You can read the previous agreement here. I was next on the upgrade list in the pilot ended up getting a first class seat. There would be sometimes 4 pilots in F and top tiers were in back…at least then economy was not so horrid. Most everyone commutes these days by choice or not. If First Class is not available, the Pilot shall be booked as outlined below, but shall be upgraded automatically (in seniority order within Status and ahead of all upgrading passengers) if a First Class seat becomes available. Members who have met 1K status and have earned 15,000 PQP are eligible to receive an additional +20 PlusPoints for every 2,000 PQP you earn thereafter. I would also suggest revising the language of the post to clarify that this does not include *commuting* pilots, or those on non-revenue space-available travel. Oh please. Considering the number of times UA has bumped me out of a an Economy+ window (or aisle) to a middle seat and said that they don’t guarantee your actual seat (. Jul 19, 2017 - United Airlines has a complicated upgrade priority list that considers Premier status, fare class, MileagePlus Explorer cardholders, and more. United no longer recognizes or rewards loyalty.It is all about getting $$$$$ and making them think you are going to get something special for your loyalty. The system hasn’t even been updated for it. Last month, United and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union which represents United pilots, tentatively agreed on a deal that reduced minimum hours (and thereby pay) for pilots in exchange for avoiding furloughs for eight months and tightening the scope clause on regional jets, setting the limit at 70 seats instead of 76. Commuting is another matter. Section 5-C-1 states: When On-Line deadheading on a Basic Flight, a Pilot shall be booked positive space in First Class, if available at time of booking. I love my upgrades as much as the next guy, but the whole “elites paid for it” argument is grasping for straws and over-entitled. Here’s how to enable it: Go to United.com. I could envision someone reading the sentence: “To summarize: deadheading pilots traveling to a work assignment will be booked in first or business class no matter what the flight length is” and concluding that this benefit covers pilots commuting to/from their domicile to begin a trip, which probably thousands of United pilots do. Before you can even think about scoring a better seat on your next United-operated flight, you need to find seats that the carrier has designated for upgrades. It is very common to see one Delta One seat blocked with a special curtain and as soon as the plane takes off a pilot comes and take that seat, closes the entire curtain and stays there until time to land. Read the T&C of Expert Mode, check the box, and click Save. If you're on an international flight, miles upgrades (if they don't clear immediately) are put on the PB waitlist, while SWUs, etc. No big deal; I'll be Plat on AA by then. Customers will receive a refund if they cancel within 24 hours of ticketing. Indeed, that’s a huge selling point of loyalty and a top reason why I concentrate loyalty into one carrier over others. United Mileage Plus (Pre-Merger) - Upgrade priority when being demoted - I flew only about 30,000 miles on UA this past year, so I will be "demoted" to 2P. Nov 20, 2017 - United Airlines has a complicated upgrade priority list that considers Premier status, fare class, MileagePlus Explorer cardholders, and more. However, if premium cabins on United start filling up with pilots, expect an elite revolt. Honestly, the amount of times it will even affect anybody are so entirely rare, this change will be pretty invisible to any paying passengers. This is all based on United’s fare classes, which you can review in this comprehensive guide. This site is for entertainment purposes only. But I also think it is reasonable. Buried in a deal between United Airlines and its pilots to avoid furloughs is a new threat to elite upgrades: deadheading pilots will soon outrank even top-tier frequent flyers on the upgrade waitlist. My wife and I are planning a trip to SFO on UA so I can burn my remaining upgrades. From the Profile page, scroll down and find the Preferences box, then click on View All Flight Search Preferences. This also restores a pre-merger United benefit. Learn more about upgrade priority order. The only airline I’ve ever had top status with is Air France and they offer no free upgrades so this is one area where American carriers do a better job. The last time LUA pulled this stunt (when the pilots became “entitled” owners), they ended up going BK. Complimentary Companion Upgrades. Note that United will downgrade MileagePlus elites who receive complimentary upgrades first, then pilots, then “revenue” passengers who paid for the upgrade with dollars or miles. This does not include commuters (those who live away from their base by choice), but would typically be for reserve pilots needed at another station. I think the more telling bit in their new contract terms is that if they