Anyone Fly United Lately?

[EZEtoGRU]

My memory may be failing me, but I thought in Miami that we did not leave the secured area after customs so did not have to be re-screened. And, for that matter, it seemed to be that way in Dallas too.

 

If you were inbound into MIA/DFW from an international flight and then connecting to a domestic flight, you would have had to absolutely clear security again at least for the last 25 years. If you were inbound international and connecting to international, I do not remember if the rules changed post 9/11 or before....but for sure since 9/11 one has had to clear security.

 

Anyway, let's get back on topic. Anyone else fly United the last few months and what were your impressions?

[orbital sander]

Anyway, let's get back on topic. Anyone else fly United the last few months and what were your impressions?

 

I ditched United years ago after they started going down hill prior to the merger.

 

I find airlines like cell phone companies and banks, any of them will piss you off, and then if you switch, the new choice will end up being as bad, if not worse, than the one you left. I used to be exclusive to United and their partners, then moved to Delta and their partners, and for the last 6-7 years I have been exclusive with AA. I will watch AA with interest as they continue to move to merge with US airways. As the choices narrow, service will likely suffer more...

 

If you can fly first or business on any airline, generally you will be better off.

[Guest Connoisseur]

I fly UA regularly although am just Premier Exec currently. I think all the bitching is mainly (but sure not entirely) driven by the fact free upgrades aren't as plentiful as in the past. Airlines have been struggling for too many years, too many people want the best service that's available at no extra cost and many who get the upgrades behave poorly like they are owed everything for nothing. United is filling more first class seats with either people who book first class or buy their way with cash or miles and cash. Its a business and if I was the UA CEO I'd be doing the same thing. I've enjoyed the free upgrades for years and now that I don't I get them unless I want to pay I have no problem with that. I don't give my best customers premium products for the same price as base models - and they don't expect it. I think air travel should cost more and the service for everyone better. Overly cramped and uncomfortable seating are more the result of too many bargain fares (websites that sort fares lowest price first are the norm) and too many airline bankruptcies. I will close by saying all too often its the "Business Elites" that have the least amount of class when flying. They are arrogant and pushy about getting free upgrades, dress poorly (shorts and flip flops on men over 30 when traveling on a plane cause me to lose my appetite). Of course NOT ALL BUSINESS ELITES are like this, but I see too many and have welcomed the fact they can't sit their arrogant asses up front unless they pay more. I'm fortunate that I can afford - on flights over two hours - to either book first class or upgrade and pay the cash difference. I don't care where I sit for flights of lesser duration. I recently gave up my first class seat to a soldier who was traveling with another one...the guy next to me did the same. The UA flight crew was so nice they found extra meals and served the other gentleman and me in economy. If you want to drive a cadillac you can't go to a Chevy dealer and get a free upgrade because you've been buying Chevrolets your whole life. Go to another airline if the value is better, but it seems silly to go to another airline because UA's business model means you get for free what others are willing to pay many hundreds or thousands of real cash to get. Bet the highest percentage of elites are traveling on their employers dime, not their own personal money.

[+ azdr0710]

good comments, Connoisseur....the sense of entitlement I occasionally see can be embarrassing and maddening...

 

remember: you get what you pay for....or what your employer pays for....

[gallahadesquire]

More or less off the thread:

 

About three years ago i had a "Direct" flight from Boston to Phoenix on AA via Dallas - Fort Worth. I had purchased First Class (with restrictions). I got to Dallas to find that the continuing portion of the "Direct" flight had been cancelled, and my Y-UP fare (which was the only one available when I booked the First Class) was only a "Y" fare, which put me in seat 31E. To say I was Irate is minimalistic. I had to wait five hours (worth it) at DFW get a decent seat.

 

i'm so far in left field now - I'll leave the comment of "Take out a row or two of seats, and give EVERYONE two more inches of leg room" [the old AA "More Room Throughout Coach"] to another thread.

[jackhammer91406]

Keeping a weather eye...

 

I have been following this thread with great interest as I am flying United this Tuesday. I have been flying United exclusively since before 911. I remember flying to London in Feb 2002 and having almost the entire plane to myself. I believe I recall the cabin attendants outnumbered the passengers. I was flying business, but got seated in First since it was empty and a decision apparently was made to move me to First because they had to go less distance with the service.

