DELee

Yes, status tracker page is back up - but missing a single critical tab/function: Prediction of qualification for future flights (https://mystatus.united.com/#tab--futureFlights).

David

spartacusmcfly

I have no issue with anything UA has done so far, except how poorly they've communicated everything. Kirby wants UA to win based on high NPS (Net Promoter Score). The leading NPS companies are highly transparent -- even when communicating bad or unflattering news. Apple boldly conveys their pricing -- even though it's ultra-expensive. Amazon is highly transparent when it comes to return-processing -- even though it costs them tons of money.

UA should have come out and said who's getting what and who's not. Those left behind, wouldn't have liked it, but would've respected the direct and transparent communication.

Crisp and transparent customer communication is a core pillar of high-NPS companies. If Kirby wants to win the NPS game, he needs to convey the importance of this to his management team.

ani90

Not sure extensions have much to do with this - is the hypothesis that CPUs (or mileage or PP upgrades) were already given to faux GS or 1Ks before you did the SDC? Not getting an upgrade was not uncommon even in preCOVID times and the roots may lie more in purchased tickets and purchased upgrades.

uastarflyer

It is basically flat to 2019. Newbie 1Ks in 2020 and 2021 are a rounding error

And other than CPUs what is being diluted?

spartacusmcfly

Not only flat to 2019, but it's also int'l heavy, as they weren't scheduled to be kicked out until 2020 -- which never happened.

And given most of those int'l 1Ks are still hibernating, I wouldn't worry about dilution. Flying 1Ks are sitting pretty!

GlobalServiced

Anyone that qualified organically this year for the first time, are now being thrown into a pool of carry-over 1K’s, so naturally the pool of flyers jockeying for upgrades is higher, hence a lower chance of clearing upgrades, hence a devaluation of the benefit.

JimInOhio

There are more 1K members in the pool? I don't think there's any way anyone here could know that. What we do know is some were extended and some were not, but we don't know how many "new" 1K members there are. It could be significant or it could be very very few. For all we know, it's possible there will be fewer 1K members in 2022 instead of more.

DELee

Whether there are more or less 1Ks in 2022 than in 2021 somewhat doesn't matter.

What matters is those who are actually flying, 1K and otherwise. Them's the ones doing things like WFBF.

Or for those 1Ks and GSs stuck in Y and E+, whether UA catering function will actually stock BoB and Bistro fare.

David

uastarflyer

First off, the “new organics” is likely a small number. Some who have carried status since 2019 are since retired or dead. Probably a net net rounding error

Re upgrades, extenders are not getting new PlusPoints so no battle there. So we are left with CPUs which will be similar in 2022 as this year.

And ultimately status isn’t relevant unless the person flies UA. Lots of folks will stay grounded through much of 22

JimInOhio

Agree. UA has said the customer profile has shifted somewhat from business to leisure and leisure passengers are less likely to have high MP status... at least one would think that.

nomad420

Not sure many FTers would agree with you on it being a "rounding error". Personally I don't know as those numbers are a well kept secret.
There will certainly be some additional "dilution" of CPU and instrument assisted upgrades but from my perspective it has never been great and perhaps even just got a bit worse as you note. As I posted above I don't expect them and as long as UA doesn't mess much with the basic 1K benefits I can live with things.

BusinessCasualSport

You could be right. I changed flights quite late and CPU's were already given out so that could've been the cause. I could also argue that if no one had their status extended, then number of premiers < number of open seats and I would've received it. Although extensions may not have been the cause for not getting upgraded in that scenario, there have definitely been a few flights where I've been tied with 5 or 6 other 1K's and missing the upgrade. In my experience, CPU's are highly common. I'm a domestic flier (usually ~50-60 segments a year all in North America) so it's usually surprising if I'm not getting upgraded when flying to/from a city without a lot of business travel.

Boraxo

Would you not have taken these trips on UA if you expected an another extension? Did you pay extra to fly UA instead of another carrier where maybe you have zero status and would pay extra for everything? Did you really spend $18k to requalify for 1K, or perhaps quite a bit less under the many promo offers. My guess is no to all.

If your friend takes one trip a year how does that impact your perks? My guess is not at all. If you are not GS your upgrade odds at hubs are almost non-existant on popular routes.And of course the millions of Plats, Golds, Silvers will have no bearing on 1K upgrades.

This smacks of "I don't want anyone else to enjoy a few crumbs from UA because for gosh sakes I earned them". But of course many people don't really "earn" them with their own $$ they get status through business travel using OPM. Sorry but UA does not really care as to the source of funds - they just want you to fill their planes at the highest fares possible.

Nails it 100%. Will the extension result in fewer CPUs or less PP upgrade space? I'm not sure it will be meaningful, especially not for 1Ks, Plats, Gold at hubs. I think the reduction in F fares has a bigger impact on the upgrades. And of course the rest of us stuck in the cattle section care more about E+ seating and catering.

Definitely not to be understated/undersestimated. How many leisure travelers besides our friend ComeFlyWithMe rack up $18k in airfare a year on one airline, even more so during the COVID era? I'm betting not too many.

I wonder if the greatly reduced population of elites who are still flying every week are cleaning up? I know a few biz travelers who are back to normal, but many more who are not. It makes sense for UA to keep the latter group happy as some day soon they will be back in the air and may revisit the choice of provider. Most leisure travelers I know buy discount economy for the family travel based on price and schedule. Of course it doesn't hurt for UA to throw a few bones to these folks.

blug

Both are entirely possible, if not likely. Many people would pay extra to fly UA, or even take trips they don't need to take, if it means achieving a higher status, especially 1K.

What UA did is like launching a MilePlay promotion, and then after the promotion ends, deciding that everyone gets the bonus regardless of whether the requirements are met.

JimInOhio

Not sure that analogy works well. Many here have stated UA did not extend their staus for 2022.