What existing elite benefit do you value most?
May 3, 2021, 12:24 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, MR Titanium
Posts: 459
I agree completely. As a 1K I have priority check-in, free checked bags, early boarding, better seat and free food item+adult beverage in domestic Y, upgrade potential to domestic F / intl C, better access to award tickets (and I use it to Hawaii), 1KVoice to resolve any issues and quick access to a reservations agent. That together with TSAPre and lounge access makes my travel experience much better overall and does build loyalty to UA. As you correctly point out, it is really the whole set of benefits.taken together rather than any one in particular is what keeps me on UA.
May 3, 2021, 12:32 pm
#17
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
I'm probably an anomaly, but I use very few of my elite benefits these days...
1) I mostly pay for F. I hate sweating upgrades, and despite having 2 doses of Pfizer coursing through my veins, I simply do not want to sit any closer to another non-relative than I have to (I'll book a E170/175 or CRJ550/700 over a mainline plane right now just to have the single seat in F). For my trips, it's mostly $150-$250 more roundtrip. A few times recently as PZ has been available, I've thrown my (otherwise unused) PlusPoints at even short hops. But even that, it's more of a personal space issue than a virus issue at this point--I'm just no longer comfortable being even remotely close to a stranger...So I do what I can to mitigate it.
2) None of my flights have had meals (too short). So there's no 1K benefit realized there. Haven't been 'recognized' yet as a 1K (see other thread).
3) My United Club membership is via the credit card, so the 1K discount doesn't apply there.
4) Haven't checked a bag since my last family vacation in Dec '19. So no benefit used there.
5) Always check in via the app, haven't been to a land side 'counter' in a year + to enjoy any kind of 1K check-in.
6) My home airport is down to 1X daily to ORD. So SDC isn't a big deal right now.
7) They took away the 1K advantage of close-in bookings (waiving the fee which now doesn't exist) and I find it a shame that we now have to pay a premium to book within, what is it, 21 days? (I don't even know, TBH, I'm usually booking awards long before).
8) Even the 1KVoice e-mail. I couldn't get a straight answer recently, was so frustrated I took a shot and e-mailed Scott dot Kerby, and my issue was resolved in a matter of hours.
9) I also book mostly premium cabins for award travel. And if special inventory exists for 1Ks, I've never seen it.
10) Knock on wood, not one IRROPS experience since the pandemic began, but I feel like the United Club would take good care of me anyway, 1K or not.
...That being said, I like to board early. I hate waiting in lines--lines to board, lines in the jetway, lines just about anywhere. Of my maybe 14-16 flight since the pandemic began, I've boarded no further down the list than 3rd--I was commenting to a coworker recently how I'm yet to see a GS flyer (at least pre-boarding) and most of the times there's maybe 3-4 other 1Ks that pre-board as well.
I also value the 11X miles per dollar as a 1K, and I seriously love the Clear membership. It easily saved me a half-hour at EWR recently.
So I too would say I like 'the little things', at least right now.
1) I mostly pay for F. I hate sweating upgrades, and despite having 2 doses of Pfizer coursing through my veins, I simply do not want to sit any closer to another non-relative than I have to (I'll book a E170/175 or CRJ550/700 over a mainline plane right now just to have the single seat in F). For my trips, it's mostly $150-$250 more roundtrip. A few times recently as PZ has been available, I've thrown my (otherwise unused) PlusPoints at even short hops. But even that, it's more of a personal space issue than a virus issue at this point--I'm just no longer comfortable being even remotely close to a stranger...So I do what I can to mitigate it.
2) None of my flights have had meals (too short). So there's no 1K benefit realized there. Haven't been 'recognized' yet as a 1K (see other thread).
3) My United Club membership is via the credit card, so the 1K discount doesn't apply there.
4) Haven't checked a bag since my last family vacation in Dec '19. So no benefit used there.
5) Always check in via the app, haven't been to a land side 'counter' in a year + to enjoy any kind of 1K check-in.
6) My home airport is down to 1X daily to ORD. So SDC isn't a big deal right now.
7) They took away the 1K advantage of close-in bookings (waiving the fee which now doesn't exist) and I find it a shame that we now have to pay a premium to book within, what is it, 21 days? (I don't even know, TBH, I'm usually booking awards long before).
