We shall see. If it is not up to choice and they expire within 12 months, I shall just halt crediting to MP near the 95K mark to save my SWUs .

That is as good a summary as any: To each his/her own. I have not failed to be upgraded domestically under UDU and I have always had a surplus of CR1s due to my pattern of solo traveling [still have 5 in Q4]. I do not think that this is something that can be argued. It is just the way it is. So, let me put it this way: I am happy with the new rule for not letting CR1s go to waste on a guy like me, which makes the fact that 1Ps will now also be entitled to them a brilliant win-win solution... a net positive overall, IME.

I don't understand this position at all.

Can we bail out now, DB?

(no point in arguing or commenting on that position, right?)

-David

Because you seem to be coming at this from a position where UA decisions are bad for the consumer...by definition. In this case, I think that one must reconsider the inevitable decision regarding the awarding of CR1s in the merged FF program. IME, the proposed solution is not as bad as some think.

As an international 1K traveler who has always wound up with loads of CR1s, I clearly did not need the extra CR1s so I do not care that I would be getting fewer than under the old rule. The high-end elites, who might love to have more CR1s now have the option to accumulate more than 8/yr. The 1P elites who did not get any CR1s at all under the old rule will now be entitled to 2 get under the new rule. It seems to me that, overall, this is good for the consumer, no?

And when UA takes half of your SWUs that you as an international traveler need and does something nice for some 1Ps, what will you say when a purely domestic 1K comes along and calls it a win-win?

Hear hear

(Although I cannot wait for a 1K to become a Kong)

Lurker

This is a non sequitur because I do need the SWUs whereas I could not care less for the CR1s that are being "redistributed" -- remember: I lose them, anyway. I hope the difference is clear...

Unless things are put into each individual's context and analyzed as such, some of the complaints seem to me as complaints for the sake of complaining...

I actually think MP should let you nominate at the beginning of each calendar year whether or not you want to base qualification for your coming year on segments or miles and tailor benefits and qualification around that. Once you choose, decision is final (until next year).

A segment runner who spends 50-weeks a year and spends $20K or so, is worth more to UA than me, who spends maybe $6-8K max and 95% of my time, by butt is in C international or F domestic.

Your rewards are then based on that criteria (ie SWU's for the international folks, CR-1's for the segment runners)

In 14-years of MP membership, I've hardly flown domestically. All my travel is long-haul. I hate to think how many CR-1's and e500's I wasted over the years (ie let expire)

But I've used every SWU given to me.

With the new rules coming in next year, I couldn't care less about CR-1's. But reduce the quantity of SWU's, or put tougher restrictions on them, then I might start waving my arms...

Gotta love the iPad spell checker (and lack of coffee on my part)

Many of those who complain about the loss of CR1s need those, too. (I personally can probably do without them).

But isn't that exactly what you did? Put it in your individual context?

(and yes, this being FT, there will always be complainers for the sake of complaining, but there are certainly many who will get fewer benefits in 2012 because of these changes and thus have a reason to complain... Like I said, just wait until they change something that you happen to care about...)

Very intriguing idea that would make CR1s and SWUs almost equivalent in weight depending on whether one travels primarily internationally or domestically... As a perk, the elites get only the UG instrument that benefits them the most...

After a certain amount of posts (or something like that? unclear to me) you will have access to the FT Coupon Connection. Sounds like exactly what you need...

Trade something of little value to you (CR-1's) for something that does have value to you (SWU's). I am sure there is somebody out there who would like to be on the other side of this trade...

Also - with your spectacular UDU success percentage, can you please also take the time to update this site after your trips? Very useful to the community (moreso the more people who use it...) http://www.udustats.com/

For UA, the real problem is the co-existence of UDU and CR1s (soon to be called URU - unlimited regional upgrades). They do not know how to solve the equation in which CR1s cover some of the same territories that UDU does automatically. The two UG instruments thus appear redundant. It is why UA has been itching to do away with CR1, and in fact did after UDU started...

There is no equivalent to the SWUs on the international scene so that it is much "cleaner" as a perk for those who travel 100K miles... and you must travel 100K miles before you see a single SWU.

Are you speculating or speaking authoritatively?

CR1s and e500s coexisted for a long time. I don't see how CR1s and UDU would thus be redundant. They serve different purposes (confirm upgrade in advance, upgrade non-(high)-elite travel companion, ...) and there are flights where UDU simply isn't available (p.s.). And UA disagrees with you, too: they are NOT taking CR1 away because of your perceived redundancy, they are changing the earnings rules.