I realize that United Airlines, the carrier I fly most often, is hard up for cash – but I’m finding the extra “hard sell” steps really annoying lately when checking in online or at the airport kiosks. 

First, a reasonable offer:  the extra legroom in economy plus.  I do like E+.  Its a unique offering by UAL, but I’m 5’7 so its not that important to me.  However I like sitting up front as it gets me off the plane faster.  To me that’s even more valuable, but not at $54.   Also I can select this when MAKING my initial reservation.  I can choose then, and don’t want to be bothered about it again.   And I asked for and received exit row seats on both of these flights.  The early bird gets the worm.

Another tactic which I don’t care for is the placement of the “skip” and “purchase” buttons.  Throughout the online check-in process the “continue” button is always located on the far right side.  Now, these buttons default to “purchase” on these offer screens.  It throws the brain and mostly wastes time.

On the E+ offer it doesn’t use the word “purchase” but rather says “continue.”  But your aren’t “continuing.”  You’re making a purchase and taking a different fork in this process.  I’m sure there’s a second screen in which to confirm your credit card, but again its a time waster.  Devil and details and all that.

The second and more ludicrous offer after this screen:

Second offer:  Now this one takes some cajones.  How’d you like to pay $90 for NOTHING?  That’s right, you can double or triple your miles for an, ahem, nominal fee.

Airline miles are definitely nice to collect and redeem.  I have the UAL credit card, (ok yes with the fee.) I shop the Mileage Plus Mall at times when buying online, and look for hotels and car rental deals that kick me back UAL miles too.  But those are all things I’m buying anyway.  I draw the line at outright plunking down $50 or $90 bucks just to build up my account, especially when its so difficult to redeem the miles.  In addition, most experts are recommending USING miles due to future of UAL and other airlines looking so melancholy.

With fewer planes, fewer routes, and fewer available seats, the below offer is a sucker ploy by the airlines to extract extra money from your wallet.  I’d never PURCHASE miles unless it was a tiny amount needed to reach a redemption number or a premium status.