So now that Continental is part of Star Alliance, there are more ways than ever for United “Mileage Plus” and Continental “One Pass” members to get miles. In addition, these are especially valuable miles that qualify towards elite status.
The plan is also apparently for the two airlines, sometime in 2010, to give their each other’s elite members domestic upgrades and access to “premium” seating. (No word yet about front-of-line privileges and baggage fees.)
This doesn’t seem like a bad idea in many ways. The perks, especially “Economy Plus” seating and upgrades, are a major reason I put up with United on a regular basis. And Continental has much better schedules than United to the South, plus the warm-weather Houston connection option in the winter.
But as with many touted “improvements,” there will be at least a few major drawbacks to this new alliance.
First, even if Continental gives United fliers access to their “Premium” seats, those seats may be towards the front of the plane, but except for exit rows, they have no other advantages, including no additional legroom. So regular United fliers are likely to be disappointed.
On the other hand, Continental fliers will no doubt enjoy “Economy Plus” seats, if they can actually get them. As it is, when I have business travelers book flights less than about a month in advance, there often are no “Economy Plus” seats remaining, except in the middle. Especially on transcontinental flights. United not only has a lot of elite fliers, especially in hub cities, they also sell these seats to occasional travelers. The end result, even the highest elite level customers can end up in crappy seats.
Many travel agents I know, including myself, will basically keep computer track of “seat-less” passengers to keep checking back for those preferred aisles or windows, but it seems to get harder every month. And adding Continental elites to the mix won’t make it any easier.
The same issue also applies in different ways to mileage awards and upgrades. When clients who get all their miles on credit cards (which means they have no actual status with the airline) complain they can’t get upgrades or free seats, I take it with a grain of salt. When travelers who fly 50,000 to 100,000 miles a year with United end up stuck in coach on a regular basis, then well, maybe the program is a bit too diluted. And more elites means it’s only going to get worse.
One of the most frustrating results even with the current program is that United’s program prioritizes waitlists based on status, Which means that someone who flies 50,000 miles a year will be ahead of someone who flies only 25,000 a year. And 100,000 mile fliers are ahead of both. But even these “1Ks” are behind “Global Services” (translation, people who fly a lot on expensive tickets.)
This prioritized program means if you waitlist a free ticket or upgrade ten months out, and a higher status flier waitlists it a day in advance, you lose. Which means upgrades to Paris, for example, in high season are already basically impossible. I have to wonder, while adding more “competition” to an already crowded field, whether it may make a number of frequent fliers throw up their hands and decide their loyalty isn’t worth it.
Clearly the airlines believe the alliances will please more people than they annoy, because it is, in theory, about the bottom line. On the other hand, most recent airline decisions have not been shining examples of good business, either.
Stay tuned for the verdict on this one.
(Photo by caribb/flickr.com/creative commons)
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
