United will eliminate free unconfirmed standby starting on April 28. Passengers wishing to take an earlier flight will be charged $50 if they clear the standby list. Passengers can still confirm a seat on an earlier or later flight...
Diplomat Jokes About Shoe Bomb After Smoking in Lavatory on DCA-DEN United Flight
Here’s a hint: if you decide you want to smoke in the lavatory, don’t cover it up by claiming you were trying to detonate a shoe bomb. A Qatari diplomat who caused a security alert aboard a United Airlines...
United and US Airways in Merger Talks…Again
Here we go again: UAL Corp.’s United Airlines and US Airways Group Inc. have resumed discussions of a potential merger that would create a global behemoth, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday. The talks are the latest in a decadelong...
Spirit Airlines to Charge for Carry-On Bags
And we thought Ryanair was bad… That lumpy person seated next to you on your next Spirit Airlines flight may not be so large in real life. The budget carrier announced Tuesday it will begin charging a fee of...
United Promises Picketing FAs They Will Match Continental’s Pay Scale–but there’s a catch
In another move that hints that a United-Continental merger is in the works, United is "offering to bring flight attendants up to the pay scale of Continental Airlines…in exchange for adjustments to work rules." The AP provides further details:...
7/7: So Far I’m Thrilled with United’s New Unlimited Domestic Upgrade Program
It still may be too early to authoritatively evaluate UA’s new upgrade program, but I’m 7/7 and a happy camper right now. Let’s review: ROUTE > FARE CLASS > EQUIPMENT > # OF FC SEATS > TIME CLEARED BEFORE...
More Details Emerge About the Diversion to Omaha on United 142
More details have emerged about what exactly happened on my diverted United flight to Omaha: Charges filed Tuesday in federal district court in Nebraska identify the woman as Maria Rita Manzoni. Authorities seek to formally charge her with interfering...
RIP Fuel Dump
Thanks to the brilliant minds at airfarewatchdog.com, the fuel dump is no more. For those unaware of what a "fuel dump" is, it is removing the fuel surcharge from a fare–often more than $200-300. There were many ways to...
Full Recount of my Emergency Stop in Omaha on my United Redeye from San Francisco to Dulles
I reported earlier today that my redeye from SFO to IAD last night, UA142, was diverted to OMA after a passenger went berserk onboard. I have some nifty video and pictures, but out of respect for UA’s legal...
My SFO-IAD United Flight Diverted to Omaha due to Unruly Passenger
Currently on the ground at OMA. Details later.
My First Experience with United’s Unlimited Domestic Upgrade Program
Yesterday, I flew from PHL-LAX via IAD and MSY. I purchased the ticket a week ago and was on an M-fare (a relatively pricey Economy fare). IAD-MSY-LAX was operated by an A319 with only eight First Class seats, making...
Bad News For Us: A Discussion on Airline Mistake Fares
Nicholas Kralev’s mistake fare column was superior because it featured yours truly, but Scott McCartney’s latest column on mistake fares is well done. I particularly liked this: UAL Corp.’s United Airlines, Continental Airlines Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., JetBlue AirwaysCorp. and Singapore Airlines all say their policy is...
Delta to Introduce Shuttle Service Between New York (LGA) and Chicago (ORD)
Delta announced plans to begin shuttle service this June between LaGuardia and O’Hare. Highlights: 11 r/ts daily (on the hour) Flights will depart from LGA’s Marine Air Terminal Flights will be operated by Compass Air, using two-cabin ERJ-175s (12...
United Spent $600K in 4Q Government Lobbying
The AP reports that United spent $600,000 lobbying government officials in the Fourth Quarter of 2009. Among United’s concerns: 1. DOT Tarmac Delay Guidelines United’s lobbying disclosure report doesn’t say which side it took on the legislation, but most airlines...
Initial Observations on United’s New Unlimited Domestic Upgrade Program
I won’t get to witness UA’s new UDU program first-hand until Friday (my upgrades are waitlisted, BTW), but my brother traveled from FRA-IAD-LAX on United yesterday. He is a Premier and was traveling on an H-fare–an upper-end Economy ticket....
The Authoritative Post on Airline Fees
Although he wrote it in January, the Philadelphia Inquirer just published a column our friend Christopher Elliott did on airline fees in this week’s Sunday travel section. Some of his analysis is spot-on, much of it is…not. First, what makes...
Virgin America to Expand Service to Orlando and Toronto from West Coast
Good news for LAX and SFO-based flyers. With Virgin America entering the MCO and YYZ market, you may soon see some great deals to those destinations. MCO fares are usually reasonable, but YYZ fares are often over $500 r/t from...
Paperless Boarding Passes now Available on United Airlines
In a shocking move for UA’s crack IT department, you can now use your web-enabled mobile phone to check in for your flight and obtain a boarding pass. You can also check schedules, flight status, and flight availability on...
Hot Nuts Gone on United?
Two recent posts in the omnibus "Let’s Eat" thread on Flyertalk, where travelers post what meals they were served on UA, suggest that United may be phasing out hot nuts. A LAX-ORD and LAX-LIH flight last week featured a...
End of an Era: Continental to Eliminate Complimentary Food on Most North American Flights
An end of an era. Continental announced today that it will phase out complimentary meals in Economy on all North American flights under six hours. Continental Airlines Inc., the last big U.S. airline to operate catering kitchens and to serve...
