Economy Plus is here to stay

In mergers, overlaps will be eliminated, and naturally there will be less capacity as one airline compared to what it is now... Also airlines with better route network naturally will draw in more frequent flyers...

Hub-to-Hub flying is going to be rough for upgrades, particularly on the transcon ones...

I guess somewhat. But let's take a look at DEN-IAH for instance. Tomorrow, there are 9 CO flights and 2 UA flights. That's 11 flights total. If there is demand for 11 flights total, and assuming each airline was individually optimized, I don't see why the combined company would not provide 11 flights total.

Glad to see this is staying! Also we got a new club today too!

bwahahahhahaaaa!!!!

Okay...I'll use your example...

Tomorrow we have 10 Flights Total between DEN-IAH
CO 739
CO 752
CO 753
UA 320
CO 752
CO 739
CO 753
CO 739
CO 753
UA 320

That represents a total capacity of 1361 Seats between Denver to Houston on UA/CO Combined...

Now if they decided to go 739 on the first and last flights of the day between DEN-IAH and made the next 4 flights B763 with 244 Seats... this would reduce the market by 34 seats but free up the 757 aircrafts for better utilization on other routes that demand it...

This is an example.

Perhaps not directly, but I'm sure it added ammo for the "keep it" faction within the company.

But it's not just capacity the market demands. It seems to demand this level of frequency (or CO &UA wouldn't fly so many flights).

I like the E+ is staying but I really am disliking the globe.

It is nice to see some positive news, although this decision doesn't affect me much. The two things that I will be curious to see is: 1) the amount of domestic F seats on mainline. Will the minimum be higher than 8 (A-319) and 2) The 3-cabin configuration for INTL flights. Will it stay or go to 2-cabin?

Yay! Thank goodness, I was starting to get nervous.

Thanks for the news - I applaud this. Have no status on UA, but I do fly them occasionally and usually go for E+ seats, paying the upgrade cost. Always sorry that AA dropped their "more legroom" seats. So - good news!

Great news!

Think they'll still let 2Ps select E+ seats? I imagine they might phase out available for the lowest tier.

Anything to help us stretch our legs is a good thing. Particularly with crowded planes!

Great news, and glad you made it over to here, Scott. And congrats on the name change! It's all getting more mergey by the day.

Welcome UA Insider to MilePoint! Good news to hear.

This is good news, but I am concerned about the starting in 2012 part. I have no experience in trusting the word of CO hierarchy.

We are a group of experienced flyers who choose our flights based on a whole laundry list of preferences. I want to know what happens if there is a schedule/equipment change to a non-E+ plane, will we be allowed to change our flights to planes with E+ without charge?

Well, long ago, CO stated, while we all waited and waited, that they weren't going to install their new lie-flat BF seats until the 787's were delivered, so that they could debut them on that plane. Most of us kept chiding them on this as the delays on delivery kept coming. Eventually, even CO's leaders realized they couldn't wait on the redo any longer.

So, using that as a parameter, which will come first - a partially/fully E+'d formerly CO fleet or the delivery of CO/UA's first 787?

agreed, I'm very pleased.

While happy about this, I really hope they don't take out F seats. To me, an F upgrade is way more important than Y+, and as a 1k, the difference in a row of seats often makes the difference on those elite heavy routes.

Good news but your work is not done. As others have posted, the F cabin must stay as is.

I am very happy to hear this news. It keeps me on UA to know that I will always have enough legroom to be comfortable and use my laptop, even when I don't get an upgrade. I'm so glad E+ is staying!!!

Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much!) for the advance update, especially since it's such good news!

Great first post!!

I'm not sure I care one way or the other. I think the most important news here is that Scott is here, and has a new name Welcome, Scott!