Today was the day that my wife was to fly Lufthansa First Class for the first time. I was looking forward to it so much! First Tokyo Haneda to Frankfurt, then Munich to Toronto in First Class tomorrow with...
U.S. Secretary of State Rescued by United Airlines
It is not just us hoi polloi that run into mechanical delays that foul up our schedules and cause us to shift travel plans…it even happens to the Secretary of State of the USA. Sec. John Kerry has been...
United Loosens Award Routing Rules Between North America and Africa
Fearing that United Airlines had further tightened up award routing rules to Asia based on a new and restrictive revision of the fine print, I warned in May that if enforced, United’s draconian new routing rules would mark a stealth...
Onboard Photos: The Hidden Hypocrisy in United’s New Safety Video
Another passenger was thrown off a United Airlines flight yesterday for taking pictures. Full details here, but here’s my summary: Passenger is on a flight from Austin to Denver. He has top-tier status with United and is a million-miler...
New (Humorous) United Airlines Safety Video!
United Airlines has introduced a new safety video that for the first time incorporates some levity into what has been a serious, humorless public service announcement for at least the last two decades. The video is not over the top like...
Always Check: First Class for the Price of Economy Class
A client in Los Angeles called me this morning saying he had an emergency meeting in Miami on Monday morning and needed a ticket to Miami tomorrow afternoon or evening, returning Monday night. I noted immediately that AA or DL...
Airplane Feet Etiquette
I could never become a medical doctor because blood makes me squeamish. That’s about it, though – most things do not bother me. Except bare feet. I don’t know how those people with permanently dirt-stained, calloused feet can stand it:...
United Airlines Bends Rule, Saves the Day for Sick Boy
United Airlines gets a lot of bad press and rightfully so – it has torpedoed the MileagePlus program on both the earnings and redemption side and has severely cut back on in-flight services, particularly in the forward cabin of...
Why I’d Hate to Be a Gate Agent
I spend enough time in airports to know that I would never want to be a gate agent. Some agents are just nasty, but most try their best and get gangraped (I suppose that is a bit strong) by...
United Cuts Winter Service to Rome, Belfast, Dublin, Manchester
I wrote about United’s new service to Santiago, Chile yesterday as well as additional flights to Punta Cana and Belize City, but that was only half the story. While the resumption of Santiago service will be a nice addition...
United Announces New Routes to Santiago de Chile, Punta Cana, Belize City
After bludgeoning the majority of MileagePlus members with a customer unfriendly move toward revenue-based award mileage earning earlier this week, United has thrown us a bone in introducing new service to three Latin American cities. Of special interest is the...
RDMs Will Be Revenue-Based Starting March 01, 2015 on United Airlines
When Delta Air Lines announced a revenue-based earnings chart for 2015, I predicted that it would only be a matter of time before United Airlines would match, though I did not expect it to happen so soon. Copying Delta...
Video: New United Airlines Commercial
United Airlines has a new commercial out highlighting its international route map through a light-hearted tale of a man trying to learn catch phrases in several languages. The ad is targeted toward New York City flyers and was filmed...
United Has Tightened Routing Restrictions on Asia Awards
Exactly one month ago, I wrote a post entitled New, Stricter United MileagePlus Routing Rules for Travel Between USA and North Asia? At the time, I concluded the rumored draconian new routing restrictions on awards between North America and North Asia...
United Airlines Increases Mileage Upgrade Co-Pay on Premium Transcon Routes
United has transformed its premium service (p.s.) fleet that operates between Los Angeles/San Francisco and New York JFK from a three-cabin configuration with older seats in business and first class to a two-cabin configuration with fully lie-flat seats in business...
Photos: Remembering United’s Bangkok City Ticket Office
I was sorting through some old pictures today and stumbled upon a series of photos of United Airlines’ former Bangkok city ticket office. United pulled out of Bangkok in March after decades of service to Thailand and left behind,...
United.com Asks for Feedback
Last September we caught a sneak peak at United Airlines’ new website in a television advertisement, but eight months later it has yet to roll out. Perhaps United is still working out the kinks and has launched a new...
500 Free United MileagePlus Miles in Two Minutes
Earn 500 United miles just for signing up for the United MileagePlus Dining Program before 10 July 2014. No purchase or restaurant visit is necessary–simply complete the online profile and you will be credited the miles. You can then...
United Airlines Adds Service Between Denver and Panama City
United Airlines will add service between Denver and Panama City beginning on 03 December 2014 (subject to government approval). The route will run daily November through August and five times weekly during the rainy season in September and October. A...
The Trust Deficit at United
With United Airlines posting heavy losses this quarter while its competitors reported healthy profits, the blame game has begun to escalate. “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” no longer seems to be working, as CEO Jeff...