8) Even the 1KVoice e-mail. I couldn't get a straight answer recently, was so frustrated I took a shot and e-mailed Scott dot Kerby, and my issue was resolved in a matter of hours.
9) I also book mostly premium cabins for award travel. And if special inventory exists for 1Ks, I've never seen it.
10) Knock on wood, not one IRROPS experience since the pandemic began, but I feel like the United Club would take good care of me anyway, 1K or not.
...That being said, I like to board early. I hate waiting in lines--lines to board, lines in the jetway, lines just about anywhere. Of my maybe 14-16 flight since the pandemic began, I've boarded no further down the list than 3rd--I was commenting to a coworker recently how I'm yet to see a GS flyer (at least pre-boarding) and most of the times there's maybe 3-4 other 1Ks that pre-board as well.
I also value the 11X miles per dollar as a 1K, and I seriously love the Clear membership. It easily saved me a half-hour at EWR recently.
So I too would say I like 'the little things', at least right now.
May 3, 2021, 1:02 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicagoland/ORD
Programs: UA Million Miler (Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,458
As a gold, I most appreciate being able to choose E+ at booking--especially exit rows for the extra leg room--plus free checked bags.
Last edited by linsj; May 4, 2021 at 7:25 am
May 3, 2021, 1:57 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: UA Platinum, Star Alliance Gold, Asia Miles, Hilton HHonors Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Emerald Club.
Posts: 525
During normal times they will be Star Alliance gold status and lounge access. Asia will likely remain closed most of the year. With the EU potentially opening up, I might be able to enjoy these benefits again the second half of the year.
May 3, 2021, 2:32 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 34
I've been Silver for many, many years, with a couple years of Gold interspersed, and Platinum this year. My most valuable benefit has been the upgrades to E+. I was worried when that went from confirmed at booking to only available at checkin for Silvers, but I've never had a problem getting a seat at checkin.
The second is, honestly, the intangible benefit (when you're a Gold or higher), of being treated like a human being and not cattle when you need to interact with a person. The few years I was a Gold (never continuously), I could see a huge difference in the way that anyone from telephone agents, counter staff, and gate staff would treat you, generally going the extra mile on things like IRROPS, finding a new routing when you missed a connection, or maybe even checking in a bag when you missed the deadline by a few minutes,. Service at Silver and below (actually, I haven't been below Silver in quite a while) is at best perfunctory, at worst openly hostile, like you're bothering them with even the most trivial requests. Service at Gold and above, so far, seems like actual appreciation of me as a customer, even if it's just answering a simple question. That makes a huge difference when your schedule has been blown to pieces and you're stressed out just trying to get back home.
The second is, honestly, the intangible benefit (when you're a Gold or higher), of being treated like a human being and not cattle when you need to interact with a person. The few years I was a Gold (never continuously), I could see a huge difference in the way that anyone from telephone agents, counter staff, and gate staff would treat you, generally going the extra mile on things like IRROPS, finding a new routing when you missed a connection, or maybe even checking in a bag when you missed the deadline by a few minutes,. Service at Silver and below (actually, I haven't been below Silver in quite a while) is at best perfunctory, at worst openly hostile, like you're bothering them with even the most trivial requests. Service at Gold and above, so far, seems like actual appreciation of me as a customer, even if it's just answering a simple question. That makes a huge difference when your schedule has been blown to pieces and you're stressed out just trying to get back home.
May 3, 2021, 3:07 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: CLE
Programs: NEXUS, MileagePlus Silver, Frontier Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 264
Agreed this is the best benefit. Makes it hard to justify flying other carriers. I give A LOT of excellent birthday/anniversary gifts as a result!
May 3, 2021, 3:20 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,502
1K and Diamond would both get free CLEAR membership during the duration of the active tier level.
May 3, 2021, 3:56 pm
#23
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
I'm probably an anomaly, but I use very few of my elite benefits these days...
