When’s an elite not elite at all?

by Peter M. Zollman on November 5, 2009

310309-United-Star-Alliance
What are some of the benefits elite fliers typically get? Preferred boarding. Waived baggage fees. And better seating assignments.

Unless you’re flying United.

Then, for instance, your elite status on another airline counts for nothing. At least, that’s the message I got from their reservations agent, who told me “Your elite status on Continental doesn’t mean anything when it comes to seating with United.”

Ahem. That’s a great way to treat elite customers of your partner airlines that they don’t get special treatment.

What bothers me most about this is the way the new Star Alliance relationship has been presented by both CO and UA. They indicated that elite fliers on CO would be treated as elite fliers by UA and all of the other Star Alliance affiliates, much as DL has treated me as an elite flier in the SkyTeam alliance based on my gold status with CO (and vice-versa, back in the day when I was elite with DL but not with CO).

For an extra $500 or so, United would be delighted to sell me “extra legroom in coach” seats on my $1,200 round-trip to Hong Kong and Singapore. Sounds like a deal. For UA.

The main reason I picked United for this itinerary was because I would have elite status and be treated like the 4-million-mile flier I am. (In fact, I could have saved about $150 by flying another airline.) Now, I’m told, elite status with CO doesn’t translate to any elite treatment on UA.

Sounds awfully like misleading your best customers. Something the airlines specialize in.

(Photo: airliners.nl)

Print Friendly

Tagged as: united airlines

  • Scott

    I’ve experienced this before. I am a “Star Alliance Gold” member, with my status coming from Air Canada. Yet, when I fly United, or even visit United lounges, I may as well not bother to pack my card.

    In Lounges, I am forced to pay for internet access, while United members receive their connection for free. I do not get to board early, nor do I receive upgraded legroom on United.

  • Dang

    UNITED lounges is a joke compare to other Star Alliance.
    The worst UA Lounges are in Chicago ORD.
    In United Carpet Lounges or United First Lounges, whatever your status, you have to pay, even flying in First Class, Specially in CDG1 the Internet broadband of the United Red Carpet lounges is compared to the broadband of Timbuktu in Africa, You faster Internet speed in Hochiminh trail.
    When travelling with Star Alliance airlines, try to get in the lounges base on this order
    - THAI (the best First Lounges in the world, 1 hr full body massage included, women can have manicure and pedicure)
    - Singapore Airlines
    - Asiana (got to see the library section in Seoul Inchon)
    - Swiss / Lufthansa (JFK LH is very nice)
    - Air New Zealand
    - Star Alliance Lounges
    - ANA
    - Air Canada (International lounges are nice but domestic lounges are so so )
    - etc…
    to choose last : United Airlines except UA First Class Lounges are comparable to Business Lounges of Asian Star Alliance Partners.
    About upgrades and extra leg rooms : always asked to change seat at the gate, I always get free upgrade and better seat when showing my Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Card at last minute.
    There are rules but always exceptions applied.

  • Doug

    I am an Air Canada Super Elite level flier who for the last two years has flown extensively on United. In fact, I’ve been averaging 70 to 80 United flights a year directly with United during that time. I also consistently run into the situation where I’m not able to get the economy plus seats when I book because my AC status isn’t recognized. I would even accept to buy the EP yearly pass, but that’s only available to members of United’s programs.

    I have been able to upgrade at the gate a number of times, but I’ll most often get the party line that I have to pay for them if I want them.

    I wrote United’s Customer Care earlier this year asking if it were possible to open a Milege Plus account and be credited for the status for the flights I had taken, and basically got a form letter that said “no way!”.

    I have been anxiously waiting for Continental to join the Alliance as I will now move all my US business to them from United.

  • Jeff L

    Hmm. I just flew united several times (US Air Elite). My baggage fees were waived, and I was added to the appropriate boarding group. I know upgrades are not included as an auto benefit via the Star Alliance (as far as I know none of the airlines offer that benefit to other than their own).

    Econ plus is not available to alliance status members free of charge at all, therefore is not available at booking unless paid for or you have your status on United. They will upgrade you at desk if available.

    Having alliance reciprocal status is NOT the same has having the status on that Airline, and that makes sense. If Alliance status is treated exactly the same as the in house program, where’s the upside to the airline for their system?

  • glpjr

    Riding with United has always been a caveat emptor experience. This is one of two airlines that I only fly as a last resort and when it’s just too far to drive. They are driven not be delivering value or a good customer experience, but rather, entirely by whether there is a buck to be made. Unfortunately, unlike Delta, for example, they have 100% discounted the notion of developing long term relationships with their customers. Very short-sighted. I will cheer when this airline goes belly up.

  • bill

    i am usually the first one to jump all over these non-reciprocal agreements, but this article is very misleading. a CO elite does get perks on UA – just not the one perk that this CO traveller wanted – economy plus. economy plus is unique to UA – and therefore there is no reason to expect that a CO elite is going to benefit from economy plus. as a UA elite, if i fly on CO, there is no economy plus for me to get – at all. so why should a CO elite get it?

    as a CO elite flying UA, you do get free baggage allowance, priority sercurity, and to board with group 1 (or before if star gold). if i were to fly CO as a UA elite (or any star alliance) that is all i would get as well. note there are no reciprocal upgrades yet although i have heard that will be eventually coming (a la CO-NW).

    CO elites need to remember that the CO-NW partnership was very different than the CO-DL partnership. maybe you got a seat in the first few rows with the CO-DL-NW relationship, but it was still a coach seat. UA has a different product – economy plus – and that is for UA elites and those who purchase it. CO flyers should not expect it. As a UA elite i am glad – because all CO flyers would be flying UA metal only for economy plus, something CO DOES NOT OFFER.

    my recommendation CO elites is to petition your airline to have economy plus seating…but it wont happen – CO has made it clear they intentionally have a tight seat pitch and offer meals instead.

  • jr

    Hello,
    within the star alliance the star treatment is only given to members of the home team normally. Had the same issue with LH (they only upgrade there Senators, when i was a senator i didnot get an comp upgrade at united…..) I guess people flying with united a lot should join there programm. I got from time to time upgrades on US air after all us air people have been upgrade with my UA 1 k account
    jr

  • Ron

    Thanks for the important information. I am a continental Gold Elite.

    I am looking to book a ticket to the midwest this afternoon and I have a choice of carriers. Now that I know that Economy Plus is not offered to Continental Gold members, my airline chioices were just reduced by one.

    Sorry United, you just lost one paying passenger today.

  • Scott (not the whiner above)

    This is exactly the kind of entitlement and whining that unfortunately never stops in airports. At least a few of your fellow travelers pointed out that your article is MISLEADING. Actually, the article and similar comments are just plain WRONG.

    All Star Alliance Gold members get priority boarding, priority security, extra baggage allowance (3 vs. 2) for FREE, extra baggage weight (70 lbs vs 50) for FREE, when traveling on United. Economy Plus seating is reserved for United Premier fliers, but can be purchased based on availability.

    People act as if an Alliance makes it ONE airline and you should get all the same perks. This has never been advertised, and doesn’t even make any sense. The purpose of the Alliance is to give travelers more flights to more destinations around the world, and to make those connections much easier. And it does this quite well. But if you get your complimentary foot rub on CO, that doesn’t mean you will get it on every other carrier. If you want the specific benefits of one of the other carriers, then do a status match. Any major airline does this.

    And please, stop whining.

Previous post:

Next post: