IAH-OIL-TRASH

Non-revenue, space available. Basically employees who (because of their contracts) can be assigned an unoccupied coach, business, or first seat (if available) near departure time. You'll often see their names both on the standby and upgrade waitlists within 24 hours of departure. On both, they'll be behind all revenue passengers.

OpenSky

Aka steal my seat. I have had a few examples of NRSA + 1 in cahoots with gate agent have the seat assignment changed ( often poaching a 1K paying seat) so that NRSA with traveling companion can sit together. . I have documented examples, and reported this to 1K Voice/United. . The incidents have ended up in the file of the employee. I can think of at least 3+ incidents, almost all on INTL business class flights.

I often have the nicest seat on the plane, and I got so sick of my seat getting stolen by either a United employee or the Global Services rep accommodating a VIP. I stopped flying UA regularly in 2015.

I got so sick of it, ( towards the end) I started confronting the pax ( after the plane took off) and ask the culprit, "How did you get your seat?"

scott97

Are you familiar enough with their benefits?

JBord

The last few years I've been Gold, as my business travel decreased. However, for several years before that and I'd say I saw value as a domestic traveler well before 2 trip per week. I would usually end the year between 75-90 segments, approximately 40 trips per year. I was upgraded at nearly a 70% rate, although to be fair I tried to avoid the heaviest commute times when possible. But the real value I got was when something went wrong. There are certain times in your life where being able to change a flight or get special treatment in IRROPS so that you're able to get home after a long week are just invaluable. I was also able, through careful planning, to use my GPU's every year for my personal vacation travel.

All those things plus a UA Club membership made 90 segments a year much more tolerable and less stressful. I have lower expectations as a Gold, and UA generally meets them at that level. For me, I'm not chasing a higher status if I'm not going to be really close due to work anyway. But I think there's a ton of value that 1K's take for granted, and I now sometimes miss. What lower status has caused me to do, as you've mentioned, is buy those cheap P fares a little more often now.

timezone_trooper

I love being a 1K, and I find the benefits very valuable. I average around 150K PQM/120 PQS every year and I find the 2 extra GPUs to be a great add-on. My CPU success rate over the last three years (with most trips to/via/from SFO/IAH/EWR) has been about 65% which I don't find terrible at all. GPU success has been 100% as they're all for international leisure travel so I can be flexible and hunt for available R space. Ground/phone customer service has really been pretty good over the last couple years, and there are only a handful of instances where I've not been happy. In-flight service has improved as well, IMO; there have been a couple outliers on INTL flights with more senior crews but overall I've been pleased. I can't fathom moving to AA or DL and having a drastically better experience.

enviroian

no offense to the OP but either he suddenly woke up in 2004 or he didn't read the 1K benefits sections good enough.

pigx5

You already miss the golden age of 1K. Before 2009, my 1K upgrade rates were 99%. After the merge, the upgrade rate is very low unless you are a GS.

UA has published this information online and you should read it before complain.

jr0ck

If you believe they are only making 10% profit on you, you are sadly mistaken.

Also, how do you benchmark the cost of a call at $10 a call?!? over 52 calls a year? I suppose this number would be fair if you're speaking to them for on average for 45mins-1 hour? Otherwise that number is absurd as well. If you're gonna come to the table with numbers at least be reasonable.

dmurphynj

DJ_Iceman

Yes, but the profit already takes into account all of United's operating costs such as running the 1K call center. At least in my definition of "profit".

simonoaks

What do you mean by 'gift' ? thx

A few years ago , when I was Plat, I asked a desk attendant about CPU for these routes and she told me only 1k and GS get CPU . That is why I had it stuck in my head as so.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

simonoaks

I am from UK, and been living in USA for 6 years, I usually book 3 months in advance as I know my schedule for visiting family. I called the desk and they said it would be $200 change fee plus $87 to change to W fair. I then asked about change fee waiver (as I often change flights domestically within 24 hrs) and she said change fee would be waived at 24 hrs, so I decided to leave it and call back at check in time and see if I can change fare without the change fee. Clearly, I need to read up WAY more on how this all works, however, I will say, that the W fare thing is certainly not mentioned and very well hidden.

