Nov 2, 2019, 11:43 pm
Last edit by: zebranz
So, is anything happening with this? Just curious (Oct 3, 2019)
If you paid cash for a lifetime Club membership and would like to join a potential class action due to this material change, please post your username here:
ctownflyer
hog Heaven
AAdmiral
nsx + 1
RichardInSF
Sykes
soartoday
lax2jfk2lax
libuser + 1
Xyzzy + 1
Buster CT1K
1K Student
Elitefreak
flyer austin + 1 (wiki-restricted member, added by IAH-OIL-TRASH)
Radonc1 + 1 (not a FT member but has LT membership)
Halo117
mikey
Mnmag
Vulcan
lateacher
kmersh
MazdaMP
bajong
sandiego1k
thesilb
HnlJay
nachosdelux
wtigerFF
a1bengal
benolaa
LeslieandDiane
SPN Lifer +1
YRKInsider
texd
IAHtraveler
nzpilot
zebranz
If you received a lifetime Club membership from the UA MM program and would like to join a potential class action, please post your username here:
deek
honmani2
lax2jfk2lax (recd 2nd lifetime for hitting 2MM which I gifted)
seacarl
Related thread: Club member/one-time pass access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner) Original thread -- focused on the basic access issue, most lifetime membership posts have been moved to this lifetime thread
If you paid cash for a lifetime Club membership and would like to join a potential class action due to this material change, please post your username here:
ctownflyer
hog Heaven
AAdmiral
nsx + 1
RichardInSF
Sykes
soartoday
lax2jfk2lax
libuser + 1
Xyzzy + 1
Buster CT1K
1K Student
Elitefreak
flyer austin + 1 (wiki-restricted member, added by IAH-OIL-TRASH)
Radonc1 + 1 (not a FT member but has LT membership)
Halo117
mikey
Mnmag
Vulcan
lateacher
kmersh
MazdaMP
bajong
sandiego1k
thesilb
HnlJay
nachosdelux
wtigerFF
a1bengal
benolaa
LeslieandDiane
SPN Lifer +1
YRKInsider
texd
IAHtraveler
nzpilot
zebranz
If you received a lifetime Club membership from the UA MM program and would like to join a potential class action, please post your username here:
deek
honmani2
lax2jfk2lax (recd 2nd lifetime for hitting 2MM which I gifted)
seacarl
Related thread: Club member/one-time pass access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner) Original thread -- focused on the basic access issue, most lifetime membership posts have been moved to this lifetime thread
Lifetime Member Edition: UC access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner)
Oct 17, 2019, 3:39 pm
#346
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
n't think this is a done deal. The reply I received re: lifetime members & the new rule included, "We'll continue to monitor the feedback we receive about this recent policy change."
Oct 17, 2019, 3:45 pm
#347
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SFO, TPE, HNL
Programs: UA GS 4MM, RCC life member (paid), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, CLEAR
Posts: 1,824
As many active (and FT) LT members have sent or are sending emails, the volume of the mails will decrease over time. So unless the volume of complaints can sustain for some period of time, UA will stop the monitoring and close the case.
Oct 17, 2019, 5:06 pm
#348
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
This is one of those times when I REALLY, REALLY miss Scott O'Leary (the original CO Insider who became the original UA Insider). I'm convinced that if he were still at UA, he'd be our advocate. Scott was like the "Short-Sighted Decision Makers Whisperer." And if all of his whispering efforts failed, he'd come back to us with a solid (if not always popular) business case for the bad news*. I cannot think of one potential solid business case for not grandfathering in the lifetime members.
*Or at least he did back in the CO days -- before the merged UA-CO shut him down.
Oct 17, 2019, 5:26 pm
#349
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I can definitely see legal saying - we have precedent here and a carve out for all lifetime club members can potentially impact other things you may want to do in the future.
Oct 17, 2019, 8:04 pm
#350
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
The business case might be coming from legal. UA fought hard in the Silver Wings and Million Miler lawsuits - the Court of Appeals basically saying UA committed consumer fraud but that the court did not have jurisdiction - the only remedy would be the Dept of Transportation who did not act.
I can definitely see legal saying - we have precedent here and a carve out for all lifetime club members can potentially impact other things you may want to do in the future.
I can definitely see legal saying - we have precedent here and a carve out for all lifetime club members can potentially impact other things you may want to do in the future.
“We set a precedent for engaging in consumer fraud. So, we should keep engaging in consumer fraud because honoring contracts and promises is bad for our future interests.”
Oct 18, 2019, 12:16 am
#351
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tx
Programs: AA, UA, WN
Posts: 812
Got a call today as well. Like another poster stated some hope but no promises. They are expecting more emails as the date nears especially the influx lately. Keep writing....I made a quip about the MP changes and that has blown up the lines too.
What I did mention is that the club membership was always a separate transaction from the flight. Even acces was granted without flying and this was allowed at the time of purchase. I even said most people were OK with the same day boarding pass requirement made a few years back as they likely would only have airside access when flying. This new restriction goes beyond that and directly ties an additional united transaction to a previously purchased membership...overall just asked they "make it right".
