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No E+, Plenty of E-
Since UA started pushing E+ purchases like mad, and even offering free drinks in E+, the last few flights I have booked have been full in E+, and there have only been seats in E-.
I have to pay for my own flights for work, and can change locations on a weeks notice, so I don't want to be stuck with change fees, so I generally book 2-3 weeks out. I suspect these are filled by people who book 4-6 months out for personal travel. Suddenly $19 for more leg room and a free drink sounds pretty appealing to them. In the past, there have always been plenty of E+ seats on my flights when I booked, and generally E- showed as full. Now its the polar opposite. I mean, I guess its good for UA that they are making a few more dollars, but they are also really alienating me, who now has to fly in E- 3 weeks in a row, and they are making me start to look elsewhere. Anyone else experiencing this? |
Originally Posted by emanon256
(Post 14486244)
...In the past, there have always been plenty of E+ seats on my flights when I booked, and generally E- showed as full. Now its the polar opposite....
Come the end of the month and expect the situation to dramatically change. |
It's very route-dependent. I still see many flights with E- full and E+ empty.
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I have noticed that E+ seats would open up as one gets into the various UDU and SWU upgrade windows for domestic and international flights, respctively. So, keep checking.
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Well, seeing as noone else offers Economy Plus, I'm not sure how looking elsewhere will solve your issue.
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I know intensive Hubs and Routes sometimes see 1k's and GS not getting a UDU but it really stinks that you have failed to upgrade on this particular route so many times. I wonder what route you are talking about?
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Originally Posted by izzik
(Post 14486396)
Well, seeing as noone else offers Economy Plus, I'm not sure how looking elsewhere will solve your issue.
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Originally Posted by emanon256
(Post 14486244)
Since UA started pushing E+ purchases like mad, and even offering free drinks in E+, the last few flights I have booked have been full in E+, and there have only been seats in E-.
I have to pay for my own flights for work, and can change locations on a weeks notice, so I don't want to be stuck with change fees, so I generally book 2-3 weeks out. I suspect these are filled by people who book 4-6 months out for personal travel. Suddenly $19 for more leg room and a free drink sounds pretty appealing to them. In the past, there have always been plenty of E+ seats on my flights when I booked, and generally E- showed as full. Now its the polar opposite. I mean, I guess its good for UA that they are making a few more dollars, but they are also really alienating me, who now has to fly in E- 3 weeks in a row, and they are making me start to look elsewhere. Anyone else experiencing this? If you want E+ for sure, couldn't you purchase the seat just like everyone else is doing? I'm just not following the "alienating you " portion of your post. AD |
Originally Posted by aluminumdriver
(Post 14486518)
If you want E+ for sure, couldn't you purchase the seat just like everyone else is doing?
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Originally Posted by aluminumdriver
(Post 14486518)
Are you saying that United is alienating you because they don't hold E+ seats for you to upgrade into? :confused: I don't think I am following your complaint. The whole purpose of United is to sell seats, not give away their more expensive seats.
If you want E+ for sure, couldn't you purchase the seat just like everyone else is doing? I'm just not following the "alienating you " portion of your post. AD |
Originally Posted by SomeGuy
(Post 14486414)
Virgin America does offer a version of E+. A limited route network might not help the OP, but it is out there.
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Originally Posted by aluminumdriver
(Post 14486518)
Are you saying that United is alienating you because they don't hold E+ seats for you to upgrade into? :confused: I don't think I am following your complaint. The whole purpose of United is to sell seats, not give away their more expensive seats.
If you want E+ for sure, couldn't you purchase the seat just like everyone else is doing? I'm just not following the "alienating you " portion of your post. AD So while the reasoning "if you want a better seat for sure, couldn't you purchase it?" applies to upgrades to F for elites, it's completely inapplicable to E+ seating for elites. |
Regardless of route, as the UDU windows open, E+ seats will become available...it shouldn't be too hard to move into those seats...as a 1K, even if you're temporary stuck in E-, you should have a good chance at the UDU yourself.
