from both pmUA and pmCO)
And recent new terminal openings where elites were giving special invites
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...rminal-3e.html
Similar on in BOS -- not finding the link
Aug 9, 2014, 6:42 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
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Ok I guess it'd have to fine tune the offering a bit more to entice people to come out(open bar, etc). What would an event like this have to offer incentive-wise to see size able attendance?
I don't really care about the RPU / GPU comments, though, since they don't seem too relevant to the thread.
I don't really care about the RPU / GPU comments, though, since they don't seem too relevant to the thread.
Aug 9, 2014, 6:56 pm
#20
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 66,856
Considering any out of town attendees would be out of pocket $600-$700 or much more for travel and lodging plus a full day or two of their time, you are looking at sizable incentives unless some intangible would over come those barriers.
Aug 9, 2014, 6:57 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
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I'm not a million miler, but did some thinking on the plane last night.
An interesting opportunity to "sell" long-term loyalty would be to do a yearly invite-only convention for all million milers in Chicago.
Now setting aside all talk about how cheap United is, how crappy their customer service is, etc., let's assume for a second that this is possible and within United's marketing budget.
A couple ideas:
- You could have a silent auction where attendants bid RDM's for unique gifts.
- Examples of gifts could be: a XX increase to your lifetime miles balance (i.e. 250,000 increase to lifetime miles, no increase to PQM or RDM), tours of UA operations center, lifetime club access, etc.
- You could have a prize raffle. Different ways to get raffle tickets include:
1. One ticket per MM tier (1 at 1MM, 2 at 2MM, etc.)
2. Showing a paid revenue ticket on UA into Chicago for the event (1 for economy, 2 for first)
Cash bar, some appetizers. Could draw an enthusiastic crowd of fliers and sweeten the MM'er deal.
Obviously I haven't thought about the implications of cost, etc., but if well planned and thought out this could be a tremendous marketing tool. Unless someone's already tried this and it didn't work out?
Thoughts?
An interesting opportunity to "sell" long-term loyalty would be to do a yearly invite-only convention for all million milers in Chicago.
Now setting aside all talk about how cheap United is, how crappy their customer service is, etc., let's assume for a second that this is possible and within United's marketing budget.
A couple ideas:
- You could have a silent auction where attendants bid RDM's for unique gifts.
- Examples of gifts could be: a XX increase to your lifetime miles balance (i.e. 250,000 increase to lifetime miles, no increase to PQM or RDM), tours of UA operations center, lifetime club access, etc.
- You could have a prize raffle. Different ways to get raffle tickets include:
1. One ticket per MM tier (1 at 1MM, 2 at 2MM, etc.)
2. Showing a paid revenue ticket on UA into Chicago for the event (1 for economy, 2 for first)
Cash bar, some appetizers. Could draw an enthusiastic crowd of fliers and sweeten the MM'er deal.
Obviously I haven't thought about the implications of cost, etc., but if well planned and thought out this could be a tremendous marketing tool. Unless someone's already tried this and it didn't work out?
Thoughts?
Aug 9, 2014, 9:46 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Chicago: ORD, MDW
Programs: United Million Mile Flyer, Hilton Silver, Marriott Gold, DL, AA WN
Posts: 514
I am a Million Miler, and you know, there was a time when I would have considered going to a gathering like this if I could arrange it.
I was once so happy and proud to be a United Million Miler. I used to read, eat, sleep (etc.) United.
Now I see that it really was stupid and immature of me to be so loyal to a corporation!
The management at United since the merger has finally made me understand my relationship with the company: I am just a paying customer (not so much any more) who they (might, from time to time) get from point A to B nearly on-time for a fee.
That's it.
Still, it has been hard to let go - especially when I see fleeting signs of hope: like the new safety video and a new ad once in a while.
I was once so happy and proud to be a United Million Miler. I used to read, eat, sleep (etc.) United.
Now I see that it really was stupid and immature of me to be so loyal to a corporation!
The management at United since the merger has finally made me understand my relationship with the company: I am just a paying customer (not so much any more) who they (might, from time to time) get from point A to B nearly on-time for a fee.
That's it.
Still, it has been hard to let go - especially when I see fleeting signs of hope: like the new safety video and a new ad once in a while.
Aug 9, 2014, 10:01 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Chicago USA
Programs: *A Junkie, SQ PPS, Skywards Gold, 2 Million Mile Flyer;*wood LT Plat, BA MM
Posts: 1,762
I am a Million Miler, and you know, there was a time when I would have considered going to a gathering like this if I could arrange it.
I was once so happy and proud to be a United Million Miler. I used to read, eat, sleep (etc.) United.
Now I see that it really was stupid and immature of me to be so loyal to a corporation!
The management at United since the merger has finally made me understand my relationship with the company: I am just a paying customer (not so much any more) who they (might, from time to time) get from point A to B nearly on-time for a fee.
That's it.
Still, it has been hard to let go - especially when I see fleeting signs of hope: like the new safety video and a new ad once in a while.
