United Airlines To Sell 'Subscriptions' For Better Seats

[matcom]

<snip>

CHICAGO -- United Airlines plans to begin selling one-year "subscriptions" to some of its passengers -- those who want to upgrade to roomier seats.

Memberships to United's "Economy Plus" seats will go on sale Wednesday, starting at $299.

But only passengers with the most frequent-flier miles get unlimited access to those seats, offering five extra inches of legroom in a special section at the front of the coach class.

The subscription fee allows a customer and flying companion to upgrade from regular coach class to "Economy Plus" for free when booking flights -- if seats are available.

For $699 a year, customers can join United's "Red Carpet Club," which offers wi-fi Internet access, complimentary snacks and drinks, and other perks.

The airline said the extra legroom for its most frequent fliers is "a fitting tribute to our most valued customers."

http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/4799739/detail.html

[flamingyouth]

1. Are those seats on other airlines?

I hate United. They've bumped this traveler one too many times. x(

[Misunderestimator]

2. I Love your avatar!!

How cuuuuuuuuute! :loveya: both!

[flamingyouth]

5. Aw, thanks

On my way down to visit him tomorrow. :hug:

[short bus president]

6. I think they mean

they're going to reserve the seats right behind the bulkhead separating first class from the plebians for those suckers willing pay more. I think all airliners have a little extra leg room right behind the bulkhead. But then most airlines just sell you those seats at the regular coach seat fare if you request them...

[aden_nak]

3. $300 for 5 inches?

Nope, not a single joke I can make that won't get this thread locked.

[matcom]

4. only took 3 posts

was waiting for that :D

your good :thumbsup:

[punpirate]

9. Would be cheap compared to...

... surgical procedures. No jokes about the mile-high club, either. :P

But, I think UAL gets no kudos for this one. It's a desperation ploy to gain future revenues which might not result in future costs.

I want to see one single airline beg for pre-1977 airline regulation. At that point, I say there might be hope for them and their employees.

[hyphenate]

7. If I can help it,

I never travel with United. They're totally and completely the rudest people in the travel industry.

It's really interesting, though; some people have bad experiences with other airlines, but the only time I've ever been pissed off enough to call an airline's customer service was with United. I travel on American mostly myself, though I absolutely can't say enough about how good Air Canada is. Anytime I've gone with them it's been a very pleasant experience.

[mcscajun]

8. "...if seats are available."

So, you basically pay $300 to $700 a year for No Guarantee you'll EVER see a benefit from it? :eyes:

I'd sooner play the lottery with that money...or pay a male Pro. :)

At least then I'll get Some Satisfaction.

Are we locked yet? :evilgrin:

[SOteric]

10. Maybe they could sell subscriptions for better service.

Those sarky gits can be rude to a customer 50 different ways, take all of one's available bank account, and still have the unmittigated gall to complain to congress about how terrorism is causing a downturn in business.

[Gormy Cuss]

11. United refuses to give up on a bad idea

The Economy Plus seating has never found a market and they refuse to simply reset the cabin so that all the steerage seats have a little more legroom. United coach is the only commercial seating where I can't cross my legs without kneeing the passenger in front of me.
The worst part of Economy Plus is that not only are the roomy bulkhead rows sold at a premium but so are the wing exit rows.

United is the major carrier here so I don't have much choice for nonstop coast-to-coast flights.

[ForrestGump]

12. I hate US airlines...by which I mean US flag carriers

They've been getting worse and worse and now feature the worst service, including worst food (well, actually, NO food) of any airlines I've yet flown anywhere in the word. Maybe some of the regional or smaller outifts are still decent -- I've heard good things about a couple and I remember Horizon (a division of Alaska Air, long considered by many the best US airline) being good a decade ago -- but the major US airlines are absolutely horrible by comparison with airlines elsewhere.

They're greedy pigs, too.

[Sgent]

13. Not a bad deal

If you weren't a frequent flier and it counted on international flights.

I fly NWA, and get upgraded from any fair to first about 90% of the time for free. However, it is useless on international flights.

AA I fly some to (to the Carribean they are very good), and although their domestic program isn't that great, they have British Airways for their international segments -- which is a real step up.

Seeing how United doesn't exist in my neck of the woods, I can't comment too much, but have only heard bad things in the last few years.

[jane_pippin]

14. I can't stand United. I've never had a good experience

Get this loosely-related bullshit: I'm going on vacation next week and my boyfriend was booking the flight. So I says to the man, "Hey, please don't book United."

A day later this is what I hear: "Ok so I uh, booked the flight. We're on United flight..."


:banghead:

[Sgent]

15. I have no idea your experience w/United

But EVERY airline loses bags and has delayed flights, screwups, etc.

In my experience its how they handle the problem afterwards that counts. NW and AA seem to do better than most, but the one I can't stand is Delta.

[jane_pippin]

16. Oh I know.

I flew around the winter holidays so I'm sure it was a nightmare for everyone. The people working were very nice (which I could never have been--too much stress). It was just really uncomfortable, and no communication about what flight got moved where--I'm sure a lot of it was out of their hands and I don't fault the people working for that at all.

It's just that I fly rarely but when I have it's been with them 98% of the time. I guess "hate" is a bit strong. They're usually the cheapest flight and I guess it's a you get what you pay for situation.

I was just hoping to fly someone else this time and I'm still kinda pissed that my request was ignored.

Not a big deal overall, just needed to vent.