E- entirely full, no pax permitted to move to near empty E+
Nov 28, 2011, 2:38 pm
#76
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Nov 28, 2011, 3:30 pm
#77
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
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as much as protecting revenue is important, the bitterness it engenders from non-elites flying UA shouldn't be discounted long-term....
For something flying in E- that day.... had they chosen to fly US Airways or Delta or Southwest instead that day, and they wouldn't likely be in the cramped sardine situation in the overcrowded E- cabin (but empty E+). Again, it engenders anti-UA bitterness, and makes the non-status GM want to fly another airline where there would be lower seating density with a similar situation of 1/2 plane full (but 100% E- full).
Sitting in the exit row E+ one row ahead of E-, I'm personally heard of lot of E- seated people in this situation mumble bitterness about the above. And it is sorta true that (with all other plane capacity factors equal) they would have more spacing if they flew another airline without E+. Over time this makes an effect on non-elite fliers.
...thus the alternative in their mind is not them BUYING up to E+ next time, but simply booking another airline altogether period.
For something flying in E- that day.... had they chosen to fly US Airways or Delta or Southwest instead that day, and they wouldn't likely be in the cramped sardine situation in the overcrowded E- cabin (but empty E+). Again, it engenders anti-UA bitterness, and makes the non-status GM want to fly another airline where there would be lower seating density with a similar situation of 1/2 plane full (but 100% E- full).
Sitting in the exit row E+ one row ahead of E-, I'm personally heard of lot of E- seated people in this situation mumble bitterness about the above. And it is sorta true that (with all other plane capacity factors equal) they would have more spacing if they flew another airline without E+. Over time this makes an effect on non-elite fliers.
...thus the alternative in their mind is not them BUYING up to E+ next time, but simply booking another airline altogether period.
In business school, a professor once said, "A company must think of it's best customers today, and also it's future best customers."
By having half the plane empty and not allowing customers to move, as they would on virtually any other carrier, United is just giving up on making these non-elites possible future elites.
Nov 28, 2011, 3:59 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
+1
In business school, a professor once said, "A company must think of it's best customers today, and also it's future best customers."
By having half the plane empty and not allowing customers to move, as they would on virtually any other carrier, United is just giving up on making these non-elites possible future elites.
In business school, a professor once said, "A company must think of it's best customers today, and also it's future best customers."
By having half the plane empty and not allowing customers to move, as they would on virtually any other carrier, United is just giving up on making these non-elites possible future elites.
Nov 28, 2011, 4:06 pm
#79
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
have had this happen several times on the 320 when row 7 (bulkhead) has space. Each time, the FA would come and embarrass the pax (in a kind way) back to his seat. Funny, but its always been a "him" trying to get the e+. One time a pax said that it didnt matter where he sat and the FA got the first officer to come and help the pax understand. love the fact that they enforce this. Now only if they were this good at enforcing boarding order........
Last edited by LufthansaFlyer; Nov 28, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Nov 28, 2011, 6:03 pm
#80
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 66
+1
In business school, a professor once said, "A company must think of it's best customers today, and also it's future best customers."
By having half the plane empty and not allowing customers to move, as they would on virtually any other carrier, United is just giving up on making these non-elites possible future elites.
In business school, a professor once said, "A company must think of it's best customers today, and also it's future best customers."
By having half the plane empty and not allowing customers to move, as they would on virtually any other carrier, United is just giving up on making these non-elites possible future elites.
Nov 29, 2011, 6:41 pm
#81
In memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Programs: UA, US, AS, Marriott, Radisson, Hilton
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In business school, a professor once said, "A company must think of it's best customers today, and also it's future best customers."
By having half the plane empty and not allowing customers to move,
as they would on virtually any other carrier, United is just giving up on making
these non-elites possible future elites.
as they would on virtually any other carrier, United is just giving up on making
these non-elites possible future elites.
puts paid to the possibility that they'll pay in future for the privilege.
Nov 29, 2011, 6:57 pm
#82
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
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On recent flights to/from IST on TK, I upgraded to their premium economy product which is very nice (certainly more than E+).
What was interesting was that once we did pushback from the gate, the flight attendants came through the cabin and put a sticker on each empty seat in premium economy that said something to the effect of "premium economy only" - I guess that keeps people out and eliminates seat poaching.
While Economy plus on UA is not as distinguishable of a product as Business or First from pure sight, it is nonetheless, a separate product that comes with its own price tag.
I really don't see why anyone should complain about it any more or less than First or Business being completely empty while E- is completely full.
What was interesting was that once we did pushback from the gate, the flight attendants came through the cabin and put a sticker on each empty seat in premium economy that said something to the effect of "premium economy only" - I guess that keeps people out and eliminates seat poaching.
While Economy plus on UA is not as distinguishable of a product as Business or First from pure sight, it is nonetheless, a separate product that comes with its own price tag.
I really don't see why anyone should complain about it any more or less than First or Business being completely empty while E- is completely full.
Nov 29, 2011, 7:46 pm
#83
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
I just wished I had these problems.
Sent my assistant to a US trip and we contemplated buying up to E+ for her ... but seeing that there was plenty of space across E- and only middles in E+ on her segments, she happily declined.
On the Asia routes, everyone has E+ access, it seems
.
Sent my assistant to a US trip and we contemplated buying up to E+ for her ... but seeing that there was plenty of space across E- and only middles in E+ on her segments, she happily declined.
On the Asia routes, everyone has E+ access, it seems
.