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Originally Posted by CollegeFlyer
(Post 14486648)
This sort of confusion is what happens as a result of UA GAs and FAs referring to E+ seating as an "upgrade"--the misnomer causes other UA employees who aren't personally responsible for assigning seats to forget that Premier members and above are entitled to free E+ seating, as one of the benefits they earned with their status. If you're a Premier, E+ is not an upgrade.
So while the reasoning "if you want a better seat for sure, couldn't you purchase it?" applies to upgrades to F for elites, it's completely inapplicable to E+ seating for elites. |
Originally Posted by formeraa
(Post 14486579)
No. I believe that the OP is saying that s/he has to buy their tickets at the last minute. The OP is entitled to E+ free of charge as a 1K, but is finding that a lot of people are paying the upgrade fee and E+ is very crowded. So, the OP is in a crowded E+ section with a potentially undesirable middle seat, while E- is virtually empty. I've never experienced this, but it can vary substantially by route.
Oh, got it. I still can't feel to bad that the seats are being purchased, that's a good thing for United and they can't leave them empty just so an elite flyer can move up when they fly. If it's a big deal, I guess the OP or anyone could move back to the "virtually empty" E- and just get a row to themselves, which would be just as good probably. AD |
I still want to know where these routes are that people speak of with whole empty rows of E- in the back, and empty E+ in the front. In my experience, I have not seen an empty seat go out (That I have been aware of) in 2+ years. In fact, almost every flight I am on is oversold.
Since this started, I tried to move up to E+ at my various upgrade windows, but no luck. And unfortunately, UDU has not helped me much at all. Most of my routes are on A119's or CRJ700s with 8 and 6 F seats respectively, so even as 1K, I am not getting UDUs. Even on my 757 flights (Rare but nice) I have still not been UDUd. I keep seeing upgrade lists with over 50 people on them when I am on the mainline flights, I'm always near the top on the little flights, but still no luck yet. So I guess it is all about location, and I am just on crappy routes to be an elite. I am hoping that what WineCountryUA said will be true for my routes, and I will try and hold out. F9 does have an E+ similar product, and they have always gone everywhere I go, however I have held out repeatedly out of loyalty to UA. I've seen a few colleagues switch, and haven't done so yet. But I have also almost never been stuck in E- until this month of this year. And when I say no E-+, I mean seat map totally full, not even a middle seat. So yes, good for UA as people are paying, it just sucks that it then negatively impacts the loyal week traveler. |
Can the OP please give us the specific routes he flies and encounters this problem and how close to flight he books, and what fare is paid? Although UDU is in place I find even as a 1K on certain routes the advance upgrade doesn't clear until a day or two before the flight because UA is keeping F seats for sale (as Y-up purchases), or not until at the gate. If OP's buying last minute, why not buy Y-up?
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I've found that the cabins in the aircraft and routes I've been flying have been almost at capacity this summer, even on routes which I have noticed are often not too full, at least at the times I fly. My most frequent routing is CVG-ORD-YYZ, with the ORD-YYZ usually having a good amount of capacity left. Even at some of the more peak times, I think I got an upgrade every flight on these routes between UDU starting through June.
In July and August that hasn't been the case, even at non-peak times. Obviously, would rather have the upgrade, but I'm not complaining. My CVG-ORD on Wed. evening had every seat full. My upgrade on the YYZ segment cleared a few hours prior to the flight, and I think there were 4 seats empty on the entire plane. See this as peak travel filling the seats. It sucks to have to sit in E-, especially on longer segments. But am happy that UA is filling more seats. |
I have not encountered this problem, but I would call to make sure that if a E+ seat did open, that I would automatically be moved up.
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Originally Posted by smitty06
(Post 14487602)
I have not encountered this problem, but I would call to make sure that if a E+ seat did open, that I would automatically be moved up.
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Originally Posted by aluminumdriver
(Post 14487048)
Oh, got it. I still can't feel to bad that the seats are being purchased, that's a good thing for United and they can't leave them empty just so an elite flyer can move up when they fly. If it's a big deal, I guess the OP or anyone could move back to the "virtually empty" E- and just get a row to themselves, which would be just as good probably. AD
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Originally Posted by smitty06
(Post 14487602)
I have not encountered this problem, but I would call to make sure that if a E+ seat did open, that I would automatically be moved up.
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If E+ is being successfully sold that means a far greater chance of keeping E+ around after the merger, which I am all for...........
I was having problems getting an E+ close in on ORD-HKG last month but as the upgrades cleared I moved up and then the day of departure MY upgrade cleared so all was good. |
I am surprised you have not been in First, only 1 of my 60ish flights this year have not been upgraded to F
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emanon256, have you:
1. Checked seat map everyday after you have been ticketed to see if any E+ or exit row seat has become available? 2. Changed your seat from E- to E+ or exit row when on line check-in? 3. Asked gate agent for better seating? |
I'm surprised too
7 days out up until flight time, I see a full (or nearly full) E- all the time it seems like, yet E+ only half full. Plenty of aisles/windows to go around, let alone exit rows.
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Originally Posted by aluminumdriver
(Post 14486518)
Are you saying that United is alienating you because they don't hold E+ seats for you to upgrade into? :confused: I don't think I am following your complaint. The whole purpose of United is to sell seats, not give away their more expensive seats.
If you want E+ for sure, couldn't you purchase the seat just like everyone else is doing? I'm just not following the "alienating you " portion of your post. AD |
All flights on any airline that I have flown this summer have been full and some asking for volunteers to give up their seats.
I have flown E+ on some of the flights, but I have not been offered a free drink. |
Originally Posted by UK Traveler
(Post 14493349)
All flights on any airline that I have flown this summer have been full and some asking for volunteers to give up their seats.
I have flown E+ on some of the flights, but I have not been offered a free drink. |
Originally Posted by JTPictureman
(Post 14488968)
If E+ is being successfully sold that means a far greater chance of keeping E+ around after the merger, which I am all for...........
I was having problems getting an E+ close in on ORD-HKG last month but as the upgrades cleared I moved up and then the day of departure MY upgrade cleared so all was good. And for all of you marketing/soft skills/non-finance types out there, noooo, they don't care whether you LIKE E+ or not... they only care if it makes m-o-n-e-y. |
Originally Posted by 1KChinito
(Post 14492437)
emanon256, have you:
1. Checked seat map everyday after you have been ticketed to see if any E+ or exit row seat has become available? 2. Changed your seat from E- to E+ or exit row when on line check-in? 3. Asked gate agent for better seating?
Originally Posted by Shareholder
(Post 14487194)
Can the OP please give us the specific routes he flies and encounters this problem and how close to flight he books, and what fare is paid? Although UDU is in place I find even as a 1K on certain routes the advance upgrade doesn't clear until a day or two before the flight because UA is keeping F seats for sale (as Y-up purchases), or not until at the gate. If OP's buying last minute, why not buy Y-up?
Sunday 2 weeks ago DEN-MCO H Fare stuck in E- return that Thursday, got upgraded night before, at gate got moved to E- middle, they said they upgraded too many people by mistake, only E- middle was left. Both flights asked for volunteers. Sunday a week ago DEN-IND U fare. In E-, F went out full. Did not get UG or moved to E+. they asked for volunteers. Return was last Thursday ORD-DEN U fare, stuck in E- no U/G. (IND-ORD was CR3). They asked for volunteers, U/G list had 77 people. Last Sunday DEN-MSN V fare Stuck in E-, no U/G or room to move to E+ even at gate at gate. They asked for volunteers. Tomorrow ORD-DEN V fare, Just moved up to E+ at OLCI, there was only 1 seat in E+, plenty in E-. KVS says 3 left in F. Probably no U/G. Next Sunday DEN-MSN U Fare, got upgraded today! Yay! But it is UAX CR7. I do miss mainline F. I haven't had that in a while. Next Thursday ORD-DEN U Fare 2 middle seats in E+, no exit rows, lots of E-. I've stayed in E- Aisle so far. (MSN-ORD is CR3). This week, I got fed up and a week from Sunday booked DEN-MSN on F9 for $209 after tax, fully refundable ticket, get their version of E+, free drinks, and free TV all included with my ticket price. I love United, but I had to book F9, half the price of my normal ticket with free drinks, E+, and TV! Sadly, if this trend keeps up...I may book more F9 and less UA.