I understand what you are saying, but it is not $300 for the TATL, is is $300 EXTRA to change my $700 ticket to W class. Considering you can upgrade for $550 , this seems a waste of $300 PLUS the GPU. Right ?

Being new to 1k, I clearly have a LOT to learn , and will investigate on here, the upgrade thing. What is 'R space'?

Fair points.

I do PBI - not worth the 1.5 hrs drive to FLL. I do the long routes to avoid the EWR to SFO/LAX route (habit from when a Plat , when I knew there were no CPUs for me (as per my other response, I was told 1K was CPU by a desk person , thus the reason I saw great value in 'chasing' 1k)). Yes , work pays for all my business trips, but 95% of the time it is at a S/K class ticket. UK flights are on my own dime. thx

I suffer the same problem , I fly PBI to EWR at least 40 segments p/a and rarely get CPU clearing - too many rich people buying F outright.

narvik

Sadly, this saying holds true and is good life-advice: "Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see."


Further reading:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con.../upgrades.aspx

simonoaks

To clarify, I had to bypass EWR to SFO/LAX as a Plat to maximize a chance of an upgrade (plus I actually do not mind 2/3 stops over a straight 6 hr flight). As I was told as a Plat that the PS routes were CPU for 1k/ GS , I had that in my head. SO when I made 1k then found it to be wrong, it was a genuine surprise ( as I found out at the desk before boarding, when I asked why I was not showing up on the upgrade list ! Lol). So yes, as a Plat, I was a pretty experienced flyer, at 6'5 , the main reason for my loyalty is the extra legroom at booking, as I literally cannot get on a plane without it, as they frown on people standing during takeoff and landing. So arguably , the rest is all a bonus, I guess. Because of the legroom importance, I take notes on every plane type, to the minutest details like: 737s - which have the cutout for legs in row 7, same with A3XX , ERJ 175 ( front row has curtain so fine) 145 (always use exit row) , on most planes, you can use the 'secret ' button on arm rest to lift it up (SO important on 145s) , which seats have the imovable arms ( too narrow for me) , and many many more things I take note of, so I know at booking which seat on ANY aircraft in the UA fleet ( would be really hard to start that all over again with another airline)

I started out as Gold for first couple of years - before the chase lol - as the only benefit I cared about was the E+ at booking. It did start getting intolerable when group 2 became so HUGE - my biggest gripe with UA is that they dish out group 2 like candy and FF really get screwed - on 3 occasions I had to check my carry and all 3 times , it got lost and had to be posted to me. Then people wonder why the lines at boarding start 30 mins before boarding and how the entire walkway gets blocked by the endless line of group 2s.

Just want to thank everyone for their input. I deservedly (in hindsight) got my butt kicked.

Through lack of research, and trusting what I was told at the desk, I get I set my bar to the point where I was destined to fail.

I will now go away with my tail between my legs and go learn about being a 1k ( and I thought I was pretty fastidious in learning the game , particularly my notes on every seat pro/con on every aircraft I have flown ( which I think is every one except the 747) , including the twin prop from EWR to Ottawa , several times .

I saw several people mention something about ' R space' , is there a thread for that, what is it, it seems important?

two last questions:
1. I have a LAX to PBI via EWR trip on 28th March , I did the Regional request and it said wait list - if it does not clear for LAX to PBI , does that mean the whole thing will cancel or will they try and take it for the EWR - PBI leg (which of course is a rip off and I would never do ) ?
2. I have a work 'club' trip for me and my wife to Fours Seasons in Costa Rica, work is paying for flights (W) class ticket and hotel and I have booked us 6th March PBI - IAH - LIR (leaving 7am ) and on the 13th return LIR - IAH - PBI - leaving 1.25pm. The app shows us both as CPU waitlist, my question is, and I would only do it for the outbound leg, should I try and use RPUs to upgrade or is there a good chance the CPUs will clear? If you redeem a RPU , but it turns out you would have cleard CPU anyway, will they CPU upgrade and credit back the RPU?

THANK YOU ALL