Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability

[D93]

http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/38212
"Update: A commenter says he was told by an agent that they will no longer do this process."? Who is this "commenter"?
Total garbage. I just booked a plan b last week for a EWR - TLV flight and had no issue at all. And the first call back rep set it up for me perfectly. Took a total of 10 minutes on the phone. That's it.

[Dan]

Comment on the post.

[jaywhy]

I feel like Plan B has gotten enough attention already from the MS. More publicity can only hurt it.
/JMHO

[ilherman]

I feel like Plan B has gotten enough attention already from the MS. More publicity can only hurt it.
/JMHO

+1 was thinking the same before the update...

[bubble347]

I feel like Plan B has gotten enough attention already from the MS. More publicity can only hurt it.
/JMHO

Perhaps, however people tend to shy away from concepts that require work such as finding a competent rep, going to the airport early and insisting on being wait-listed as a displaced business class passenger etc. Hopefully I'm right and this lives on.

[D93]

I feel like Plan B has gotten enough attention already from the MS. More publicity can only hurt it.
/JMHO

was thinking the same. But here's what Dan replied to a comment last December
"@Moshe123:
I think the complexity of it will keep it from becoming commonplace.
Complex deals are always the best, those who are serious are rewarded and those aren’t won’t kill it."

[bubble347]

was thinking the same. But here's what Dan replied to a comment last December
"@Moshe123:
I think the complexity of it will keep it from becoming commonplace.
Complex deals are always the best, those who are serious are rewarded and those aren’t won’t kill it."

ברוך שכיוונתי

[D93]

Or on the other hand, it'll stay alive because of People like this who are so lost that won't do it. I was laughing so hard when I read this comment 
"What Am I Missing?:
September 2nd, 2014 at 4:32 pm
I read the whole post and if a business class ticket is booked using 60K points, where’s the deal? Does this process simply guarantee you better availability? Not sure I understand what the value prop is from this whole to-do?"

[ilherman]

Perhaps, however people tend to shy away from concepts that require work such as going to the airport early and insisting on being wait-listed as a displaced business class passenger etc. Hopefully I'm right and this lives on.

I have no idea what you're talking about.....

[bubble347]

I have no idea what you're talking about.....

It's pretty easy to understand. Anything in particular troubling you?

[Dan]

Its a published part of the program on UA.com.
If anything it will go away due to under utilization.
Most FTers dont even know about it.

[jaywhy]

Perhaps, however people tend to shy away from concepts that require work such as going to the airport early and insisting on being wait-listed as a displaced business class passenger etc. Hopefully I'm right and this lives on.

That's why it's in the public domain.
It's out there and the people who are willing to take advantage of it will do it. Giving it more publicity can only hurt it.

[jaywhy]

Its a published part of the program on UA.com.
If anything it will go away due to under utilization.
Most FTers dont even know about it.

One more benefit in the public eye is another benefit to eliminate in the next "enhancement."
See UA vs EF, DL vs EF, UA vs WATT...

[htg123]

Or on the other hand, it'll stay alive because of People like this who are so lost that won't do it. I was laughing so hard when I read this comment 
"What Am I Missing?:
September 2nd, 2014 at 4:32 pm
I read the whole post and if a business class ticket is booked using 60K points, where’s the deal? Does this process simply guarantee you better availability? Not sure I understand what the value prop is from this whole to-do?"

Absolutely love this comment

[ilherman]

One more benefit in the public eye is another benefit to eliminate in the next "enhancement."
See UA vs EF, DL vs EF, UA vs WATT...

These airlines STINK. Why are they so unfriendly and still call all these rude things enhancements. 

[alexk.]

If you book a Plan B, is there a way to avoid the close-in fees?

Thanks

[efflpetzel]

I feel like Plan B has gotten enough attention already from the MS. More publicity can only hurt it.
/JMHO

+1m
I was holding myself back from ranting, so thanks for putting it nicely.

I don't get the point of posting it on the MS, if most people there won't bother/understand how to do then why bring attention to it?

[Dan]

The point of my blog isn't for me to teach you how to do something and then once you know about it nobody else should know about it. The point is to teach more people.

Plan B is a published policy on UA.com, not some trick or loophole.  I still maintain that we've seen lots of obscure policies have gone away due to being underutilized.  I wouldn't be surprised when UA rolls out their long overdue UA.com 2.0 to lose functionality like Plan B due to underutilization.  Maintaining systems like that cost money and why maintain it when it's so obscure?

I don't see why this has to be so obscure.

[lunatic]

Does the United agent handbook specifically define someone in this scenario as a displaced business class passenger?

[Dan]

Does the United agent handbook specifically define someone in this scenario as a displaced business class passenger?

Yes. And deserving of PR-1 status.