Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United Airlines Strengthens Commitment to Top Corporate Customers with Launch of United Corporate Preferred
New exclusive program provides multi-level benefits to airline's top business travelers
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today debuted United Corporate Preferred, the industry's newest corporate travel program designed to offer top travel benefits to the airline's most loyal business customers. United announced the new program this morning at the Global Business Traveler Association (GBTA) Convention in San Diego.
United Corporate Preferred is a new and exclusive benefits program that provides added perks for the airline's top corporate customers. A multi-level program, United Corporate Preferred offers escalating benefits at three levels, including United Corporate Preferred, United Corporate Preferred Plus and United Corporate Preferred Elite. Eligibility for the new program is determined by a corporation's contract status, revenue contribution and loyalty with United. Eligible corporate agreements include United corporate share agreements, United PassPlus and United Meetings.
"Every day thousands of road warriors are jetting off on United to work events and business meetings all over the world," said Jake Cefolia, United's senior vice president of Worldwide Sales. "We designed our United Corporate Preferred program with the customer's entire travel experience in mind, from booking to landing, to identify opportunities to show our appreciation to our loyal business customers with a program that offers extra perks and travel benefits."
Benefits offered to all United Corporate Preferred customers include:
• Preferred upgrades – tie-breaker preferences for upgrades.
• Preferred standby – prioritization when traveling on standby for a different flight and when waitlisting for a seat in a different cabin or booking class.
• Operational adjustment protection – protection during travel interruptions, as well as seat protection to retain the same or similar seat in the event of an aircraft swap.
• Preferred discounts and offers – eligibility to receive exclusive promotions offered by both United and its partners in the near future.
Customers in the airline's new United Corporate Preferred Elite level will also receive the following:
• Additional travel waiver flexibility – when United has a travel waiver in place, customers will receive additional flexibility to adjust their travel beyond restrictions in place on the standard waiver.
• Preferred boarding – later this year, customers will receive priority boarding in group two.
• Preferred seating – later this year, customers will have access to book designated standard economy seats closer to the front of the plane.
To receive these benefits, tickets must be flown on United or United Express flights, reservations must include the customer's corporate account number at the time of booking, and the travel must be for the corporate customer's business. Companies invited to participate in United Corporate Preferred will receive a tailored webpage with information on benefits eligible to their employees. For more information on the program, visit unitedcorporatepreferred.com.
New exclusive program provides multi-level benefits to airline's top business travelers
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today debuted United Corporate Preferred, the industry's newest corporate travel program designed to offer top travel benefits to the airline's most loyal business customers. United announced the new program this morning at the Global Business Traveler Association (GBTA) Convention in San Diego.
United Corporate Preferred is a new and exclusive benefits program that provides added perks for the airline's top corporate customers. A multi-level program, United Corporate Preferred offers escalating benefits at three levels, including United Corporate Preferred, United Corporate Preferred Plus and United Corporate Preferred Elite. Eligibility for the new program is determined by a corporation's contract status, revenue contribution and loyalty with United. Eligible corporate agreements include United corporate share agreements, United PassPlus and United Meetings.
"Every day thousands of road warriors are jetting off on United to work events and business meetings all over the world," said Jake Cefolia, United's senior vice president of Worldwide Sales. "We designed our United Corporate Preferred program with the customer's entire travel experience in mind, from booking to landing, to identify opportunities to show our appreciation to our loyal business customers with a program that offers extra perks and travel benefits."
Benefits offered to all United Corporate Preferred customers include:
• Preferred upgrades – tie-breaker preferences for upgrades.
• Preferred standby – prioritization when traveling on standby for a different flight and when waitlisting for a seat in a different cabin or booking class.
• Operational adjustment protection – protection during travel interruptions, as well as seat protection to retain the same or similar seat in the event of an aircraft swap.
• Preferred discounts and offers – eligibility to receive exclusive promotions offered by both United and its partners in the near future.
Customers in the airline's new United Corporate Preferred Elite level will also receive the following:
• Additional travel waiver flexibility – when United has a travel waiver in place, customers will receive additional flexibility to adjust their travel beyond restrictions in place on the standard waiver.
• Preferred boarding – later this year, customers will receive priority boarding in group two.
• Preferred seating – later this year, customers will have access to book designated standard economy seats closer to the front of the plane.
To receive these benefits, tickets must be flown on United or United Express flights, reservations must include the customer's corporate account number at the time of booking, and the travel must be for the corporate customer's business. Companies invited to participate in United Corporate Preferred will receive a tailored webpage with information on benefits eligible to their employees. For more information on the program, visit unitedcorporatepreferred.com.
What benefits do United Corporate Preferred travelers receive?
Specific benefits are listed below. Being a multi-level program, within each benefit in tie-breaker scenarios, United Corporate Preferred Elite travelers receive the highest priority, followed by United Corporate Preferred Plus and then United Corporate Preferred.
Specific benefits are listed below. Being a multi-level program, within each benefit in tie-breaker scenarios, United Corporate Preferred Elite travelers receive the highest priority, followed by United Corporate Preferred Plus and then United Corporate Preferred.
