Comments on: Downgrades: United nixes participation in Star Alliance Upgrades

By: dudette

dudette — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:02:37 +0000

I am a Lufthansa Miles and More card holder with Frequent Flier (Silver) status. I have tried to upgrade from eco to business on international UA code share flights - with no success - more then 10 times this year.
I’ve heard the same thing from many of my colleagues, 5 of whom have Senator (Gold) status. UA doesn’t seem to be accepting any upgrade requests from other Star Alliance partners either.

By: Venetian

Venetian — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:41:31 +0000

Not all Mileage Plus members are Americans. It is more probable that those hogging European flights are Europeans. The vast majority of American members do most of their flying domestically.

By: euroman

euroman — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:26:06 +0000

I am not at all unhappy about this. Upgrades were far too easy to get for Mileage Plus members in comparison to other airlines and considering that UA’s product was so bad, tons of Americans were hogging C and F seats on Lufthansa, SAS, SQ and the likes.

By: The Global Traveller

The Global Traveller — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 01:05:35 +0000

Coincidentally, Air New Zealand has joined the *A mileage upgrade scheme today and despite listing United as a participant, it is currently not possible to upgrade on United with Airpoints.

Personally I think the problem is not that other airlines are worried about United Mileage Plus members taking all the upgrades (although that is a problem given how freely Mileage Plus miles are handed out and the sheer size of the program). Rather, that like awards there is a net imbalance in the system. Mileage Plus redemptions (and upgrades while they were available) on other airlines likely far outweigh redemptions and upgrades made by other programs on United. For that United Mileage Plus has to pay hard cash to the other programs. I see these developments as merely an extension of the restrictions Mileage Plus imposes on award redemptions, for the same reason. They don’t want to be paying other Star Alliance airlines too much money.

This really comes back to the vast supply of Mileage Plus miles. As long as almost all redemptions are on United flights they can easily control the cost of the miles by restricting availability or changes in award costs and rules. Now with awards and upgrades on Star Alliance airlines being more attractive, Mileage Plus is probably finding it hard to keep control of the cost and thus resorting to these kind of brute measures.

By: Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:04:00 +0000

Alohastephen,
I think you posted this comment on the wrong thread. I’ll reply at the original post, here:
http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/09/upgrades-and-downgrades-july-9-2007-changes-but-will-they-do-you-good/

By: Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:57:31 +0000

Fair enough, but that shouldn’t “excuse” removing a benefit with no warning. And if you’ve ever flown some of the other Star Alliance member airlines in a premium class, you know that those seats are more desirable than their United counterparts. At least for now. UA is upgrading their seats. We’ll see if their service is updated commensurately.

By: Aloha Stephen

Aloha Stephen — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:44:10 +0000

Regarding Upgraded: Free wireless calling

So does this mean that I could carry my wireless router outside the country and set up my own US Domestic phone number in Japan?

By: TravelGirlDC

TravelGirlDC — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:50:29 +0000

At least you can stil use your miles for an upgrade on UA. I have both UA and CO status. On CO without paying a hefty fee and buying an expensive fare class you are sitting in the back of the bus. People can b!tch about UA all they want but unless you are ponying up for full fare biz/first tickets, UA is still one of the best programs for lowly coach fare passengers to upgrade into premium cabins for international travel.

By: Dan Hill

Dan Hill — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:08:56 +0000

I bet part of the problem is that Singapore Airlines is simply embarrased to be in the same alliance as United. I flew United international first class last week (PEK to SFO) and it’s not even as good as Singapore’s old business class!