UA Offers Mercedes Benz Transfers At IAH For Elite

STT757 · Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:20 pm

I could see this being really popular in Chicago and San Francisco.

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/watercoole...es-offers-new-luxury-on-the-ground

trex8 · Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:23 pm

How incredibly un American! Couldn't they find a deal with GM or Ford??

JoePatroni707 · Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:28 pm

Ahh... maybe they got a package deal on a fleet of new Benzes with Lufthansa. As far as Ford or GM, those cars are generally crap and now known for luxury and something a top tier would deserve.

Stitch · Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:32 pm

Quoting JoePatroni707 (Reply 2):
As far as Ford or GM, those cars are generally crap and now known for luxury and something a top tier would deserve.

You're driving what, a kilometer?

I've used LH's services with the S Class and Cayennes, but I'd certainly not consider myself insulted as a Global First customer if UA met me with a Cadillac XTS or Escalade. *shrug*

LAXintl · Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:34 pm

Its a test program (2 cars)

Only select global service and global first connection customers will be able to avail themselves.

Second trial (also with 2 cars) will commence shortly at ORD.

shaq · Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:41 pm

Who can please the a.net public.
Whether UA is using Mercedes, or GMs, this is an improvement of the many that this airline shall have.
Most frequent fliers always deserve a top-notch service. (GS)

AVENSAB727 · Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:23 am

But IAH seems to be the first hub to get one of these new services by UA, I guess since IAH is UA's number 1 hub.

United1 · Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:33 am

Quoting AVENSAB727 (Reply 6):
I guess since IAH is UA's number 1 hub.

...before the ORD vs IAH people jump on here can I just throw it out there that ORD and IAH are both UAs #1 hubs. ORD has more flights but IAH transits more passengers.

Quoting AVENSAB727 (Reply 6):
But IAH seems to be the first hub to get one of these new services by UA,

...ORD will be getting a couple of cars as well. Hopefully this program works and UA expands it a bit.

TWA772LR · Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:37 am

And the airline will lose more money...

United1 · Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:54 am

Quoting TWA772LR (Reply 8):
And the airline will lose more money...

That's a ridiculous thing to say over 2-4 cars.... For the record Wall Street at least believes that UA will make money this quarter and next (this year as well.)

UA is starting to overhaul some of the ground amenities that they offer to passengers....this is one they are trying out to see how it works.

MaverickM11 · Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:05 am

Quoting LAXintl (Reply 4):

Second trial (also with 2 cars) will commence shortly at ORD.

They should add it to IAD--you could board the car directly from that dreary basement lounge

THEFLLFLYER · Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:08 am

Quoting STT757 (Thread starter):

I believe DL has a deal with one of the luxury automobile companies to transfer high-level Medallions in ATL.....

jetlanta · Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:23 am

Quoting THEFLLFLYER (Reply 11):
I believe DL has a deal with one of the luxury automobile companies to transfer high-level Medallions in ATL.....

Porsche. The program has been around for a couple years. I've had the pleasure a couple of times.

N505fx · Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:33 am

Quoting trex8 (Reply 1):
How incredibly un American! Couldn't they find a deal with GM or Ford??

Sure - you cold drive people around in a Canadian or Mexican built Ford or GM, or drive them around in an Alabama built Mercedes-Benz, maybe for E+ a Tennessee built VW.

Cubsrule · Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:41 am

Quoting N505FX (Reply 13):
Sure - you cold drive people around in a Canadian or Mexican built Ford or GM, or drive them around in an Alabama built Mercedes-Benz, maybe for E+ a Tennessee built VW.

The SUVs will, in all likelihood, be Alabama built (MLs or GLs). The sedans, in all likelihood, will not (Es or Ss).

platinumfoota · Thu Jul 18, 2013 2:14 am

This would work great at LAX connecting passengers between T6 and T8

drerx7 · Thu Jul 18, 2013 3:33 am

Quoting trex8 (Reply 1):

How incredibly un American! Couldn't they find a deal with GM or Ford??

Ford or GM have no luxury offering that can compare to an S Class. Maybe an Escalade. I am not a fan of American cars, definitely not luxury car...American trucks and SUVs I do like above all else.

Quoting Stitch (Reply 3):
I've used LH's services with the S Class and Cayennes, but I'd certainly not consider myself insulted as a Global First customer if UA met me with a Cadillac XTS or Escalade. *shrug*

XTS is horrible...Escalade...well for this trip I could do.

Quoting SHAQ (Reply 5):

Who can please the a.net public.
Whether UA is using Mercedes, or GMs, this is an improvement of the many that this airline shall have.
Most frequent fliers always deserve a top-notch service. (GS)

Amen

Quoting N505FX (Reply 13):
Sure - you cold drive people around in a Canadian or Mexican built Ford or GM, or drive them around in an Alabama built Mercedes-Benz, maybe for E+ a Tennessee built VW.

