USAIR Chairmans Preferred Looking to move to new airline

[FF-US-FLIER]

I am a USAir CP, and I am about fed up with the airline and the new merger.

My travel with US has been over 120 segments per year leaving out of PHL. I am looking to move airlines. I would like to stay in the Star Alliance, but would like to start using United to fly me for my business.

I am at the point right now where I am willing to do this. The 120 segments I flew last year with US, were no stops from PHL. If I move over to United, I would more then double that since PHL is not a United hub and would have to layover in ORD or IAD.

Can someone give me some information if United even gives comps to their prefered status from other airlines, and if so, how do I go about requesting it? I had flown 127K atcual miles last year without prefered bonuses, and are looking to do the same if not more this year. I would love to give United my money, but I dont want to start at the bottom (AGAIN)

Thanks in advance.

 

[US1YFARE]

UA will typically match CP for UA Premier Exec...they did me last year...I would wait until January and ask them to match status then...If the merger goes through with CO, CO will match Platinum status for CP. I was thinking of doing a Plat match with CO so when they merge I will be 1K.

 

[Bear96]

Having to transit ORD or IAD on every trip will soon make you hate UA as well. Both hubs are atrocious -- ORD for the ATC / weather problems, and IAD because of the terminal layout.

If you have to go to the West Coast a lot and the LAX / SFO nonstops won't work for you, try to go through DEN as much as possible instead of IAD or ORD.

 

[FF-US-FLIER]

UA will typically match CP for UA Premier Exec...they did me last year...I would wait until January and ask them to match status then...If the merger goes through with CO, CO will match Platinum status for CP. I was thinking of doing a Plat match with CO so when they merge I will be 1K.

Thanks,

do I call the premeir Exec customer service desk to ask for this?

 

[US1YFARE]

Thanks,

do I call the premeir Exec customer service desk to ask for this?

Call Mileage Plus and tell them you want a status match, but you want the match to be good for all of next year. So, you may have to wait until Dec or Jan to send in the request. The turnaround is very very quick....just a couple of days.

If you pay high fares (F, A, Y, or B), I recommend sending them receipts as well...UA drools over those fare classes--that is their target unlike US. Good luck.

Also, I find ORD no worse than PHL. IAD is a hassle, but once UA merges with CO, you will have EWR.

 

[iflyjetz]

Call Mileage Plus and tell them you want a status match, but you want the match to be good for all of next year. So, you may have to wait until Dec or Jan to send in the request. The turnaround is very very quick....just a couple of days.

I had a status match in Oct or Nov; it was good for 15-16 mos.
I think that if he gets a status match, the card should be in effect until Feb 08.
With the OP's number of annual flight miles, he should make Prem Ex no problem in this year alone. The REALLY big perks happen at 1K. FF US-Flyer, you will probably want a record of your flights this year to fax to United.
For more detailed information on status match, I highly recommend that you go to www.flyertalk.com/forums. There will be several threads under the United heading.

The great thing about the number of miles that you travel is that if you're unhappy with United, you can always get someone else to status match you, although they won't be with Star Alliance unless you go with someone like Lufthansa.

Here's a thread off of flyertalk.com on status matching:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9558
I'd recommend calling along with faxing; ask for 1K, but plan on PremEx.

There's a LOT of great info on the flyertalk website for FFs; I highly recommend it.
Also, if you make the leap to United, you'll want to register for this promo:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,...k=%2F2006choice
I just hit 40K mi this year (I'm a mere Premier) and got 2500 EQM for 2007 along with nominating my wife for Premier Associate (that entitles her to book into Economy Plus) ... I'll easily make PremEx this year (my flights tomorrow put me over 50K), but doubt that I'll get 1K. I have a lot of overseas travel next year; I'm hoping to see 1K next year, but a mileage run may be necessary at the end of 2007 to put me over the top.

I think that once you experience Economy Plus on United, you'll probably be hooked on them. They're not quite as generous with upgrades, but you have the opportunity to 'target' your upgrades to flights where you REALLY want to sit in F. For instance, I did IAD-HNL-IAD with one stop; I sat in F both ways ... it would have been painful otherwise.

 

[Doc]

I am a USAir CP, and I am about fed up with the airline and the new merger.

My travel with US has been over 120 segments per year leaving out of PHL. I am looking to move airlines. I would like to stay in the Star Alliance, but would like to start using United to fly me for my business.

I am at the point right now where I am willing to do this. The 120 segments I flew last year with US, were no stops from PHL. If I move over to United, I would more then double that since PHL is not a United hub and would have to layover in ORD or IAD.

Can someone give me some information if United even gives comps to their prefered status from other airlines, and if so, how do I go about requesting it? I had flown 127K atcual miles last year without prefered bonuses, and are looking to do the same if not more this year. I would love to give United my money, but I dont want to start at the bottom (AGAIN)

Thanks in advance.

enough already just go......

 

[PhxMama]

enough already just go......

Why would you even worry about an elite match? Why not start from the bottom up? at least it gets you off US. Im sure their lower level preferred would be thrilled to know you were given an upgrade before them and you were only a matching elite. Those that have given many years of their money to UA could lose an upgrade to you. Would that be fair?

 

[ClueByFour]

Having to transit ORD or IAD on every trip will soon make you hate UA as well. Both hubs are atrocious -- ORD for the ATC / weather problems, and IAD because of the terminal layout.

IAD (At it's worst--when G term was still alive and "well") has PHL beat hands down.

 

[Bear96]

IAD (At it's worst--when G term was still alive and "well") has PHL beat hands down.

Could be -- but the OP said his home airport is PHL. So he'll have to face PHL no matter what. Why double the misery by tacking on ORD or IAD to that?

 

[Twicebaked]

enough already just go......

I second that....just go!!!!

Call United and ask them instead of parading your self importance on a forum. No one cares!!!

 

[FF-US-FLIER]

Could be -- but the OP said his home airport is PHL. So he'll have to face PHL no matter what. Why double the misery by tacking on ORD or IAD to that?

Home airport is PHL, but could just as easily be ABE. Same distance to both from my place. ABE is easier to get in and out of. IMO.

 

[exnw]

Home airport is PHL, but could just as easily be ABE. Same distance to both from my place. ABE is easier to get in and out of. IMO.

I believe Greyhound has service to all of these cities

 

[KCFlyer]

Home airport is PHL, but could just as easily be ABE. Same distance to both from my place. ABE is easier to get in and out of. IMO.

Just curious...do you travel mostly for business or pleasure? If business...how do you justify to your company that instead of taking the nonstop from PHL to LAX or SEA , you'd rather take a flight that connects in ORD or IAD or ATL or DFW or CLE or DEN because that airline comped your FF status? The only way any companies I traveled for would approve that is if it resulted in a pretty substantial savings over the nonstop flight.

 

[iflyjetz]

WOW! That's a big 'ol cup of bitter coming from many in the USAirways crowd.
When I see a UAL FF leave for another airline, I'm sorry to see them go, but I don't throw a temper tantrum.
I'm guessing that most of the 'children' are crew. As ex-crew, I can tell from experience that you view an airline much differently as a FF. It pays to be loyal to an airline, but you want to make sure that you're flying with an airline that makes you happy. It sounds like the OP went for USAirways because of the PHL hub being close to him. I'd be willing to bet that he transitions to ABE and flies to either IAD or ORD. From IAD & ORD, he can go just about anywhere.

FF-US-FLIER, I hope that you made the switch; I don't think that you'll regret it.