Spring began in Los Angeles this week with one more rainstorm, a fitting end to a rather meager winter. I’m still here, further extending my record of time in the last decade I have not stepped onto an airplane....
How I Would Spend a $10K United Voucher
How would use a $10,000 United Airlines voucher? Yesterday, I wrote about Allison Preiss, who received a $10,000 United voucher after she was bumped from an oversold Washington Dulles (IAD) to Austin (AUS) flight. Many asked her on Twitter: how...
$10,000 Voucher for United Airlines Bump!
Back in the day, I thought a $600 for a bump was a job well done. But how about $10,000?! The Northeast storm earlier this week led to thousands of flights cancellations, including most United flight in/out of New...
United Loses $1.5MN in Lawsuit Over FAs Who Watched iPads During Flight
How did firing two FAs for “not doing their jobs” become a civil rights lawsuit in which United Airlines stands to lose $1.5MN? Ruben Lee and Jeanne Stroup had been United flight attendants for over 35 years. But in...
Surprise: United Suspends PetSafe Program New Bookings…
Although hardly a surprise, United Airlines has suspended new reservations under its PetSafe program until May 01, 2018. If you visit United’s PetSafe website, you’ll be met with the following language: Effective immediately, we are not accepting any new...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: March 18, 2018
A trip is on the horizon…I’m anticipating a trip to Europe coming up, perhaps as early tomorrow. But for now, another week in LA. I didn’t even spend this many consecutive days on the ground when my son was...
United Could Easily Improve IRROPS
Businesses should not be measured by how they operate when things go right but rather how they react when things go wrong. United Airlines absolutely fell apart on a recent trip that experienced irregular operations before a dedicated employee...
United Charters Private Jet for Lost Dog
United chartered a private jet to reunite a German Shepard with his owners…after sending the dog to Japan instead of Kansas. Imagine this. You’re moving from Oregon to Kansas. After weighing flying versus driving, you book travel on United...
United Pilots Angry at Kirby’s Push for Regional Jet Expansion
United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby shocked investors by proclaiming United would increase domestic capacity by up to 6% this year and next. Now he’s shocked pilots by arguing this is “entirely dependent” on their authorization of more outsourced regional jets....
Senators Propose New Bill to Regulate Onboard Pet Storage
As I mentioned on Wednesday, there is technically no rule or law prohibiting the placement of pets in overhead bins. That may be a spirit/letter of the law issue, but at least two U.S. Senators want to fix that....
Rebuttal: Passenger, Not FA, Responsible for Dead Dog on United Flight
Could it really be that the FA was just doing her job and bears no responsibility for the death of a dog? Reader Anthony did not agree with the arguments I made for why the United Airlines’ flight attendant who...
Dog-Killing FA Should Be Sacrificial Lamb
The tragic story of a dog killed inside the passenger cabin of a United Airlines flight demands accountability. Who should take the fall for this horrible error in judgment? I’d like to think that other than the dog’s owner,...
What Does the United Flight Attendant Manual Say About Dogs?
In light of the horrific dog death aboard a United Airlines flight earlier this week, I reached out to a United FA to see what the rulebook actually says about stowage of pets in-flight. She provided me sections of...
United Airlines Already Has “Premium Economy” on Domestic Flights
United Airlines already has “premium economy” on domestic flights…it’s called first class. I’m not saying that to be facetious. Honestly. But the one image we have seen thus far of what United’s new premium economy class product will look...
United Takes Responsibility Immediately for Dead Dog in Overhead Bin
If there is one thing that United Airlines learned from the Dao incident, it is not to blame the customer. If you haven’t heard yet, a dog tragically died on a United flight on Monday evening. Here’s a summary...
U.S. Airlines Fighting Over Cuba…Again
With yields weak and demand far lower than expected, we’ve seen many carriers reduce or eliminate service to Cuba. Even so, U.S. airlines are still fiercely fighting for Havana slots. Under current U.S. Department of Transportation rules, airlines are...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: March 11, 2018
Another week spent entirely on the ground…this is really something out of character. But I’ve cherished the time spent with my wife and son lately: the little one is growing up so fast. I hope to finish up my...
Airport Restaurant Catering on United Flight: Compliment or Complaint?
Flying United Airlines out of Pittsburgh in 2018 has meant no breakfast 75% of the time this year for my travels. When catering let me down again, someone came through from United, but I can’t decide if it’s an...
The “Real” Reason United is Changing Bonus Program
After a unanimously negative reaction to the replacement of a popular bonus program with a lottery that would leave most employees with nothing, United is promising to listen to employees…before making changes. But WHY are changes needed? The reaction...
United Now Sells Priority Boarding A La Carte
If you’re flying on United Airlines, you may be able to purchase priority boarding for $9 on your next flight. My biggest concern when traveling for business: missing out on overhead bin space. There are few annoyances worse for...
