My first United Airlines flight was from Los Angeles to Denver in the winter of 1995, but I did not start seriously flying United until 2005, the year I decided I did not want to sit behind the curtain...
Delta Actually Improves Skymiles Program with Attractive Upgrade Options
Delta Air Lines has led the U.S. airline loyalty industry in duplicity and penny-pinching for several years running (even with a commendable challenge from United last month) so a day in which positive news is announced is quite rare....
United: US Airways Award Flights Bookable through March 30, 2014
United Airlines released an update concerning its future relationship with US Airways– As you’ve undoubtedly seen, American Airlines and US Airways closed their merger today. While our partnership with US Airways will be ending on March 30, 2014, it’s still...
Man Wakes Up Onboard Dark, Empty, United Express Plane in Houston
A man buys a United Airlines ticket from Louisiana to California via Houston on United. He boards the first leg and being an extraordinary sleeper, falls into a deep slumber on an Embrarer regional jet, one of the most...
United’s IDB Nightmare: 90-Year-Old Pearl Harbor Veteran Among 41 Bumped Off Flight to Honolulu
United Airlines is facing another firestorm over news that a 90-year-old Pearl Harbor veteran bound for Honolulu was among 41 passengers bumped when bad weather necessitated severally weight restricting a 737-800 aircraft at Los Angeles International Airport. Ewalt Shatz travels...
Why I’m Not So Optimistic About Jeff Smisek Anymore
On October 12, 2010 I wrote a post entitled, “Why I’m Optimistic about Jeff Smisek Leading United Airlines.” Based upon an inflight anecdote in which Smisek engaged both crew and customers, I posited that “he appears to be laying...
United Airlines’ Onboard Photography Policy Remains Unclear
Nine months after being thrown off a United Airlines flight for taking a picture of the seat in front of me, I noticed the following picture on United’s Instagram page— From United’s Instagram page. Note the comments. As I...
Pack a Sack as United Sacks Packs of Snacks in Back to Stay in Black
United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek promised USD$2 Billion in cuts at the last shareholders’ meeting and the process has already begun. First, route cuts. Next, a threatened furlough of legacy United flight attendants (more on that in a future...
Thanksgiving Travel on United Airlines at Chicago O’Hare
Chicago’s local ABC affiliate did a fluff piece on traveling with United Airlines over the Thanksgiving holiday, but it still merits watching. Note the gate lice at 1:58! I like that the news clip actually paints an accurate picture...
The Real Reason Behind United’s New Service to Atlantic City
United Airlines announced new service from Houston Bush Intercontinental and Chicago O’Hare to beleaguered Atlantic City, New Jersey this week in a deal that brought NJ Governor Chris Christie and United CEO Jeff Smisek together for a special ceremony...
The Other United Airlines Devaluation: Fewer Upgrades at a Higher Cost
The big news Friday was United’s devaluation of its MileagePlus award chart starting 01 February 2014, particularly for premium cabins on Star Alliance partners, but United also announced a policy change eliminating complimentary upgrades on flights to/from Northern South American and...
Clarification from United Airlines on Award Chart Changes
United has addressed some initial confusion stemming from its announcement yesterday that on 01 February 2014 the award chart chart will be massacred. 1. United claims the cost of premium seats on partner carriers is “out of sync” with...
The Real Reason United is Blocking Award and Upgrade Space from Expert Flyer
Friendly Skies reported earlier today that United has asked Expert Flyer to stop displaying upgrade and award space beginning Friday, October 30, 2013. United responded this evening, blaming Expert Flyer for accessing space in an unauthorized manner and promising...
"I Can’t Give Away this First Class Seat!"
Once in awhile on United I see a domestic flight go out with open seats in first class despite a long waitlist of elites waiting for a complimentary upgrade. This is usually attributable to a lazy or rushed gate...
United Airlines Customer Service Shines at JFK After Mishap
On our way back from Asia last week, my brother and I split up at JFK, with him flying to SFO for work and me flying home to LAX. His 5pm flight appeared full in the newly refurbished BusinessFirst...
Washington Dulles to Kuwait City in United Airlines BusinessFirst
After being thrown off my flight to Istanbul, settling on a new flight plan to get me to my ultimate destination of Baku was no easy task. It was late in the day and most flights had already departed....
United Airlines Comes Through in a Pinch. Again.
It is easy to rag on United Airlines for its many shortcomings, but United once again came through in a pinch over the weekend, leaving me very pleased to be a Premier 1K member and wondering whether I can...
Sneak Peek at New Redesigned united.com Homepage
Hidden in one of the new United Airlines television ads is a sneak peek at the redesigned united.com homepage: Here is the commercial: Very sleek, slightly reminiscent of delta.com, and hopefully highly functional. United.com is stuck in the 90s...
United Airlines Puts a New Twist on "Fly the Friendly Skies" Campaign
United Airlines released a new ad campaign today that offers heavy doses of Gerwshin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and brings back the classic “Fly the Friendly Skies” slogan that has been shelved since 1996. In a series of four made-for-TV...
New Bar Menu in Domestic United Clubs
United Airlines recently unveiled a revised bar menu at United Clubs across the United States that adds more choice but also increases prices, notably charging for some drinks that were once free and downgrading the branding of some top-shelf...
