[Unconfirmed] UA Preparing to Sell E+ at Booking as Separate Cabin (like DL C+)
Nov 8, 2019, 9:27 pm
#92
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I looked at some of these UA fares and they look nothing like DL C+ fares (which are available from the lowest fare classes starting at V on up and earn no class of service bonus). The UA fare filings seem to be only on domestic PE routes and just seem to be a variant of the existing domestic PE fares, but with different routing rules (connecting vs. non-stop) or advance purchase requirements. It would take a huge leap to say this is indicative of making E+ a separate fare class on UA.
Last edited by xliioper; Nov 8, 2019 at 11:19 pm
Nov 8, 2019, 9:44 pm
#93
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Nov 8, 2019, 10:03 pm
#94
Join Date: Nov 2017
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Nov 9, 2019, 3:36 am
#98
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Nov 9, 2019, 9:08 am
#99
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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If this all pans out, considering how much more E+ UA has compared to DL, I'd wager that UA would continue to give free E+ at booking to gold elites and above, as it is now. DL has much smaller E+ cabins and so naturally needs to be more restrictive. Of course, this assumes UA doesn't reduce the size of the E+ "cabins".
But that to me suggests that they haven't been selling E+ enough to justify the extra cabin space (or reduce E- seats) so they're "rightsizing" the available E+ seats. If they genuinely think they can sell more E+ through some other vehicle, it's inconsistent with that.
Nov 9, 2019, 9:26 am
#100
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Nov 9, 2019, 9:34 am
#101
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Nov 9, 2019, 9:56 am
#102
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 799
Yeah.......
So a couple of thoughts on this:
1. DL not only limited C+ to Platinum and above, but they limited the number of seats. I literally have to buy C+ tickets to get my family into C+. UA allows up to 8 right now. I would guess that they are trying to cater to their high dollar fliers without paying anything - make sure that C+ is available for that person spending $900 to fly ORD-MSY or whatever.
2. I appreciate the screwing prior to Dec 31. I had already decided to leave UA, but if I had not this would have been a giant kick in the pants.
I am really confused by all of this - does UA not think their revenue will drop from this kind of behavior? Is there really that many people spending 20k+ a year traveling that they don't have to worry about the 10-20k people?
So a couple of thoughts on this:
1. DL not only limited C+ to Platinum and above, but they limited the number of seats. I literally have to buy C+ tickets to get my family into C+. UA allows up to 8 right now. I would guess that they are trying to cater to their high dollar fliers without paying anything - make sure that C+ is available for that person spending $900 to fly ORD-MSY or whatever.
2. I appreciate the screwing prior to Dec 31. I had already decided to leave UA, but if I had not this would have been a giant kick in the pants.
I am really confused by all of this - does UA not think their revenue will drop from this kind of behavior? Is there really that many people spending 20k+ a year traveling that they don't have to worry about the 10-20k people?
Nov 9, 2019, 10:16 am
#103
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David
Nov 9, 2019, 10:29 am
#104
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
If the economy keeps doing well and the load factors remain as they are the execs will look like geniuses implementing these new branded fares. If on the other hand we enter a recession and air travel tapers off they’ll sure regret shooing off their “bottom feeder” elites through reduction of benefits and increased earn requirements. Can UA make more marginal revenue by charging their lower and mid tier elites more for the same fare? Absolutely! But what they gain in short term revenue they’ll lose in long term loyalty. Many of us international travellers choose UA because it offers the lowest fares of the legacy, the best schedule, and good perks. When they start introducing complications for that like Economy Light (now Basic Economy) and new fare classes that in effect box in us k fare travellers those benefits erode.
Last edited by FlyerTalker70; Nov 9, 2019 at 10:36 am
Nov 9, 2019, 10:37 am
#105
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If the economy keeps doing well and the load factors remain as they are the execs will look like geniuses. If on the other hand we enter a recession and air travel tapers off they’ll sure regret shooing off their “bottom feeder” elites through reduction of benefits and increased earn requirements.
David