Any Fallout from Conversion from 3-Class to 2 Class?
Jul 7, 2017 | 12:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K (2MM); AA LT Gold (1.9 MM); SQ; WN; DL; "Bonvoy Ambassador""
Posts: 399
Any Fallout from Conversion from 3-Class to 2 Class?
I apologize if this topic is already covered in another thread (and most certainly understand if the Moderator deletes or consolidates this thread), but are there any thoughts or actual experiences about future or current fallout from those such as UA1Flyer, Mr. Pillows, members of the CEO Club, celebrities and others who are accustomed to flying GF to when UAL eliminates GF and the entire international fleet goes to "Polaris"? Or, will loyalty and lack of competition on a particular route triumph?
Jul 7, 2017 | 1:41 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
Tentacle Snr who is a GS and does 150k BIS in GF every year
Having GF meant having a near 100% chance of having a premium seat available for last minute purchase on nearly any route which is of high value
He frequently has less than 4 hours of notice of when he has to travel INTL and GF is always cheaper than private jet
He is thinking of using LH/SQ/NH a lot more but is slightly worried about losing GS
Having GF meant having a near 100% chance of having a premium seat available for last minute purchase on nearly any route which is of high value
He frequently has less than 4 hours of notice of when he has to travel INTL and GF is always cheaper than private jet
He is thinking of using LH/SQ/NH a lot more but is slightly worried about losing GS
Jul 7, 2017 | 7:33 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Jul 7, 2017 | 7:51 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: UA Platinum, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 959
The big benefits of GS he'd be giving up are PN space for upgrade certificates, and the award ticket benefits (opening up saver space for a companion, T to XN, GPU on award ticket). If he doesn't use these, then whatever good treatment he enjoyed on UA he will get and then some flying paid F on those carriers.
Jul 8, 2017 | 6:08 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
Things that matter to him
1. Will overbook a flight to get him on in a premium cabin
2. Schedule out of SFO to direct international locations
3. Wifi
4. Seat and bed comfort and privacy
....
50. Food
...
99. Service
Jul 8, 2017 | 12:29 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,917
GS on UA has meant he is able to have UA overbook GF/BF for him multiple times a year
Things that matter to him
1. Will overbook a flight to get him on in a premium cabin
2. Schedule out of SFO to direct international locations
3. Wifi
4. Seat and bed comfort and privacy
....
50. Food
...
99. Service
Things that matter to him
1. Will overbook a flight to get him on in a premium cabin
2. Schedule out of SFO to direct international locations
3. Wifi
4. Seat and bed comfort and privacy
....
50. Food
...
99. Service
Jul 8, 2017 | 12:43 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DEN/OGG
Programs: UA lowlife
Posts: 1,494
For myself at 6'6" seat was the reason for GF. I have already moved a lot of my international flying away from UA in order to get a long enough seat. With them continuing to reduce GF my spending with UA will be reduced accordingly.
Unfortunately LH is no help either having removed FC from both flights out of DEN.
Unfortunately LH is no help either having removed FC from both flights out of DEN.
Jul 8, 2017 | 2:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SEA, WAS, PEK
Programs: UA 3K UGS 3MM
Posts: 2,176
For myself at 6'6" seat was the reason for GF. I have already moved a lot of my international flying away from UA in order to get a long enough seat. With them continuing to reduce GF my spending with UA will be reduced accordingly.
Unfortunately LH is no help either having removed FC from both flights out of DEN.
Unfortunately LH is no help either having removed FC from both flights out of DEN.
Jul 8, 2017 | 5:38 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Exactly. And while they say the Polaris seat dimensions mirror that of GF, I found the seat to be very tight, including the cubby for your feet. Add to that the fact that you are on a 60 person assembly-line for meals and you're left with a pretty mediocre experience.
Jul 8, 2017 | 5:46 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,579
Why doesn't his company (or whatever concern is involved here) simply book refundable tickets farther in advance any time there is even the smallest chance that travel would be required? And then cancel them? That seems like a much easier solution than distorting one's travel. After all, isn't that what refundable tickets are for? Having 4 hours notice of anything seems like you're the last one being notified of the situation.
Jul 9, 2017 | 2:23 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
Why doesn't his company (or whatever concern is involved here) simply book refundable tickets farther in advance any time there is even the smallest chance that travel would be required? And then cancel them? That seems like a much easier solution than distorting one's travel. After all, isn't that what refundable tickets are for? Having 4 hours notice of anything seems like you're the last one being notified of the situation.
When said thing breaks... he is called up and asked to be at location x as quickly as possible as outages can cost in excess of $100k per hour
When he is called in... its generally because Level1-4 have tried and failed for a day or more to fix it
4 hours is a matter of how long it takes the locally run private air firm to get him from his location in OR down to SFO
Thus... he never knows where in the world he is going and for how long and when... ~$10k one way tickets have been the solution for some time now
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 10, 2017 at 12:06 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member -- please use multi-quote
Jul 9, 2017 | 5:35 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
The loss of GF in real terms apparently means (from previous posts on other threads) that people over 6'6" are best off picking a different airline rather than flying Polaris. I always thought GF was a poor product anyway (compared with say LH F). However but for the few rev customers it will unfortunately impact, I think it was a smart business decision to get rid of it
I agree, however It depends what seat you get - some have less protrusions into the seat space making the seat area feel bigger and there are 3 different types of foot well
I agree, however It depends what seat you get - some have less protrusions into the seat space making the seat area feel bigger and there are 3 different types of foot well
Jul 9, 2017 | 8:06 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,859
Well, you can't really fly around a cabin full of seats that only sell a small % of the time and the rest are given to employees and sometimes FFs.
that worked in the days of 50% load factors, not today.
that worked in the days of 50% load factors, not today.
Jul 9, 2017 | 8:19 am
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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