[mbw61]

United sent out an email today announcing their new MileagePlus program. I urge everyone to read it closely and then complain to United about taking away a major benefit from Premier members. It turns out that the 25,000 mile Premier status has now been downgraded in benefits, the major one being that you can no longer reserve EconomyPlus seating at the time of booking. This is one of the major benefits of Premier status and going forward you are going to have to fly at least 50,000 miles in order to get it. I hope this upsets enough people that complain to United so that they rethink the idea of taking benefits from their frequent fliers.

[cortney]

i book united all the time for myself for personal travel, so being premier executive it doesn't affect me, however its looking like i'll be back down to premier again for next year. my company always books so late that even when i get online to get a seat im screwed. i dont find it fair the way its changed for the premier fliers though. and ALOT of people are upset with the change

[wing.newton]

I have been a US premier member ever since they allowed the premier member to book the economy plus seats. The change has made me decide to seek out the cheap fares from now on.

IMHO, United has made a dumb mistake in screwing their premier members in not allowing them to reserve the economy plus seats during booking. I would expect them to pass out better benefits to keep their loyal customers. Instead, they are so short-sighted.

I have dodged more than 500,000 miles lifetime with United. Now, getting a better fare may take priority over loyalty.

[typea]

I agree completely with the prior posting. I am a Silver Premier member and elect to pay for travel on United to keep up my Premier status and previously free Economy Plus status. No more. The notion of economy plus only at check in virtually guarantees its not being available on long flights when it is needed most. So what is the remaining benefit of Premier Silver status? One free bag checkin? Boarding slightly early? Big deal. Goodbye United until this disrespect for loyal flyers is changed.

[zlazer]

I am very unhappy with united. >500,000 miles. First they change my Milage Plus # and now I'm trying to book and have to pay for a economy plus seat? Does anyone have other blogs we can post to? We need to create a large amount of complaints and get them to reconsider this stupid decision. We need 1000's of comments NOT just 5

[UnitedPremier]

I’ve been a loyal traveler since 1992 and have been a premier member for quite a while. I too fly short of 50,000 miles per year but feel I spend enough time in a airline seat. Like a lot of you I’ve been very loyal to United for business and personal travel and frequently pay a higher fair just to log miles to my status. This loyalty is now rewarded with not being able to get economy plus seating? How disappointing. I filed a complaint online with United as well as called them and asked them to make a note in my account. The reason for asking them to note in my account is I told them I plan to start booking travel with other carriers and they won’t know the difference. All they will see is my account not getting an activity. I wanted them to know why my account is going stagnant. I just booked my business travel from Denver to Boston on Southwest. At least there for an additional $10 I have chance of getting a seat closer to the front of the plan. So many years of wasted loyalty. Sad!!!!

[typea]

All-

Many of us feel the same way about the losing hard earned Premier Silver benefits. I described my situation above, and I couldn't say it any better than the others here have.

I just returned from a trip to Europe on United that I booked last year and got last year's Economy Plus benefit and logged 15k Premier miles. In 2 weeks I will go to S.F and would have paid for the trip on United to get me closer to the 25k threshold. Instead I am using my frequent flier miles and ended up paying $69 each way for Economy Plus seating. (By the way, they charge more for an exit row seat--unbelievable). United lost $700 of my hard earned money I would have paid.

Is there any way that we can make ourselves known to United? Does United read this web site? Should we start a petition? Does anyone have a web address at United where we can complain? I hate to be screwed out of a benefit and not have a good way to complain to higher ups in the company. Walking with our feet will cost them money but they won't know unless we can tell them. Any suggestions how we can make some noise about this?

[zlazer]

I finally found an addy on the United Customer Service page and sent an email last evening but have not received a reply. I agree that we need our voice heard. I'm not the most computer literate but I've done some survey monkeyies or something like that. Any way we can get our comments to show on google will get their attention. Our money should matter but they need to know they are loosing it

[zlazer]

add your complaint to this site
http://united-airlines.pissedconsumer.com/

[aamsmtp]

HAS ANYONE BEEN SUCCESFUL IN TALKING TO A MILAGEPLUS PRESENTATIVE?

I spent 3 hours on the phone trying to unsucessfully talk with a real person.

To call this a "Service Center" is a total oxy-moron.

[aamsmtp]

United MilagePlus has
1) Withdrawn my status as a Premier Silver level nember, which I have written confirmation of extension to 1/31/2013
2) Taken away my abilty to book Economy Plus seating
3) Charged me $25 for my first checked bag (even though the website says the first checked bag for Premier Silver members are free.
4) Refused to acknowledge that United is responsible for MilagePlus problems.
5) Made it impossible to discuss this with a Milage Plus representative after multiple attempts over 5 hours to use the MilagePlus website or the 1-800 telephone service.

Guess my preferred airline is ready to change, not without warning other travelers!

[zlazer]

Can they hear us yet?
I have a flight Sunday with horrific seats since as a Silver I can't get a decent seat when booking...and why do I fly United anymore? Oh, I forgot---I just finished a trip on Alaska that I would have normally taken on United!
When they ask us to fill out the "best" airline reqards program I hope NO-ONE lists United anymore.
When you fly complete the survey and complain about their changes, lack of customer support, stupid automated attendant, etc
Never stop---we want our priority back---mad as HELL

[AngryCustomer]

I found this site by doing a Google search for "united premier members screwed".

When I realized I couldn't reserve economy plus seats till 24 hours prior to my flight I think I had an brain aneurism. United told me last year that if I flew 25,000 miles or more with them in 2011, I would be able to reserve premier seats when I paid for the flight so they lied to me. I have spent hours on the phone trying to get them to give me what I was promised with no results.

Are there any lawsuits going on out there? I don't have a choice who I fly with for business.

[azstar]

Originally Posted by AngryCustomer

I found this site by doing a Google search for "united premier members screwed".

When I realized I couldn't reserve economy plus seats till 24 hours prior to my flight I think I had an brain aneurism. United told me last year that if I flew 25,000 miles or more with them in 2011, I would be able to reserve premier seats when I paid for the flight so they lied to me. I have spent hours on the phone trying to get them to give me what I was promised with no results.

Are there any lawsuits going on out there? I don't have a choice who I fly with for business.

You're not serious, I hope. Upgrades are an entitlement, not a guarantee. You need to check the airline's website for eligibility, not the information a telephone agent in India gives you. This info is from UA website regarding upgrades:

Premier® Silver Day of departure

[Richard12]

This NEW united airline really sucks in my opinion. OFFER LESS and ASK YOU to PAY MORE by ALL MEANS!

[azstar]

This airline is 100% Continental with a new name. All of the reduced benefits you're referring to were changed to align with CO's frequent flier program.

[Richard12]

Blaming a non-existent company CO is all UNITED can do now. Well, keeping up with the BAD service. I am certain UNITED can generate A LOT OF profit this way, or buy selling fake schedules to customers. United---my bottom airline!