Wait, UA and CO hasn't yet integrated their crew?! It's been... 8 years?

I believe AA has already integrated their pmAA and pmUS crews?

My first thought upon reading this was an automated baggage handling system.

We integrate Oct 1. AA & US do as well.

Exactly
Worst case: Huge devaluation of GPU (and 1K) from Y to PE instead of C. (Ofcourse, there is no limit to how much worse "worst case" could be)
Best case: Allow all or some elites to choose PE for free like E+. I think unlikely

I don't think that there is a snowball's chance in hell that 1K will be allowed to choose PE for free. And if the upgrade lottery goes from Y to PE, instead of Y to C, then it will make me rethink who I fly with. E+ is bad enough on the 10 across, no way will I do E.

Compromise Downgrade: 1 GPU gets you a space avail upgrade Y-PE and DoD onward upgrade to C. Rewards people who buy PE, even close in, but doesn't shut the door on Y folks (and gets them more certain access to a better product).

Wishful thinking maybe? RPUs for PE..maybe even at a cost of two per upgrade.. GPUs stay the same.

At peak times, IAD needs an automated passenger handling system.

You're not ... it was a lot of rah-rah BS

I just really don't see them restricting a GPU to Y->PE only. Thats going to piss off pretty much 100% of the 1K/GS population. I can see GPU Y (W or higher) ->C or PE (Any) ->C and maybe RPU Y (Select Class) -> PE. But we will see. There have not been a whole lot of Flier Friendly changes at any airline in the recent years.

I'm also interested in see what UA prices PE at. I've been looking at some PE on other airlines and the difference between PE and a P-Fare is ~500 R/T. for that money, I'll take the up front seating over PE.

Exactly... a new baggage sort/handling system has been high on the list for United at IAD, and will cost a pretty penny. I'm sure cosmetic improvements are factored in, too, but there's only so much you can do with the "bones" of C/D.

If GPUs/miles+copay upgrades turn into Y->PE only I will have to rethink who I fly with. These days, I take international trips where the R space is and a good fare. If that goes away, there is no more point in me flying UA. Would just have to become a free agent and go for cheap J fares for Europe and Asia.

This. I also think it'll be more aligned with the fare class purchased. We'll have to wait and see how PE will be priced first, maybe the price of PE won't be too far off what many the additional cost it takes to buy to a W fare (or higher) for GPU use.