The more you spend the worse you are treated
Dec 5, 2011, 2:11 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: UA 1K MM, HH Gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 1,478
For every one complaint I read here about why doesn't UA hold some F seat back for last minutes Y and B fares passengers, there are 10 complaints here about UDU not clearing at windows with empty F seats.
Last edited by CAPT Tee; Dec 5, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Dec 5, 2011, 2:27 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: NRT-ORD-LHR-KUL
Programs: UA-GS, AA-EXP
Posts: 1,112
That's life I'm afraid. I usually book my TPAC trips a few days out, if not the night before. The best C seats are usually gone and most of the C-F upgrades have usually cleared already...Just pot luck lately getting a decent seat.
Dec 5, 2011, 2:27 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
Programs: UA GS, DL Plat, Marriott Bonvoy LIfetime Titanium/SPG refugee, Hertz Prez, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,201
I don't book last minute travel and so I speak only out of theory, not experience, but if one is going to be relegated to E- and it's a crappy middle seat (or for me, I'd equally dislike the window seat), why not book it on US or CO if you can get a better seat? It's still *A and you still earn miles but if you're in E- in a crappy seat then the primary benefit of UA (E+ options when not in FC or possibly going to clear into FC) is negated and you might as well book for the better seat within our several *A options (and add in AC (with superior IFE) if you're Canada-bound).
Dec 5, 2011, 2:45 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - 1K 2MM
Posts: 2,089
All joking aside, the interests of 2Ps and 1Ks are sometimes unfortunately opposed and simply can't be reconciled. 2Ps hate the new program as they will have trouble getting E+. But 1Ks who book late will be much better off. So really, a 1K with this current complaint (no E+ when booking late) ought to be saying "I really like the post-merger M+ changes". But do we? Noooooo. (Well, I actually do. With me as a 2MM, my wife Starwoman now gets Premier Platinum for life, which is beyond my wildest dreams, and probably way too generous. But that's another story).
Dec 5, 2011, 2:48 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
Not being all that sarcastic, if it's a last-minute thing why not just fly Southwest? You're talking about a 3.5 hour flight, and if you fly B.S. you'll be guaranteed to at least get a non-sucky seat.
Just a thought ... Loyalty goes in both directions.*
Cheers,
Adam
*Note: I haven't flown SWA all year, and am doing a BOS<>SFO 1 day trip to cement my 1K this year, so just being pragmatic ^
Just a thought ... Loyalty goes in both directions.*
Cheers,
Adam
*Note: I haven't flown SWA all year, and am doing a BOS<>SFO 1 day trip to cement my 1K this year, so just being pragmatic ^
My next couple of flights are on southwest.
I have 175 bis miles on United this year and there they have made it so there is literally no benefit to flying them once you hit 100k.
Dec 5, 2011, 2:54 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
Southwest is far better than united for last minute flights. I should ha booked southwest. I was traveling and my secretary booked the flight and when I saw how bad it was it was too late.
My next couple of flights are on southwest.
I have 175 bis miles on United this year and there they have made it so there is literally no benefit to flying them once you hit 100k.
My next couple of flights are on southwest.
I have 175 bis miles on United this year and there they have made it so there is literally no benefit to flying them once you hit 100k.
Dec 5, 2011, 3:46 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA: 1K, HH: Diamond
Posts: 1,330
+1
All joking aside, the interests of 2Ps and 1Ks are sometimes unfortunately opposed and simply can't be reconciled. 2Ps hate the new program as they will have trouble getting E+. But 1Ks who book late will be much better off. So really, a 1K with this current complaint (no E+ when booking late) ought to be saying "I really like the post-merger M+ changes". But do we? Noooooo. (Well, I actually do. With me as a 2MM, my wife Starwoman now gets Premier Platinum for life, which is beyond my wildest dreams, and probably way too generous. But that's another story).
All joking aside, the interests of 2Ps and 1Ks are sometimes unfortunately opposed and simply can't be reconciled. 2Ps hate the new program as they will have trouble getting E+. But 1Ks who book late will be much better off. So really, a 1K with this current complaint (no E+ when booking late) ought to be saying "I really like the post-merger M+ changes". But do we? Noooooo. (Well, I actually do. With me as a 2MM, my wife Starwoman now gets Premier Platinum for life, which is beyond my wildest dreams, and probably way too generous. But that's another story).
-- won't it be a bit easier in some ways? Will non-elite people still be able to buy E+ farther out than the 2Ps can get it?
Dec 5, 2011, 4:17 pm
#24
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: near to SFO and LHR
Programs: BA Gold, B6 Mosiac, VS, AA, DL (and a legacy UA 2MM)
Posts: 2,274
Not sure that United should hold back F seats until the last minute (since there are so few of them these days), but I don't see why they can't hold back some E+ seats until the last minute. Would this require a separate booking class, as the other person suggested?
Dec 5, 2011, 4:27 pm
#25
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,037
I don't book last minute travel and so I speak only out of theory, not experience, but if one is going to be relegated to E- and it's a crappy middle seat (or for me, I'd equally dislike the window seat), why not book it on US or CO if you can get a better seat? It's still *A and you still earn miles but if you're in E- in a crappy seat then the primary benefit of UA (E+ options when not in FC or possibly going to clear into FC) is negated and you might as well book for the better seat within our several *A options (and add in AC (with superior IFE) if you're Canada-bound).
My example is ORD-DCA. I fly this often for work, and it usually is with very little notice (not by my choice - it drives me crazy!).
My choices are American Eagle or UA. An E- seat is better than Eagle IMHO, an anyways, UA's frequency is better.
US and CO would require a connection - when I'm traveling for work I have neither the time nor the inclination to do that. And I'm not sure why you think seating options would be better on CO or US at the last minute anyways?
In my opinion, there should be no upgrades ahead of time - just send everyone to the DM list and upgrade people in the regular order on the day of travel.
+1
All joking aside, the interests of 2Ps and 1Ks are sometimes unfortunately opposed and simply can't be reconciled. 2Ps hate the new program as they will have trouble getting E+. But 1Ks who book late will be much better off. So really, a 1K with this current complaint (no E+ when booking late) ought to be saying "I really like the post-merger M+ changes". But do we? Noooooo.
All joking aside, the interests of 2Ps and 1Ks are sometimes unfortunately opposed and simply can't be reconciled. 2Ps hate the new program as they will have trouble getting E+. But 1Ks who book late will be much better off. So really, a 1K with this current complaint (no E+ when booking late) ought to be saying "I really like the post-merger M+ changes". But do we? Noooooo.
Just my two cents.
Oh and also, UDU sucks for the same reason. I don't have a problem with unlimited upgrades, but at least make people request them. And again, I don't think everyone should be upgraded in advance. Wait until day of - it would be much more "fair" that way, IMHO.
Dec 5, 2011, 5:20 pm
#26
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
In fact, I would argue that they should hold back F seats before E+ seats.
Dec 5, 2011, 6:30 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,357
Yes, see the consolidated changes to MP for 2012 thread (sticky) in the consolidated UA forum. This is fact.
Dec 5, 2011, 6:33 pm
#29
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA MM Gold
Posts: 1,193
Dec 5, 2011, 6:43 pm
#30
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MEL
Programs: VAG
Posts: 1,865
It seems to me that an unavoidable consequence of the idea that you get to reserve your seat at the time of booking is that people who book at the last minute are likely to wind up with lousy seats. I don't think this can be solved from an operational point of view.