Hawaii and new upgrade policy Jan. 2010
Oct 6, 2009, 11:20 pm
#31
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I commute to SFO from HNL every other week - while I can live with a 17,500 mile upgrade - the $500 co-pay is crazy. Besides the once in a lifetime honeymoon couple nobody is going to pay that kind of money - It is (at least in 2009 from SFO) a relatively easy route to upgrade and I'm not worried - United will change the policy quickly when they have empty F cabins and need to op-up from economy - this just won't stick.
Oct 6, 2009, 11:31 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Crystal City, VA
Programs: United Mileage Plus 1K 2 MM, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,627
The new upgrade co-pay policy won't hurt most of the folks on this board, in fact it will no doubt make it easier to upgrade, as most VBITs will be deterred by the extra (up to) $500 per person, per leg. Should make even last minute busy-time flights easier to upgrade.
If you have e500s, CR-1s, or (expiring, hope one doesn't burn a good one on this route) SWUs, no co-pay.
The folks it will hurt the most are the 3p & 2p HI residents who garner miles with the CC to support upgrades (I know several folks in this boat). There are rumors that UA might exempt HI residents from the co-pay (a kama'aina discount if ever there were one).
In other news, they have brought back Trade Vics meals, and so aren't stuck in chicken-or-pasta mode like they had been for ~1 year. Still single-ended catering to OGG, though.
Mods- probably should merge/combine this thread with the others of its ilk.
If you have e500s, CR-1s, or (expiring, hope one doesn't burn a good one on this route) SWUs, no co-pay.
The folks it will hurt the most are the 3p & 2p HI residents who garner miles with the CC to support upgrades (I know several folks in this boat). There are rumors that UA might exempt HI residents from the co-pay (a kama'aina discount if ever there were one).
In other news, they have brought back Trade Vics meals, and so aren't stuck in chicken-or-pasta mode like they had been for ~1 year. Still single-ended catering to OGG, though.
Mods- probably should merge/combine this thread with the others of its ilk.
Oct 7, 2009, 12:28 am
#33
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Welcome to FlyerTalk pk23!
Last edited by Pat89339; Oct 7, 2009 at 8:56 am
Oct 7, 2009, 12:30 am
#34
Join Date: Mar 2009
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My thoughts exactly as those that thought CR1's were only worth $100 in CC I think now will see an increase in it's value when this new UG policy gets put into place.
The CR-1's will be worth more IMO with the new UG policy seeing as Hawaii and other destinations are $$$$.
$1000 and 35k miles for a RT UG to Hawaii OR 2 CR1's?
Great increase in value for us 1k's. If the SWU's are available on every fare class (hoping) we are sitting in a great position, although there will be more non 1k's that are able to go after UG's. The cost of not being a 1k just went up huge.
$1000 and 35k miles for a RT UG to Hawaii OR 2 CR1's?
Great increase in value for us 1k's. If the SWU's are available on every fare class (hoping) we are sitting in a great position, although there will be more non 1k's that are able to go after UG's. The cost of not being a 1k just went up huge.
Oct 7, 2009, 2:01 am
#35
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Currently: DCA (+IAD/BWI). Before that: FNL (+DEN/COS). Before that: HVN (+BDL/LGA/EWR/JFK).
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CO will continue to treat Hawaii flights to/from IAH and EWR as a "modified "BusinessFirst" product and therefore will continue to charge the co-pay.
This policy has changed with regards to Hawaii flights to/from LAX. CO allows unlimited space-available elite upgrades on this route or one can use his/her miles - 17.5k to be exact - without a copay.
I think they realize that the copay only really makes sense on the BF product, and now that they are flying a mix of domestic/international configured aircraft on the route, it no longer warrants the copay.
This policy has changed with regards to Hawaii flights to/from LAX. CO allows unlimited space-available elite upgrades on this route or one can use his/her miles - 17.5k to be exact - without a copay.
I think they realize that the copay only really makes sense on the BF product, and now that they are flying a mix of domestic/international configured aircraft on the route, it no longer warrants the copay.
Oct 7, 2009, 2:19 am
#36
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Oct 7, 2009, 3:25 am
#37
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HNL
Posts: 1,097
seriously, the HNL-ORD and HNL-DEN flights are the suck!Hey, PK23, aloha and welcome to FT! I've been flying HNL to Asia and the Mainland for 25 years and can remember HNL-MNL, HNL-HKG, HNL-KIX, HNL-SYD, HNL-AKL, HNL-SAN, and HNL-SEA. In fact, a long time ago HNL-ORD was serviced by UA with three 747s a day.