1) I mostly pay for F. I hate sweating upgrades, and despite having 2 doses of Pfizer coursing through my veins, I simply do not want to sit any closer to another non-relative than I have to (I'll book a E170/175 or CRJ550/700 over a mainline plane right now just to have the single seat in F). For my trips, it's mostly $150-$250 more roundtrip. A few times recently as PZ has been available, I've thrown my (otherwise unused) PlusPoints at even short hops. But even that, it's more of a personal space issue than a virus issue at this point--I'm just no longer comfortable being even remotely close to a stranger...So I do what I can to mitigate it.
2) None of my flights have had meals (too short). So there's no 1K benefit realized there. Haven't been 'recognized' yet as a 1K (see other thread).
3) My United Club membership is via the credit card, so the 1K discount doesn't apply there.
4) Haven't checked a bag since my last family vacation in Dec '19. So no benefit used there.
5) Always check in via the app, haven't been to a land side 'counter' in a year + to enjoy any kind of 1K check-in.
6) My home airport is down to 1X daily to ORD. So SDC isn't a big deal right now.
7) They took away the 1K advantage of close-in bookings (waiving the fee which now doesn't exist) and I find it a shame that we now have to pay a premium to book within, what is it, 21 days? (I don't even know, TBH, I'm usually booking awards long before).
8) Even the 1KVoice e-mail. I couldn't get a straight answer recently, was so frustrated I took a shot and e-mailed Scott dot Kerby, and my issue was resolved in a matter of hours.
9) I also book mostly premium cabins for award travel. And if special inventory exists for 1Ks, I've never seen it.
10) Knock on wood, not one IRROPS experience since the pandemic began, but I feel like the United Club would take good care of me anyway, 1K or not.
...That being said, I like to board early. I hate waiting in lines--lines to board, lines in the jetway, lines just about anywhere. Of my maybe 14-16 flight since the pandemic began, I've boarded no further down the list than 3rd--I was commenting to a coworker recently how I'm yet to see a GS flyer (at least pre-boarding) and most of the times there's maybe 3-4 other 1Ks that pre-board as well.
I also value the 11X miles per dollar as a 1K, and I seriously love the Clear membership. It easily saved me a half-hour at EWR recently.
So I too would say I like 'the little things', at least right now.
1) I mostly pay for F. I hate sweating upgrades, and despite having 2 doses of Pfizer coursing through my veins, I simply do not want to sit any closer to another non-relative than I have to (I'll book a E170/175 or CRJ550/700 over a mainline plane right now just to have the single seat in F). For my trips, it's mostly $150-$250 more roundtrip. A few times recently as PZ has been available, I've thrown my (otherwise unused) PlusPoints at even short hops. But even that, it's more of a personal space issue than a virus issue at this point--I'm just no longer comfortable being even remotely close to a stranger...So I do what I can to mitigate it.
2) None of my flights have had meals (too short). So there's no 1K benefit realized there. Haven't been 'recognized' yet as a 1K (see other thread).
3) My United Club membership is via the credit card, so the 1K discount doesn't apply there.
4) Haven't checked a bag since my last family vacation in Dec '19. So no benefit used there.
5) Always check in via the app, haven't been to a land side 'counter' in a year + to enjoy any kind of 1K check-in.
6) My home airport is down to 1X daily to ORD. So SDC isn't a big deal right now.
7) They took away the 1K advantage of close-in bookings (waiving the fee which now doesn't exist) and I find it a shame that we now have to pay a premium to book within, what is it, 21 days? (I don't even know, TBH, I'm usually booking awards long before).
8) Even the 1KVoice e-mail. I couldn't get a straight answer recently, was so frustrated I took a shot and e-mailed Scott dot Kerby, and my issue was resolved in a matter of hours.
9) I also book mostly premium cabins for award travel. And if special inventory exists for 1Ks, I've never seen it.
10) Knock on wood, not one IRROPS experience since the pandemic began, but I feel like the United Club would take good care of me anyway, 1K or not.
...That being said, I like to board early. I hate waiting in lines--lines to board, lines in the jetway, lines just about anywhere. Of my maybe 14-16 flight since the pandemic began, I've boarded no further down the list than 3rd--I was commenting to a coworker recently how I'm yet to see a GS flyer (at least pre-boarding) and most of the times there's maybe 3-4 other 1Ks that pre-board as well.
