I've been Global Services for 5 years and I'm looking elsewhere. Anyone else?
#62
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,824
Bastian didn't say Delta is done with free upgrades. Continuing the interview:
Quotes from someone who actually watched the talk --
Ed: "we are selling upgrades but we monitor that to make certain that there is a line we dont cross...it's a line we carefully watch between free and paid..."
Moderator: "and you do want really loyal Delta flyers to get up front for free sometimes..."
Ed: "Absolutely..absolutely....and thats an important part...and I agree with you that is actually one of the best benefits of the loyalty program..."
That's really no change from the long-standing policy to sell F/J cabins, with generally the same goal as UA.
First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
Quotes from someone who actually watched the talk --
Ed: "we are selling upgrades but we monitor that to make certain that there is a line we dont cross...it's a line we carefully watch between free and paid..."
Moderator: "and you do want really loyal Delta flyers to get up front for free sometimes..."
Ed: "Absolutely..absolutely....and thats an important part...and I agree with you that is actually one of the best benefits of the loyalty program..."
That's really no change from the long-standing policy to sell F/J cabins, with generally the same goal as UA.
First Class Monetization, or FCM: The Definitive Thread
Sorry if I made it appear Delta was getting rid of free upgrades. That wasn't my intent. I'll look at my post and edit appropriately. Thanks!
#63
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
I'd put all that airfare money on a Amex Platinum to essentially get 5% back or transfer to partners.
If flying F/J all the typical perks of status come with those tickets anyway.
If flying F/J all the typical perks of status come with those tickets anyway.
#64
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,115
Significantly cheaper per flight than PassPlus and CK at $50,000. On all levels you can purchase a ticket out of your account for a companion and for a comment of $20,000 or more one card holder for each $10,000 annual commitment.
Only on AA metal and with AirPass fares whereas PassPlus will let you spend on any United fare and any LH, ANA, LX, SN; AG sans nominal PassPlus discount.
Only on AA metal and with AirPass fares whereas PassPlus will let you spend on any United fare and any LH, ANA, LX, SN; AG sans nominal PassPlus discount.
#65
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
Programs: UA GS 1.6MM UC | AA CK 0.7MM AC | Bonvoy Ambassador | Hertz PC
Posts: 1,051
I have found myself in a somewhat similar position starting this year. I was already a MM flyer on United but now 99% of my travel is booked up front. I also don't feel that valued as a 1K (hoping to make GS this year with ~$40-50K in spend). With that said, there are exactly two things that keep me (mostly) tied to United:
1) My wife getting my status due to my MM. This is priceless to me when she travels alone and I can't even imagine how important it will be to me if/when she travels alone with a kid.
2) The GPUs. My sister lives in London and the ability to have her in business 75%+ of the time when she comes home to see family gets me off the hook birthday and Christmas gift crunch time.
I have a paltry CC-spend compared to you ~$20K/month but I keep most of that on a United Card that gives me the choices option which basically offsets my annual out-of-pocket for personal revenue tickets.
That's just me though. Being based in Chicago the ability to remove friction from my family's travel is worth me dealing with United. I'm 33 years old and have been in MP since I was 2 so, at this point, I also have a decent runway to probably 3MM miles if my work stays the same. The lifetime stuff that they haven't stripped away yet remains an effective carrot to keep me loyal.
All IMO, obviously.
1) My wife getting my status due to my MM. This is priceless to me when she travels alone and I can't even imagine how important it will be to me if/when she travels alone with a kid.
2) The GPUs. My sister lives in London and the ability to have her in business 75%+ of the time when she comes home to see family gets me off the hook birthday and Christmas gift crunch time.
I have a paltry CC-spend compared to you ~$20K/month but I keep most of that on a United Card that gives me the choices option which basically offsets my annual out-of-pocket for personal revenue tickets.
That's just me though. Being based in Chicago the ability to remove friction from my family's travel is worth me dealing with United. I'm 33 years old and have been in MP since I was 2 so, at this point, I also have a decent runway to probably 3MM miles if my work stays the same. The lifetime stuff that they haven't stripped away yet remains an effective carrot to keep me loyal.
All IMO, obviously.
