Will UA restore the 500 mile minimums for elites?
Sep 25, 2008, 6:16 pm
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
Follow up: I just booked for next Friday night, with a Sunday night return. The return was a problem. Any evening flight, other than the last which gets in at midnight was, minimum, $366. I decided to bite the bullet and get in late and got a $233 fare, which wasn't bad at all, though still more than VX.
Sep 25, 2008, 6:25 pm
#62
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: UA 1K/2MM, HHonors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 2,505
Just sent my email. This affects me too as I fly a lot of BUR-SFO to connect onto other UA flights.
Sep 26, 2008, 8:11 am
#63
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1.5 Million Mile flyer, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz 5* and PC since 1985
Posts: 5,611
I just got this response which I like.
Dear Mr. BDLORD,
I regret to learn from your email about your dissatisfaction with our
new Mileage Plus accrual policy for flights less than 500 miles.
Mr. BDLORD, I am aware from your correspondence that Continental and
American Airlines have offered the 500 mile minimum while United has
not. I understand your disappointment. As a 1K customer, your comments
are duly taken into consideration. Rest assured I have shared your
constructive comments and suggestions with our Mileage Plus Department
for internal review. Please know that we want to understand how policy
change feels from your point of view.
Mr. BDLORD, as a 1K Member of our Mileage Plus program, we appreciate
your support and look forward to delivering quality service when you
travel with us to destinations around the world. I hope you give us an
opportunity to provide you the service you expect from United Airlines.
Regards,
XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
United Airlines Customer Relations
Dear Mr. BDLORD,
I regret to learn from your email about your dissatisfaction with our
new Mileage Plus accrual policy for flights less than 500 miles.
Mr. BDLORD, I am aware from your correspondence that Continental and
American Airlines have offered the 500 mile minimum while United has
not. I understand your disappointment. As a 1K customer, your comments
are duly taken into consideration. Rest assured I have shared your
constructive comments and suggestions with our Mileage Plus Department
for internal review. Please know that we want to understand how policy
change feels from your point of view.
Mr. BDLORD, as a 1K Member of our Mileage Plus program, we appreciate
your support and look forward to delivering quality service when you
travel with us to destinations around the world. I hope you give us an
opportunity to provide you the service you expect from United Airlines.
Regards,
XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
United Airlines Customer Relations
Sep 26, 2008, 8:16 am
#64
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,330
And this is all the more reason to write your letters folks if you haven't done so today. Each and every one of your fellow flyer talkers appreciates and thanks you for it.
Sep 26, 2008, 8:24 am
#65
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1.5 Million Mile flyer, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz 5* and PC since 1985
Posts: 5,611
Well, at least (whether true or not) it shows that they are 'reviewing' this situation. Let's hope UA decides to restore this for it's Elites.
And this is all the more reason to write your letters folks if you haven't done so today. Each and every one of your fellow flyer talkers appreciates and thanks you for it.
And this is all the more reason to write your letters folks if you haven't done so today. Each and every one of your fellow flyer talkers appreciates and thanks you for it.
Sep 26, 2008, 8:39 am
#66
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IND
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, National Exec Elite
Posts: 586
I got a different response
At least it appears we're not getting canned responses. I like the part about entering all of our comments into a report for internal use. Maybe it will actually be viewed by somebody.
Dear Mr. Frekwentflier,
I regret to learn from your email about your dissatisfaction with our Mileage Plus accrual policy for flights less than 500 miles.
Your feedback about Continental and American Airlines reinstating its 500-mile minimum policy for elite members is important to us and in fact, helps us analyze our decisions that impact your travel experience. Please be assured that your comments will be included in a report to the Mileage plus Marketing Management team for internal use.
Please know that all of us at United are firmly committed to our most important asset - you. Thank you for taking the time to let us know your thoughts. As a 1K member, we appreciate your support and look forward to meeting your travel needs in the future.
