I have three letters of the alphabet to say to you: A, T and I.

http://www.united.com/press/detail/0,6862,59599,00.html

(emphasis added)

http://www.forbes.com/2010/11/11/uni...newsvideo.html

The good news is you can punish UA by flying US on your TATL trips. I believe they are excluded from this ATI agreement. That is good news, right?

I'm surprised we didn't see anything about reciprocal upgrades using CR-1s and SWUs on each other's airline. I'm a UA 1K but would like to use the SWUs on flights to GUM using CO Mike.

Also, not pleased with the decrease in CR-1s as I like to use those when I travel TRANSCON with my wife.

I see no real enhancement for 1K fliers on UA. They really need to take a closer look at what benefits they could provide whether it's SWUs on any fare etc....

I think this decision certainly gives rise to more concern that E+ may be limited to international flights only and possibly continuing the abhord practice on CO of selling upgrades while elites are pending for UDU/EUA!

As I have said many times before, it will be REVENUE AT ALL COSTS for the new co.

10$ for a buyup is worth more than decades of loyatly from an elite. It will be preferred to get 100's in revenue, before giving loyal flyers insight into upgrades. Flyers WILL defect because of it, and actually I don't think the airline will care.

I'm definitely disappointed by the CR-1 situation...especially since p.s. is my main route (12-24x a year depending on my schedule). I wish they would open up UDU to the p.s. route cause for me, that will definitely dull the pain of this new change.

You know how everyone on here has said "the biggest reason i fly UA is for E+"? Well, assuming United does keep E+ (and I think they will), today's announcement is essentially calling us on that statement.

As much as I am displeased with the loss of four CR-1s, it's not going to cause me to change my travel habits...other than fly Virgin or Jetblue SFO-JFK. And as someone who flies about 125K a year, there is no way I'm going to do multiple MRs just to get two extra CR-1s. So the notion of CR1s being a carrot for incremental flying seems unlikely to me.

But if E+ goes away, so does my loyalty.

They do listen, and mostly they do not act (conclusion: they do not care), however they occasionally do act (CR-1 s in 2010). So they seem to care, but where they value the loyalty is the key.

Thus, key question: Does new management care more or less than UA did about loyalty?

Based on the events of today, they don't seem to place as much value on our loyalty as before.

Meanwhile, FlyerTalk serves unlimited whine to United.


Seriously? HUGE?

Correct, and this further proves what I've suspected in other threads - CO is small-time, smallball management. They are fixated by a domestic travel lens, while UA is very much a worldwide international airline. Nickel-diming EQS instead of seeking ways of using their international route network to greater advantage.

Reducing perks for high-mile travelers will only encourage folks to book away on high-mile travel itineraries.

The fact CO now has inspired folks to even window-shopping the competition for their next transpac is a poor result.

The 75K new pseudo elite level is too cute by a half, another silly nod to COs "legacy", a disastrous mistake.

As already mentioned here, it kind of makes me scratch my head at how this is clearly de-incentivizing someone to make 1K on segments while the mileage requirement stays the same. Especially since, as a segment flyer myself who will do 115 segments this year and has no idea yet whether I will be 115 or be closer to 100-108 next year, I know that I/my company spends more $ to reach on segments than I would by booking fewer trips that get more EQMs.

From my perspective, the best approach now is to consider whether it's better to hit 90 segments on UA comfortably, then pull the plug there and then focus on getting status on another airline with the remainder, or whether to keep 1K in 2012.

I don't see it that way, as I look at the introduction of the 75k tier as a serious devaluation to the lifetime 1P benefit for MMFs (at least those who don't qualify for a 75k+ tier). Of course, this could be easily rectified by giving MMFs lifetime 75k tier. Either way, I'm surprised only 4-5 people so far in this thread have even mentioned the devaluation of benefits for MMFs.


I actually still use all my CR1s, so this is a pretty serious devaluation for me. They're still quite useful for upgrades even on UDU-eligble flights when high loads are predictable, as well as for companion travel.


I don't see how tracking 10,000 miles over a set 3-month period is at all confusing, especially since most 1Ks will pass 10k BIS every quarter anyway. Even the occasional 1K who doesn't fly 125k+ and misses 10k BIS in one quarter of the year would still be better off than the new program. And to put it in perspective, to actually be worse off under the old system (i.e., earning just 2 CR1s), a current qualifying 1K would have to fly at least 70k in one quarter... I really don't think that applies to many of us.


They're phasing out the MD80s, so unlike UA/CO, at least they're moving in the right direction!


I was actually discussing this with a coworker/fellow 1K last week when we were discussing flying ANA's new biz or other *A partners to Japan, since neither of us are fans of UA's new int'l C - but I mentioned I wanted to keep earning UA BIS. The devaluation of the lifetime 1P MMF benefit and CR1 distribution certainly makes this choice easier.

So is your point is that Unitedental will NOT lose money when I buy a Z or fare D (or equivilent) on LH or ANA rather than UA?

Well at least I will have a better chance of gettin true business class soft product...

Perhaps you can document the upside of these changes, or else your "observation" is about as useful as your claims of other posts in this thread

Yes. For many fliers it's no different than simply eliminating CR1s completely.

The thing in FT, 1K usually do most of the talking and 1P do most of the reading

As 1P, you have to understand is they have basically created 1P+.

If you compare the current "Enhancement" with Delta SkyMiles Masterplan, you will see DL Gold do not have SkyTeam lounge (in a 4-tier elite system).

It is a doubt that if United will drop *G to *S (which you will lose all extra baggage allowance as well as lounge access).

The good thing is the rest of *A carrier do not do that (put 2nd tier in a lower alliance elite level).

I go out of my way and take two flights on most trips to stay on United.
I defend the industry, United, and run interference between crasy passengers and flight attendants, gate personal etc. I endure SFO delays and DEN also. I spend more time in the air and on the ground rather than go to Southwest, Alaska, or Delta. Last week I flew in and out of SFO 3 times in 3 days. Today I'm at 98.5 segments !!! and now it's going to be 120 !!!!!!.

Well Jeff I give, I will no longer accept this as the way to continue my company and leisure travel. I'll just sit in the back of Alaska and go direct to SEATTLE, sit in the back of Delta and go direct to SALT LAKE CITY, sit in the back of US AIR and go direct to PHOENIX, and YES !! go direct from ONTARIO to CHICAGO on &%#& SOUTHWEST !!!!!

This is NOT good customer service Mr. Smisek, and folks I'm afaid it's only the begining of the decline of both airlines. When you have something as great as Virgin America to compete with it won't be long before they have the rest of your routes. Good Luck Gentleman

FLY HIGH , SC

For comparison, last year I requalified for EXP at the end of May. My AA systemwides were deposited and are good through the end of February, 2011. That's 19 months to use them (8). I consider that a pretty decent benefit on the AA side. I see a number of posters have reported a 12 month expiration for UA systemwides deposited under the new program. This is not at all like the AA program. Very, very different. Are fare classes going to be relaxed for UA systemwides?

No. EXPs get unlimited domestic upgrades (but not companions--you'll need to buy upgrades for them). You'll find our upgrade rates for domestic upgrades are generally pretty good. I've missed one this year and not a single miss in 2008 and 2009--about 107 cleared upgrades, and that doesn't count 100% on systemwides for 9 years running. It helps that AA does not have a first class cabin the size of an A319 or A320--just more seats for everyone.