April 10 - United Revises Several Travel Policies and Fees (Standby/Baggage/Pets)
Apr 10, 2010 | 2:06 am
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 1,207
Wow. What is wrong with UA???? Shame on them! I'm 1k, but I"m sure I won't always be. THis blows. This and re-fares are the reasons I used to preach to my friends to try UA and not be so loyal to WN. That argument is now out the door.
Apr 10, 2010 | 2:25 am
#32
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: The World.
Programs: UA MP/UC - "RIP Tulip Plat"
Posts: 1,226
Give it a little bit, enough resistance and UA will reverse it, just like the p.s. upgrade rules.
This was dumb, at least make it available for 1Ps. I would understand 2Ps.
This was dumb, at least make it available for 1Ps. I would understand 2Ps.
Apr 10, 2010 | 2:44 am
#33
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 534
i heard about the $75 change fee within 3 hours last week... was this in place for quite a while now?
$50 to standby on a different flight?????
think about it, if one is flying DEN-ORD-IAD.. why would UA charge $50 if there is room for DEN-IAD that a pax would want to standby in? that will free up a seat from his DEN-ORD-IAD flights -- leaving one more room for another paying passenger..... so how does charging $50 makes any financial sense??
$50 to standby on a different flight?????
think about it, if one is flying DEN-ORD-IAD.. why would UA charge $50 if there is room for DEN-IAD that a pax would want to standby in? that will free up a seat from his DEN-ORD-IAD flights -- leaving one more room for another paying passenger..... so how does charging $50 makes any financial sense??
Apr 10, 2010 | 2:46 am
#34
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: UA Silver, Southwest A-List, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 820
This sucks. But like folks have said, the writing has been on the wall. Still I am surprised they are proposing to charge 1P's and Star Gold.
Apr 10, 2010 | 2:47 am
#35
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 130
Wow, this is a LOT worse than I thought reading the title... I really valued the standby benefit! Hard to believe they'll net $$ by doing this, but I guess the economy is coming back 
(and yes, like others have posted, mostly angry because I won't be a 1K forever, back and forth with 1P most likely and sure to get hit for an unexpected $50 sometime...)
(and yes, like others have posted, mostly angry because I won't be a 1K forever, back and forth with 1P most likely and sure to get hit for an unexpected $50 sometime...)
Apr 10, 2010 | 3:08 am
#36
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Ag, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt
Posts: 4,715
Comparing this with others:
CO - 50 to change within 24 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 1pm day before)
US - 50 to change any point same day (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 6am, but only at the airport)
AA - 50 to change within 12 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 1am)
DL - 50 to change within 3 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 10am)
UA - 75 to change within 3 hours, 50 to change 15 minutes prior...
(AA/DL free for all elites. CO offers a 25 discount for golds. Only UA and US charge full price for low/mid elites.)
UA just went from the best standby, to having the worst of all legacies. I wonder if I can get this on a napkin, along with the #1 on-time message.
CO - 50 to change within 24 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 1pm day before)
US - 50 to change any point same day (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 6am, but only at the airport)
AA - 50 to change within 12 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 1am)
DL - 50 to change within 3 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 10am)
UA - 75 to change within 3 hours, 50 to change 15 minutes prior...
(AA/DL free for all elites. CO offers a 25 discount for golds. Only UA and US charge full price for low/mid elites.)
UA just went from the best standby, to having the worst of all legacies. I wonder if I can get this on a napkin, along with the #1 on-time message.
Apr 10, 2010 | 4:21 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,198
There is nothing "full service" about any of the legacies anymore, except the fact that they all fully expect bailouts of taxpayer money to survive. For a domestic flyer the sad fact is that WN, B6, and VX all offer a better value and better service than any of the "full service" airlines.
If it were not for FFP's and people using corporate money (not their own) to stay loyal to these programs none of these airlines would survive, nor should they.
If it were not for FFP's and people using corporate money (not their own) to stay loyal to these programs none of these airlines would survive, nor should they.
Apr 10, 2010 | 4:57 am
#38
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1mm, 1/31/26 last day as 1k since 2009, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,367
Comparing this with others:
CO - 50 to change within 24 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 1pm day before)
US - 50 to change any point same day (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 6am, but only at the airport)
AA - 50 to change within 12 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 1am)
DL - 50 to change within 3 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 10am)
UA - 75 to change within 3 hours, 50 to change 15 minutes prior...
(AA/DL free for all elites. CO offers a 25 discount for golds. Only UA and US charge full price for low/mid elites.)
UA just went from the best standby, to having the worst of all legacies. I wonder if I can get this on a napkin, along with the #1 on-time message.