Originally Posted by AAerSTL
(Post 14493084)
Where will the employees sit? :confused:
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Originally Posted by emanon256
(Post 14507018)
I keep trying. Asked Sunday at the gate, they were really nice, but couldn't help. They said it was over sold. Snagged an E+ for tomorrow at check in today.
Typically I book 2 weeks out. I try to do 3 when I can. Sunday 2 weeks ago DEN-MCO H Fare stuck in E- return that Thursday, got upgraded night before, at gate got moved to E- middle, they said they upgraded too many people by mistake, only E- middle was left. Both flights asked for volunteers. Sunday a week ago DEN-IND U fare. In E-, F went out full. Did not get UG or moved to E+. they asked for volunteers. Return was last Thursday ORD-DEN U fare, stuck in E- no U/G. (IND-ORD was CR3). They asked for volunteers, U/G list had 77 people. Last Sunday DEN-MSN V fare Stuck in E-, no U/G or room to move to E+ even at gate at gate. They asked for volunteers. Tomorrow ORD-DEN V fare, Just moved up to E+ at OLCI, there was only 1 seat in E+, plenty in E-. KVS says 3 left in F. Probably no U/G. Next Sunday DEN-MSN U Fare, got upgraded today! Yay! But it is UAX CR7. I do miss mainline F. I haven't had that in a while. Next Thursday ORD-DEN U Fare 2 middle seats in E+, no exit rows, lots of E-. I've stayed in E- Aisle so far. (MSN-ORD is CR3). This week, I got fed up and a week from Sunday booked DEN-MSN on F9 for $209 after tax, fully refundable ticket, get their version of E+, free drinks, and free TV all included with my ticket price. I love United, but I had to book F9, half the price of my normal ticket with free drinks, E+, and TV! Sadly, if this trend keeps up...I may book more F9 and less UA. So far, on my last few UAX CR7 flights, they are all in F. |
Declining E+ Availability?
Are others finding E+ availability in short supply? On my SFO-IAD flight I will be in the back of the bus because the plane had nothing in E+. I looked at multiple flights and found pretty much everything sold out. I've never had that happen before. I booked the ticket 3 weeks out. Maybe it's just because it's the last week in August. Thoughts? Experiences?
It's a real bummer to be sitting in E- Upgrade seems pretty unlikely to clear. I haven't sat in E- in several years.... Gulp. |
I've noticed fewer seats over the last two months, or so. Wonder if UA is beginning capacity control to upsell E+? <conspiracy theory off>
Just make sure to check back frequently after UDU kicks in (120 hours prior to departure) - you should be able to get into E+. |
It seems that UA has been trying very hard to up-sell E+! (which I hope is a good sign if the merger happens..)
What about exit rows? As a 1K, you have the ability to book the exit row. Are they full? |
Originally Posted by FightingIlliniUAL
(Post 14539750)
I've noticed fewer seats over the last two months, or so. Wonder if UA is beginning capacity control to upsell E+? <conspiracy theory off>
Just make sure to check back frequently after UDU kicks in (120 hours prior to departure) - you should be able to get into E+. |
This is what I suspect with the E+ availability...
There has been so many equipment changes that E- folks are put in E+ due to the equipment change. Example: You book E- row 13 on the A319. Suddenly there's an upgauge to a 757. UA keeps your original row 13 seat assignments and you're now in E+. |
Originally Posted by FriendlySkies
(Post 14539995)
It seems that UA has been trying very hard to up-sell E+! (which I hope is a good sign if the merger happens..)
What about exit rows? As a 1K, you have the ability to book the exit row. Are they full? |
Originally Posted by DCEsquire
(Post 14540014)
Exit rows were taken. It's a 767-300.
Good luck!^ |
I find it very much depends on origin and destination. Out of PHL I've had no problems at all finding really good E+ seats. Flying IAD-LAX it is much harder though I've still been successful every time.
SFO-IAD? I'd guess that is probably the toughest route in UA's system to ensure E+ on due to the density of elites on the airplane. Probably not the best example of a coming trend. |
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