 

All of my trips to RIO (5) have been with United and my last return was an emergency because I became very ill and needed to return 3 weeks early. They accommodated my needs and upgraded me at no charge to First.

 

This trip the United personnel have been very helpful since I now am a person with special medical needs and require assistance. The run-up to the flight has gone very smoothly and I am fairly confident that things will go well, and if they don't , then I will adapt to what I have to deal with. It is a vacation after all, and I can be as flexible as I need to be provided I have the help I need. I realize for a business traveler, it is decidedly different, but I can only say from my perspective. things seem to have gone pretty well all things considered.

[EZEtoGRU]

Jackhammer,

That makes two of us flying on United on Tuesday...although mine is just a quick hop to South Florida. I don't anticipate any troubles and I'm sure your flight will be fine as well. I plan to report back here after my trip is over.

 

Meanwhile, it turns out that AA are still matching UA 1K's and GS with the equivalent AA status. Reportedly thousands of UA frequent flyers have made the switch.

[CowboyUp]

Just chiming-in here to say I flew United roundtrip from Houston to Denver three weeks ago and all was fine...Not a single glitch. It felt like I was flying Continental--not much difference.

[jackhammer91406]

Jackhammer,

That makes two of us flying on United on Tuesday...although mine is just a quick hop to South Florida.

Very weird, my flight is a short hop to Central Florida (Orlando) although I guess short may not be correct since I am flying from Los Angeles.

Enjoy your flight.

[+ Tygerscent]

I always fly "United"~ It;s an intimacy thing between me and my guys~ I tihnk the airlines, any of them, fly first class, business class and economy class... My united sensabilities take me Class first, classy business and classy economy~ All things considered, United is a good way to go~

Oh, wait... you meant United airlines~ My mistake~

Tyger!

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[Racketjock]

I agree with Connoisseur. I fly for business weekly and predominantly use Continental, now United. Living in Houston, the one negative I will say that impacted us because of the merger, is there are a lesser number of flights to certain destinations, or they try to connect you through Chicago. One of my frequent trips is the Houston to Chicago flight. The amount of seats in first class is fewer and the flights are almost always at capacity. Having said that, I have always had good service with Continental/ United. Having just recently been stranded on a convoluted return flight from the east coast that had to land in New Orleans, once I got off the plane, I headed straight to the United ticket counter who was the only carrier who could get me home. Now, if all the airlines would lower their air fares a bit..........but I digress.

[Diverdan]

Just returned from a round trip on UA from Chicago to Orlando for a business meeting and a return last night. Both flights were great... on time departures... families with children with lots of luggage and "junk" and the flight attendants were very helpful on both trips. Left on time, and arrived early on both flights. Some of the early difficulties seem to have been ironed out. They still haven't sent me my new United Club card. I have a lifetime card... remember when the airlines used to sell them. It was probably the biggest bargin of my life. So it is now a pain to check into the Club, as I have lost my old card, but they do manage to look me up somehow and find that I do indeed have a lifetime pass to the Club.

 

My last couple of trips on AA have been much better than last year... guess they are trying hard too with the bankruptcy hanging over their head.

[EZEtoGRU]

Just got into Miami (actually I flew into Fort Lauderdale and drove down to Miami Beach). Flight was fine. Left and arrived on-time. No issues. First class was full. Economy seemed to have about 30 empty seats. Houston airport was absolutely dead with hardly no passengers at the check-in counters in the terminal. Quietest I have ever seen it.....kind of strange.

 

I was on a pre-merger Continental aircraft so the flight attendants and pilots all came from Continental. Also, Houston and Fort Lauderdale were both predominantly Continental dominated stations so things seemed to work just fine. My upgrade to first was confirmed three days in advance and my return upgrade has already come through. As I mentioned before, I understand that the more serious problems that have been occuring with the merged carrier have been on the old United side of things rather than the old Continental part.

 

Anyway, only a happy experience for this flier today.

 

Now if only the weather in Florida would clear up!!

[jackhammer91406]

Moving their tail for me...

 

Yes, I know that was the old slogan for Continental.

Anyway, My flight went great from beginning to end. Full assistance from the time I arrived at the terminal, transport through security and to the gate. Early boarding, full attention during the flight. Departed on time, arrived 15 minutes early.

Full transport to Car rental and then car. Only have good things to say about how United took care of me.

Oh, I should mention, there are no longer any pretzels.