CO - 50 to change within 24 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 1pm day before)
US - 50 to change any point same day (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 6am, but only at the airport)
AA - 50 to change within 12 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 1am)
DL - 50 to change within 3 hours (e.g. 1pm flight, you can change at 10am)
UA - 75 to change within 3 hours, 50 to change 15 minutes prior...
(AA/DL free for all elites. CO offers a 25 discount for golds. Only UA and US charge full price for low/mid elites.)
UA just went from the best standby, to having the worst of all legacies. I wonder if I can get this on a napkin, along with the #1 on-time message.
There is nothing "full service" about any of the legacies anymore, except the fact that they all fully expect bailouts of taxpayer money to survive. For a domestic flyer the sad fact is that WN, B6, and VX all offer a better value and better service than any of the "full service" airlines.
If it were not for FFP's and people using corporate money (not their own) to stay loyal to these programs none of these airlines would survive, nor should they.
If it were not for FFP's and people using corporate money (not their own) to stay loyal to these programs none of these airlines would survive, nor should they.
Someone will always have a full service airline for it is too ingrained into travel in the USA.
Apr 10, 2010 | 5:02 am
#39
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 72,260
Maybe if enough elites let UA know what a mistake the $50 standby fee is for 1P/2P travelers, they'll back off on it. For 1Ps. You know, the take something away, then give back a little bit of it as an "enhancement." 
This is a serious devaluation of UA, given that even US waives their standby fees for the lowest-tier elites (and apparently for *S/*G pax fairly frequently, too).
Maybe this is the stick (no carrot) to drive pax to a shortly-to-be-announced fee-based DEQM, or to yet another "elite for a day" upsell which offers the standby (a $50!! value!!!!) alongside the other junk.
This is a serious devaluation of UA, given that even US waives their standby fees for the lowest-tier elites (and apparently for *S/*G pax fairly frequently, too).
Maybe this is the stick (no carrot) to drive pax to a shortly-to-be-announced fee-based DEQM, or to yet another "elite for a day" upsell which offers the standby (a $50!! value!!!!) alongside the other junk.
Apr 10, 2010 | 5:30 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: Dunkin' Rewards Boosted
Posts: 5,914
Late last year a grumpy gate agent at IAD told me that United would be getting rid of same-day standby soon, because too many people were gaming the system by buying a cheap late flight and showing up at the airport to take the expensive early one.
"That's ridiculous," I figured. "People take on a lot of risk by standing by because they aren't guaranteed a seat, and it wouldn't make sense to punish that with a fee like US Airways does. Plus, this is one of the awesome features that really makes United stand out and makes me want to recommend the airline to my friends." But I didn't say anything out loud -- I just kind of nodded and smiled. I guess she was right!
"That's ridiculous," I figured. "People take on a lot of risk by standing by because they aren't guaranteed a seat, and it wouldn't make sense to punish that with a fee like US Airways does. Plus, this is one of the awesome features that really makes United stand out and makes me want to recommend the airline to my friends." But I didn't say anything out loud -- I just kind of nodded and smiled. I guess she was right!
Apr 10, 2010 | 5:34 am
#41
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: No Longer Anything
Posts: 478
Wow, this totally blows. Remind me again why I even bother trying to hit 2P or 1P?
Combine this with UA's (and all other legacy carriers') $150 change fees, and WN is looking better and better all the time. I'm almost better off flying WN domestically (and getting A-list) and buying E+ access for the one or two international trips I do each year.
Combine this with UA's (and all other legacy carriers') $150 change fees, and WN is looking better and better all the time. I'm almost better off flying WN domestically (and getting A-list) and buying E+ access for the one or two international trips I do each year.
it seems many of the things that made UA stand out for us as the better flying option are being taken away one by one.
Yes things are good for 1Ks but this doesn't make me want to be a 1k it makes me not care to be loyal.
Apr 10, 2010 | 6:33 am
#42
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC, JNB, LON, NYC
Programs: * A
Posts: 2,533
I am leaving UA, this draws the final straw come on UnitedPR, please tell UA we want the stand by fees waived for all UA elites. UA knows well that elites are a mere minority in terms of revenue generation.
come on UnitedPR, please tell UA we want the stand by fees waived for all UA elites. UA knows well that elites are a mere minority in terms of revenue generation.
Apr 10, 2010 | 7:10 am
#43
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: United MP 1p, PC Ambassador, GP Platinum
Posts: 439
UA
Apr 10, 2010 | 7:21 am
#44
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Reston, VA
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 73
Wow, this is the worst policy of all of the major airlines!
What is the best way to show our dissatisfaction?
What is the best way to show our dissatisfaction?
Apr 10, 2010 | 7:24 am
#45
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: United MP 1p, PC Ambassador, GP Platinum
Posts: 439
Maybe you should use twitter to voice your displeasure to @UnitedAirlines
Last edited by IADtoWhere; Apr 10, 2010 at 7:33 am Reason: added more info