What I did mention is that the club membership was always a separate transaction from the flight. Even acces was granted without flying and this was allowed at the time of purchase. I even said most people were OK with the same day boarding pass requirement made a few years back as they likely would only have airside access when flying. This new restriction goes beyond that and directly ties an additional united transaction to a previously purchased membership...overall just asked they "make it right".
Oct 18, 2019, 9:09 am
#352
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: AS Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Starriott LTPP
Posts: 341
It's unfortunate that the timing of the MP changes means they are being inundated with those complaints this month. Those obviously pertain to a wider audience.
As a group, we still have the following tactics:
I still hope they change their minds for lifetime members like Delta and American have done. It seems so obviously like the right thing to do.
As a group, we still have the following tactics:
- Keep writing, for those who haven't written in recently.
- We can organize a day to take to Twitter with a joint message (e.g. "@United renegs on promise to 'lifetime' members over cost of soup and snack mix. Some paid $3000+ for access to lounge."). Maybe tag some industry news outlets.
- Contact media directly. See if they'll pick it up alongside other customer-unfriendly changes.
- After November 1 (assuming no changes), we'll need to document the harm caused to establish standing in court. The amount I want to recover is under the threshold for small claims court where I live.
I still hope they change their minds for lifetime members like Delta and American have done. It seems so obviously like the right thing to do.
Oct 18, 2019, 10:02 am
#354
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
Got a call today as well. Like another poster stated some hope but no promises. They are expecting more emails as the date nears especially the influx lately. Keep writing....I made a quip about the MP changes and that has blown up the lines too.
What I did mention is that the club membership was always a separate transaction from the flight. Even acces was granted without flying and this was allowed at the time of purchase. I even said most people were OK with the same day boarding pass requirement made a few years back as they likely would only have airside access when flying. This new restriction goes beyond that and directly ties an additional united transaction to a previously purchased membership...overall just asked they "make it right".
What I did mention is that the club membership was always a separate transaction from the flight. Even acces was granted without flying and this was allowed at the time of purchase. I even said most people were OK with the same day boarding pass requirement made a few years back as they likely would only have airside access when flying. This new restriction goes beyond that and directly ties an additional united transaction to a previously purchased membership...overall just asked they "make it right".
Oct 18, 2019, 1:57 pm
#355
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA MM *G; Lifetime United Club; CX Gold; HH Diamond
Posts: 128
I wrote and got the below response:
Dear 1K Student:
The details of your e-mail came to the attention of Mr. Oscar Munoz and the United Airlines Executive Offices.
I regret your disappointment with the recent United Club policy change. I understand you would like special consideration for lifetime members. We never want to turn anyone away, especially a valuable customer such as yourself. I've shared your concerns with our United Club team as well as with senior management. We'll continue to monitor the feedback we receive about this recent policy change.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with Mr. Munoz. As a Premier Gold Million Miler, we appreciate your business and MileagePlus loyalty.
Regards,
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
Executive Services, United Airlines
Corporate Customer Care
Keep sending those emails in folks...
Dear 1K Student:
The details of your e-mail came to the attention of Mr. Oscar Munoz and the United Airlines Executive Offices.
I regret your disappointment with the recent United Club policy change. I understand you would like special consideration for lifetime members. We never want to turn anyone away, especially a valuable customer such as yourself. I've shared your concerns with our United Club team as well as with senior management. We'll continue to monitor the feedback we receive about this recent policy change.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with Mr. Munoz. As a Premier Gold Million Miler, we appreciate your business and MileagePlus loyalty.
Regards,
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
Executive Services, United Airlines
Corporate Customer Care
Keep sending those emails in folks...
Oct 18, 2019, 3:33 pm
#356
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,490
This response employs a virtually identical formula to those we legacy Million Mile Flyers received.
They regret your disappointment, they realize you would like special consideration, they never want to turn away a valuable customer like you, they're sharing your feedback, and they appreciate your business and loyalty.
I'm still on the sidelines rooting for you folks, but based on UA's past practices, I'm not optimistic.
They regret your disappointment, they realize you would like special consideration, they never want to turn away a valuable customer like you, they're sharing your feedback, and they appreciate your business and loyalty.
I'm still on the sidelines rooting for you folks, but based on UA's past practices, I'm not optimistic.
Oct 18, 2019, 4:03 pm
#357
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,632
Oct 18, 2019, 4:27 pm
#358
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SFO, TPE, HNL
Programs: UA GS 4MM, RCC life member (paid), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, CLEAR
Posts: 1,824
In the new "only money counts" elite qualification announcement, UA pointed out that those who fly a lot of miles can still look forward to the Lifetime MM program. If I were UA I would worry that once the the news of the treatment of Lifetime Club members is out, this argument may lose its effectiveness. Mileage flyers will lose their confidence in counting on the LT MM program. I hope UA realizes this.
Oct 18, 2019, 5:24 pm
#359
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
In the new "only money counts" elite qualification announcement, UA pointed out that those who fly a lot of miles can still look forward to the Lifetime MM program. If I were UA I would worry that once the the news of the treatment of Lifetime Club members is out, this argument may lose its effectiveness. Mileage flyers will lose their confidence in counting on the LT MM program. I hope UA realizes this.
Oct 18, 2019, 7:38 pm
#360
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
Except that in this case, AA and DL made identical changes to their club membership entry terms, but exempted their lifetime members. So, there is industry precedent as to what the right thing to do is.