I also value the 11X miles per dollar as a 1K, and I seriously love the Clear membership. It easily saved me a half-hour at EWR recently.
So I too would say I like 'the little things', at least right now.
Last edited by zombietooth; May 3, 2021 at 4:01 pm
May 3, 2021, 4:09 pm
#24
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 98
New to Gold since late 2019. I consider E+ my favorite/most valuable benefit.
That said, I usually buy FC, but I like knowing E+ is pretty much guaranteed when I don't. I really like complimentary FC upgrades and got to enjoy several in the early Covid months; I don't expect to get those ever again; that would be my favorite benefit if I didn't know I was eternally destined to be #39 on the upgrade list. I enjoyed my visit to the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX and had hoped to go back there and to others (covid!). I'm not sure what benefit comes with being Marriott Gold since I don't think there've been any perks during Covid. It does seem like many of the employees I've spoken to at the check-in counter and UC have been much friendlier now that I'm gold. I don't care about luggage or preboarding. I get those from my credit card or ticket, and I like to board last anyway.
That said, I usually buy FC, but I like knowing E+ is pretty much guaranteed when I don't. I really like complimentary FC upgrades and got to enjoy several in the early Covid months; I don't expect to get those ever again; that would be my favorite benefit if I didn't know I was eternally destined to be #39 on the upgrade list. I enjoyed my visit to the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX and had hoped to go back there and to others (covid!). I'm not sure what benefit comes with being Marriott Gold since I don't think there've been any perks during Covid. It does seem like many of the employees I've spoken to at the check-in counter and UC have been much friendlier now that I'm gold. I don't care about luggage or preboarding. I get those from my credit card or ticket, and I like to board last anyway.
May 3, 2021, 4:47 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Orlando
Programs: UA 1K 2MM; HH Diamond; Marriott Gold
Posts: 142
Booking and Canceling Awards Close In
I love PP upgrades, but definitely my favorite 1K benefit is the ability to book and/or cancel award travel close in with no fee. I've been 1K for the past 21 years and am lifetime Platinum, but next year I won't re-qualify for 1K. Will really miss being able to book several tickets and then go back and cancel all that I don't need right up to departure time.
May 3, 2021, 7:47 pm
#27
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
My wife’s family is in a small city served by UA. We’re in a small city served by UA. Saver awards in Y are much better than the ~$500-$700 fares (pre-COVID). It’s actually a great use of miles.
I also seem to be able to find reasonable (under the new dynamic awards) F space to Central America, Caribbean, and until 2 years ago, Hawaii. I take my wife and 2 young kids places like that every year (under normal circumstances).
I also seem to be able to find reasonable (under the new dynamic awards) F space to Central America, Caribbean, and until 2 years ago, Hawaii. I take my wife and 2 young kids places like that every year (under normal circumstances).
May 3, 2021, 8:05 pm
#28
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
My wife’s family is in a small city served by UA. We’re in a small city served by UA. Saver awards in Y are much better than the ~$500-$700 fares (pre-COVID). It’s actually a great use of miles.
I also seem to be able to find reasonable (under the new dynamic awards) F space to Central America, Caribbean, and until 2 years ago, Hawaii. I take my wife and 2 young kids places like that every year (under normal circumstances).
I also seem to be able to find reasonable (under the new dynamic awards) F space to Central America, Caribbean, and until 2 years ago, Hawaii. I take my wife and 2 young kids places like that every year (under normal circumstances).
May 3, 2021, 8:55 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
How can I decide between pre-boarding, three checked bags, higher weight limit, almost automatic up grades, no change fees? I can’t choose anyone of these as most valuable. All of them together are what make air travel if not fun more enjoyable.
May 3, 2021, 9:48 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: CLE
Programs: NEXUS, MileagePlus Silver, Frontier Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 264
Definitely a close second for me (behind 120% redeemable mileage boost over a regular member). I'm only 5'9" but the extra room does make a difference, especially on transatlantic flights. I also like not sitting in the back of the plane with all the peasants, although with the introduction of BE a while back E+ is frequently filled by BE fares. On pleasure routes, especially during the pandemic, I may be one of the only elites in E+.