A flurry of commentary has poured forth today over the 4-mile United Airlines First Class award redemptions to China available briefly yesterday on united.com. As a frequent traveler who has cashed in on many “mistake” fares in the past...
Qatar Airways – United Airlines Partnership Ending Early?
Yesterday I was working on a client award redemption to Hyderabad, India and found a really nice business class itinerary on Qatar Airways using United miles. I placed the reservation on hold for final approval from the clients, who...
Your Seat Does Not Recline Any Further…
Have you ever sat behind a passenger who is convinced that if he keeps trying, he can get his seat to recline even further? I had the pleasure of sitting behind one on my Los Angeles-Chicago United flight yesterday....
Meltdown at LAX: “United Business Isn’t Our Business”
It turned out that my flight to Chicago this morning on United Airlines was oversold and three volunteers were needed. After some negotiation, I offered to give up my seat, despite the meager $250 in compensation being offered. But...
Return to Germany!
The last two months have been great—only two airplane trips in early June and most of the time spent at home in Los Angeles with family and friends. Still, I have not been in Germany since March and boy...
At Least Someone Cares at United Airlines…
I was encouraged to read on Flyertalk about a recent exchange between a United Airlines 1K member and a legacy United customer service agent: Last week my phone rang. It was a lovely female agent from the Premier line....
Checked Baggage Fees for First Class Passengers on Alaska Airlines
While “low-cost” Spirit Airlines may be leading airlines on a race to the bottom (with “optional” fees like the mandatory $2 Unintended Consequences of DOT Regulations Fee or mandatory $10 ticket booking fee), Alaska Airlines will soon become the...
United Airlines: You’re Hard to Leave!
Back from Cuba early on Friday, I received word that a family member had died and I had to travel to Colorado…the next morning. Once again, I found that giving up United will not be easy. For the second...
United Airlines Fights Their Iraq War
With my apologies to Glenn Tilton… A piece in the Chicago Tribune on Sunday captured the frustration many of us have experienced flying on post-merger United. Essentially taking a “mileage run” from Chicago to San Francisco to Las Vegas...
Jeff Smisek’s "Passionate Plea" to United Pilots
Jeff Smisek assumes the “good cop” role in a letter to United Airlines pilots concerning ongoing contract negotiations. Still, the United CEO does not dance around the highly contentious, primary issue of dispute: the scope clause. Dear Pilots: I...
$60 Off Lufthansa, United, Austrian, and Air Canada Flights ex-USA
Save $60 on your next Lufthansa ticket originating in the United States by requesting a free voucher here. Note the highlights of the fine print: The voucher can be redeemed between 25/05/2012 and 31/05/2012. Travel must be between 12/08/2012...
United Airlines Security Breach
This is not another post attacking SHARES, United’s Passenger Service System (PSS). But it is a reminder that the system still has kinks in it, some of which should cause United far greater concern than the many upgrade irregularities...
Winning Over a Cranky Flight Attendant
Have you ever had a flight attendant from hell who turned out to be an angel in disguise? I did on a recent United Airlines flight. Kind of. I was flying from Los Angeles to Philadelphia on a recent...
Why Leaving United Airlines is Going to be a Lot Harder Than I Thought
Last week I shared about my decision to redirect much of my travel to American Airlines this fall. That remains my goal, but I quickly realized today that old habits die hard. I had a United e-certificate set to...
United Airlines CFO Labels Certain MileagePlus Elites as "Entitled"
Many are up in arms over recent comments about certain MileagePlus elite members made by United Airlines CFO John Rainey at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Transportation Conference last Thursday. I am yawning. While not very savvy, his...
An Open Letter to Ex-Continental Flight Attendants and Pilots
17 May 2012 My Dear Friends from Continental Airlines, A simple question for you: what is wrong? What is it that is truly bothering you? I have been a steady United Airlines customer since 2004 and I grew to...
American Airlines Here I Come!
I consider myself a savvy traveler and have turned much of the lemons created by United Airlines’ 03 March system integration debacle with Continental Airlines into lemonade. I’ve run into a fair number of problems and a great deal...
I Love United Airlines’ Indian Call Center
I doubt that it has ever been said before, but I am happy to say it here: I love United Airlines’ Indian Call Center. Allow me to explain. I was putting together a relatively straight forward award ticket today...
United Airlines Pulls a "Newark" at SFO
Responding to robust demand and added flights to Newark, Cleveland, and Houston, United Airlines has pulled a “Newark” on us at San Francisco International Airport. To understand what it means to “pull a Newark” you must be familiar with...
United.com Club Offers $5 Off Every United Airlines Booking
While poking around united.com today, I came across a united.com Club page, offering MileagePlus members a $5 travel credit every time they book a trip on united.com. Annual membership is $25. The united.com Club (formerly called The Travel Club...
