Jun 25, 2022, 8:37 am
UA plus pts with 31 July 2022 expiry, extended to Jan 2023; Jan 2023 to July 2023
Jun 29, 2022, 10:27 am
#46
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,466
That is indeed the significant impact for 1Ks. Though I suspect the upsells remain the biggest impediment to CPUs. AS doesn't do those, and it's just so much easier to get upgrades when the carrier isn't selling the F cabin full at a discount in the five days prior to departure.
Jun 29, 2022, 10:40 am
#47
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
With this, you're now competing from 8/1 to 1/31 with those who have remaining PP earned in 2019/2020 and still have 1K status (which is not all of them), and from 2/1 to 7/31/23 with those who earned PP in 2021, which means basically the same group of people with whom you were already competing, just over a longer time frame. On the latter group, only newly minted 1Ks in 2022 who would like to use 2022-earned PP who are seeing dilution because they don't have pre-2022 PP that are now lasting to 7/31/23 instead of 1/31/23.
Jun 29, 2022, 10:57 am
#48
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 196
At some point UA has to reward those who actually flew in 2020 and 2021. I flew a bunch in 2020 with only a short 3 month break from end of March to beginning of July and flew all of 2021 with 55 flights. If earned (and used) my points and though I haven't come hard up against competition for upgrades on desired flights it would be nice to get upgrades when available.
Jun 29, 2022, 10:57 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
That is indeed the significant impact for 1Ks. Though I suspect the upsells remain the biggest impediment to CPUs. AS doesn't do those, and it's just so much easier to get upgrades when the carrier isn't selling the F cabin full at a discount in the five days prior to departure.
UA is no better or worse than any other carrier in this regard.
Jun 29, 2022, 11:15 am
#50
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,466
I have several AS flights booked in the next week or so. The differential from Y was small enough that buying F was an easy decision. (On one flight, it was cheaper to buy F than it would have been to buy Y and pay for an exit row and a bag).
UA is no better or worse than any other carrier in this regard.
UA is no better or worse than any other carrier in this regard.
Jun 29, 2022, 11:34 am
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,309
Very disappointing but understandable.
the 1/23s for people who actually earned status on 2020 or 2021 I can get on board with.
The 7/22s for people who last flew in 2019 is ridiculous.
the 1/23s for people who actually earned status on 2020 or 2021 I can get on board with.
The 7/22s for people who last flew in 2019 is ridiculous.
Jun 29, 2022, 12:17 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Charleston WV Area
Programs: 12 year UAL GS, LT Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Titanium, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 122
I am like you kdad. I flew all of 2020 except for the period 3/12 to 6/6, although I only had one international trip. In 2021, I would have probably requalified but it would have been tight (~$38K spend). This year I should easily requalify for GS. I had 1,020 plus points extended today which I appreciate.
Jun 29, 2022, 12:47 pm
#53
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Well - I think UA is in a no win situation here.
The Southwest CEO was in Hawaii yesterday - and when he was interviewed on the local news (interisland flights moving from 38 to 60 in September) - he stated Southwest (and I'm paraphrasing) they believe there is still a shot business travel will get to 2019 levels by the end of the year (currently down 20% but leisure over 100% of 2019 levels).
The no win for UA is alienating the business travelers (especially GS) still sitting on the sidelines or alienating the people who have traveled with little interruptions
Hawaii News Now Sunrise at 6:00 a.m.
The Southwest CEO was in Hawaii yesterday - and when he was interviewed on the local news (interisland flights moving from 38 to 60 in September) - he stated Southwest (and I'm paraphrasing) they believe there is still a shot business travel will get to 2019 levels by the end of the year (currently down 20% but leisure over 100% of 2019 levels).
The no win for UA is alienating the business travelers (especially GS) still sitting on the sidelines or alienating the people who have traveled with little interruptions
Hawaii News Now Sunrise at 6:00 a.m.
Jun 29, 2022, 12:57 pm
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
UA flights are commonly full in F, or nearly so, several days prior to travel. The discounted upgrade thing is a FlyerTalk meme, but I don't think it has that much of a basis in reality. People are paying for F, in advance, at the current prices. If AS is upgrading you frequently, it's only because they're not selling their F seats, and the reason that they're not selling them probably has to do with the routes you're flying. I suspect an SEA-based flyer would complain about the inability to get an AS upgrade and fume that UA travelers have it so much better.
Jun 29, 2022, 12:58 pm
#56
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,090
The issue is not that they have given out too many PPs or are extending them, it is that there isn't enough PZ space available at any time. On international, I've seen exactly zero on eastbound TATLs, and only an occasional on the return (from LHR, BRU and GVA), though without PZ on both legs, UA has not been price-competitive against the European competitors..
Jun 29, 2022, 1:12 pm
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,464
Jun 29, 2022, 1:37 pm
#59
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
But the discounted buyup is a real thing. Almost 100% of the time at booking the Y to F differential is always more than $350 from HNL to LAX and SFO and vice versus (usually $500 or more). More often than not at purchase - I get a popup at the end of booking offering an upgrade for $350.