The 1K Desk Up-sell is Getting Out of Hand
Jul 29, 2010, 11:37 am
#1
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The 1K Desk Up-sell is Getting Out of Hand
I had the pleasure of calling United 1K desk several times this week. Every time after inquiring about a particular reservation or booking a new one, the 1K desk agent tried to up-sell:
1K: Would you like to purchase award accelerator for this trip? You get 25000 miles for $900.
Me: No, thanks.
1K: Would you like to book a rental car with Hertz?
Me: No, thanks.
1K: Do you need help with booking your hotels?
Me: Uhm, no.
1K: Would you like to open a Mileage Plus visa and earn bonus miles?
Me: No.
Four attempts during each call, all failed.
1K: Would you like to purchase award accelerator for this trip? You get 25000 miles for $900.
Me: No, thanks.
1K: Would you like to book a rental car with Hertz?
Me: No, thanks.
1K: Do you need help with booking your hotels?
Me: Uhm, no.
1K: Would you like to open a Mileage Plus visa and earn bonus miles?
Me: No.
Four attempts during each call, all failed.
Jul 29, 2010, 11:40 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1P, Delta GM, HH Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,715
Doesn't seem particularly odious to me. I tend to ignore the reps after I get my PNR and politely decline the offers.
Jul 29, 2010, 11:43 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
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Posts: 1,899
Agreed that it's getting out of hand. I had an agent the other day try to sell me on that ridiculous award accelerator for a flight I booked for my wife. And of course gave me the usual Hertz pitch. One would think that a 1k would be among the last people on Earth to be stupid enough to bite on that accelerator but probably some 22-yr-old bean counter fresh out of college came up with this latest tactic.
Jul 29, 2010, 11:46 am
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 min. from ITH, 1:20 from SYR, but will drive for E+
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Somewhere on the reservation agent Q&A thread one of the RA's said many callers go for the Hertz offer. UA apparently makes a ton of money from its relationship with Hertz. Agreed, though, that it seems awfully dumb to try to sell Award Accelerator to 1Ks.
Jul 29, 2010, 11:48 am
#5
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Posts: 5,893
I've considered changing my last name to "Will You Be Needing A Hertz Rent A Car While You're In?".
Jul 29, 2010, 11:49 am
#6
In Memoriam
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ORD, UA 1K, SPG
Posts: 421
accelerator
I have to agree. The accelerator is perhaps good for someone, (I can't imagine who), but with lots of miles in my account, why would I want to buy more at ridiculous levels. They could at least look at your accrued miles before asking the question.
wwbgd
wwbgd
Jul 29, 2010, 11:57 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
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I booked an itinerary for $47 dollars with a $250 e-certificate and was then offered Award Accelerator for something in the neighborhood of $600. I just laughed.
Jul 29, 2010, 12:12 pm
#8
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Has anyone in the history of time ever said yes to the Hertz question?
Jul 29, 2010, 12:26 pm
#9
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Jul 29, 2010, 12:32 pm
#10
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Jul 29, 2010, 12:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2008
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At least they didn't try to sell you economy plus etc.
Jul 29, 2010, 12:48 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2007
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I don't usually take them up on the offer to transfer to Hertz, but UA Hertz CDP is actually quite useful. Many times over, it made Hertz quite pricing comparable to Dollar or Alamo for me, and Hertz does provide superior renting experience than those two. YMMV, though.
Jul 29, 2010, 12:54 pm
#13
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I had the pleasure of calling United 1K desk several times this week. Every time after inquiring about a particular reservation or booking a new one, the 1K desk agent tried to up-sell:
1K: Would you like to purchase award accelerator for this trip? You get 25000 miles for $900.
Me: No, thanks.
1K: Would you like to book a rental car with Hertz?
Me: No, thanks.
1K: Do you need help with booking your hotels?
Me: Uhm, no.
1K: Would you like to open a Mileage Plus visa and earn bonus miles?
Me: No.
Four attempts during each call, all failed.
1K: Would you like to purchase award accelerator for this trip? You get 25000 miles for $900.
Me: No, thanks.
1K: Would you like to book a rental car with Hertz?
Me: No, thanks.
1K: Do you need help with booking your hotels?
Me: Uhm, no.
1K: Would you like to open a Mileage Plus visa and earn bonus miles?
Me: No.
Four attempts during each call, all failed.
, she told me that they are all being trained on how to cross sell that, rental cars and whatever the person who was there today doing the training* "has to offer" so it looks like we'll be hearing a lot of it....*she had just finished her class about an hour before
Jul 29, 2010, 12:59 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Posts: 1,369
In my view, these upsells are such a BIG waste on 1K line's time. I wonder how to most efficiently say goodbye when one's business is over. What pisses me off sometimes is jerky 1K res. agents who have been total a$$ would now have the nerve to sell me crap I don't need. 
Jul 29, 2010, 1:02 pm
#15
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