The spread of COVID-19 in Latin America has depressed demand for airfare in a region that was until recently better insulated than Asia and Europe. United Airlines is responding by a series of suspensions and frequency reductions. United Suspends...
United Rescinds Onerous Schedule Change Policy, But It’s Still 3X Worse Than Before
United Airlines (as I predicted) rolled back its onerous (and downright unethical) schedule policy that only explicitly permitted refunds if the schedule change was 25 hours or more. But in its place United still has a rule that is...
United Airlines Suspends Service To Italy, Reduces Service To Israel
United Airlines will suspend service to Italy and reduce service to Israel in light of developing threats and government bans. United Suspends Service To Italy With Italy on nationwide lockdown and all but essential services like grocery stores and...
United’s Doomsday Strategy May Lead To Kirby Kutbacks…
Earlier today I wrote about United’s aggressive steps to combat an unprecedented drop in demand and revenue. But what might some of these measures mean for customers? Are Kirby Kutbacks Coming? Incoming United CEO Scott Kirby has been a...
United Airlines Enters Survival Mode
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst is a catchphrase United is aggressively embracing in light of continued uncertainty over domestic and international travel. In a startling keynote address at the J.P. Morgan 2020 Industrials Conference yesterday, incoming United...
United Airlines Suspends 13 Routes
In April, United Airlines will suspend service on 13 routes and reduce service on 170 more as coronavirus fears continue to depress travel demand. Last week, I wrote that United planned to cut April international capacity by 20% and...
American and United Match Delta’s More Flexible Change Fee Waiver
American and United quickly matched Delta’s decision to further loosen its change fee waiver, a move that was long overdue, but nevertheless better late than never. Up until this point, the “Big 3” U.S. airlines have used change fee...
Review: United Airlines 737-900 First Class
What is traveling across the country on a 737-900 like in United’s domestic first class on one of its longest transcontinental fights? My TAP Air Portugal ticket only got me as far as Boston. From Boston, I booked a...
United’s New Schedule Change Policy Is Indefensible
Over the weekend, United clandestinely updated its schedule change policy in a dramatically customer-unfriendly way. There is no justification for the policy change. None. New United Schedule Change Policy Up until Saturday, a schedule change that resulted in an...
United Won’t Loosen Premier Qualifications (Yet), But Will Extend Status Matches
United Airlines will not loosen the requirements to re-qualify for premier status in 2021…yet. But it will give travelers participating in a status match challenge more time to complete the challenge. United is sending out a lot of email...
United Airlines Attempts to Assuage Our Fears
United Airlines reached out to every MileagePlus member with an email on COVID-19, meant to assuage fears and calm frayed nerves. The letter, written by outgoing CEO Oscar Munoz, talks about United’s current travel waiver, how aircraft are cleaned,...
Leaked Memo: United Airlines Responds To Coronavirus
United Airlines will tackle weakened travel demand by reducing or suspending more routes, offering unpaid leave, freezing all non-essential hiring, and postponing raises for non-union employees. In a lengthy memo to United employees, outgoing CEO Oscar Munoz and incoming...
United Airlines’ Very Shrewd Change Fee Waiver
United Airlines has issued a blanket waiver on change fees for all new bookings through the end of the month. The shrewd policy is meant to stimulate demand for new bookings and allay the coronavirus fears of nervous passengers....
A Stroopwafel Restriction On United + New Appetizer And Breakfast Dishes
Looking forward to a stroopwafel on your next United flight? You may only offered Oreo Thins and pretzels… United Airlines will begin rolling out Oreo Thins on flights starting tomorrow, with the new cookies set to replace popular Biscoff...
United Airlines Reduces Service Across Asian Network
United Airlines is continuing to scale back service to Asia with a new round of reductions in service and capacity to Japan, South Korean, Singapore and Taiwan. As coronavirus fears continue to diminish travel demand, United is responding with...
Why United Won’t Sponsor USA Olympic Team Beyond 2020 (While Delta Drops $400MN)
For decades, United Airlines has sponsored the USA Olympic and Paralympic teams. But after the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, United will no longer be an official sponsor. Instead, Delta will. The Los Angeles Times reports that the 2028...
United Airlines (Finally) Upgrades Smallest Regional Jets
Streaming in-flight entertainment is coming to United’s smallest regional jet, a move that will be warmly welcomed by short-haul flyers. Sarah Murphy, United Airlines’ Senior Vice President of United Express, shared the news: “We have made the long-term commitment...
Woman Subdued After Threatening To “Stab Everyone” On United 777-200
“I’m going to stab everyone on the plane. Then kill myself. I’m Palestinian! That’s how we get down!” Famous last words… United Passenger Arrested After Threatening To Stab Passengers Dana Ghazi Mustafa is in lots of trouble. The troubled...
More Champagne And Plastic Plates Coming To United Premium Cabins
United is ditching glass bread dishes but provisioning more Champagne on select transatlantic flights. It will also increase snacks, vegetarian, and hot breakfast entrees on select flights. A flight attendant shared a catering update with me, with changes effective...
United Airlines Exchanges Terse Words With Philippine Airlines
United Airlines and Philippines Airlines are escalating their fight over additional slots in both Seattle and Manila. As I wrote about last fall, United Airlines has opposed Philippine Airlines’ further U.S. expansion, arguing that the U.S. should not grant...