#66
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 855
#67
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: UA GS ,QF Plat
Posts: 686
It is a priority answering line with, compared to the past unheard of wait times on occasion and depending on time of day agent quality can vary quite significantly
#68
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 76
I once spent $40K on flights and I can tell you that I did care about loyalty. It makes a world of difference if your traveling a lot.
If I spread that money to 4 different airlines then I wouldn't expect much but if I spend it at one airline I expect something in return.
#69
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K 1.45MM, Marriott+SPG Plat, Clear, Nexus, Global Entry and MEX Viajero Confiable
Posts: 1,777
1st year as GS and I have appreciate greatly the enhanced service. The ability to open saver award space for the Mrs and then upgrade is worth it's weight in gold.. including the ability to open an award seat in same cabin as my paid ticket is hugely advantageous. Annie in BOS :-:!
On the negative side, I have experienced twice the very real need for the MB and it wasn't there.. including a delayed arrival into EWR and no GS rep to help... that left a bad taste in my mouth.
Having been 1K several times since '97... there is a huge difference in handling for 1K to GS. But for $50K+ annual spend it should be.
Several years ago I made a conscientious decision to consolidate all my travel on UA. Through the many downs and the few ups. If I was in OP's shoes, and had the ability to predictable spend that kind of money F/J.. then why worry about loyalty programs? You get the loyalty through $ spent on the seat in F...
On the negative side, I have experienced twice the very real need for the MB and it wasn't there.. including a delayed arrival into EWR and no GS rep to help... that left a bad taste in my mouth.
Having been 1K several times since '97... there is a huge difference in handling for 1K to GS. But for $50K+ annual spend it should be.
Several years ago I made a conscientious decision to consolidate all my travel on UA. Through the many downs and the few ups. If I was in OP's shoes, and had the ability to predictable spend that kind of money F/J.. then why worry about loyalty programs? You get the loyalty through $ spent on the seat in F...
Last edited by NH_Clark; Oct 6, 2017 at 9:01 am
#70
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
If he's flying out of the 60-69 gates at SFO, I'd agree it's a nicer experience than the lounge, but those gates are the exception, not the rule. They should be the model for gates everywhere, in my opinion. But, UA would sell a lot fewer United Club memberships if that were the case.
#71
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
#72
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,824
Not saying the UC club there is crowded, but that the gate area is exceptional. Tons of power outlets, really nice seating, lots of tables set up for laptops, good places to eat. That could be the reason the UC isn't crowded.
#73
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
I don't think that's true at all. Is this documented somewhere? I called the other day, arond 3am when nobody is around. I got disconnected and called back. she said there were only like 15 agents working GS, and she's send an IM to all of them to see who helped me and get the same person back on the line. She said sometimes it goes to overflow if there's too many calls, but it definitely sounded like there was a dedicated GS line with agents in a specific office just for GS. 5 mins later, the prior agent called me back and said she got the message from the other agent. I don' think that would be remotely possible if it was merged with the 1k line where there are hundreds working at any given time (or more?)
#74
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: GS + 3.9 Million Miler; Hilton: Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 676
Excepting a couple of times where ultra tight connection and no GS agent and no MB, my 2 yrs experience with GS has been outstanding.
No wait time when calling. Flexibility to bend rules. Upgrades on reward tickets. Wife gets upgrade to F (due to MM). Never an issue finding overhead bin space. Nice bottles of wine at the holidays last year to my home. GS check-in in SFO + EWR + ORD has saved me a bunch of time.
Where UA is cheap is not allowing GS to access Polaris lounge without international J ticket. And, many times at ORD where only one of the MB is in use and the other is parked near the B to F concourse connector. (Seriously, why have 2 MB if you're not going to use BOTH of them all the time?)
No wait time when calling. Flexibility to bend rules. Upgrades on reward tickets. Wife gets upgrade to F (due to MM). Never an issue finding overhead bin space. Nice bottles of wine at the holidays last year to my home. GS check-in in SFO + EWR + ORD has saved me a bunch of time.
Where UA is cheap is not allowing GS to access Polaris lounge without international J ticket. And, many times at ORD where only one of the MB is in use and the other is parked near the B to F concourse connector. (Seriously, why have 2 MB if you're not going to use BOTH of them all the time?)
#75
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 855