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
#196
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
Thank you for responding. My question is.. do the middle section have the same legroom as the other seats that are E+. From the photos and layouts, it looks like seats in the same row should have same extra leg room. I am interested only in the extra leg room and the $40 extra is worth it for me.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...87-900.html#v2
#198
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: BNE/OOL temporarily-permanently at CAK/PIT
Programs: UA*1K & UA Club, National Ex. Elite, Hertz Pres. Circ., Amex Plat., CLEAR
Posts: 1,703
There is hardly any reason to pay for a "Preferred" seat - the only reasons would be:
1. No other decent seats are left and you don't want to risk getting a middle seat
2. On a handful of aircraft, the Preferred seats have in-seat power but the free ones don't. (I can't imagine paying $10 or $30 for in-seat power, but the United app touts this as a benefit.)
1. No other decent seats are left and you don't want to risk getting a middle seat
2. On a handful of aircraft, the Preferred seats have in-seat power but the free ones don't. (I can't imagine paying $10 or $30 for in-seat power, but the United app touts this as a benefit.)
#199
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CO hublette
Programs: UA AU MM,HH Diamond,Hyatt Globalist , Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,281
There is hardly any reason to pay for a "Preferred" seat - the only reasons would be:
1. No other decent seats are left and you don't want to risk getting a middle seat
2. On a handful of aircraft, the Preferred seats have in-seat power but the free ones don't. (I can't imagine paying $10 or $30 for in-seat power, but the United app touts this as a benefit.)
1. No other decent seats are left and you don't want to risk getting a middle seat
2. On a handful of aircraft, the Preferred seats have in-seat power but the free ones don't. (I can't imagine paying $10 or $30 for in-seat power, but the United app touts this as a benefit.)
#200
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: Delta Gold, Marriot Gold
Posts: 371
you beat me to it! Lol yeah on tight connections it is good to be the 1st on main cabin to deplane, those 38 seconds help 😄
Also, not many people like middle seats even in E+
Also, not many people like middle seats even in E+
Last edited by Synapseturquoise; Dec 5, 2021 at 6:02 am
#202
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, CC Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 434
Does United increase seat selection economy on day of departure
Booking my inlaws for flight from Bos-SFO for wedding. They have no status and flying economy. Flight about 2/3 full, and only middle seats available but about 20 "preferred" seats window and aisle for around $25. About same amount of comfort plus seats.
They just want a window and aisle seat, doesn't have to be comfort plus. Should I tell them to bite the bullet and pay the seat fee now or will United make these "preferred" seats free on day of departure. Thanks
They just want a window and aisle seat, doesn't have to be comfort plus. Should I tell them to bite the bullet and pay the seat fee now or will United make these "preferred" seats free on day of departure. Thanks
#203
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,419
They become free to those without a seat assignment and are assigned at checkin, but no guarantee of aisle/window or sitting together.
If they want W/A they should pay (and the United term is Economy Plus)
If they want W/A they should pay (and the United term is Economy Plus)
#204
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 315
United withholding almost all the seats
United claims you can reserve any coach seat with a standard economy fare (not basic economy). But on my upcoming trip they have blocked out over half the coach seats as "premium seats" that you have to pay for. So there are either zero seats available on some legs, or only middles available on other legs, unless you pay more. It completely violates their policy, and when you call they say there are no seats available except premium ones. (Yeah because they've made them all premium!)
Anyone know when they will start converting those premium seats to available seats? 24 hours out? 48 hours? Trickle them out a few a day? Thanks
Anyone know when they will start converting those premium seats to available seats? 24 hours out? 48 hours? Trickle them out a few a day? Thanks
#205
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: SYR
Posts: 27
United claims you can reserve any coach seat with a standard economy fare (not basic economy). But on my upcoming trip they have blocked out over half the coach seats as "premium seats" that you have to pay for. So there are either zero seats available on some legs, or only middles available on other legs, unless you pay more. It completely violates their policy, and when you call they say there are no seats available except premium ones. (Yeah because they've made them all premium!)
Anyone know when they will start converting those premium seats to available seats? 24 hours out? 48 hours? Trickle them out a few a day? Thanks
Anyone know when they will start converting those premium seats to available seats? 24 hours out? 48 hours? Trickle them out a few a day? Thanks
#207
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,422
If you're relying on Google Flights' idea of what Economy Plus costs, don't. Although the most expensive economy fares may get Economy Plus for free -- it's unclear -- that's usually much, much more expensive than just buying a regular economy (not Basic Economy) ticket and then adding an E+ seat assignment. If you do that on United.com, it'll show you the prices, which can vary by seat (e.g., exit rows are more expensive, middles are less expensive, etc.)
#208
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,419
This is pretty standard now in the airline industry. I get the frustration if you don't qualify for a "premium" seat for free, but it's typical of most airlines.
As noted, if you don't have a seat assignment you will get one at check in (unless flight is oversold) and it could be in any of the seats - and often is economy plus or preferred because a lot of fliers don't want to pay extra for those leaving them open until flight time. (I have been on several recent flights where it looked like there were >50% of seats still available but the flight was, in fact, fully booked.)
As noted, if you don't have a seat assignment you will get one at check in (unless flight is oversold) and it could be in any of the seats - and often is economy plus or preferred because a lot of fliers don't want to pay extra for those leaving them open until flight time. (I have been on several recent flights where it looked like there were >50% of seats still available but the flight was, in fact, fully booked.)
#209
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 315
Since when, just the past year or so? In the past there have been a few rows of "premium seats" not literally half the cabin.
#210
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,885