A pilot was removed from a United Airlines flight from Austin to San Francisco on Saturday after using the plane’s PA system to vent about her recent divorce, Donald Trump, and Hillary Clinton. The A319 captain boarded United 455 late and...
I Love the New United Propaganda Campaign!
We typically speak about propaganda in such negative terms, as if must encompass only misleading information used to promote a political cause. Sometimes propaganda is just biased or one-sided information that is not misleading, just used to highlight the good in something....
United CEO Reflects on Trump Meeting (and My Concerns)
Airline executives met with President Trump yesterday. You can read the sometimes humorous pool report here. Rather than focusing on the contentious travel ban, airline executives and the new Trump administration sought to find common ground. United CEO Oscar Munoz...
Will American and United Match Delta’s Free Meals in Domestic Economy?
Delta Air Lines is bringing back complimentary meals — not just snacks, meals — to its premium transcon routes between JFK and LAX/SFO. Will this force American Airlines and United Airlines to match? Delta’s New Meal Plan Delta is...
United CEO Vents About Small Planes, Washington Dulles
United CEO Oscar Munoz has a message about Washington Dulles: we screwed up. Fly between Newark and Washington Dulles — United’s two east coast hubs — and you’ll find yourself on a 37-seat turboprop (Bombardier Q200). Admitting that United’s share of traffic...
Would You Pay 250K Miles for First United Polaris 777-300ER Flight?
United Airlines is running an auction this week for two seats in Polaris (business) class on a special Chicago to San Francisco flight debuting its new 777-300ER and Polaris Business Class seats. But how much is too much? The...
United Warns FAs: Stop Customers from Stealing!
As I shared in my Frankfurt to San Francisco Polaris First Class review last week, the new Saks Fifth Avenue bedding on United Airlines is really nice. So nice, apparently, that customers are walking off with it at an alarming...
Hilarious Ellen DeGeneres Parody of United Basic Economy
I don’t watch the Ellen Show. Heck, I don’t even have a TV in my home, but when I saw this video today I had to laugh. United Basic Economy is coming soon and Ellen has a field day...
The Worst Business Class Meal I’ve Ever Had
For this week’s edition of Matthew’s Meal of the Week I reflect upon the worst meal I have ever been served in business class. With roughly 80% of my flights on United, it is no surprise the worst meal...
Here’s How to Eliminate Risk When Booking a United Award
Earlier today I wrote about phantom SWISS award inventory appearing on united.com. The result of this inaccurate award space can be dramatic: hundreds of thousands of orphaned miles in United. Here’s how to eliminate risk when booking a partner award with United...
Caution: Lots of Phantom SWISS Award Space on United
If you have been searching united.com for award space lately, you may noticed something that was once as elusive as a four-leaf-clover: SWISS business class space. Be careful, though, before you transfer points over — some of the space...
United Airlines’ Secret Expansion Plan at LAX
United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby told pilots in a recent closed-door meeting that United is eyeing a major expansion at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after years of letting its competitors gain market share. The plans include claiming back...
Review: Frankfurt to San Francisco in United Polaris First
With United retiring its 747-400s at the end of October, I am taking advantage of every opportunity to fly the Queen of the Skies this year. This trip, as I explained here, came about at the very last moment...
United May Cut p.s. Name, but not Premium Service
In 2004, United Airlines introduced p.s. (premium service) onboard its transcon flights between New York Kennedy and Los Angeles/San Francisco. This enhanced domestic product mimicked an international flight with menus, enhanced meals, and a premium business and first class...
Will Emirates Squeeze United Out of Athens?
Emirates announced it would offer daily non-stop service between Newark and Athens effective March 26, 2017, the carrier’s latest Fifth Freedom route. The new route puts United and Emirates on collision course — who will blink first or can both survive?...
The Trip Home from DC…Washington to Los Angeles via Frankfurt
As if our busy inauguration day was not enough, John and I detoured to Germany on our way home from Washington. A number of factors were to “blame”. A prefect storm brewed—procrastination and sold out flights with the specter...
UA Christens First 777-300ER “New Spirit of United”
United Airlines has christened its first 777-300ER the “New Spirit of United”, a name meant to highlight UA’s optimism it is turning the corner from a stormy past. Indeed, CEO Oscar Munoz added– This special aircraft represents not a commemoration of the...
United Announces Final 747 Flight
UDPATE: Final United Boeing 747 Flight Will be SFO-HNL on November 07, 2017 Scott Kirby promised a proper send off for the Queen of the Skies and with United’s schedule update, it appears that will be on October 29, 2017. Retirement...
I’m On an Uber from Newark Airport to Washington, DC…
Maybe the inauguration wasn’t such a good idea after all… United Airlines has a serious problem with its intra-terminal bus transport system at Newark Liberty. Long story short, we missed our connection to Washington National this morning because of...
Minneapolis to be Launch Market for United Basic Economy
In a call with investors yesterday, United Airlines President Scott Kirby announced that United will begin selling Basic Economy tickets next quarter and Minneapolis (MSP) will be the launch market. Kirby stated MSP will be the launch city because it...
