Toshbaf

I wouldn't want to buy a UA pass because my travel patterns could change. What if a Houston resident were to move to Dallas? Pain in the neck to always have to connect at IAH, ORD, or DEN if one lives in the DFW area. What if the buyer was from Seattle and based it on 1990's flying. UA no longer flies SEA-HKG or SEA-NRT.

TravelPhotographer

offer limited 10-yr busn flight passes with (2) segments per week limit;
that's $400 / segment for 10 x 52 x 2 or 1040 segments intl + domestic;
limit offer to those who have paid less than $X for United tickets in 2018+2019;
(or offer at higher price to those with history of paying United more than $X)
1000 pass buyers ($208K/pass) = $208M
offer other kinds of passes, too, with varied limits;
find creative ways to protect pass holders in case of bankruptcy**
**don't tell us there is NO way to do this
same technique for DL, AA, etc.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

And some years down the road, UA might declare bankruptcy/reorganization due to some other crisis and declare such passes worthless. No thanks.

And don't come back with "UA will annoy these HVFs" - UA won't care as UA would have already pocketed the money

Air Houston

Given the current possibility of United ceasing to exist or dramatically changing their network and offering I would currently be willing to pay $42,000 for unlimited flying.

threeoh

I know it's a little different, but Deutsche Bahn offers a similar product (monthly/annual, not lifetime):

https://www.bahn.com/en/view/offers/...nditions.shtml

It's about EUR 4,000 per year for 2nd class and EUR 7,000 per year for 1st class, free train travel by any train anywhere in Germany, free local transit in most cities, free kids under 14, discounted "discount card" for companions, and some unspecified discount on int'l rail travel within Europe.

As I said, definitely a different product but an interesting comparison.

VWang1111

I wonder how much people would pay for unlimited travel pass for a year that's capacity controlled. i.e. Unlimited tickets in IN or unlimited tickets in PZ or even PN with different prices for each.

Xyzzy

Based on past availability? For me, ZER ... If I buy a pass it's because I want travel, not disappointment.

J.Edward

I think what class of service one books into is a "knob" one could adjust in customizing their ideal pass. For example, a last-seat-economy-0-day-advance-purchase pass (booking into Y) may cost more than a distressed-business-fare-7-day-advance-purchase (booking into P) for the same geographical region.

I don't think it would make sense to use award classes when revenue classes are more precise and can effectively drive pass holder behavior. Also the point @Xyzzy raises is pertinent too...the goal of the pass is actually to be able to use the pass. Not sure what "new normal" will look like, but would strongly prefer to be linked to a revenue fare than an award fare.

For example, I personally would be interested in a global 1 or 2 year pass option, booking into P or R, with a 7 day AP...maybe something that booked into P domestically and R internationally.

Or said another way, I - coming from a leisure traveler standpoint - would be willing to pay more for greater longevity of the pass, a higher cabin class, and offset those increased costs by giving up potential inventory (i.e. being restricted to P or R, not J or O) and requiring a higher AP.

J.Edward

On a somewhat interesting note AA is now directly marketing the AAirpass Program - akin to UA's PassPlus Program - to customers. Screenshots below.

While they're not offering an "all-you-can-eat" option...yet...it's interesting they're highlighting the flexible nature of tickets bought under the program as well as the lower entry point. My take: while flexibility is nice right now all tickets are flexible due to the various waivers in place, at least until the end of the month. With fares already being cheap, especially ~6 weeks out, I don't immediately see the benefit if "why buy" the AA offering as it stands, which takes us back to this thread.

Taking this all back to UA I find it interesting AA's seeking the upfront cash infusion (lower entry point) and am curious to see what UA, DL, etc. do, if anything, to match. But what I still find particularly interesting is the idea of a fixed, cash-up-front, travel product allowing potentially unlimited usage subject to whatever constraints are agreed upon (i.e. AP, Sat night, fare class, pass duration, etc.). I'd also say there are those who are willing to pay cash - today - for such a product and if UA's looking at how to get backsides in seats to help 'prime the pump' and restart the network, this may be an attractive option to all parties.

physioprof

Is the "full flexibility" and "no change/cancellation fees" a standard perk of the program? Sounds like it basically means if you pre-pay what is a relatively modest sum for a frequent flier, you get fully flexible/refundable fares for discount fare prices??? If so, that is a massive discount. Am I missing something? Because it sounds weird that AA would so dramatically undercut their own flexible/unrestricted fares.

WineCountryUA

Does not say at "discount fares", it does mention a standard fix fare at any time. You have to go to AA site to find what that is.

For discussion of the UA program, see United (UA) Pass Plus Secure/ Flex -- Benefits, Value, Questions .... [Consolidated]. The UA program offers discounts off of all fares (some refundable -- the biggest discounts, and some non-refundable -- lesser discount)

J.Edward

Bingo. What AA's doing is offering various levels of membership - mainly one which is last seat availability (discount off full F, J, W, Y) and another which requires you to book into H (think B on UA) with a discount if booked prior to seven (7) days in advance.

The take away here is liquidity constrained carriers have various options to customize an unlimited travel pass and for well-heeled travelers. I really can't but help think there's some opportunity for UA to offer creative options to move distressed inventory and get a cash infusion upfront as the network restarts...just throwing it out in case anyone from Willis is lurking here.

DELee

Shhhhh...Willis may still be out of commission (Sears/Willis Tower without power for days, flight ops moved to Elk Grove Village)...and they haven't figured out how to copy AA yet...still trying to desperately copy DL....

David

WineCountryUA

What AA is / has been offering is a limited version of UA's existing PassPlus and all that is new is a reduced entry commitment level. Not unlimited travel nor anything particularly new or innovative -- just a lower minimum purchase requirement.

physioprof

Thanks for clarifying! That makes a lot more sense than what I was thinking.