Food for Thought: F meal IND-PHX

[DrBeth]

For all of you naysayers, feel free to join FFOCUS and read the discussion. It is contained in this thread at FFOCUS, which began on the topic of US' companion upgrade policy and turned to the discussion of the photo:

http://www.ffocus.org/members/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5178&start=0

I have posted most of what the OP said, but if you don't believe me, come read for yourself.

Or you can keep living in denial. It really doesn't affect me one way or the other.

 

[Itestwell]

In fact, after many of us left US, he stayed loyal. But I believe this may be one of his last straws. He's moving his business to CO.

Ok, but then he'll have to make a connection every time, and upgrades at CO are near impossible, so he'll end up in coach on rock hard seats, paying for food, which, sadly, makes US the better choice!

It's a lose- lose.

 

[US1YFARE]

Ok, but then he'll have to make a connection every time, and upgrades at CO are near impossible, so he'll end up in coach on rock hard seats, paying for food, which, sadly, makes US the better choice!

It's a lose- lose.

Not necessarily. If you buy M, B, and Y fares, as a CO Plat you can get a FC seat at the time of booking. Also, CO has many Z fares that are cheaper than some Y's and even B fares. And, with reciprocal upgrades coming on UA and UA E+ access, as well as all of the codesharing with UA and the ability to use US when absolutely necessary, not necessarily a lose-lose as you put it. I've been quite happy at CO.

 

[DrBeth]

Ok, but then he'll have to make a connection every time, and upgrades at CO are near impossible, so he'll end up in coach on rock hard seats, paying for food, which, sadly, makes US the better choice!

It's a lose- lose.

The OP of the photo understands the challenges of flying another airline out of PHX. However, he did say that he would make 75k EQMs, therefore CO Platinum, on an airline where employees and customers still matter.

I have a travel client who is CO Platinum, former US CP for 10+ years (as long as that level has existed), and he does have more connections from his home airport than he did with US, but he has been very pleased with the product and service he's received. I think last year he only missed a couple of upgrades when we purchased the lowest fare. As US1YFARE explained it quite well, there are opportunities for CO and UA elites with their cooperative relationship to which US elites are not privy, such as reciprocal upgrades and E+. CO elites have the option to purchase B-up, M-up, and Y-up fares (and earn bonus mileage on those fares), or use miles to upgrade. The CO and US Y products are nearly equal, so I don't see how it's a lose-lose.

 

[SS255]

CO and US products are not equal: US has more comfortable Y seats, and on most aircraft CO has or is adding power ports and Live TV. The 752's have power ports and AVOD. I guess once CO stops serving free meals in Y, they will be more "equal" than they are now.

 

[DrBeth]

CO and US products are not equal: US has more comfortable Y seats, and on most aircraft CO has or is adding power ports and Live TV. The 752's have power ports and AVOD. I guess once CO stops serving free meals in Y, they will be more "equal" than they are now.

I am not sure which I find better! I guess I'm spoiled from being upgraded frequently!

Perhaps DL is better in Y than both CO and US, since the seats have been/are being been refurbished and they have/will have IFE and Gogo Inflight on a majority of the mainline fleet in 2010.

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

And, with reciprocal upgrades coming on UA and UA E+ access, as well as all of the codesharing with UA and the ability to use US when absolutely necessary...

Would being a CO FF put you behind pure UA FF for upgrades on UA or on US for that matter?

"Dr." Beth could you answer this?

 

[BoeingBoy]

Would being a CO FF put you behind pure UA FF for upgrades on UA or on US for that matter?

I can answer part of it. US doesn't have reciprocal upgrades with either CO or UA. There is the occasional "field upgrade" when coach is oversold and an elite from one has gotten an upgrade on the other, but that's rare. US elites don't even have access to UA's E+ seating (don't know about CO when they install E+). While I don't know, I assume that each carrier's elites (CO & UA) would come first.

Basically CO and UA seem to be aligning elite benefits and access to those benefits, while US is the odd man out.

Jim

 

[veritasaequitas]

Look up FFocus on the internet. This group originally started to harass USAirways and their employees and has tried to extort free flights and first class upgrades from USAirways for many years.

They keep on saying they are flying on another airline, using the free market choice, but they always come back with vengeance in their hearts no matter what flag of right and wrong they choose to fly on any particular day.

UA and Continental airlines are rumored to merge in the future, hence their motive on combining "elite benefits".

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

Look up FFocus on the internet. This group originally started to harass USAirways and their employees and has tried to extort free flights and first class upgrades from USAirways for many years.

They keep on saying they are flying on another airline, using the free market choice, but they always come back with vengeance in their hearts no matter what flag of right and wrong they choose to fly on any particular day.

B I N G O

 

[veritasaequitas]

link to a common extortion type web posting

 

[SS255]

Would being a CO FF put you behind pure UA FF for upgrades on UA or on US for that matter?

When CO and UA's reciprocal upgrade program goes into effect later this year, upgrades on UA will follow this structure:

UAL UGS
UAL 1K
UAL 1P
CO Platinum
CO Gold
UAL 2P
CO Silver

Unfortunately (or some would say "fortunately), neither US nor CO have announced any form of reciprocal upgrades. CO's relationship with US does seem to be a bit more friendly than UA's, since both CO PC members and US Club members can access each others' lounges without having same-day boarding passes. If a US Club member wishes to access a UA RCC, they need a same-day boarding pass for UA.

It's too bad that CO and US don't have reciprocal upgrade access. I really think it would drive more business to US. On the flip side, since CO elites barely ever get upgraded on CO, I doubt many US flyers would book CO instead of US. The free upgrades are much more plentiful on US.......which is probably why they can get away with serving meals like the one which started this thread.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Look up FFocus on the internet. This group originally started to harass USAirways.

UA and Continental airlines are rumored to merge in the future, hence their motive on combining "elite benefits".

Too bad US Airways management has no use for high yield customers. May be why UA and CO refuse to join forces with the girl having no standards.

 

[Itestwell]

I am not sure which I find better! I guess I'm spoiled from being upgraded frequently!

Perhaps DL is better in Y than both CO and US, since the seats have been/are being been refurbished and they have/will have IFE and Gogo Inflight on a majority of the mainline fleet in 2010.

Perhaps! Get 'em girl!

I will say, tho, we US gals take care of our CP's with what little we have, and we will continue to! We ain't no Delta, but we still fight...

 

[Itestwell]

The OP of the photo understands the challenges of flying another airline out of PHX. However, he did say that he would make 75k EQMs, therefore CO Platinum, on an airline where employees and customers still matter.

Sorry, but customers still matter to me, as well as all of my friends that I am happy to work with. You FF's matter more than you know!