How are 1Ks being treated by UA?
#76
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,453
I am amazed at how many GSs are flying in Y these days-I know because I watch who boards first and notice them back in Y when I am getting seated in F or, sometimes, the F cabin is completely empty by the time I board. Now, I don't count the GSs, but my gut is that, on any given flight, over half of the GSs are back in Y.
I have a single upgrade on a dozen or so leisure flights this year as GS; GS/1K upgrade experience is much less about which level you are and much more about where/when you are flying.
WF? BF.
#77
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,767
#78
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,986
My point is that if GS aren't getting UG'd on most of my flights, then there would be no chance for a 1K like me to ever get an UG. So, the argument made by many other 1Ks here, to book Y, apply PlusPoints at booking and waitlist, because you'll have a high chance of getting the UG, is therefore specious. If there is no chance of an UG and you want to fly in first, then you must buy first. Oh, I do get few UGs on short runs e.g. MSP-IAH/IAD/DEN/ORD, but I don't really care about those because they're not long flights, it's the transcons that I can't deal with.
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,788
#80
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,263
Well, on my last flight, I was an award ticket, #1 on the upgrade list after F filled up. Part way into the flight, the F FA came out and thanked me for being 1K by name and asked if he could get me more drinks. Towards the end of the flight, he dropped off a stroopwafel/pretzel/water bag that they give out in F. (I saw he had another bag in his hand some maybe another 1K on an award ticket further back)Anyways, that was a first for me. . Well, maybe once an F FA slipped me a snack box (before they were free for 1K). It's very YMMV, some FA's care, some dont.
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,451
#82
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,263
But the point of my post was that some FA's will go above and beyond to make a bad situation slightly better.
#84
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,752
On UX, agents may merge BP groups due to the smaller number of passengers -- but an international mainline flight is a problem.
#85
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: UA/CO
Posts: 54
Well, I'm getting what matters to me: decent seats for free in Y on booking, a dedicated phone number with folks who actually know what they're doing, and not having to stand in line to get on the plane. I get the free snack box (when provided / available) with no problem. Name saying happens about 50% of the time. I honestly gave up on upgrades way before the pandemic. While they happened, they were too infrequent to be considered a benefit. Forget about PlusPoints - I apply them EVERY time I fly and I've yet to have one hit. I think that this new benefit is actually a devaluation. United WAAAAY over promises free flights in First and vastly underdelivers. If I knew another carrier did any better, I'd switch.
#86
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: YEG
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 322
I was desperate to use my PlusPoints so I made sure I picked flights where there was no waitlist. Not for everyone of course, you need to be able to be flexible and and have multiple ways to get from A to B. Worked out well so far, Polaris for the wife and myself to and from Europe. I didn't even know about PlusPoints when I first tried to make it to 1K but I think they're one of the best parts of the program now. That and pre-boarding, if and when United allows me to do so.
#87
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,330
(But maybe it's just because UA/Air Wisconsin at AVP is just good at following protocol, and that's where I fly out for most of my UX flights.)
#88
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: PVD/BOS, PIT
Programs: UA 1K/1MM ★G, DL Silver, Amtrak ES, Hilton Diamond,Nexus
Posts: 247
I also had a personal note last week. In my experience, the customer service from United has improved, rather than worsened, through the pandemic despite very difficult conditions faced by both the airline and staff. As said one has to adjust their expectations - within the construct of the current situation, I would not complain.
#89
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,986
Nice Notebook
Hand-written poem inside, " Der Erlkönig". A very nice touch.
Last edited by zombietooth; Nov 14, 2021 at 4:45 pm
#90
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Plat, HH Diamond, Supersonic (BA1Y, BA1223)
Posts: 220
Lane 1 started filling up the second the GA reached for the microphone. I wandered to the front of Lane 2 and was actually fairly alone. Although I can board with military, I mostly try and wait for GS to go ahead. It just gets a little tight if I am in a bulkhead seat. I never use a carry-on, but do need somewhere to put my small backpack.
I tried the same leaving LAX friday at 71B (I think). The area was jammed with people at the CS counters, and Lane 1 was packed. I just walked up lane 2 and waited there and the front. The GA stopped me as I stepped up from Lane 2. I just quietly said I was military and she let me move on.