end up in a middle seat, they get a 50% pay bonus. As part of an agreement struck between United Airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), United pilots will enjoy priority on first class seating upgrades. God forbid I show up to operate a flight well rested. Prices, starting at $15, are segment-based and subject to change. Elites “pay” for upgrades just like pilots do. Houston to McAllen Texas. It was absurd. Matthew… it’s really a narrow giveback as, even today, there aren’t many trips which include DH legs. Upgrades using miles or systemwide/regional upgrade instruments, ranked by elite status (of the traveler), then fare class, and then time of request. Live and Let’s Fly obtained a copy of the 28-page new agreement and careful reviewed it. I see the problem arising especially on transcontinental flights where even very high status customers don’t always clear the upgrade list. Look, it is what it is…I said very clearly that I am impressed the pilots negotiated this and I’d certainly be seeking it too if I was a pilot. I have no issues with pilots get ultimum sleep…especially doing trans con or long distance flights. Period. Navigate to your account homepage and find the Profile & preferences drop-down. Apples and oranges. I suspect that for all of your professed selfishness, it will rarely if ever happen that you lose an upgraded seat because a deadheading pilot takes it under this change. They also didn’t “pay for it” under your narrow and absurd definition. Becoming a MileagePlus member is free and your best path to start securing flight upgrades. It’s a mixed blessing… for frequent flyers, it being slapped for your loyalty, but for a regular passenger in the back, I’d rather have the deadheading pilot closer to the cockpit for emergencies. Star Alliance™ and codeshare flights are not eligible. I genuinely doubt that there are many “passengers who likely fly more than they do”. United Airlines has recently started selling Priority Boarding for some flights. The “Company Business Travel Policy” places deadheading pilots behind company officers, board members, revenue passengers, managing directors, and directors in terms of upgrade priority (in that order). Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. UA runs a $hitshow and is in trouble, pandemic or not. The fact that you flew more than 360,000 actual miles last year (which I actually find doubtful) doesn’t change my point that the vast majority of business travelers don’t. Even though very, very few of them travel nearly as much as we do. Deadhead flights are assigned by the company to help prevent cancellations in a different city. I’ll be happy to clarify this in the paragraph you noted (and did mention further down in article that it does not include commuters/non-revs). I see both sides. To enable Expert Mode, go to United.comand log in to your MileagePlus account. On flights of three hours or less, pilots were seated in economy class. Note that this only applies to the primary cardholder. What about when a premium cabin is oversold? Depending on a variety of factors, you can put yourself ahead of others when it comes to earning an available upgrade. Out of the 1,000’s of United flights/day under normal circumstances, how many of them are within the 3-8 hour time frame AND have a deadheading pilot AND were completely full in business at the time the pilot booked the flight AND have a seat open up for the waitlist? Deadheading is a positive space, on-the-clock trip by paid crew members traveling to protect another flight. It’s not like they need passengers’ money. And, Matthew, this is reason enough to leave United. I really don’t care and as crappy as tbe UA pilots pay is, at least ita gives them something. United Premium Plus (discounted fare). United Gold upgrade benefits Economy Plus upgrades Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. We had this benefit and gave up pensions as well as it in the bankruptcy. I commend you for taking care of the junior pilots. I was told by the flight attendant that it’s reserved for pilots. However, the difference is that Delta One seas are not available for free upgrade so it doesn’t change much for the passengers. Indicates an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. However, a Pilot shall not be eligible for such automatic upgrade if the deadhead booking occurs at or within three (3) hours of flight Departure, in which case upgrades will be processed in accordance with Section 5-C-1-d. Lately seats have been blocked near the flight attendant jumpseats so they can social distance. Call me selfish…because that is selfish. Unlike other business travelers, we receive no other hotel points, upgrades etc for the approximately 6 months a year that we are away from our homes. Next step — UA will not accept passengers on their flights and only fly pilots, FAs, their dependents and other hangers on. Priority Boarding purchases are generally nonrefundable. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. 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