zombietooth

In spite of the the excellent economy and healthy stock market, corporations still must continue to increase their profitability and/or revenues in order to increase their share price. Cutting costs is an excellent way to increase profitability in an environment of slower revenue growth. One of the places where you could save a bunch of money is with corporate travel, and paying for P+ instead of J would have a large effect on the travel budget.

My previous statement was imprecise and conveyed the wrong premise since I don't believe that UA wants this result. However, I think that corporate bean-counters may exploit the proliferation of premium economy by saying that the increased comfort of the P+ product allows them to still provide acceptable premium seating for their employees at a lower cost.

Call me "paranoid" but I don't think this bodes well for corporate road warriors.

FlyingHighlander

You're absolutely right, however I believe there are still a lot of companies that, in a strong economy, will retain a J policy if they want to retain talent. That said, I can see my employer increasing the J limit from >6hr international to maybe 8 or 9hr.

Silver Fox

Ours ditched it years ago which is one reason why most people don't give a toss any longer. The ones that leave never look back.

lhrsfo

And this is the key point. There's a world of difference between J and PE but not much between PE and Y. PE appeals to leisure travelers who can afford a little more comfort (very often retirees) .

Kacee

This seat isn't nearly as good as the barcalounger was. It's narrower, firmer, and most importantly has an inferior leg/footrest and less recline.
That is so true. My very frugal mother will splurge for PE, but never J (though she could certainly afford J). Some view "business class" as self-indulgent, while "economy" still sounds like a bargain.

findark

That's absolutely true, but it is fundamentally still a chair

I continue to be amazed by this opinion. To me, the difference in seat width is huge and is the difference between active discomfort from having zero personal space for 9+ hours, rubbing shoulders with a stranger, and at least having a decent chair to sit in. Paying the crazy-small (at the moment) +$200 or +$300 that UA is charging on most routes would be a no-brainer for me, although I'm usually trying to buy J.

But YMMV.

nomad420

As findark stated the big difference for me is the lie-flat option in Polaris/J seating. Most people who may have to work the next day would prefer this for really anything much over 6 hrs. This is why some people are pushing back against there travel offices saying PE isn't enough for say a SFO-SIN run when you have to work upon arrival. I know it has been posted that some companies give employees a rest day after long 8+ hour flights but we can debate which way works best for you all day.

rmannion

WineCountryUA

No restrictions of PP seat access until 31 March 2019 and then only routes where PP is being sold (which does not include CPU routes)

A Little Cow

Over the past 3 month I've flown a number of transpacs and transcons in most classes (United Eco, ANA PE, United Domestic First, OZ Business, ANA First) and maybe I'm just too easy to please but the biggest jump in my mind in terms of comfort was from Eco to PE. Not being jammed into my neighbors, being able to naturally sit with my long legs, and being able to work comfortably on my computer are probably about 70% of the enjoyment of non-E. Looking at the rest of the year I'll definitely be happy with the PE and not stress about finding good fares for business... The United fares and product look quite good for my routes!

nomad420

Given your comments maybe I am being to quick to dump on this product, especially since I have yet to experience it. That for the comment, sounds like you have tried a few seating options; I am sure I will eventually get to try the PE product.

StuckinITH

The more passengers have that opinion, the better for me. I have flown many times in the BA Premium Economy seat and I expect that I will enjoy it as much on United when they will finally allow me to purchase Premium Plus from and to ORD. At least, I will not have to panic anymore that my upgrade to Polaris Business does not clear.

zombietooth

You are indeed lucky. For my upcoming NRT trips, I am seeing differentials of $600- to $900- for P+ over Q. I find the P+ seats just as uncomfortable as the domestic slimline F seats.

Kacee

Helping my mom pick a TATL and the UA R fare is only $400 higher (RT) than the cheapest economy. Talk about a no brainer. That's what E+ seats would cost. Also GPU eligible with some chance of cleaing (ahead of all the 1Ks on Ws).

restlessinRNO

An excellent strategy, especially as R earns 150% PQM. For 1Ks too, this has an appeal. For example, SFO-FRA in April. R is $500 more than T, but only $50 more than W. So book R, get on the upgrade WL, at worst you have a PE seat.