Million Miler's Acknowledgement by UA, Preboarding?
Mar 9, 2023, 3:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Idaho
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1
Million Miler's Acknowledgement by UA, Preboarding?
Campaigning United to make a simple change to their pre-boarding process to allow Million Miler's to pre-board with the GS &1K'rs. I believe this gesture would cost little to nothing for them to change, and a nice way to acknowledge, and show appreciation for, those of us who have spent tens of thousands of dollars and lots of butt in seat time to reach one million miles or more! What do you think Million Miler's and soon to be MM's, want to make this happen, let me know?
Mar 9, 2023, 3:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,272
Campaigning United to make a simple change to their pre-boarding process to allow Million Miler's to pre-board with the GS &1K'rs. I believe this gesture would cost little to nothing for them to change, and a nice way to acknowledge, and show appreciation for, those of us who have spent tens of thousands of dollars and lots of butt in seat time to reach one million miles or more! What do you think Million Miler's and soon to be MM's, want to make this happen, let me know?
Mar 9, 2023, 4:01 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Mar 9, 2023, 4:35 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
No way should United make pre-boarding an even larger group. Couldn't disagree w/ OP more. I understand the sentiment though and I'll respectfully disagree.
Many on here argue pre-boarding is already a ridiculous sized group and should be broken out and the rest of the boarding zones altered. When United got rid of the original board group signs and now just has a "1" and a "2" they can go to an infinite number of boarding groups. As it is, Group 1 thinks they should board when "1K pre-boarding" is called. United could go out to 8 or 9 groups and then maybe include MMs in one of the earlier groups.
But let's remember, UA doesn't do a great job of recognizing MMs anyway and it's not currently reflected on BPs.
-RM
Many on here argue pre-boarding is already a ridiculous sized group and should be broken out and the rest of the boarding zones altered. When United got rid of the original board group signs and now just has a "1" and a "2" they can go to an infinite number of boarding groups. As it is, Group 1 thinks they should board when "1K pre-boarding" is called. United could go out to 8 or 9 groups and then maybe include MMs in one of the earlier groups.
But let's remember, UA doesn't do a great job of recognizing MMs anyway and it's not currently reflected on BPs.
-RM
Mar 9, 2023, 5:25 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,686
Campaigning United to make a simple change to their pre-boarding process to allow Million Miler's to pre-board with the GS &1K'rs. I believe this gesture would cost little to nothing for them to change, and a nice way to acknowledge, and show appreciation for, those of us who have spent tens of thousands of dollars and lots of butt in seat time to reach one million miles or more! What do you think Million Miler's and soon to be MM's, want to make this happen, let me know?
Mar 9, 2023, 6:47 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,331
I would support some changes to the current mess.
Often, there are no places for GS, 1K, people with assistance to line up to pre-board (using IAD as example of a ghetto airport with smaller boarding areas). The current Group 1 is effectively Group 6 (after people needing assistance, military, GS, 1K, families with kids less than 2-year old), so you get a mass of people trying to pre-board with no dedicated areas to wait or line up. Some have to struggle going through Group 1 lane hoping not to trip over others.
Perhaps it is just as simple as setting up a pre-boarding lane, but I am sure there are complexities that I have overlooked.
Not supportive of adding MM to the mix because preboarding is already a mess and below post:
Well said!
Often, there are no places for GS, 1K, people with assistance to line up to pre-board (using IAD as example of a ghetto airport with smaller boarding areas). The current Group 1 is effectively Group 6 (after people needing assistance, military, GS, 1K, families with kids less than 2-year old), so you get a mass of people trying to pre-board with no dedicated areas to wait or line up. Some have to struggle going through Group 1 lane hoping not to trip over others.
Perhaps it is just as simple as setting up a pre-boarding lane, but I am sure there are complexities that I have overlooked.
Not supportive of adding MM to the mix because preboarding is already a mess and below post:
Rebate/loyalty benefits that incur an ongoing cost to companies (bonus points in addition to redeemable points) almost always follow a WHYDFML (what have you done for me lately) system. Status lasts a year without any extensions. What you did last year benefits you both that year (provided one hits a minimum level early) as well as the full next year, regardless of spend once status has been achieved. Benefits for longevity that don't actually impact the bottom line significantly at the expense of others that are current contributors seems like it would alienate the current people a company is enticing to spend. Life expectancies increase, historical fare adjusted for inflation continue to drop. To reward someone ahead of current "earners" seems very counterproductive for a company. When people now can earn 23,000,000 miles vs in the 1960s where fares were MUCH higher and 1,000,000 was incredible, it seems foolish to prioritize people that are not currently contributing as "high earners" for an infinite time above those that are currently "high earners". Reminds me of a Springsteen song about "the good ole days" and a pitcher who used to be able to bring heat.
Last edited by UA_Flyer; Mar 9, 2023 at 6:58 pm
Mar 9, 2023, 7:02 pm
#14
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,846
Another preboarding group is the wrong way to go.
Preboarding for 1Ks should be eliminated and 1Ks could become the true BG1, with other boarding groups starting at BG2 (Gold, Plat, First/Business, ...)
The present arrangement is silly.
It would make no effective difference in 1K access to seats or OHB space but it would clean up the mess in the boarding area.
Then adding 1 & 2MMers to the new BG1/1Ks is a possibility.
Preboarding for 1Ks should be eliminated and 1Ks could become the true BG1, with other boarding groups starting at BG2 (Gold, Plat, First/Business, ...)
The present arrangement is silly.
It would make no effective difference in 1K access to seats or OHB space but it would clean up the mess in the boarding area.
Then adding 1 & 2MMers to the new BG1/1Ks is a possibility.
Mar 9, 2023, 7:24 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Posts: 19,898
Another preboarding group is the wrong way to go.
Preboarding for 1Ks should be eliminated and 1Ks could become the true BG1, with other boarding groups starting at BG2 (Gold, Plat, First/Business, ...)
The present arrangement is silly.
It would make no effective difference in 1K access to seats or OHB space but it would clean up the mess in the boarding area.
Then adding 1 & 2MMers to the new BG1/1Ks is a possibility.
Preboarding for 1Ks should be eliminated and 1Ks could become the true BG1, with other boarding groups starting at BG2 (Gold, Plat, First/Business, ...)
The present arrangement is silly.
It would make no effective difference in 1K access to seats or OHB space but it would clean up the mess in the boarding area.
Then adding 1 & 2MMers to the new BG1/1Ks is a possibility.