Unexpected Perk for 1Ks in Y
Mar 12, 2015, 11:27 am
#31
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
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Just an added data point - the offer was cold beverages (water, juice, soda, etc), not alcoholic drinks, so I can't imagine UA having a problem with this practice to make sure 1K glasses are filled in between cart service...unless they want to be spiteful.
Mar 12, 2015, 11:29 am
#32
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,525
a while back I was flying my first domestic redeye in years....and in coach on top of it. Bulkhead aisle at least. For some reason, they started drink service from the back....and the Purser came and asked me what I wanted....and I asked for a red wine.
I had a cert out for it, but when he came back with it from the F galley, it was an entire bottle with a glass. "I poured one glass before departure and everyone in F is sleeping now, so it shouldn't go to waste..."
Needless to say, best economy flight ever!
I had a cert out for it, but when he came back with it from the F galley, it was an entire bottle with a glass. "I poured one glass before departure and everyone in F is sleeping now, so it shouldn't go to waste..."
Needless to say, best economy flight ever!
Mar 12, 2015, 11:38 am
#33
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,768
The only recognition I've ever gotten like this had nothing to do with being 1K (although I was down to Plat for a couple of years). The first was I was lavishly treated in coach after an FA asked me to help him with his computer (I guess I looked young and nerdy?). He said he would have pulled me into business but it was full.
The second I was traveling with my partner and the FA immediately recognized us as "family". No charge for our requested booze. Although I suspect this might have had something to do with the first scenario too. 
The second I was traveling with my partner and the FA immediately recognized us as "family". No charge for our requested booze.
Although I suspect this might have had something to do with the first scenario too.
Mar 12, 2015, 11:41 am
#34
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
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Posts: 5,525
Mar 12, 2015, 12:10 pm
#35
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: UA MM *Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,852
I had this happen a year or two ago, FA came back to coach from 1st, was sitting in 7C and kneeled down beside me and asked me if I would like a drink. Also waiting at the gate at FLL and my name was called, went up to the agent and she handed me a envelope and said thank you for your business, inside was a card from UA thanking me for my 10 year 1K anniversary with UA.
Last edited by sfo; Mar 12, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Mar 12, 2015, 2:32 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
A little bit of recognition to top-tiers in Y is such an inexpensive and easy perk to execute... doesn't even have to be a giveaway, although that would bring UA in line with its direct competitors. To be sure, lately I feel that there has been a change in strategy at UA, and I have been pleased with it (it's as if they realized that the endless pursuit of cuts caused the product to become so cheap and degraded that it was actually costing them business) but it still baffles me why UA seemingly can't get many of the simple things right.
United will still be below the competition in every way in quality (the "savvy" hunter keay strategy) the goal is to spend as little $$$ as possible while making it slightly less obvious how far behind United is. But the strategy (monetize upgrades, cut elite benefits) while maintaining a sub-par OT performance ("diminishing returns above 80% OT" was how Jeff put it) and cut capacity remains the same.
CS gestures are looked at for their costs, not their benefits, and as long as people get tracked and punished (the flip side of Fly's "as long as its not too much" comment) few will stick their necks out. Its why people on this thread are so surprised to see even a single instance of this. Things like prohibiting agents from adding a "protection" leg to GS and 1K reservations in potential IRROPs (recent thread) are obviously crazy to anyone with any sense, but the impact of crazy policies causing losses in sales don't get added into spreadsheets.
p.s. I might add that United's "savvy" strategy is the same strategy that GM used for years. Don't make a great car, just make one has been cut enough in quality that you can undercut on price and still have a lower cost to make it (via cost cutting, sourcing) leading to higher profits on sales to your captive markets. Like United GM would try to adjust their "quality" when the gap became too great, but no one every aspired to excellence.
This is the lesson UA needs to learn but can't. That a nice gesture by a few individuals have made meaningful experiences for enough elite travelers to generate many responses here. The buck or two it costs for a glass of whatever and a customer friendly policy would go very far and cost very little. But clearly marketing and customer service are not covered in law school......
Mar 12, 2015, 2:36 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium.;UA 1.5MM; UA Lifetime Gold (whoppee); DL Plat
Posts: 2,124
I've had something like this happen maybe 2 or 3 times in the last few years. Always seemed to be a good FA. Once, on flight to CDG, I saw the purser list seat numbers of all 1ks in Y for the FAs staffing the drink cart, one of whom actually threw it away before starting the service..... Gotta love it!
Mar 12, 2015, 2:38 pm
#40
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
I was flying SFO-LAX a few years ago, in an exit row aisle seat. There most have been a lot of excess snack basket inventory, because he walked through the first few rows passing out snacks. The basket emptied out before he got to the exit rows.
A few minutes later, the FA walked back to my seat and apologized profusely for running out of snacks. I can't recall exactly what he said, but it was something along the lines of "If I had known we had a 1K back here, I would have come to you first" -- or some such to make it pretty evident that I was the only 1K in the back.
He offered me a free drink instead, and thanked me for being a 1K.
A few minutes later, the FA walked back to my seat and apologized profusely for running out of snacks. I can't recall exactly what he said, but it was something along the lines of "If I had known we had a 1K back here, I would have come to you first" -- or some such to make it pretty evident that I was the only 1K in the back.
He offered me a free drink instead, and thanked me for being a 1K.
Mar 12, 2015, 4:23 pm
#42
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Wesseling, NRW, Germany
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FWIW my first UA-flight this year after becoming 1K had a pleasant surprise as well. After reaching cruise altitude the purser came around and greeted all 1Ks personally with a bottle of sparkling wine, thanking everyone for their loyalty to United. I though this was a great gesture and made me kind of "proud" to be one of the most valuable customers on this flight. My companion was certainly impressed by this and said that this really makes a difference to other flights he has been on with other airlines, and that this sets apart United from the competition...
Sadly after that flight I have been in either Business or slept through the whole flight right after boarding when in Economy so I cannot judge whether this was an exceptional crew or in fact an improved Elite-treatment...
Greetings - Dirk
Sadly after that flight I have been in either Business or slept through the whole flight right after boarding when in Economy so I cannot judge whether this was an exceptional crew or in fact an improved Elite-treatment...
Greetings - Dirk
Mar 12, 2015, 4:26 pm
#43
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
Back on topic. As a 1k I did have FAs not take my drink coupons when I asked for wine. Twice I had the coupon in my hand ready to surrender it and was told, it wasn't necessary. I presume it had something to do with being a 1k or being very polite and smiling!
Mar 12, 2015, 4:29 pm
#44
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
FWIW my first UA-flight this year after becoming 1K had a pleasant surprise as well. After reaching cruise altitude the purser came around and greeted all 1Ks personally with a bottle of sparkling wine, thanking everyone for their loyalty to United. I though this was a great gesture and made me kind of "proud" to be one of the most valuable customers on this flight. My companion was certainly impressed by this and said that this really makes a difference to other flights he has been on with other airlines, and that this sets apart United from the competition...
Sadly after that flight I have been in either Business or slept through the whole flight right after boarding when in Economy so I cannot judge whether this was an exceptional crew or in fact an improved Elite-treatment...
Greetings - Dirk
Sadly after that flight I have been in either Business or slept through the whole flight right after boarding when in Economy so I cannot judge whether this was an exceptional crew or in fact an improved Elite-treatment...
Greetings - Dirk
Mar 12, 2015, 4:36 pm
#45
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,768
Only if you're a man. Otherwise it's a family discount.