Comments on: United’s “Economy Plus” http://mikemadaio.com/uniteds-economy-plus User Experience * Usability * Emerging Technologies Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:35:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Pam Madaio http://mikemadaio.com/uniteds-economy-plus#comment-963 Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:15:49 +0000 http://mikemadaio.com/uniteds-economy-plus#comment-963 As a business traveler, I would rather have the option to pay for this upgrade when I make my original reservation -- thus insuring that I will be reimbursed for this as a business expense. While I have not tried to submit this added fee for reimbursement, my assumption is that it would not be covered. By calling attention to this cost as a separate fee, it becomes too easy for companies to classify it as a "luxury" item, similar to using the mini bar or renting a movie in your hotel room, both expenses that are not eligible for reimbursement at most companies. I assume that United offers this as an add-on because they have not sold those "premium seats" for a premium price prior to the online check-in window. But in my mind this practice is just shifting part of the travel expense from the company to the employee -- not a way to endear an airline to business travelers. As a business traveler, I would rather have the option to pay for this upgrade when I make my original reservation — thus insuring that I will be reimbursed for this as a business expense. While I have not tried to submit this added fee for reimbursement, my assumption is that it would not be covered. By calling attention to this cost as a separate fee, it becomes too easy for companies to classify it as a “luxury” item, similar to using the mini bar or renting a movie in your hotel room, both expenses that are not eligible for reimbursement at most companies.

I assume that United offers this as an add-on because they have not sold those “premium seats” for a premium price prior to the online check-in window. But in my mind this practice is just shifting part of the travel expense from the company to the employee — not a way to endear an airline to business travelers.

]]>