Regards,
Joe/Jane in another country
United Airlines Customer Relations
Dear Mr. Frekwentflier,
I regret to learn from your email about your dissatisfaction with our Mileage Plus accrual policy for flights less than 500 miles.
Your feedback about Continental and American Airlines reinstating its 500-mile minimum policy for elite members is important to us and in fact, helps us analyze our decisions that impact your travel experience. Please be assured that your comments will be included in a report to the Mileage plus Marketing Management team for internal use.
Please know that all of us at United are firmly committed to our most important asset - you. Thank you for taking the time to let us know your thoughts. As a 1K member, we appreciate your support and look forward to meeting your travel needs in the future.
Regards,
Joe/Jane in another country
United Airlines Customer Relations
Sep 26, 2008, 8:41 am
#67
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,490
I've just e-mailed 1K Voice with the same polite request.
The impact on us this year has been minimal - we've lost less than 1/2 of 1% of our EQMs and bonus miles - but our flying habits might change. Besides, even the loss of a couple of hundred EQMs could prove significant in qualifying for status or upgrade instruments. @:-)
Cheers,
Fredd
The impact on us this year has been minimal - we've lost less than 1/2 of 1% of our EQMs and bonus miles - but our flying habits might change. Besides, even the loss of a couple of hundred EQMs could prove significant in qualifying for status or upgrade instruments. @:-)
Cheers,
Fredd
Last edited by Fredd; Sep 26, 2008 at 9:20 am Reason: tipo
Sep 26, 2008, 9:14 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,857
Right. Mine was different from the ones posted. For instance, it didn't reference AA (I hadn't referred to them in my original email either, since I don't think they ever changed anything).
Guess I'll send another one on behalf of my wife
Guess I'll send another one on behalf of my wife
Sep 26, 2008, 9:20 am
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
AA has made no changes to its 500 mile minimum policy (it never followed US or UA or CO on that issue), so the references to AA "reinstating" the minimum are odd.
Sep 26, 2008, 10:11 am
#70
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,663
I have the weirdest reply ever:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me again. Our office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00a - 7:00p central time. I regret that I've missed your email.
If this is not in regards to the issue we previously handled or if this matter is urgent you may contact our 1K toll free number at (800) XXX-XXXX and select the appropriate option. You will be connected, on a priority basis with one of our most experienced agents. Otherwise I will respond to your email as soon as possible.
Thank you for your business and for choosing United Airlines.
If this is not in regards to the issue we previously handled or if this matter is urgent you may contact our 1K toll free number at (800) XXX-XXXX and select the appropriate option. You will be connected, on a priority basis with one of our most experienced agents. Otherwise I will respond to your email as soon as possible.
Thank you for your business and for choosing United Airlines.
Sep 26, 2008, 10:14 am
#71
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IND
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, National Exec Elite
Posts: 586
actually, that's my bad. In my original email to 1KVoice, I said AA and CO had both reinstaed 500 mile mins. So this proves something else, that they're actually reading the emails!!
Sep 26, 2008, 11:41 am
#73
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/MM
Posts: 234
I got a similar response, BDLORD.
Sep 26, 2008, 1:56 pm
#74
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,330
Sep 26, 2008, 2:49 pm
#75
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: UA 1K 1MM / AA PP, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 949
Sent my complaint in yesterday.
I griped about UA being hypocritical... I LOVED the new INTL F seat when I flew IAD-FRA earlier this month. I was even impressed with the food service (as compared to other UA flights, not other carriers). At the same time, these ridiculous nickel and diming changes indicate a race to the bottom... so how can UA want to lead the industry with a great INTL C / F product yet no 500mi minimums, for example.
I griped about UA being hypocritical... I LOVED the new INTL F seat when I flew IAD-FRA earlier this month. I was even impressed with the food service (as compared to other UA flights, not other carriers). At the same time, these ridiculous nickel and diming changes indicate a race to the bottom... so how can UA want to lead the industry with a great INTL C / F product yet no 500mi minimums, for example.