Realistic and actionable items United can change (or not) to make MileagePlus better
May 4, 2017, 12:47 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS (1MM), DL Gold, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Avis CC
Posts: 526
How about make the "loyalty program" actually reward loyalty? Loyalty does not mean picking UA whenever it offers a competitive product and price -- it means still picking UA even when it doesn't offer that. UA knows what its competitors' fares are on the routes it flies at any given time. So set the PQD thresholds to something like 5k/10k/15k/20k, and then award PQD with the following formula:
1 PQD per dollar spent
5 bonus PQD per dollar spent on the difference between the UA fare and the lowest competing fare for time/routes that are "business heavy" (e.g., if the UA fare costs $100 more, you get 500 bonus PQD)
10 bonus PQD per dollar spent on the difference between the UA fare and the lowest competing fare for time/routes that are "leisure heavy"
1 PQD per dollar spent
5 bonus PQD per dollar spent on the difference between the UA fare and the lowest competing fare for time/routes that are "business heavy" (e.g., if the UA fare costs $100 more, you get 500 bonus PQD)
10 bonus PQD per dollar spent on the difference between the UA fare and the lowest competing fare for time/routes that are "leisure heavy"
May 4, 2017, 12:58 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Aussie in ORD
Programs: Marriott Plat, Ua Gold, GE.. Sucker for punishment
Posts: 4,237
So, as a newly minted, slightly disappointed (to high a expectations) 1K
a) Ability to get refunded buy up to W if GPU does not clear (ie a co-pay option for when not in W+)
b) Yes! Polaris lounge access when waitlisted on GPU. That said the Polaris lounge at ORD is very crowded.
c) Perhaps most of all, the ability to actually afford awards in Polaris. eg more availability of saver awards as they are as rare as hens teeth at the moment on the routes I fly.. especially on UA metal
Things I have been happy with:
a) Free food and drink in Y
b) 1K line
c) Nice getting priority for food in premium cabins.. although I think this is a silly perk as if I actually ever paid for J/F I would be annoyed some upgrader who paid less got my snack!
So This!!!
a) Ability to get refunded buy up to W if GPU does not clear (ie a co-pay option for when not in W+)
b) Yes! Polaris lounge access when waitlisted on GPU. That said the Polaris lounge at ORD is very crowded.
c) Perhaps most of all, the ability to actually afford awards in Polaris. eg more availability of saver awards as they are as rare as hens teeth at the moment on the routes I fly.. especially on UA metal
Things I have been happy with:
a) Free food and drink in Y
b) 1K line
c) Nice getting priority for food in premium cabins.. although I think this is a silly perk as if I actually ever paid for J/F I would be annoyed some upgrader who paid less got my snack!
So This!!!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 5, 2017 at 12:52 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
May 4, 2017, 1:37 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Avis First, Hertz PC
Posts: 575
It may cost UA a small fortune. If revenue management predicts a 99.5% chance of a J sellout, the expected cost of saving seats for upgrades or awards is very high. There will always be cases where R=0 until demand is easier to predict.
A general loosening of upgrade/award inventory would be nice, esp close-in when sales have been less than the predicted demand. At least for IN or some kind of elite bucket. Right now UA makes up for overestimating demand by discounting J (TODs, cheap buy ups) instead of selectively opening upgrade space.
May 4, 2017, 2:03 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
So an upgrade that costs >100k miles instead of 30K + $600? The mileage upgrade would likely cost more in miles than a FF ticket outright (and not saver).
May 4, 2017, 2:07 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,001
I love being able to pull up an itinerary to check-in after only going back and refreshing the "My Flights" screen two or three times after the 24 hour window passes, even though that flight has been booked for a week. And the baggage notification really is par none.
May 4, 2017, 2:43 pm
#40
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: Hyatt Globalist (2020:Exp), United Gold
Posts: 1,525
My wishlist:
BIS lifetime credit on any UA flight, incl BE and Award. (Latter would be helpful to UA, since it helps steer award travel away from partners back to UA.)
Earlier SDC for elites (perhaps matching 48/72/96h CPU window).
Allow GPU/RPU waitlist at less than T-24h.
Allow GPU upgrades below W-fare into Saver Award (IN) space. (Low probability of clearing as this is behind R, but still ahead of NRSA.)
Also allow upgrades at award rate. (Exampe: if IN award of 40k miles is avail, then allow paid ticket to be upgraded for this rate. Likely more miles than existing MP rate, but no copay.)
VDB bonus for elite. (Example: VDB at $200...kettle gets base rate, while 1K gets $100 more.)
And while GF is still available...Earlier SDC for elites (perhaps matching 48/72/96h CPU window).
Allow GPU/RPU waitlist at less than T-24h.
Allow GPU upgrades below W-fare into Saver Award (IN) space. (Low probability of clearing as this is behind R, but still ahead of NRSA.)
Also allow upgrades at award rate. (Exampe: if IN award of 40k miles is avail, then allow paid ticket to be upgraded for this rate. Likely more miles than existing MP rate, but no copay.)
VDB bonus for elite. (Example: VDB at $200...kettle gets base rate, while 1K gets $100 more.)
Where possible, move flight crew to GF (ahead of NRSA). (That's one extra seat in Business for us. Plus all-aisle access for flight crew.)
Last edited by wh6cto; May 4, 2017 at 2:44 pm Reason: grammar fixed
May 4, 2017, 8:25 pm
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 838
May 4, 2017, 9:21 pm
#44
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,490
Two tangible "It's never too late to do the right thing" actions would be
1. restore the pre-merger UA Million Mile Flyer benefits; and,
2. Honor the promises made on this page to Silver Wings Lifetime members.
No, I'm not holding my breath waiting.
1. restore the pre-merger UA Million Mile Flyer benefits; and,
2. Honor the promises made on this page to Silver Wings Lifetime members.
No, I'm not holding my breath waiting.
May 4, 2017, 10:36 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
I would LOVE this. However, it only benefits those that book far in advance, which I suspect isn't that common in the FF community.
It may cost UA a small fortune. If revenue management predicts a 99.5% chance of a J sellout, the expected cost of saving seats for upgrades or awards is very high. There will always be cases where R=0 until demand is easier to predict.
A general loosening of upgrade/award inventory would be nice, esp close-in when sales have been less than the predicted demand. At least for IN or some kind of elite bucket. Right now UA makes up for overestimating demand by discounting J (TODs, cheap buy ups) instead of selectively opening upgrade space.
It may cost UA a small fortune. If revenue management predicts a 99.5% chance of a J sellout, the expected cost of saving seats for upgrades or awards is very high. There will always be cases where R=0 until demand is easier to predict.
A general loosening of upgrade/award inventory would be nice, esp close-in when sales have been less than the predicted demand. At least for IN or some kind of elite bucket. Right now UA makes up for overestimating demand by discounting J (TODs, cheap buy ups) instead of selectively opening upgrade space.