Refunds:
UA says
Refunds for preferred seating purchases are processed automatically after scheduled departure in the event of flight cancellation change, when travel is completed in a standard United Economy seat, or when travel is completed in a seat of equal or greater value through the purchase of a premium cabin seating offer.
In the event of a ticket refund or cancellation, preferred seating purchases will be automatically refunded.
...
If you decide to change your flight, your preferred seating purchase will be automatically refunded. If the ticket is partially used at the time of the change, only the value of unused preferred seating will be refunded.
...
If you decide to change your flight, your preferred seating purchase will be automatically refunded. If the ticket is partially used at the time of the change, only the value of unused preferred seating will be refunded.
MileagePlus Premier® members will receive access to preferred seating, where available, at no additional cost.
Preferred seat refunds (changed flights, upgraded, purchased E+, ...)
New Corporate Preferred (upgrade tiebreaker) / new 'preferred' seating section
#166
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
My dad is flying on a 753. Seat 35A and F I *thought* were regular economy seats, but they actually turned out to be preferred. I applied an RPU for him, and if it that clears, is this fee refundable? I know it is for e+, just not sure how much UA differentiates this.
#167
Join Date: Sep 2002
Programs: Delta FO
Posts: 44
Does buying preferred seat get better boarding priority?
Haven't flown United in a long time. I bought a "preferred seat," and just wondering if that comes with a better boarding group than if I was randomly assigned that seat or if I need to buy Premier Access for that. Thanks.
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
No advantage to the preferred seat, other than the seat itself, I believe.
#169
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
Those that qualified for "free" preferred seats, do receive Premier Access. But if you purchase "preferred seats", believe you do not receive Premier Access. You don't if you purchase E+ access.
#170
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,362
By the way, just a general comment on United's definition of "preferred": I'd personally not consider all the seats that United offers as "preferred" to be preferable to some other seats that do not require additional payment.
The preferred seats tend to be closer to the front of the plane, but some of those preferred seats are middle seats, and I'd much rather have an aisle or windows seat further back in the plane than a middle seat a few rows further up front.
I guess those middle seats would [somewhat] make sense if traveling not alone.
The preferred seats tend to be closer to the front of the plane, but some of those preferred seats are middle seats, and I'd much rather have an aisle or windows seat further back in the plane than a middle seat a few rows further up front.
I guess those middle seats would [somewhat] make sense if traveling not alone.
#171
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, MR Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec
Posts: 537
If I have +3 on my reservation as a Premier Gold, select preferred seats for all of us, then split the reservation 2/2 to move 2 of us to E+, will the preferred seats for the other 2 stick? If there is an equipment swap will they be lost? If they are lost, probability of getting them reassigned after splitting the reservation?
#172
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 43
If I have +3 on my reservation as a Premier Gold, select preferred seats for all of us, then split the reservation 2/2 to move 2 of us to E+, will the preferred seats for the other 2 stick? If there is an equipment swap will they be lost? If they are lost, probability of getting them reassigned after splitting the reservation?
#173
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, MR Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec
Posts: 537
Nice! However, with 4 on the PNR, no one will be eligible for a CPU and the split PNR will not have free SDC. I'll probably just keep it together and not worry. Thanks.
#174
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, MR Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec
Posts: 537
FWIW - I was unable to do this online. However, I called in and the agent did it without issue. There was a note online that said I was eligible for E+ for me +1 OR Preferred seating for me +8.
#175
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
Currently UA Silver. Have a flight later this week (first in 14 months!) with my daughters and trying to change seats. However, website and app are showing that I have to pay for preferred seats which is unexpected. Anyone encountered this? Is this a glitch? Only showing fees for outbound in 4 days, return a few days later still shows no charge.
#176
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
Currently UA Silver. Have a flight later this week (first in 14 months!) with my daughters and trying to change seats. However, website and app are showing that I have to pay for preferred seats which is unexpected. Anyone encountered this? Is this a glitch? Only showing fees for outbound in 4 days, return a few days later still shows no charge.
#177
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
It did. Showed a fee for each seat, when I went to select, showed the payment screen. Didn't go any further. Was able to get them assigned via Twitter support, but they were unable to tell me why that happened. Random website glitch, I suppose.
#178
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
Huh, sounded like it might be the old E+ fee bug, but maybe with them updating the payment screens it's become more "grabby".
#179
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 40
Why did I get Priority boarding?
I haven’t flown United for years, but used to have status for a short period of time. I don’t have a United credit card and bought an economy ticket (E) but got priority boarding in Group 2. I do have TSA preCheck, is that why I was in priority boarding? Or is this just a random thing United does once in a while?
I’m interested because it’s one reason I don’t fly United more often, without status I’m unlikely to get a spot for my bag in the overhead boarding in Group 5.
I’m interested because it’s one reason I don’t fly United more often, without status I’m unlikely to get a spot for my bag in the overhead boarding in Group 5.
#180
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
Did you purchase E+ access with Premier Access bundle?
At one time some fares included Premier Access
At one time some fares included Premier Access