Double Amen

Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 14):
The SUVs will, in all likelihood, be Alabama built (MLs or GLs). The sedans, in all likelihood, will not (Es or Ss).

Correct.

VC10er · Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:05 pm

The "select" or "selected" are key words. I presume if you have used miles or a systemwide upgrade into GF, I assume you may not get the car, but if you paid for GF, you would. Or if your a combo of GS and in GF? Also, how many aircraft with a GF cabin fly into and out of IAH? Will this be available one day if United goes to a 100% 2 class airline?

Personally, I think this is fabulous news. United rarely springs up innovations at the highest tiers like LH does. I have upgraded 3 times on LH with UA printed Systemwides and got into their spectacular First club and got the Mercedes to the plane.

For United to have some luxury features like this will have a good halo effect on the United brand, once UA tightens up all their operations. Plus, rolls out the new United club design to its other hubs etc.

Hats off United!

DL747400 · Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:48 pm

Quoting THEFLLFLYER (Reply 11):
I believe DL has a deal with one of the luxury automobile companies to transfer high-level Medallions in ATL.....

Delta has had this for a couple of years in select hubs. I'm sure DL is flattered that UA played copycat.

a380787 · Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:09 pm

Quoting DL747400 (Reply 18):
Delta has had this for a couple of years in select hubs. I'm sure DL is flattered that UA played copycat.

Depends whether UA wants to keep it at a single hub (like DL does), or expand to every domestic hub except CLE/DEN.

For the number of GS/GF routing through SFO and IAD, I'd imagine UA would run out of chauffeurs+cars and have to ask 4 GS to share a S-class

airzim · Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:26 pm

Quoting VC10er (Reply 17):
The "select" or "selected" are key words.

I think it is safe to assume that if you are GS and you are either a) not connecting, b) don't have a tight connection and might have time for a trip to the lounge, that you will likely not see a Silver Merc picking you up at the plane.

I assume the same is true for the GF pax too.

They only have 2 cars and it doesn't really make sense to pick someone up if they're only going to baggage claim anyway.

upcfordcruiser · Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:59 pm

What!? This here's Texas, son. Give em' a taste of how we really roll. A jacked up F250 King Ranch Crew Cab Diesel on 44's, or taller, with all emissions gear removed and a straight pipe exhaust. Bonus points for black-smoking other airline's equipment en route.

Wait, this is UA. I guess we're lucky they don't try to use a Prius.

stxbohn · Thu Jul 18, 2013 2:09 pm

Quoting upcfordcruiser (Reply 21):
What!? This here's Texas, son. Give em' a taste of how we really roll. A jacked up F250 King Ranch Crew Cab Diesel on 44's, or taller, with all emissions gear removed and a straight pipe exhaust. Bonus points for black-smoking other airline's equipment en route.

That was my laugh for the morning. You forgot the "hanging accessories" from the trailer hitch and silhouette mud flaps. Dodging those all the time here in H-town...

justloveplanes · Thu Jul 18, 2013 3:32 pm

Quoting stxbohn (Reply 22):
Quoting upcfordcruiser (Reply 21):
What!? This here's Texas, son. Give em' a taste of how we really roll. A jacked up F250 King Ranch Crew Cab Diesel on 44's, or taller, with all emissions gear removed and a straight pipe exhaust. Bonus points for black-smoking other airline's equipment en route.

That was my laugh for the morning. You forgot the "hanging accessories" from the trailer hitch and silhouette mud flaps. Dodging those all the time here in H-town...

haha! However with all seriousness, Texas and H-town in particular are hugh pickup AND Mercedes markets. Big on both.

jayunited · Thu Jul 18, 2013 3:40 pm

I think this program will work extremely well at IAH because that airport is so large and United occupies so much real estate at IAH, so bravo to United for this. However here at ORD I see this program having an extremely limited use. Although UA does occupy all of T1 and a major portion of T2 both terminals are relativity close together so passengers are not having to walk great distances to get from one flight to another and if you are coming in on the "C" side concourse UA already has a shuttle bus that connects passengers from the "C" side to T2. However I can see this program being used for international arrivals because getting from T5 over to T1 is a hassle to say the least. Perhaps after the elite customer has cleared customs and immigration a GS agent would meet them and escort them back upstairs at T5 have them clear security at T5 then escort them downstairs to a waiting car that could then drive them over to T1 or T2 depending on where their connecting flight is departing from. This alone could potentially save elite customers at least 25 minutes maybe more.

I also think other airports like EWR, IAD and SFO could use this program as well especially EWR, and SFO because those 2 hubs have the highest percentages of GS passengers among all of UA's domestic hubs.

FlyingSicilian · Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:21 pm

Quoting N505FX (Reply 13):
Sure - you cold drive people around in a Canadian or Mexican built Ford or GM, or drive them around in an Alabama built Mercedes-Benz, maybe for E+ a Tennessee built VW.

