#United airpass free#
Access to the priority line and auto upgrades, etc.) but they’d save the cost of free flights in the future. Perhaps they could still offer the company’s employees “elite like” benefits (e.g. Given that a bunch of miles are on corporate contracts, I wonder how a company would react if they were offered a cheaper contract rate but with fares that do not earn miles. While it devalues the frequent flyer program, I’m not quite sure how much more so than any of the other devaluations. Very few of them would be able to influence the corporate policy, yet the expectation is they be showered with perks as if they were personally writing the checks!ĭo you not think a lot of the controversy over loyalty and perks would diminish if the perks were only given to those paying significant fares for their flights?ĬF, I’m actually kinda surprised you’re against this given that you’re a fan of unbundling airline services. The passengers aren’t choosing United over American, but are flying who the company tells them (often based on cheapest deal available). Yes, they fly a lot and thus contribute significant revenue, but for the most part they are tied to specific airlines by corporate contracts with deep discounted fares. My opinion is a lot of ‘elite’ passengers are not actually ‘elite’ from the airlines point of view when you look beneath the surface.
#United airpass plus#
If this was the case, shouldn’t the airlines (and I believe some, maybe even UA, have tried) ‘sell’ elite status at the start of the year for some price? This would be a lot easier for them and they get the money straight away, plus all the money when people do fly. It always puzzles me that people would actually strive to get elite status, going out of there way to spend money on an airline which they otherwise wouldn’t, just to get miles/points, access to a priority line or a lounge? But we know elite passengers find it valuable, and if this makes it easier for them to break the bonds of loyalty, then it’s not a good move.īottom line: While I could previously not get any of these benefits without becoming elite, I now have no real reason to do so except to get fees waived. It’s entirely possible that regular passengers won’t find it worthwhile to buy up here, and if that’s the case, then the first case won’t happen. The cost savings you can get by diversifying your flying to other airlines that are likely less costly will easily pay for the few times you need to pay for the elite line pass. Chances are you aren’t always traveling at peak times, so you can save your payment for only those times when the regular lines are bad. Now if you can just pay for it when you travel, you can be much smarter about it. Getting priority lines used to be a big deal for elites, and it made people strive for that status. Second and possibly more importantly, you make becoming an elite less worthwhile as well. It just means more people will use the lines degrading the experience for the elite member. This is effectively United competing with CLEAR, but instead of an annual subscription, you pay per play. (I use the quotes because they aren’t so elite anymore.) Now you add even more people and you end up clogging up the line further.
#United airpass full#
Now, it’s really not that tough to become a Premier, and often half the plane is full of “elite” members. It used to be that getting elite status wasn’t the easiest thing around, and upgrades were easier to get. There are two reasons why I think this is a bad idea.įirst, you clog up the elite lines with even more people. Now, United is saying that nothing is sacred, and anything elites can get, you can buy on your own. Sure, people want access to the priority lines, and that’s one reason why people strive for elite status. Now, United is opening it up to “a limited number of customers each hour based on time of departure” and that has me shaking my head.
Now, the difference between being Premier and being Joe Schmo is becoming blurred further by allowing anyone to buy access to elite lines starting at $25.ĭennis Cary, SVP, CMO, COO, and undoubtedly owner of some other TLAs as well, correctly says “When we asked our customers what travel services are most important to them, they told us that access to priority lines was something they value highly.” It’s absolutely true that they are considered valuable, and that’s why they’re reserved for elite members. It may seem like a fair reward for devoting your business to United, but the airline continues to devalue elite benefits. No fees, special lines, and free upgrades to Economy Plus. Ah the life of an elite member on United.
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