Some good news for a change on the labor front: United and Continental airlines are on course to wrap up a new contract with their pilot unions by fall, a critical step if their megamerger is to deliver the...
United Express Pulls Out of Oxnard
Another LA airport bites the dust. First Palmdale, now Oxnard. With diminishing traffic and lack of profits, Skywest/United Express ceased operations at Oxnard Regional Airport (OXR) this week. Skywest, linking OXR to LAX, had used a 50-seat turboprop for...
The End of Mileage Running on United
Yesterday, I mentioned that I was saddened by a change to United’s fare rules that will radically transform (literally) the way I travel domestically. Basically, United has eliminated the ability to add multiple connections for no additional charge. Lucky sums...
Changes to North American Premium Class Meal Service on United
Changes are coming to domestic First and Business Class meal service on United, and overall, I’d say they are good changes. Here’s the new meal service descriptions: United First® Flights between one and two hours in length (a distance...
Route through Chicago if you want a bump this summer?
Continuing on the theme of bumps, Chicago O’Hare (ORD) might be a wise airport to connect in this summer if you are looking for a bump. It also might be the airport you want to avoid if you are...
Airlines Work to Update Technology
…[I]f you’ve ever been stranded at an airport during a raging thunderstorm, chances are you will end up standing in a long line watching a gate agent typing furiously on an outdated computer. Isn’t that the truth? Here’s the...
Eating Humble Pie After “Incident” at SFO Security Checkpoint
I had to cut short my trip to the Bay Area this weekend and fly home to attend the funerals of two family friends who died this week. For the first time in years, I purchased a walk-up ticket...
United’s Secret Plan to Cut Fuel Costs
Well, it’s not a secret anymore. United Airlines will become the first airline to conduct two trans-Atlantic flights using state-of-the-art flight planning to reduce environmental impact and save fuel. The flights, which will be flown on June 5, 2010...
Ohio Woman Defrauds United of $400,000+
Another reason to be weary of the contract employees of United Express: An Ohio roller derby skater who used the team name "Sadistic Sadie" has admitted in federal court to illegally obtaining more than $400,000 in airline tickets while...
Continental Announces Elite Upgrades on Award Tickets for Credit Card Holders
Scott O’Leary, Continental’s Managing Director of Customer Experience and a former guest on UPGRD, confirmed on Flyertalk yesterday that elite members who hold a Continental Chase Presidential Plus or OnePass Plus MasterCard will be eligible for complimentary upgrades on award...
Fierce Competition for Loyalty in Lucrative NYC Airline Market
Bloomberg had a nice piece yesterday on the über-competitive NYC airline market. At stake is a bigger slice of the $13.6 billion spent each year by passengers who start or end trips in New York, which no carrier dominates. More...
Dear United and Continental, Have you considered this livery?
Check out this incredible livery that FTer UAL4life designed. Not only does it blend the best of both airlines, but it is elegantly simple and would not require a great deal of extra labor to paint. Far better than...
Continental Announces Nonstop 787 Service from Houston to Auckland
Although flights will not start for another year and a half (longer if Boeing runs into more production trouble), Continental announced that it will utilize its first 787 on a new Houston-Auckland route. With 228 Economy and 36 lie-flat...
Woman Left on Aircraft in Philadelphia Now Suing United
Not surprisingly, the woman who overstayed her visit on a United Express/Trans State regional jet is suing United. The lawsuit claims false imprisonment, infliction of emotional distress and negligence… According to police and the Transportation Security Administration, the passenger didn’t wake...
A Closer Look at Lufthansa’s A380
Airbus delivered Lufthansa’s first A380 superjumbo last Wednesday–only three years late. With Lufthansa’s decision to place only eight First Class seats on the plane, the aircraft will hold a whopping 526 passengers. FIRST – 8 seats BUSINESS – 98 seats...
Sleeping Passenger Left on UX Plane for 3.5 Hours at PHL
For someone who finds it difficult to sleep in a First Class seat, I am amazed that anyone is able to sleep on a ERJ-145, let alone the way that Ms. Guire did: Like a lot of travelers, Ginger...
Senate To Examine United-Continental Merger on Thursday
photo courtesy: Wall Street Journal I always get a kick out of bloviating Senators and this week will feature a doubleheader on Thursday, when the Senate examines the Continental-United merger. …First up, on Thursday, is a full hearing of...
Effect of Continental-United Merger on Australia
The Sydney Morning Herald recently speculated about the impact of a United-Continental merger on the Australian airline market: The Americans know they will have to become even better pals if they are successfully to merge their companies to form...
50,000 Miles for United Chase Visa
If you missed the offer last time, Chase had again made available a 50,000 mile bonus promotion for signing up for their United Signature Visa card. Apply here–and do it quickly if you are interested. The bonus miles will...
United Offering Pre-Reserved BOB Meals in Economy on Select International and P.S. Flights
If you find yourself on UA900 next month, United’s non-stop service from San Francisco to Frankfurt, you now have the option to reserve premium meals for purchase in Economy. Now during a special trial offer, you can reserve an...
