kokonutz

In fairness, I don't care abut most peoples' travels. I care about mine. My home airport is DCA so I can fly any of the three legacies in paid F almost always with a stop (AA does a nice job with nonstops on the old US routes). That means I am always dealing with boarding process at both DCA as well as a hub. I have been annoyed with the UA process vice AA and DL for a while. And have complained about it through proper channels. And now they just make matters worse for paid F customers.

If they are going to assume that anyone with an F ticket is an upgrader or miles user and treat them that way then they are going to end up with no more paid F customers.

First should be first. EOS.

pdx1M

Realistically what matter (leaving aside notions of personal status) is bin space. Even for F passengers who want a PDB the reality is that most of the plane is going to board behind them. As to bin space - some of those 1Ks are already in F and as for the rest - they have an entire aircraft full of empty bin above their own seats to use so they aren't likely to be putting their bags in F if they are seated in PC. (Most of the offenders I see of this happen after the plane has started to fill up and a middle of the pack boarding person decides not to risk having to find a spot in coach where they belong.) I think it would have been smarter not to lump F into BG1 with Plats and Gold - i.e., make them BG1 by themselves. But really, other than finally giving back what was for a very long time a perq of being a 1K this doesn't change much for F folks. What this does have some hope of doing is to return to the PMUA approach that psychologically discouraged crowding around the lines. It won't likely do that immediately because UA has spent years training folks to crowd but if enforced it ultimately will reduce early line up. If there is no place to line up people will be less inclined feel like they need to do so. It also makes the bypass line concept very clear again and this was also a very good feature of the PMUA system in that it didn't super penalize folks for being a few minutes late to the gate. So from my perspective it is a positive change with the potential - if actually consistently applied - to reduce the gate scrum.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

Truthfully, the only change in who's boarding prior to FC/Polaris passengers are the 1Ks. Looks like another tweak upward for them. Free food and drink in coach, priority meal choice in front cabins, and now get to breathe the same boarding area air as the GSs

GSunitedloyal

yes we will board before families and their half dozen adult kids allegedly under 2 I spoke to a GS today and their website as well confirms that!

mozilla

While I fully expect and understand this kind of reaction, it's important to understand that this is also what drives devaluation in the first place. Global First is a good example.

Here in the US we're spoiled with upgrades, but at the same time, we have the most lackluster INTL premium cabin and lounge experiences (yes, agree, PL has been a significant improvement, we'll see if it holds). Other *A airlines, LH and LX come to mind, still offer a real INTL F product today (and lounge access on domestic F fares). What they have in common is that they don't give cheap access to those experiences. It requires a heavy investment in $ or miles. Which is probably what you need if you want to offer a unique premium experience like the FCT.

(/UPDI Economy fares have been withdrawn, which is a good thing. This is about -E- vs -F- fares which are coded differently in class, basis and rules.)

Right, this pretty much underlines my point. You're absolutely right based on the arguments you provide. If devaluations like the subject of this thread keep creeping in, more and more pax will think the same, and in the end, United First's demise will be only one economic recession away. UA will say that there was no more demand for a premium cabin. Similar to how there was no more demand for GF, although foreign carriers keep flying INTL F in and out of the US. Think an *A carrier can't get away with domestic economy-only? Ask SK.

I hope you're following me here. It's not about differentiating between upgraders and non-upgraders per se, it's about making sure that there will always be a premium cabin to upgrade in. One that is actually worthy of the "premium" cabin nomer. With perks like - you know - premium boarding, for those who prefer that.

kokonutz

Also UA and Star Golds who gate lice.

Back in the UA glory days pre-Jeffey and the debacle what was the merger, 'pre-boarding' meant First Class and 1Ks. The most loyal and most valuable customers.

Now UA values a FC customer as much as a mid-tier elite. That's just sad. What does that say about their corporate culture?

IAH-OIL-TRASH

Where does it say Golds will board before FC/Polaris? The lice problem you abhor was there before, but they were 1K. Now they're Gold. Lice w/i a group never bothered me. That's a personal choice to stand in line or not. I see it all the time - people on the trip of their lifetime standing at the head of Lane 1 for half an hour prior to flights to/from Hawaii. If you're annoyed that you're not boarding first in your group so you can sit in the seat longer before take-off, there's a solution...

vsevolod4

It was this at UA in FRA today.
Sadly it was a bus gate so it really didn't matter ... you all got on the same bus and then it was a free-for-all for who boarded.

Boraxo

With all due respect that is absurd. Everyone buys F for different reasons. People with no status maybe get the most out of it. But for me I buy up to F when I am unlikely to secure a CPU/RPU (due to high # of GS) and want to be comfortable for a longer flight. Or flying with family and want to buy 2 into F and take my chances with CPU for the other 2 (did this successfully this year). This will have zero affect on my plans even if I drop back to Group 1 (as lifetime Gold).

Yes the occasional non-elite who buys F might be surprised to find himself boarding after half the plane at SFO. But he's still gonna be in his comfy seat, still has plenty of overhead space, still gets his preflight drink, and will still deplane before all those 1Ks crammed into E+. He will probably be more cheesed when he discovers that he can't get his 1st or 2nd meal choice because all the elites in F have priority. But that's a catering incompetence issue.

bmacke

Not a fan... devalues a GS perk and effectively kills group 1 by flooding it with golds.

I usually board between groups 1 & 2 but now will have to line up early to ensure overhead space for the inevitable times when the gate agent doesn't call 1K during pre-boarding. There are far too many 1Ks for this not to be a disaster... hopefully they raise the PQD requirement to cut down on 1Ks next year.

NJKen

Yellowjj

Golds now board in group 1 along with Plat's. Rarely do I see FC passengers line up 50+ mins before boarding, but then again it may be the routes I fly. There are for sure more Gold's than 1K's though, so there's definitely a good possibility of more people lining up early, which would push FC to the back of undoubtedly long lines.

kokonutz

Right there in the new system. Golds board in Group 1 just like premium cabin passengers.

I've been flying UA via ORD quite a bit this summer and I have seen 4 or 5 instances at ORD where FC overhead space is full by the time the last couple F pax get on toward the end of Group 1. And by then its way too late to know which E pax threw a bag or 2 up there. With this change there will be even MORE E pax ahead of FC pax in boarding.

It's a simple and true fact that for me as a paid F pax it is far less stressful to connect in CLT or DFW or DTW or ATL on AA or DL than it is to connect at a UA hub. I know I will be among the first on and know I will get overhead space....even if I won't get a PDB from sAA FAs...although I CAN pre-order my meal!!!!

narvik

I am 1k.
I have a headache now.

Repooc17

On some elite heavy routes, 1k and Plat far outnumber Gold and below.