With cuts coming left and right in the world of airline loyalty programs, I must admit I no longer wince in pain when a new devaluation announced. The question of devaluation is not if, but when and how much....
TOP SECRET Route from San Francisco to Seoul
A flyer on United noticed that his flight from San Francisco to Seoul was not exactly traveling in a logical direction, so he did what any savvy traveler would do in the age of onboard wi-fi: he tweeted United–...
One of the Best Dinners I’ve Ever Had on United Airlines
As a 1K MillionMiler flyer on United, I’ve had my fair share of meals on UA over the last decade. Some have been good, some have been bad, but most were simply acceptable. Last week I flew on United...
Impressive Meal Service Upgrades at United Airlines
United Airlines promised a vastly improved onboard meal experience last August, pledging to gradually roll out several improvements over the course of the next year. Almost immediately we saw a slight improvement in domestic lunch service and the re-introduction of meals...
United Humiliates Family with Disabled Child or Family Shamefully Tries to Game System?
A story called United with Ivy has been gone viral over the last 48 hours. It goes something like this– Large family (of 16) traveling from Dominican Republic to Newark together Husband and wife have four children Youngest child,...
Woman Spends Weekend in Jail for Changing Seats on United
When I was thrown off a United Airlines flight for taking a picture of my seat, many were quick to attack — blaming me for being over-entitled and concluding that I was wrong to even question the FA’s confusion...
United Airlines Fantasy Flights 2014 (Video)
I first wrote about United’s Fantasy Flights five years ago and I am thankful that this wonderful Christmas tradition has not been one of the cutbacks of the post-merger United. In fact, the program has expanded to 12 airports...
New Greeting for AA Phone Reps
This is totally an airline nerd thing, but I spend a chunk of my day each day (sometimes a huge chunk) on the phone with various airlines booking awards. The bulk of my clients are based in North America...
United Airlines Now Processing Lufthansa GPU Upgrades Electronically
United Airlines and Lufthansa were both founding members of the Star Alliance and have maintained a close relationship as both codeshare and joint venture partners over years. United’s top-status 1K flyers receive six GPUs (Global Premier Upgrades) each year...
Business Class Partner Awards on United Airlines Pricing for 115K instead of 140K RT!
I am loath to post many mileage deals that appear to be mistakes on this blog because airlines do read blogs and respond quickly – I may not have the readership of The Points Guy, but it is no...
Is the Elimination of Stopovers on United MileagePlus Awards Inevitable?
Delta Air Lines has announced that free stopovers will not be part of the 2015 Skymiles program and it seems likely that the combined American and US Airways AAdvantage program will also not offer complimentary stopovers. That would leave...
United Airlines Announces Service to Venice, Additional Service to Dublin and Paris
United Airlines announced three new Summer 2015 routes today, including new service from Newark to Venice and Chicago to Dublin as well as a second daily flight from Washington to Paris. Newark to Venice The 767-400 scheduled on this...
More Devaluations for United MileagePlus in 2015
Christmas gifts have arrived early from United Airlines and like last year, we’ve all received lumps of coal. As United continues to dismantle what was once the world’s best airline loyalty program, several more changes have been announced, all...
United Airlines Mimics Delta, Raises 2016 Elite Requirements
The consultants United Airlines hires to provide strategic advice on loyalty innovation and how to increase profit must have a pretty easy job…watch Delta, then copy. Once again, United has mimicked Delta in increasing elite status thresholds for 2016...
United Reports Strong Q3 Profit
United Airlines reported a healthy third-quarter profit today of $1.1 billion, a record and also a 99% increase from last year. Here’s some of the specifics: United’s consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased 3.9 percent in...
New United Airlines Premier Status Tracking Website
United Airlines has introduced a nifty new website for tracking MileagePlus status: nothing revolutionary, but knowing how much you have to spend to attain or maintain elite status is now very transparent. Here’s the website and watch this one...
United Airlines, Hertz Partnership Adds Elite Benefits to MileagePlus
United Airlines and Hertz have announced a new partnership in which MileagePlus elite members will receive elite status in Hertz’s Gold Plus Rewards program and more miles for Hertz rentals. Discounts and Bonus Miles with Hertz Hertz is already...
LOT Polish Airlines Award Space Bookable on united.com
LOT Polish Airlines is back after a long hiatus on united.com. The Polish flag carrier operates a fleet of 787s to North American gateways including Chicago, New York JFK, and Toronto and award space in both business and economy...
Streaming Inflight Movies and TV on United Airlines
United Airlines has made economy class travel much more bearable by introducing streaming IFE to many of its aircraft. I had a chance to try it last week on a flight from Chicago to Frankfurt and was very pleasantly...
New United Airlines Globe Surfing Commercial
United Airlines has released another commercial narrated by Matt Damon, this time highlighting United’s extensive worldwide route network from the view of a lie-flat seat…or something like that. It is by no means UA’s best commercial: it features a...
