2Ps: What's your plan after the royal shaft by MP?
Sep 23, 2011, 1:02 pm
#91
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
Answer: More than my tickets cost...
Sep 23, 2011, 1:05 pm
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Which is the main beneficial effect (to an airline) of a loyalty program. It suppresses your comparison-shopping instinct because you're on a mission to hit 25k or 50k BIS. Make that threshold meaningless, and I bet that guy starts shopping around and flying cheaper, and UA misses his $16k.
Sep 23, 2011, 1:09 pm
#93
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: WI
Programs: HHonors Gold, UAMP
Posts: 895
I bought a Q Fare this year, well my departure turned into a Q Fare, it went up to $741 for the round trip. My M fare was I think close to $650 RT with only a 600mile distance
Sep 23, 2011, 1:10 pm
#94
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
Which is the main beneficial effect (to an airline) of a loyalty program. It suppresses your comparison-shopping instinct because you're on a mission to hit 25k or 50k BIS. Make that threshold meaningless, and I bet that guy starts shopping around and flying cheaper, and UA misses his $16k.
1. My flights are some of the longest in the world
2. They are some of the cheapest per mile
3. CO/UA is the cheapest carrier on those routes 90% of the time.
4. When they aren't the cheapest, another StarAlliance member is.
5. It really does seem to be that CO/UA values regular business more than total dollars spent... unless those total dollars are extremely high and spent on business/first class seats.
This is the advantage of SWA, I suppose. I've found that when you get over 1000 miles SWA is MORE expensive than CO/UA.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 23, 2011 at 1:54 pm Reason: merge
Sep 23, 2011, 1:16 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 504
I'm lucky enough to be hitting 1k this year so I will use that to monitor E+ seating but in all likely hood (since I'm almost always a 2P), I'm done.
I mostly fly LAX-SFO and LAX-ORD and I flew United on those because of E+, and because it helped for when I did other trips but Often I was flying more than SWA (to SFO - especially when OAK was more convenient for me most of the time) and I can try VX.
I hope United appreciates that while I don't spend TOO much I was consistently paying More to fly United between LAX and SFO 10+ times a year simply because of these few perks.
I mostly fly LAX-SFO and LAX-ORD and I flew United on those because of E+, and because it helped for when I did other trips but Often I was flying more than SWA (to SFO - especially when OAK was more convenient for me most of the time) and I can try VX.
I hope United appreciates that while I don't spend TOO much I was consistently paying More to fly United between LAX and SFO 10+ times a year simply because of these few perks.
Sep 23, 2011, 1:19 pm
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
It can cost nearly as much to fly from Burlington, Vermont to Wichita, Kansas on a walk-up basis as it does to fly from Los Angeles to Sydney on a plan-ahead basis. If you do a LAX-SYD every two months, you are UA's golden child. If you do a BTV-ICT fifteen times a year, you are served a [profanity removed] sandwich by UA although your base spend may be higher.
Ignore for a second the chorus of 1Ks yelping that 2Ps "aren't real frequent flyers" and tell me how that makes sense.
Ignore for a second the chorus of 1Ks yelping that 2Ps "aren't real frequent flyers" and tell me how that makes sense.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Sep 29, 2011 at 7:21 am Reason: http://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php#q88
Sep 23, 2011, 1:23 pm
#97
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
Ugh... barely worth flying. You need a high speed rail.
Seems like you would be more likely to make status on segments. I'd be silver on segments... barely.
I do a long haul maybe 8 times per year and, yes, I agree with you.
...and, BTW, I consider LAX-SYD to be a medium haul flight--those aren't real frequent flyers.
Seems like you would be more likely to make status on segments. I'd be silver on segments... barely.
...and, BTW, I consider LAX-SYD to be a medium haul flight--those aren't real frequent flyers.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 23, 2011 at 1:55 pm Reason: merge
Sep 23, 2011, 1:43 pm
#98
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 504
Only when work suddenly sends me to conferences do my miles shoot up (like this year).
Most years I make premier on segments (I get to roughly 30-40 segments and maybe 20k miles)
Sep 23, 2011, 1:52 pm
#99
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
Even Thailand has a moderately high speed rail now. It's a short one, but better than what we have here in the "greatest country on earth..."
Sep 23, 2011, 1:55 pm
#100
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Programs: AA ExPlat, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 909
I totally understand that the new United needs to change the program to deal with the influx of too many elites and not enough E+ seats -
"***
In addition, I can't be the only one bothered by all the arrogant advertising campaigns United is flaunting everywhere, right? I mean, seriously. Stop treating your customers like they're stupid and boasting "You're going to like where we land" and "Put your expectations in the upright position" when you're clearly taking things away (some little, some significant) from a well-established program.
"***
In addition, I can't be the only one bothered by all the arrogant advertising campaigns United is flaunting everywhere, right? I mean, seriously. Stop treating your customers like they're stupid and boasting "You're going to like where we land" and "Put your expectations in the upright position" when you're clearly taking things away (some little, some significant) from a well-established program.
--mcz
Sep 23, 2011, 2:13 pm
#101
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I'm currently sitting on about 42,500 EQMs and 46.5 EQSes. I'm going to do my damndest to get the extra 7,500 EQMs but also, I think next year I might start paying a premium to fly Delta. It seems that even as a 1P (or whatever that will be called by United) flying isn't going to be the greatest so I'm going to shoot for Gold Medallion with DL. At least there as a Silver I'll be able to select exit rows at booking and have a decent shot at an upgrade 
Sep 23, 2011, 2:25 pm
#102
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 973
And I am like you currently at 44 k EQM about 60 to 70% chance to qualify for gold. If I dont qualify as gold (Prem. Exec) and remain in silver, E+ does not do anything for me. I would rather take an aisle seat over middle or window E+.
One relief is the revenue requirement has been removed.
One relief is the revenue requirement has been removed.
Sep 23, 2011, 2:45 pm
#103
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
And I am like you currently at 44 k EQM about 60 to 70% chance to qualify for gold. If I dont qualify as gold (Prem. Exec) and remain in silver, E+ does not do anything for me. I would rather take an aisle seat over middle or window E+.
One relief is the revenue requirement has been removed.
One relief is the revenue requirement has been removed.
Sep 23, 2011, 2:57 pm
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Just got an email from CO advertising a sale on bought miles - a 30% bonus.
1P's now where some of those miles are going. And sure, kick me in the crotch and take away the important elite benefits, and THEN ask me to buy miles from you guys? That takes some serious nerve.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 23, 2011 at 3:08 pm Reason: merge
Sep 23, 2011, 3:14 pm
#105
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
40K, however, would look a little ridiculous with the next tier just 10,000 miles up.