United may not have a Polaris Lounge yet at Newark’s Liberty International Airport, but it now has an invitation-only restaurant called Classified. Do you have access? I don’t. You can input your MileagePlus number and last name at the...
The Real Reason United is Launching Denver to London Service?
In the world of politics, what seems obvious is often only a clever cover for something less obvious. By all accounts, United’s decision to add transatlantic service between Denver and London was a strategic move to challenge Norwegian Air....
United’s Chief Digital Officer: Overbooking Will Continue
Linda Jojo is the Chief Digital Officer for United Airlines as well as the Executive Vice President of Technology. In a recent wide-ranging interview with the Wall Street Journal, she explained why United will continue to overbook flights. Overbooking...
United Returns to Historic Airport it Abandoned Decades Ago
78 years ago United Airlines launched commercial service from Paine Field (PAE) just north of Seattle. After decades without commercial flights, a new terminal is opening and United will resume commercial service to two hubs. Paine Field was a...
Defiant: United Will NOT Suspend Flights to Guam Despite North Korea Threat
North Korea has warned that if provoked, it will strike Guam with a nuclear missile. Despite a bellicose exchange of threats between North Korea and United States, United Airlines is conducting business as usual from its Pacific island hub. United Airlines...
Sorry TPG, I Can Assure You United Business is Better than Economy Class on ANY Airline
I have a great deal of respect for the The Points Guy and the empire he has built. I know Brian Kelly personally and am friends with Zach Honig, the site’s Editor-in-Chief. But I’m so disappointed by a review...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: August 06, 2017
A very pleasant evening to you from Los Angeles, where I was happy to spend the entire week at home with my wife and son ahead of a major trip coming up this week (details coming). Two major “sale”...
Doctor Gropes Teen on United Flight, Walks Free
Something doesn’t add up here. A 16-year girl was flying from Seattle to Newark for a summer fellowship program at Princeton. She was seated in a window seat and awoke to find a man’s hand on her thigh. The...
Thuggish Former United Gate Agent Suing the Man He Assaulted!
Remember my post about the ex-United thug named Alejandro Anastasia who shoved down the senior citizen at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport as fellow employees look on? The victim sued him and United fired him. But now he’s countersuing for $1...
United Airlines Serves Best Champagne in the World? I’m Skeptical
United Airlines recently won Global Traveler’s 2017 Wines on the Wing award for serving the best champagne in international first class. The winner: Joseph Perrier Brut Cuvée Royale 2004. While I don’t purport to be a champagne expert, I’m skeptical. My...
One Surprising Reason to Buy United Basic Economy
Here’s the ironic thing about buying a Basic Economy ticket on United Airlines. By not being able to pre-assign a seat, you often end up with one of the best economy seats on the aircraft. My brother’s girlfriend accidentally...
United Airlines Cuts Service to Hangzhou
United Airlines is finding its mission to expand to secondary cities in China is not as profitable as initially hoped for. The carrier will suspend service to Hangzhou effective October 16, 2017. We have no official announcement from United...
United Airlines’ Food Trucks in New York + San Francisco
Look for food trucks bearing a United Airlines logo circling New York and San Francisco over the next couple weeks. Find one and you’ll enjoy a complimentary destination-themed dessert from one of United’s international destinations. The food trucks will...
United Pilots: Foreign Airlines Should Be Required to Hire U.S. Pilots
While management seems more focused on Gulf Carriers, airline unions have set their crosshairs on low-cost carriers like Norwegian. Why? Labor costs, specifically Norwegian practices to keep them low. But have United pilots taken it a step too far...
United 747 Will Fly Domestic on Friday
United is retiring its 747-400 fleet this autumn. While I’m hearing rumors of a farewell domestic tour, nothing has been confirmed yet and the final flight is still scheduled from Seoul to San Francisco on October 29, 2017. But...
United Airlines Adds New London Service from Denver
As United faces mounting competition from Frontier and soon Norwegian in Denver, it is embracing the fight rather than abandoning it. Today the carrier announced new seasonal service to London starting next spring. United has tried service between Denver and...
Overconfident? United Airlines Mocks Frontier Airlines
United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby is a smug man. I don’t even use that term in negative way. Such bravado has served him well at American and now United. But did he step over the line during a recent dressing down...
United Flight Diverts When Passenger Rushes Cockpit
A United flight was forced to turn around after a distressed passenger made a rush for the flight deck. United 898 was scheduled to leave Houston at 9:43p on Saturday evening for a short flight to New Orleans, but...
A Dishonest Smear in the Fight Over Gulf Subsidies
Earlier this month, Delta released a “documentary” attacking the Gulf Carriers. I didn’t even write about it because it represents unadulterated propaganda. But now a friend was attacked for criticizing it and I feel obligated to weigh in. Be warned: in the...
United FAs Now Empowered to Issue Onboard Compensation
One of the biggest problems of the failed Smisek era at United Airlines was that FAs and gate agents lost much of their flexibility. Rules were strictly enforced with consequences for bending them, but anti-customer policies were also implemented....
