Was the FA joking about moving to E+ seat by paying a fee during TPAC flight?
Oct 22, 2014, 10:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 142
Was the FA joking about moving to E+ seat by paying a fee during TPAC flight?
I don't fly UA if I can help it. Only did 4 flight this year in order to qualify
for Platinum.
On a recent TPAC flight(asymmetrical), I was sitting in an exit row window
seat on the 777. Nobody in the two seats next to me. The flight was very
empty, not more than 40% load factor.
After the flight reached altitude, the FA made announcement telling those
sitting in E- that they could move up to E+ by paying a fee with a major
credit card. There were no takers as far as I could see. 30 minutes later,
she made the same announcement again. Still no takers.
Was she just kidding? Or was it something new at UA?
for Platinum.
On a recent TPAC flight(asymmetrical), I was sitting in an exit row window
seat on the 777. Nobody in the two seats next to me. The flight was very
empty, not more than 40% load factor.
After the flight reached altitude, the FA made announcement telling those
sitting in E- that they could move up to E+ by paying a fee with a major
credit card. There were no takers as far as I could see. 30 minutes later,
she made the same announcement again. Still no takers.
Was she just kidding? Or was it something new at UA?
Oct 22, 2014, 11:01 am
#3
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,521
She wasn't kidding.
Given their cost savings goals, I think they're (UA) looking for change in the seat cushions after each flight.
Given their cost savings goals, I think they're (UA) looking for change in the seat cushions after each flight.
Oct 22, 2014, 11:05 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
Not a joke. Been around as long as I've been flying E+ equipped flights.
And was always a policy at any airline that charged for extra legroom seats (or others), such as CO, US, and DL - they always said to pax that wanted to move into empty seats that they could for a fee.
And was always a policy at any airline that charged for extra legroom seats (or others), such as CO, US, and DL - they always said to pax that wanted to move into empty seats that they could for a fee.
Oct 22, 2014, 11:12 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
It's a revenue producing policy which also reinforces that squatting in a class of service you did not pay for is prohibited. Some E- customers might look at this as a benefit and an opportunity to improve their seats on a long flight. I would not be too happy though as a E+ customer to have one or two people join my otherwise empty exit row.
SunLover
SunLover
Oct 22, 2014, 11:23 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Oct 22, 2014, 11:24 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
No, she was not joking. Yes, it is UA policy.
While E+ is not a separate class of service, there is no functional difference between poaching an E+ seat than poaching one in C or F.
UA, just like all carriers, protects its various brands. If you could pay for E- and get E+ as a freeloader, why would you pay?
While E+ is not a separate class of service, there is no functional difference between poaching an E+ seat than poaching one in C or F.
UA, just like all carriers, protects its various brands. If you could pay for E- and get E+ as a freeloader, why would you pay?
Oct 22, 2014, 11:28 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
FA was definitely not joking.
I was on a redeye a least year and the only person in all of row 21 (exit w/ recline). A couple tried to move into the DEF side and were sent back to E- (because they refused to pay). On their way back they tried the whole "He get's to sit there" (referring to me).....awkward!
I was on a redeye a least year and the only person in all of row 21 (exit w/ recline). A couple tried to move into the DEF side and were sent back to E- (because they refused to pay). On their way back they tried the whole "He get's to sit there" (referring to me).....awkward!
Oct 22, 2014, 11:36 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sacramento
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Posts: 12,152
Oct 22, 2014, 11:52 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: EUG
Programs: UA Gold; IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 443
Yeah, the value of this announcement is probably more in preventing seat poaching than in actually selling E+ seats. Although I'm sure people must take advantage of buying E+ onboard from time to time.
Oct 22, 2014, 12:00 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
It's great that E+ is protected - we all seem to agree about that. But this is overstatement. There are non-elites who sit in E+ on most of my flights - sometimes twenty of them. It is vastly, vastly more common than an op-up. That doesn't seem to keep people from ever paying for the guarantee of sitting there.
Oct 22, 2014, 12:17 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
SunLover
Last edited by SunLover; Oct 22, 2014 at 12:27 pm