Does it really matter for the three minutes one is in the vehicle...maybe five minutes for A to E.

dsuairptman · Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:50 pm

Sounds like a waste of money on fuel to me...

UA787DEN · Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:42 pm

Quoting dsuairptman (Reply 26):
Sounds like a waste of money on fuel to me...

It isn't far...compared to the fuel cost to UA of the plane that this privileged passenger will be flying on, this fuel cost is insanely tiny.

Quoting jayunited (Reply 24):
I also think other airports like EWR, IAD and SFO could use this program as well

Yeah. A nice touch for their Trans-Pac and Trans-Atlantic customers.

I wish we would get this in DEN...but we're going to be lucky to get a second intercontinental UA flight. Plus it might be faster to walk the concourse...

Quoting jayunited (Reply 24):
I think this program will work extremely well at IAH because that airport is so large and United occupies so much real estate at IAH

Very true. IAH is sprawling in general and UA manages to take up a lot of space there. ORD, DEN, and CLE not so much. Only because of ORD's delays might it be helpful. IAD A-D is a very long walk....IAD could benefit from this. Do you the the GF customers would rather sprint through the halls of IAD or sit in a Mercedes? Same with SFO, because of the few flights left over in T1, the international terminal/codeshares, and T3 layout. EWR definitely. Inter-terminal connections plus arrival delays.

DTWLAX · Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:42 am

Quoting jayunited (Reply 24):
I also think other airports like EWR, IAD and SFO could use this program as well especially EWR, and SFO because those 2 hubs have the highest percentages of GS passengers among all of UA's domestic hubs.

Why EWR? Isn't all mainline UA in one terminal at EWR?

United1 · Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:58 am

Quoting dtwlax (Reply 28):
Why EWR? Isn't all mainline UA in one terminal at EWR?

All of UA mainline departs from Terminal C however UA does have mainline arrivals into terminal B and of course UAX arrives and departs at Terminal A. C1 to C3 is a quick walk but A2 to C3 takes a while.

UA787DEN · Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:03 am

Quoting dtwlax (Reply 28):
All of UA mainline departs from Terminal C however UA does have mainline arrivals into terminal B and of course UAX arrives and departs at Terminal A. C1 to C3 is a quick walk but A2 to C3 takes a while.

Plus all the *A codeshares in B

fxramper · Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:08 am

Copying DL and half ass at that. Don't even know if you'll get the service? I'd rather get a Porsche at ATL any day and I hate flying Delta. Nice thought new United. Guess your tired of all the legacy United business flyers getting status match at AA & DL and leaving your airline. I don't blame them one bit. Group 1 includes Global Services and usually on average 25-30 people board. That makes me feel special.

alfa164 · Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:59 am

I had the pleasure of getting the Porsche transfers at Atlanta on two previous Delta trips. It was very interesting to be right around the aircraft, scurrying around the ramp areas, although I wondered what provisions the TSA and/or FAA had placed on allowing passengers (possible) access to those "secure" areas of the airport. I didn't check to see if my door handles had been disabled during the drive!

I also would suggest that the airlines offer us the opportunity to not only go to the next flight departure, but to drop us off at the Sky Club (or United Club, for those who are members there). I actually had plenty of time between my last flights, and wound up wandering back to the club from a somewhat-distant gate where I had been dropped off.

shaq · Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:05 am

Quoting fxramper (Reply 31):
Copying DL and half ass at that. Don't even know if you'll get the service?

Meanwhile they'll test the service with just two cars. In the future they plan to add more, FYI.

Cubsrule · Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:47 am

Quoting alfa164 (Reply 32):
I actually had plenty of time between my last flights, and wound up wandering back to the club from a somewhat-distant gate where I had been dropped off.

That's the problem with these services. Unless there is a dedicated F/J terminal or access from the cars to the lounge, it's sort of pointless. The AF service at CDG--which targets tight connections regardless of status--makes sense. A car gate to gate would be much appreciated on a tight connection, but if I want to visit the Skyclub/United Club, what good does the car service do me? I still have to mix with the proletariot to get to the lounge.

PEK777 · Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:05 am

I can't wait until they start offering 'One free vehicle transfer' for anyone who signs up for a Mileage Plus credit card. I know it's a long shot, but look at the slobs who you now see in the United Club and the 'premier access' lines in pajamas and sweatpants.

COSPN · Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:32 am

Who will be driving these cars ? a $7 per hour Employee will he have a cap and tie ?? Does he/she get tips ??

nyc2theworld · Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:11 am

The walk from C123 to C99 is quite far.

Quoting PEK777 (Reply 35):
I can't wait until they start offering 'One free vehicle transfer' for anyone who signs up for a Mileage Plus credit card. I know it's a long shot, but look at the slobs who you now see in the United Club and the 'premier access' lines in pajamas and sweatpants.

I didn't realize my butt in seat Gold status had a dress code.

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