The Points' Guy Interview with UA CCO and COO
Sep 14, 2018, 8:00 am
#46
Join Date: Apr 2013
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And clearing immigration and Customs for a connecting flight at IAD gives Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos a good name.
Sep 14, 2018, 8:19 am
#47
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I think that it will be that you can only upgrade one class. Like for BA where they don't have GPUs but you can use miles + copay to upgrade. If you purchase Economy, you can upgrade to Premium Economy. If you purchase Premium Economy, you can upgrade to Business.
I recall from my two years of flying BA Premium Economy, the price differential between Economy and Premium Economy ranged between $500-$700 for the roundtrip. Many times on my United trips, the price differential between K (or S) and W is $900 but sometimes I have found it as low as $100 and sometimes I'm not even offered a choice of fares cheaper than W (due to origin airport). Which means that I have no clue how UA will price PE. But, most probably, I will purchase PE. I do hope that the PQM will be 150%. On BA, with PE you get more tier points than Economy (the points that count for status) but the good thing is that they give you those points even if you purchase the equivalent of the TOD (the POUG as they call it in their program).
I recall from my two years of flying BA Premium Economy, the price differential between Economy and Premium Economy ranged between $500-$700 for the roundtrip. Many times on my United trips, the price differential between K (or S) and W is $900 but sometimes I have found it as low as $100 and sometimes I'm not even offered a choice of fares cheaper than W (due to origin airport). Which means that I have no clue how UA will price PE. But, most probably, I will purchase PE. I do hope that the PQM will be 150%. On BA, with PE you get more tier points than Economy (the points that count for status) but the good thing is that they give you those points even if you purchase the equivalent of the TOD (the POUG as they call it in their program).
I hope this is rhe is the way it happens.
Sep 14, 2018, 9:27 am
#48
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Join Date: Oct 2001
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I hope that they will continue to allow Y->J while adding the ability to upgrade P+->J (probably exempting the lowest P+ bucket). I'm not holding my breath, however.
Sep 14, 2018, 10:06 am
#49
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott/SPG Gold
Posts: 12
I wonder how much of the IAD expansion is due to NJ eliminating the tax break United enjoyed on aviation fuel? NJ only taxed fuel used in and over NJ, not the amount purchased/loaded, but is now looking to kill it to cover the PATH expansion cost. https://www.politico.com/states/new-...tension-537504
Sep 14, 2018, 10:10 am
#50
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
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I think that it will be that you can only upgrade one class. Like for BA where they don't have GPUs but you can use miles + copay to upgrade. If you purchase Economy, you can upgrade to Premium Economy. If you purchase Premium Economy, you can upgrade to Business.
I recall from my two years of flying BA Premium Economy, the price differential between Economy and Premium Economy ranged between $500-$700 for the roundtrip. Many times on my United trips, the price differential between K (or S) and W is $900 but sometimes I have found it as low as $100 and sometimes I'm not even offered a choice of fares cheaper than W (due to origin airport). Which means that I have no clue how UA will price PE. But, most probably, I will purchase PE. I do hope that the PQM will be 150%. On BA, with PE you get more tier points than Economy (the points that count for status) but the good thing is that they give you those points even if you purchase the equivalent of the TOD (the POUG as they call it in their program).
I recall from my two years of flying BA Premium Economy, the price differential between Economy and Premium Economy ranged between $500-$700 for the roundtrip. Many times on my United trips, the price differential between K (or S) and W is $900 but sometimes I have found it as low as $100 and sometimes I'm not even offered a choice of fares cheaper than W (due to origin airport). Which means that I have no clue how UA will price PE. But, most probably, I will purchase PE. I do hope that the PQM will be 150%. On BA, with PE you get more tier points than Economy (the points that count for status) but the good thing is that they give you those points even if you purchase the equivalent of the TOD (the POUG as they call it in their program).
I'd be OK with something like that; e.g., for a ~$1400 r/t fare EWR-EU, trade upgradeability for a guaranteed bigger seat, or keep the Y seat and have a shot at J (no different than currently). If implemented that way, it's status quo, for me.
Sep 14, 2018, 10:52 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Virginia
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Posts: 89
I generally terminate trips at IAD on Friday afternoons, between 4-6pm. In the past year or so, my bag is generally at the carousel by the time I walk up to it, or within a few minutes of me arriving. This is marked improvement from 2-3 years ago when it was not uncommon to wait at the carousel for 45-60 mins for my bag to arrive.
Sep 14, 2018, 1:14 pm
#52
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Yeah, but at IAD you first have to walk for 5-10 minutes from your gate pushing through crowds and then the long underground passageway to get to where the C Terminal Airtrain station is located, then wait for the train, take it to the main terminal, then up the escalator and out into the baggage claim area. As a result, it takes you at least 20 minutes from landing before you even reach the baggage claim. So the additional wait for the bags is then minimal.
Sep 14, 2018, 3:09 pm
#54
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I won't take this interview as face value.
FWIW - airline executives say a lot of "promising" things. Many do not end up with actual accomplishment. For example, SMI/J once said B787 is a game-changing aircraft for IAH. The end result is SFO ends up with the most B787 routes instead. UA has attempted to buy A350 replacing B744. It ends up using B77W instead.
FWIW - airline executives say a lot of "promising" things. Many do not end up with actual accomplishment. For example, SMI/J once said B787 is a game-changing aircraft for IAH. The end result is SFO ends up with the most B787 routes instead. UA has attempted to buy A350 replacing B744. It ends up using B77W instead.
Sep 14, 2018, 3:24 pm
#55
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
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I was thinking the same thing. On the positive side, if you are willing to pay more for PE on BA, there is often lots of upgrade space to upgrade at booking. Though that also might be because it has an inferior business product.
Sep 14, 2018, 3:34 pm
#56
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 553
The comments about IAD are interesting. I am curious what they have planned.
For international flights, there is certainly less competition than out of LA or NYC, and my anecdotal experience has been that UA has been able to command higher fares out of IAD as a result. However, the level of investment certainly hasn't matched!
For international flights, there is certainly less competition than out of LA or NYC, and my anecdotal experience has been that UA has been able to command higher fares out of IAD as a result. However, the level of investment certainly hasn't matched!
Sep 14, 2018, 3:53 pm
#57
Join Date: Nov 2012
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Now that I'm back in the US working for a US employer, I'm hoping that when UA gets their PE I'll be allowed to book that class. Business is more difficult as I have to ask permission for each trip. It gets tiring. Half the time, I end up paying the differential between Economy and Business (P fares) or the copay portion when using miles from my own pocket.
Sep 14, 2018, 11:25 pm
#58
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And in reality, the market will not support that many seats at F price levels.
Sep 15, 2018, 1:23 am
#59
Join Date: Mar 2005
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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.
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.
knowing ua it'll work out to fewer than the equivalent of 6 gpu now, but i think a lot of fliers will be happy they get the flexibility. i'll have 3 unused gpu and 1 unused rpu end of year unless something happens, but at least i can roll those over as i will re-qualify.
i genuinely think they'll move to a system of credits imo. y->pe on a gpu will upset a lot of people but leaving them maybe 2 fewer gpu but higher odds to get pe where you can get more than 6 will probably gruntle enough of their top tiers.
Sep 15, 2018, 1:29 am
#60
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