With demand for air travel cratering, even low-tier elites are receiving complimentary upgrades on many U.S. domestic routes. It was so cute to watch the joy of a young couple who were upgraded on my recent flight from Washington to Los Angeles.
In all my years of flying, I never thought I’d see a United hub-to-hub transcontinental flight go out with open seats in the premium cabin. But in the current environment, flights are departing less than half full, meaning all elite members (and even employee standbys) are clearing into premium cabins. This is true not just on United, but on all U.S. airlines.
Just how serious is this? My flight from Washington to Los Angeles on Sunday was booked at 6/16 in first class for about a week. I wondered, as we approached our flight date, if I would get upgraded. But the day before the flight, the front cabin looked like this:
What a world…
Anyway, first class ended up going out booked 9/16. Everyone had their own row except the couple in 3E/F. The guy was a United Premier Silver and absolutely over the moon that his upgrade had cleared. His girlfriend was equally ecstatic.
With a huge smile they told the flight attendant, “I’ve NEVER been upgraded as a silver before. This is so amazing! I’m so excited!”
I was seated right behind them and they spent half the flight making out, taking pictures of themselves in the domestic first class seat, and downing one drink after another.
At the end of the flight, they told the flight attendant, “This has been the best flight of our lives! Thanks so much for making it great.”
I smiled. It reminded me of when I started flying about 15 years ago. Every upgrade excited me like that. It just made me happy to see two people so thrilled to receive an upgrade.
Meanwhile, I eventually downgraded myself and spent the majority of the flight sleeping across three empty coach seats…everyone had their own row in the back, begging the question of just who received the better deal…
CONCLUSION
Silvers will enjoy this temporary period of low demand to enjoy upgrades like they have never seen in the past and likely never will in the future. For the young couple on my flight to Los Angeles, your joy was infectious. It made me thankful for all the upgrades that I now take for granted.
@ Matthew — Ah, nice for those folks!
Talk about a silver lining!
Er… I feel like “infectious” might not be the absolute best word to use to describe anybody’s joy on an airplane right now… 🙂
Perhaps you are correct! 😉
That’s very condescending, Matthew.
Cute: Now Even the Second Tier Bloggers Get Attention
-TPG
This is so incredibly douchy.
And…?
Cute….. I thought I was reading Ben’s blog there for a second. But the condescension in this post is thick.
Oh come on. I can be condescending, but this wasn’t one of those posts…
Cute… now other blogs but mine get attention
I hope United doesn’t just do status extensions but grants status based on 2020 spend, not 2019 spend. Fit spend to a curve to preserve the number of elites if necessary, but reward those who keep spending when they most need it.
Don’t worry, I’m sure Kirby will crunch a bunch of numbers and come up with a formula for elite status that we all dislike. That’s the United way.
Matthew, glad you are home safely. Hopefully you resolved your TP shortage!
Tough time for your businesses, but we will get through this! Hang in there!
Sounds like a really nice couple with great manners.
United should keep the 8:40 flight from Ewr – Hnl –beautiful plane.
Now with the Covid-19 mess, the upgrades I have gotten only gave me the added legroom and comfort, no real choice of drinks ( beer or wine) and the same little care package that Coach got ( Water, Biscuit, Cheese Cracker) Till this covid 91 is gone, no first class meals ;(