The more you spend the worse you are treated
Dec 5, 2011 | 9:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
The more you spend the worse you are treated
Yet another horrible roundtrip to DC.
I am a 1K flying on a B-fare roundtrip from DEN to IAD.
Last night I was in a middle seat on the outbound.
Tomorrow morning on the 8:23AM flight I am in a middle seat again. My upgrade didn't go through even though I used a confirmed regional with a B fare. Unbelievable. I've checked the seat map 25 times so far trying to get a better seat.
I hope United is happy selling people e+ for $49 on top of a $300 fare when I spend $1600 on a roundtrip and get a middle seat both directions - as a 1K.
I try to be positive about things but this airline is now run by a bunch of morons . The more you spend on your ticket the worse the seat.
I am a 1K flying on a B-fare roundtrip from DEN to IAD.
Last night I was in a middle seat on the outbound.
Tomorrow morning on the 8:23AM flight I am in a middle seat again. My upgrade didn't go through even though I used a confirmed regional with a B fare. Unbelievable. I've checked the seat map 25 times so far trying to get a better seat.
I hope United is happy selling people e+ for $49 on top of a $300 fare when I spend $1600 on a roundtrip and get a middle seat both directions - as a 1K.
I try to be positive about things but this airline is now run by a bunch of morons . The more you spend on your ticket the worse the seat.
Dec 5, 2011 | 9:52 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ORD/MDW
Posts: 99
I imagine that it's due to the fact that you are booking very late in the game. Either way, you have a point. It's for people like you that 2P won't get E+ until 24 hours before the flight, which is a step in the right direction.
Dec 5, 2011 | 9:54 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: 1K on UA, Platinum on CO
Posts: 336
Seems like a really important message to deliver to 1K - they need to be able to downgrade these folks - they need to stop selling E+ as an add on - and sell it as an upgrade based on status and availability.
Dec 5, 2011 | 10:02 am
#4
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: 10,096
I hear ya brother. I sat in an E- seat a few weeks ago. Not even an E+ middle available.
But I'm sure everyone else on the 757 was a 1K or UGS too
But I'm sure everyone else on the 757 was a 1K or UGS too
Dec 5, 2011 | 10:03 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Our Nation's Capital
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott BonVoy LT Titanium Elite, National Executive Elite
Posts: 832
United, don't you KNOW who *I* am?
Dec 5, 2011 | 10:06 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 282
I've been in the same boat this year as well. My travel is last minute and usually commands a fare of $900+
On a few of those flights these past 2 months I have ended up in a middle seat on a transcon. Nothing makes a 1k fume more then seating in a middle seat for hours after being loyal to United.
I'm going to see how things shake out the first quarter of next year and then decide if United is worthy of my business.
On a few of those flights these past 2 months I have ended up in a middle seat on a transcon. Nothing makes a 1k fume more then seating in a middle seat for hours after being loyal to United.
I'm going to see how things shake out the first quarter of next year and then decide if United is worthy of my business.
Dec 5, 2011 | 10:36 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 12 stops from ORD
Programs: UA, AA, DL
Posts: 992
It's only a step in the right direction for UA if droves of 2Ps don't end up leaving over the lack of E+ @ booking.
Dec 5, 2011 | 10:39 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
Next week I will be either in Asia or Europe. I will not know until 2-3 days before I have to go.
Dec 5, 2011 | 11:15 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DEN, BOS, HKG, SYD, SFO
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat
Posts: 215
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 ^
Dec 5, 2011 | 11:24 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,955
I feel for you. I remember whenever I had to buy last minute ticket for overseas flight it was B or Y and no upgrade with SWU, bad seats and knowing people who were able to book way in advance for next to nothing were sitting in better seats or upgraded. System is broken.
Dec 5, 2011 | 11:31 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SOW
Programs: UA GS 5 MM, Delta 1.6MM & Hilton Diamond, Avis Chairman, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 771
This is one of my pet peeves with the way UA have been handling F cabins upgrade/buy up space lately. Even when I'm on an paid first ticket, I can not change my ticket even 24 hours in advance since UA fills the F cabin with upgrades or buy ups. If I want to change I'm relegate to the back & unless it is an emergency I'm not going to sit in Y on a paid F ticket.
Dec 5, 2011 | 11:38 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DEN, BOS, HKG, SYD, SFO
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat
Posts: 215
Then again, you could always do what I did once on a flight from BOS to DEN and go "Anyone here want to switch seats? I'm in 21F, and I'll give you $300 in cash for your seat."
I had 3 takers, the FA gave me a massive ... But I got 2F 
Cheers,
Adam
I had 3 takers, the FA gave me a massive
... But I got 2F Cheers,
Adam
Dec 5, 2011 | 12:06 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,823
This will be fixed next year when the silvers can't get E+ prior to T-24h.
Dec 5, 2011 | 12:14 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hertz 5*, Avis First
Posts: 115
I would have been just as mad as you. I find myself in this situation occasionally as I fly last-minute on RJs with high load factors. However, after like the 4th or 5th time this happened, I began to rationalize it for my own sanity in the following way: I pay a lot for the flexibility of being able to book last minute. I get what I paid for - a seat. It isn't the E+ seat I'm entitled to by being a 1P (soon to be 1K!), but it got me where I was trying to go.
As an aside, I have observed that if you check in right at T-24, some previously unavailable E+ seats are usually available, presumably due to UDU.
As an aside, I have observed that if you check in right at T-24, some previously unavailable E+ seats are usually available, presumably due to UDU.
Dec 5, 2011 | 1:37 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: BNE/OOL temporarily-permanently at CAK/PIT
Programs: UA*1K & UA Club, National Ex. Elite, Hertz Pres. Circ., Amex Plat., CLEAR
Posts: 1,703
I would have been just as mad as you. I find myself in this situation occasionally as I fly last-minute on RJs with high load factors. However, after like the 4th or 5th time this happened, I began to rationalize it for my own sanity in the following way: I pay a lot for the flexibility of being able to book last minute. I get what I paid for - a seat. It isn't the E+ seat I'm entitled to by being a 1P (soon to be 1K!), but it got me where I was trying to go.
As an aside, I have observed that if you check in right at T-24, some previously unavailable E+ seats are usually available, presumably due to UDU.
As an aside, I have observed that if you check in right at T-24, some previously unavailable E+ seats are usually available, presumably due to UDU.
Why doesn't United just leave inventory at F2 A1 for people on last minute Y and B fares and create a booking class for E+?