The bean counters on Wacker Drive have determined that there is little revenue demand for a 3 class HNL-Mainland route (HNL-NRT is still an int'l configured route) although HNL-ORD will be a 747 for about a month around Christmas this year.
Even though it would be nice to have a domestic 3 class aircraft from HNL-Mainland, I am quite happy there is still a HNL-ORD flight. This route was cancelled a few years back when UA retired its DC-10s.
Oct 7, 2009, 7:36 am
#38
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- Hawaii-based customers are less than a drop in the bucket to UA, and
- The Hawaii-based customers who upgrade are a tiny portion of (a).
Oct 7, 2009, 9:44 am
#39
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Kapalua, Maui- just paradise and Sun Valley, Idaho!!
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Any way to get this thread to somebody in upper management at United? Some good points have been made.
Thanks,
Al
Thanks,
Al
Last edited by iluv2fly; Oct 7, 2009 at 10:00 am Reason: unnecessary
Oct 7, 2009, 11:16 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHX
Programs: AS MVP, HH Diamond
Posts: 3,259
In regards to Hawaii based customers, perhaps, though I don't know about 'a drop in the bucket'. If we include the Hawaii market/routes as a whole, I don't think it's insignificant to UA's operation. Straw that breaks the camel's back, eh, I doubt it.
Oct 7, 2009, 10:32 pm
#42
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, Starwood Plat, Star G, HH Diamond, Hertz 5*
Posts: 220
Hawaii and new upgrade policy Jan. 2010
I flew RT SFO-HNL two weeks ago (I fly it 4 x/yr) and the food was the same old chicken and rice blah. I wonder when the new Trader Vics food will be implemented.
Sadly, I agree that some E+ seats are better then F both on SFO/LAX-HNL and SFO/LAX-BOS, which are the same old planes.
I really can't see anyone who has ever flown this route pony up $1000 plus miles for F.
Sadly, I agree that some E+ seats are better then F both on SFO/LAX-HNL and SFO/LAX-BOS, which are the same old planes.
I really can't see anyone who has ever flown this route pony up $1000 plus miles for F.
Oct 8, 2009, 12:31 am
#43
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 344
I really don't see this as being a huge issue for elites traveling between Hawaii at the continental United States - HI-related upgrade inventory usually opens up pretty late within the e500 window, so save those e500s for that. The brutal co-pay will only apply for miles, so it will only affect non-elites traveling. HOWEVER, the rough part is when families travel, we have a problem. For a family of four, if both parents have e500s to spend, then it's okay, but if there are five or more, then that last kind of out of luck.
What's not as exciting is that Japan-Hawaii is the same rate as the continental United States (it used to be only 2/3 the cost in miles). I'd rather save an SWU for traveling to SFO, LAX, or even for a paper upgrade from Tokyo to Europe on LH.
What's not as exciting is that Japan-Hawaii is the same rate as the continental United States (it used to be only 2/3 the cost in miles). I'd rather save an SWU for traveling to SFO, LAX, or even for a paper upgrade from Tokyo to Europe on LH.
Oct 8, 2009, 1:46 am
#44
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Crystal City, VA
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Oct 8, 2009, 2:27 am
#45
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central California
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Posts: 381
Lucky for me, I have both a Hawaii and Cali id and valid leases/mortgages is both locations 
The new upgrade co-pay policy won't hurt most of the folks on this board, in fact it will no doubt make it easier to upgrade, as most VBITs will be deterred by the extra (up to) $500 per person, per leg. Should make even last minute busy-time flights easier to upgrade.
If you have e500s, CR-1s, or (expiring, hope one doesn't burn a good one on this route) SWUs, no co-pay.
The folks it will hurt the most are the 3p & 2p HI residents who garner miles with the CC to support upgrades (I know several folks in this boat). There are rumors that UA might exempt HI residents from the co-pay (a kama'aina discount if ever there were one).
In other news, they have brought back Trade Vics meals, and so aren't stuck in chicken-or-pasta mode like they had been for ~1 year. Still single-ended catering to OGG, though.
Mods- probably should merge/combine this thread with the others of its ilk.
If you have e500s, CR-1s, or (expiring, hope one doesn't burn a good one on this route) SWUs, no co-pay.
The folks it will hurt the most are the 3p & 2p HI residents who garner miles with the CC to support upgrades (I know several folks in this boat). There are rumors that UA might exempt HI residents from the co-pay (a kama'aina discount if ever there were one).
In other news, they have brought back Trade Vics meals, and so aren't stuck in chicken-or-pasta mode like they had been for ~1 year. Still single-ended catering to OGG, though.
Mods- probably should merge/combine this thread with the others of its ilk.