Wow - selling the upgrades at the gate so explicitly.
Mar 30, 2018, 9:47 am
#331
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,907
There have been reports of this going on now for several months. I myself experienced it out of DEN as well last October and didn't get my RPU upgraded (nothing new). It seems many reports of this have come out of DEN for whatever reason. I didn't complain, I just figured more business as usual. It is what it is....a money grab. But as many here say, UA is in the business of making money for their shareholders.
Mar 30, 2018, 9:51 am
#332
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,424
Mar 30, 2018, 10:02 am
#333
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I find it shocking, simply shocking, that a for-profit business with a duty to its shareholders would attempt to sell a product before giving it away.
Seriously. UA is doing exactly what it ought to be doing. Whether it is upselling from the fare paid to the cheapest fare basis which books into F or it simply establishes a price, is irrelevant.
Bottom line is that if UA can't sell the seat, it gives it away.
Seriously. UA is doing exactly what it ought to be doing. Whether it is upselling from the fare paid to the cheapest fare basis which books into F or it simply establishes a price, is irrelevant.
Bottom line is that if UA can't sell the seat, it gives it away.
Mar 30, 2018, 10:12 am
#334
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,424
That's debatable. Alienating elites has a cost, and UA has made many bad decisions on that front since the merger. Regardless, UA management has gone all in on FCM, and now has by far the most aggressive FCM policies of any of the major US carriers.
Mar 30, 2018, 10:14 am
#335
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,614
I find it shocking, simply shocking, that a for-profit business with a duty to its shareholders would attempt to sell a product before giving it away.
Seriously. UA is doing exactly what it ought to be doing. Whether it is upselling from the fare paid to the cheapest fare basis which books into F or it simply establishes a price, is irrelevant.
Bottom line is that if UA can't sell the seat, it gives it away.
Seriously. UA is doing exactly what it ought to be doing. Whether it is upselling from the fare paid to the cheapest fare basis which books into F or it simply establishes a price, is irrelevant.
Bottom line is that if UA can't sell the seat, it gives it away.
Mar 30, 2018, 10:18 am
#336
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
I max out as a PM on DL, but after my experience this morning I'm definitely not switching to UA any time soon. There's a balance between the two interests and DL seems to have gotten it right.
Mar 30, 2018, 12:47 pm
#337
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,370
However, none of this really matters except at the margins -- they could upgrade people into every seat on the plane and there would still be premier members sitting in Y. I was #30 on the upgrade list for an AUS-SFO flight on a 739 in January as a 1K on a G fare. IIRC, nobody cleared on that flight, but even if they emptied the F cabin to upgrade people, I still would have been sitting in the back.
Operating at an 85%+ load factor, instead of a 70% load factor, means fewer upgrade seats available for more passengers. It's a simple capacity issue.
FWIW, I really don't see the big deal about gate agents making an upgrade announcement. Anybody who hears that announcement has already turned down an upgrade offer at least twice -- once at purchase and once at check-in. And every person on the flight can check for a new offer at any time via the app, website, or kiosk. All they're really doing is reminding people to check.
Mar 30, 2018, 12:55 pm
#338
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Programs: UA 1K, UA .53 MM, Marriott Gold, Nexus, GE, TSA Pre, Hertz PC
Posts: 581
The real test that UA continually is running is to see how far they can push an elite before they really lose their business. Once we are "loyal", they have our money so it makes sense to shift focus. Of course, if you ignore the elite long enough, they'll leave and you lose alot.
In DEN, when they sell off an F seat for TOD and the elite loses his spot, how many of them actually decide to take their business elsewhere and how many just curse UA and continue giving them money. I am willing to be 99% are the later. Therefore the test is a success.
In DEN, when they sell off an F seat for TOD and the elite loses his spot, how many of them actually decide to take their business elsewhere and how many just curse UA and continue giving them money. I am willing to be 99% are the later. Therefore the test is a success.
Mar 30, 2018, 2:13 pm
#339
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Honolulu / DC
Programs: UA 1K /2mm / Marriott Lifetime Titanium , Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,051
I find it shocking, simply shocking, that a for-profit business with a duty to its shareholders would attempt to sell a product before giving it away.
Seriously. UA is doing exactly what it ought to be doing. Whether it is upselling from the fare paid to the cheapest fare basis which books into F or it simply establishes a price, is irrelevant.
Bottom line is that if UA can't sell the seat, it gives it away.
Seriously. UA is doing exactly what it ought to be doing. Whether it is upselling from the fare paid to the cheapest fare basis which books into F or it simply establishes a price, is irrelevant.
Bottom line is that if UA can't sell the seat, it gives it away.
Mar 30, 2018, 2:25 pm
#340
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,117
if they’re gonna make every upgrade an auction, then might as well stop benefits above gold. No reason for Plat it 1K. Maybe it’s getting close to the time when there’s simply no reason to stay loyal anymore!
Mar 30, 2018, 2:27 pm
#341
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,117
I fall into this category. I'm 35% of the way to Million Miler status with UA, and closer to 0% with DL and AA. There is no incentive to fly WN, and most of my travel is between SFO and ORD...so I fly UA. I wish I could explain the psychology behind it, but they've got me.
Mar 30, 2018, 2:31 pm
#342
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I don't like it when I am waiting at the gate with an upgrade instrument in play at #1 on the upgrade list and they sell the seat out from me but I do get it. This has been going on for years as Baze just pointed out.
Mar 30, 2018, 3:31 pm
#343
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,941
I find it shocking, simply shocking, that a for-profit business with a duty to its shareholders would attempt to sell a product before giving it away.
Seriously. UA is doing exactly what it ought to be doing. Whether it is upselling from the fare paid to the cheapest fare basis which books into F or it simply establishes a price, is irrelevant.
Bottom line is that if UA can't sell the seat, it gives it away.
Seriously. UA is doing exactly what it ought to be doing. Whether it is upselling from the fare paid to the cheapest fare basis which books into F or it simply establishes a price, is irrelevant.
Bottom line is that if UA can't sell the seat, it gives it away.
Mar 30, 2018, 3:43 pm
#344
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,268
Dont forget some people make status by segments. Now that's loyalty. Even getting status, you don't get to enjoy most of the benefits.
I do find it a little disheartening to always find myself #1 or so on the upgrade. Might as well be #50
On the flip side, if I'm #3 on the upgrade list, with 1 or 2 seats left (especially my HNL-SFO) flights, I like the flexibility to jump the queue so to speak. As a 1K, I'm rarely #1 on the list anymore from HNL or SFO (or DEN or EWR) with so many GS, so it works for me to be able to buy up more cheaply than paying for it a ticketing.
Mar 30, 2018, 3:52 pm
#345
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,614
On the flip side, if I'm #3 on the upgrade list, with 1 or 2 seats left (especially my HNL-SFO) flights, I like the flexibility to jump the queue so to speak. As a 1K, I'm rarely #1 on the list anymore from HNL or SFO (or DEN or EWR) with so many GS, so it works for me to be able to buy up more cheaply than paying for it a ticketing.