Aug 13, 2018, 11:55 am
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
Dec 14, 2018, 10:25 am
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,404
I think this is even less of a problem with the Preferred seats. They're not better seats per se; the whole point is just so that elites and corporate customers will have non-middles to choose from when booking last minute -- prioritizing cash/status/contracts over first-come first-served for seat assignments. It's definitely sliding further down the ancillary revenue track, but many other airlines around the world operate more like this on short-haul flights.
Dec 14, 2018, 10:28 am
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,404
Silvers and also non-status corporate contract customers. But yeah, the idea is to try to avoid the inevitable forced middle seat when you're buying a 1-day E fare.
Dec 15, 2018, 9:25 pm
#79
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 110
United is starting to charge for the ability to select a seat in more "favorable positions" (aka towards the front of economy). This sounds like something that American was going to (or is) doing.
I found this out today when reviewing an upcoming, short domestic flight on an ERJ145. What is interesting is that the "preferred" seats that are currently being sold for $9 on my flight are seats that have typically been reserved for Premiers. Alas, the "Preferred Seat" offer is of little value to me. 1) It offers no additional legroom. 2) The flight is short. 3) The destination is the final destination for all pax on board; therefore, sitting closer to the front does not necessarily add any real benefit for this flight.
*** Clarification ****
Ah! Thanks for this. The new seat option doesn't replace Economy Plus, but is a section after it. And it seems like the observation I described (seats previously first reserved for Premiers now being "Preferred Seats") is limited to ERJs on UA. Therefore, I guess this is non-news. haha
I found this out today when reviewing an upcoming, short domestic flight on an ERJ145. What is interesting is that the "preferred" seats that are currently being sold for $9 on my flight are seats that have typically been reserved for Premiers. Alas, the "Preferred Seat" offer is of little value to me. 1) It offers no additional legroom. 2) The flight is short. 3) The destination is the final destination for all pax on board; therefore, sitting closer to the front does not necessarily add any real benefit for this flight.
*** Clarification ****
Ah! Thanks for this. The new seat option doesn't replace Economy Plus, but is a section after it. And it seems like the observation I described (seats previously first reserved for Premiers now being "Preferred Seats") is limited to ERJs on UA. Therefore, I guess this is non-news. haha
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 15, 2018 at 9:35 pm Reason: merged into existing thread; merging consecutive posts by same member
Dec 15, 2018, 9:43 pm
#80
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,151
The problem right now is that for any flight in the not-to-distant future this will add minimal value, as people have already selected their seats before this came into effect, when anyone could select these seats. As time goes on, only select people (status, corporate preferred elite, those willing to pay extra) will be able to select them, so their availability should improve.
Also worth keeping in mind that it's only the top level of Corporate Preferred (ie, "Elite") that can select these - not all levels.
Dec 16, 2018, 3:04 am
#81
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: *G, used to be with TK but left due to their corruption and political ties
Posts: 4,406
Star Gold left out again
Just as with Economy Plus, those of use with Star Alliance Gold status from other programs than UA's own are completely left out. I can't even select a preferred seat with a gold card in my reservation without paying.
Dec 16, 2018, 9:39 am
#82
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,335
Btw, what are we calling these new seats? Already have E-, E+, and PP/PE. I think PS would be too confusing and wouldn't fit the progression. I propose Eo or E(some other neutral symbol).
Dec 16, 2018, 1:46 pm
#83
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,821
As are UA elites from most *A carriers' preferred seats (NZ is an exception, a few will do this at gate).
Dec 17, 2018, 5:17 am
#84
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,860
What Are "Preferred Seats" ?
I am noticing on seat maps a new category of seats called Preferred Seats. It is located behind E+ and is white with a black corner. They do not look like anything special. I presume that this is UA's latest way to nickel and dime pax. I hope they can somehow justify the term "Preferred Seat", other then they cost more money. (I doubt they can)
Dec 17, 2018, 5:24 am
#85
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Delaware
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 1,393
Unfortunately you are correct. While I don't know the implementation date, UA plans on charging a fee to sit in the front of the Y cabin. The airlines are trying to compare the seats on a plane to those at a stadium, where you pay for the better seats. The airlines say these seats are better than seats in the back because you get off of the plane sooner, and you get served your beverage first. The airlines say that like in a stadium, if you want better seats, you have to pay for them.
Note: The statement that Airline Seats are like Stadium Seats is a quote from the airlines. It is a whole other debate as to how true that statement is.
Note: The statement that Airline Seats are like Stadium Seats is a quote from the airlines. It is a whole other debate as to how true that statement is.
Dec 17, 2018, 5:25 am
#86
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 503
I am noticing on seat maps a new category of seats called Preferred Seats. It is located behind E+ and is white with a black corner. They do not look like anything special. I presume that this is UA's latest way to nickel and dime pax. I hope they can somehow justify the term "Preferred Seat", other then they cost more money. (I doubt they can)
Last edited by smxflyer; Dec 17, 2018 at 7:44 am Reason: formatting
Dec 17, 2018, 6:02 am
#88
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,340
In the comment section; this struck me as rather pertinent:
"So soon the economy choices at@United will be...
Basic Economy
Economy
Economy Preferred Seating
Economy Plus
Premium Plus
So tell me which Jane/Joe Doe flyer can differentiate these without a bunch of research. "
"So soon the economy choices at
Basic Economy
Economy
Economy Preferred Seating
Economy Plus
Premium Plus
So tell me which Jane/Joe Doe flyer can differentiate these without a bunch of research. "
Dec 17, 2018, 7:30 am
#90
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,287
I don't know if it is related but on the My trips tab there is a link to "Choose your preferred seat", but that might mean the seat I prefer, not a "Preferred Seat". FWIW I am able to choose one for free as Silver.
I think Preferred seats are like what DL has or what CO used to have before E+, and even after on non-E+ planes like the ERJ, where there was a small part in the front of economy selectable to elites.
I think Preferred seats are like what DL has or what CO used to have before E+, and even after on non-E+ planes like the ERJ, where there was a small part in the front of economy selectable to elites.