ORD From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 1370 posts, RR: 1 Posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2576 times:
According to today's Wall Street Journal online, United tomorrow will launch a program that allows non-elite Mileage Plus customers access to Economy Plus if space is available (not guaranteed).
According to the article, the cheapest option will be "Economy Plus Access" for $299/year. Access would be given to both the flying passenger and a companion.
For $699/year you get access to Economy Plus as well as to Red Carpet Clubs (normally $500/year by itself).
For $749/year a flier gets access to Economy Plus and the Red Carpet Clubs and only has to fly 15,000 miles or 15 segments to get Premier status.
Afay1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 1293 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2499 times:
Anyone know if it will be retroactive, for instance, if I have already flown more than 15k, but less than 25k this calendar year, will I still get status if I pay the fee?
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 4, posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2468 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 2):
Me too. I rarely ever fly UA (haven't in two years) and have absolutley no status on them, but have always ended up in E+, even paying bargain fares.
That is because you are on empty flights or to have been on a flight where no one else asked. Y+ has always been available to non-elites on bargain fares, they just happen to be the last in line to get it
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Goodmanr From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 297 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 2345 times:
Quoting Afay1 (Reply 3): Anyone know if it will be retroactive, for instance, if I have already flown more than 15k, but less than 25k this calendar year, will I still get status if I pay the fee?
I'd imagine so...My understanding is that it applies for the current qualification period.
MKEdude From South Korea, joined May 2005, 1008 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 2288 times:
Somehow all the United apologists out there will find a demented way to prove that UA really does look out for the little guy. Towing the corporate line for Cattle Car Air.
This is good, periodically I need to be reminded why United is my airline of last resort.
"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline." Frank Zappa
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8748 posts, RR: 52 Reply 7, posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 2219 times:
Quoting Zonky (Reply 1): I've always been curious why they don't ticket/market the class seperately nee VS/BA/NZ and others.
A big difference with the premium economy offered by United compared to others is that UA's premium economy is only a small increase in seat pitch. Other airlines offer bigger seats, wider seats in addition to more legroom. The upgrade is really small. Also there isn't anything in the cabin to make you feel like you justified spending the more money. I think UA would have to curtain off economy plus and enhance it more if they were to sell it as a stand alone premium economy cabin. As of now it is a small perk that is nice for elites and higher fare passengers (since full fare is given a free first class upgrade).
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
Paul From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 374 posts, RR: 4 Reply 8, posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 2193 times:
The reason why they don't ticket the cabin could be because they upgrade so many people on a regular basis. Also, there is no divider between the cabins, E+ is also offered on short hall flights unlike BA and VS. Again, unlike VS and BA which offer a separate cabin, wider seat with greater recline and 38 inches of legroom. There are, apart from the extra legroom, no additional benefits from flying E+ with UA. However if you get a higher grade of ticket they will put you straight into that part of cabin, no questions! I paid for it a year ago flying to chicago, and was then upgraded to Business.
Sshank From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 288 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2090 times:
Somehow all the United apologists out there will find a demented way to prove that UA really does look out for the little guy. Towing the corporate line for Cattle Car Air.
This is good, periodically I need to be reminded why United is my airline of last resort.
Huh?? Are we in some other planet? UA is in the business to make money (and survive in the current scenario). Why would they want to look out for the little guy any more than any other airline unless there is $ to me made doing that? If you want to sit up front, pony up, or fly a lot. In any case, UA Y is no worse than that of any other carrier.
Afay1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 1293 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2044 times:
An important note is (if you read the fine print of the deal on UA's website) is that miles are NOT retroactive towards elite access. You start over when you buy this package. Also, miles/segments earned on codeshare and Star Alliance partners do NOT count. I am a regular DCA-BOS on the USair Shuttle flyer (but buy from UA's website) and was all set do this deal, when I noticed these caveats. Doh!
Zone1 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1033 posts, RR: 7 Reply 12, posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1856 times:
I did E-check in for my first UA revenue flight today, and it offered me an upgrade to Economy Plus for something like $25. I guess this is part of their new initiative. When I bought the ticket they offered me an upgrade to first on my return leg for $60. I am flying BOS-IAD so the upgrades really weren't worth it in my opinion.
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8748 posts, RR: 52 Reply 13, posted (7 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1764 times:
Quoting Zone1 (Reply 12): When I bought the ticket they offered me an upgrade to first on my return leg for $60
They seem to be doing this more often. They offer guaranteed upgrades on some flights at a fee that is 20% over the upgrade that you would get within 24 hours (more for elites) of departure. (A first class upgrade for an elite member would have cost $50 for IAD to BOS). It seems like UA does this on flights that usually won't have the first class cabin full, and if you applied for an upgrade you would almost be guaranteed it. I have had it happen to me on a 757 flight from LAX to SEA (24 first class seats are a lot to fill on that flight). I guess they didn't expect to be able to sell many first class seats on your flight. Nowadays first class is getting affordable, especially with discounted first class seats being only about 50-75% more than economy, which is a big change from the past.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
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