UA_Flyer

Do people really drink that much on long-haul? I know it is not recommended to drink too much on long haul flights.

I know I have never stop considering not flying UA across the pond because having to pay for booze.

Hmbrglar

Question?

What if, hypothetically, instead of debit/credit they just charged the credit card in which the ticket was purchased with? Or, if using vouchers of a DB Free ticket the individual when booking or checking in - could select a form of payment. The FA could take your ticket stub and then assign check marks or other charges.

Is it possible?

UnitedF1RST

Totally agree. These are all changes I can live with, and the new snack items are good ideas!

Is this an actual enhancement?

mahasamatman

Some do. There are even posts on FT where people brag about having a dozen drinks or more.

Not everyone uses their own card. Many companies will not pay for employee booze.

Just think - this raises the value of being a 1K. Those drink tickets are now worth even more...

gijoe24jp

I agree that most people don't care about the $6 drink.

BUT!!!

Schedule - Well, UA started cutting NGO/TPE/HKG (from LAX) and other transpacific routes, so schedule-wise, they do not have advantage.

Mileage program - If the current trend continues, I don't know how long Mileage Plus will last, or if it means anything. Next change - No more 100% RDM unless you purchase full-fare! I see that happening in the near future.

Economy Plus - Unless you are 6 ft +, you will not notice the difference that much.

Price - Expensive compared to other Asian airlines like MH/CI/BR. My sister will fly from LAX to TPE on MH in August. She paid $750 for her ticket. UA charged $1500 during the same period.

As you can see, I don't think UA has any advantage on these items over Asian airlines. They may have a little advantage with their mileage program, but they can't compete in terms of service, food, and fare.

Check airline review here:
http://www.airlinequality.com/main/forum.htm

United...unfortunately, received far worse score than most top Asian airlines.

Loyalty only goes this far!

SkiAdcock

Yeah yeah, we can all say this won't make a dif to us (FTers, especially elites), but it's just another degrade. To say otherwise is just stoopid (IMO).

I am surprised it took so long for them to align transpac w/ transatl though re: the booze charges.

BTW - am I the only person who interpreted the we're enlisting the feedback from our FAs to mean we're reducing your ranks which means you're going to have more work, so if you can come up w/ some ideas on how to reduce the work for yourselves (and save us some $$) we're all ears.

And charging for cookies now on international flights? What-the-hay? Oh yeah, besides the booze charges if by chance you want something in the middle of the flight that we used to provide after the small servings you did get, we're now going to charge you $3-5 for them.

But please feel good about bending over, because besides hitting you w/ the fuel charges (which should actually cover that fuel issue problem), & the 1st checked bag fee & the booze fees, please stay bent over for the next round of fees that will 'enhance' your experience. Or, as we like to say, welcome to your newst LCC airline while we pretend to be a full-service airline.

OVMV.

Cheers.

mahasamatman

Only if you're going to NGO or TPE, which apparently not too many people to (or they would be canceling something else).

At least as long as any other.

You're dead wrong on that one. Even people of average height get good advantage from E+. I wouldn't even consider flying anything over 2 hours in Coach without it.

ErthCrclr

Keep the cookies. But taking away free transpac Absolut? The skies just got less friendlier.

Colin

My prediction for the next revenue enhancement is the elimination of free/sticker elite upgrades on discount Y fares.

Looking forward to this change, actually. I'd be happy to pay $1K for a roundtrip mid-con flight everytime in domestic F. But no, UA wants $2K for the seat, which doesn't sell -- which goes to an elite for free.

Don't even keep status on UA anymore. Sh!tty airline, sh!tty mileage program for paid J/F. Just put all the miles into BD for the domestic flights and never pay to fly United longhaul.

Here's hoping they hold on until after Christmas.

ual744777sta

But cheap fares on CI/MH/BR you don't earn miles or at least 100%.

cepheid

I wholeheartedly disagree. I'm 5'10" and I notice the difference... quite a lot. On my most recent AA trip in the very back of an MD80, I was softly crying inside...

Even my 5'3" wife notices and appreciates the difference.

Did they used to give cookies for free with the meal? There's no mention in the OP of the meal going away, BTW.

This doesn't apply to international itineraries... yet, anyway.

Mmhmm, and all the legacies are headed this way. AA and US are already there. It's only a matter of time before DL/NW and CO follow.

Boghopper

I'm not sure the booze makes all that much difference. People just don't drink as much as they used to, and the wine they serve in Y is terrible. I don't even drink it for free. The alchoholics will move elsewhere, but I don't know that 12 or 14 hours without subpar booze is going to make much of a difference. Seems that price and loyalty programs will matter more. Looking out into next year, UA's fares look pretty competitive at the moment.

SkiAdcock

Didn't say that UA didn't offer meals on int'l in E. And while I haven't flown UA int'ly E in a while, last time I did they did still offer 'mid-flight snacks' for free, although of a lesser calibre than C/F. Now they're charging for those.

Not familiar w/ the changes in AA/DL/NW in E on int'l to paint them w/ the same brush as UA - can someone do a side-by-side re: E services & FA cutbacks - ie, are the others charging for cookies, cutting back FAs, etc?

And again - does anyone really think asking FAs for ways to reduce their workload cuz there will be less of them is an 'enhancement'?

After 25 years of traveling w/ UA, if they continue the cutbacks (albeit most of which don't - yet - impact me), I am now thinking of flying the int'l airlines that DO still offer service & don't nickel & dime.

Truthfully, is RCC for life worth trying for the 2MM & continuing w/ UA vs flying someone else who still offers service & a reasonable price?

OVMV. Cheers.

cepheid

But did they used to give cookies, chips, or other snacks for free besides the meal? If not, then charging $3 for these à la carte snacks is certainly no devaluation.

That all depends on how close you are, how many more years you plan to use the RCC (assuming they stay in business, of course), and whether you even like the RCC. If you don't pay for it now, it's probably not worth it. If you do pay for it, it's worth whatever it costs you times however many years you won't have to pay it minus the perceived aggravation you may incur by flying on UA, which is a value only you can provide.

SkiAdcock

Yes, the midflight snacks were free. Usually the FAs just waved you over to them rather than interupt their chatting w/ each other. They were on a cart near the back of the galley.

I'm about 500K away from 2MM; should have been closer but less flights last couple of years. But that may change in '09 & I'm starting to think about (remember I'm a loyal UA flyer for 25 years) of drinking the kool-aid of other airlines that provide better services & don't nickel & dime you rather than staying w/ UA just for RCC for life (which stoopidly I didn't buy years ago, but back then I couldn't afford it).

RCC for Life IMO is NOT worth flying an airline that keeps cutting back. If UA kept some of the features/bennies they've offered to date, but the snip, cut, snip, cut, snip, cut, at least has this loyal flyer of thinking of checking out the competition (especially w/ the min 500 going away, another devaluation).

OVMV. Cheers.