I was once so happy and proud to be a United Million Miler. I used to read, eat, sleep (etc.) United.
Now I see that it really was stupid and immature of me to be so loyal to a corporation!
The management at United since the merger has finally made me understand my relationship with the company: I am just a paying customer (not so much any more) who they (might, from time to time) get from point A to B nearly on-time for a fee.
That's it.
Still, it has been hard to let go - especially when I see fleeting signs of hope: like the new safety video and a new ad once in a while.
If Smisek were to depart and the new CEO where to throw a shindig for MM to make an announcement to perhaps, uh I don't know, decide they would follow through with the promises made to us decades ago, then I would go.
The airline has a lot of work to do and MMs are the last for them to think about.
Aug 9, 2014, 10:28 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
CO / UA already knows how to host these events. I attended all the CO DO's starting in 2005. Larry, Jeff when he was #2 at CO, Jim etc - the whole team was there.
An experience I will never forget. Even with some of the later Mega Dos events with UA - similar meetings with UA execs. Even Jeff spoke at the last event we had in ORD at the Willis tower.
There are enough of us that any big event like what is proposed would be well attended, regardless of cost. The last big CO host DO in IAH had to be limited to 525 people.
On MegaDos - some of us will even spend $3500 for a Business or First ticket to fly to Europe for just one night and have events with BA (Oneworld) or LH (Star) then proceed back to US the next day for a private charter (like a UA 739 or AA 757 for $1200 - $2700 per person).
Hey - how many here have done what we have done at a DO - like sit in UA de-icer cab, control it, and spray water around!! Drive a baggage cart, push back a UA airplane at the gate (live). We did this all at this last UA DO event in ORD!!
An experience I will never forget. Even with some of the later Mega Dos events with UA - similar meetings with UA execs. Even Jeff spoke at the last event we had in ORD at the Willis tower.
There are enough of us that any big event like what is proposed would be well attended, regardless of cost. The last big CO host DO in IAH had to be limited to 525 people.
On MegaDos - some of us will even spend $3500 for a Business or First ticket to fly to Europe for just one night and have events with BA (Oneworld) or LH (Star) then proceed back to US the next day for a private charter (like a UA 739 or AA 757 for $1200 - $2700 per person).
Hey - how many here have done what we have done at a DO - like sit in UA de-icer cab, control it, and spray water around!! Drive a baggage cart, push back a UA airplane at the gate (live). We did this all at this last UA DO event in ORD!!
Aug 9, 2014, 11:02 pm
#25
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
How many of those 525 were million milers? I would think that in itself would limit participation. I'm one and would not attend an event without some restoration of benefits on the table. I'm not the only premerger UA flyer that is still upset about having these pulled out from under us.
Aug 10, 2014, 12:08 am
#26
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,138
I know they have done "events" for GS members in the last couple of years. Twice, I received an invitation - to a Houston Astros game (you can't GIVE those tickets away, lol). The first time, they were offering a SINGLE ticket - I declined, with a note reminding them that, even had I been in town that day - going to a game alone to sit with a bunch of other people that are on the road all the time...not my idea of fun leisure time.
The second time, they sent an invite offering two tickets to a football game. I sent an RSVP, but later got an email saying that all slots had been taken (random drawing amongst RSVPs I think).
Haven't seen any special GS events since - maybe they have figured out these just don't work...lol
The second time, they sent an invite offering two tickets to a football game. I sent an RSVP, but later got an email saying that all slots had been taken (random drawing amongst RSVPs I think).
Haven't seen any special GS events since - maybe they have figured out these just don't work...lol
Aug 11, 2014, 3:34 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
Given that being a 1K MM means nothing to UA these days, I can't see it happening and, as others have pointed out, why would I want to spend money to be at an event with a company that no longer values my history with them?
On their present philosophy, they'd do better holding a party for kettles.....
On their present philosophy, they'd do better holding a party for kettles.....
Aug 11, 2014, 3:55 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,688
Now I see that it really was stupid and immature of me to be so loyal to a corporation!
The management at United since the merger has finally made me understand my relationship with the company: I am just a paying customer (not so much any more) who they (might, from time to time) get from point A to B nearly on-time for a fee.
The management at United since the merger has finally made me understand my relationship with the company: I am just a paying customer (not so much any more) who they (might, from time to time) get from point A to B nearly on-time for a fee.
Aug 11, 2014, 5:59 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
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Ok I guess it'd have to fine tune the offering a bit more to entice people to come out(open bar, etc). What would an event like this have to offer incentive-wise to see size able attendance?
I don't really care about the RPU / GPU comments, though, since they don't seem too relevant to the thread.
I don't really care about the RPU / GPU comments, though, since they don't seem too relevant to the thread.
These are all geared towards airplane geeks rather than the general GS/MM flyers, as you had already seen the replies in the thread like "I had already been flying every other week, why would I be interested to see another plane when I am not flying ?"