Not usually one to shy away, especially not from my favorite city in the world, Hong Kong protests have me reconsidering my United status run. Should I? If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click...
Would I Have Been Thrown Off United Flight Under New Passenger Removal Policy?

New guidelines for United pilots make it more difficult to throw off a passenger whose conduct is questionable. Would it have saved me from my “photo incident” ejection? I focused on United’s updated alcohol guidelines for pilots yesterday and...
United Widens Pre-Flight Alcohol Ban To Flight Attendants

United Airlines has quietly widened its pre-flight alochol ban to include flight attendants, not just pilots. Earlier this week, I noted that United Airlines is tightening the rules concerning alcohol consumption for its pilots. Up until this week, pilots...
The Dotard Who Wanted It All On My United Flight

It has been a LONG time since I’ve had a bad seatmate, but this one really took the cake… Since I am quick to point out flight attendants who provide poor service, it is only fair that I single...
United’s Pilot Union Offers Cryptic Message On Alcohol Restriction

Does the union representing pilots for United Airlines condemn or support recently announced alcohol restrictions? A cryptic statement makes it difficult to discern. Earlier today, I wrote about United’s new ban on pre-flight alcohol consumption for pilots on duty....
Why Did United Restrict Pilot Alcohol Consumption?

It wasn’t just the bust in Scotland that moved United to ban pilots from drinking alcohol less than 12 hours before a flight. Instead, it was a desire to restore trust from a skeptical public and a recognition that...
United Pulls Off Incredible Bowl Of Soup

Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. Whenever I...
Shocking: United Express Flight Attendant Too Drunk To Perform Safety Briefing, Slumps Over During Flight

Julianne March, 49, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, finds herself out of a job and facing misdemeanor charges after becoming so drunk on the job she was unable to perform basic flight attendant duties. Passengers immediately noted something was wrong when...
United Eliminates The Mystery Of First Class Meal Priority

Back to front or front to back? Full-fare first? How about those with status? United Airlines is taking out the mystery in how FAs honor onboard meal service preference. If you’re seated in United First on domestic flights or...
I Chose 16 Hours In United Economy Class…

No PAL review this time. Instead, I chose to come home quickly from Singapore…in economy class. And I’m so glad I did. I asked for your feedback and appreciated your feedback, which was fairly evenly-divided between taking the quick...
It’s Not About Intoxication: How Two Pilots Violated Our Trust

I have virtually zero doubt that the two United pilots arrested for “intoxication” at Glasgow International Airport on Saturday could have flown safely across the Atlantic. But that’s not the point. Pilots are held to a higher standard. The...
United’s Most Valuable Route And JFK Dilemma

United Airlines is determined to steer customers from JFK to Newark for lucrative transatlantic flights. But how? In continuing to unpack the conversation between United President Scott Kirby and Newark employees, exclusively obtained by Live and Let’s Fly, talk...
United Instructs Agents To Covertly Report Hidden City Travelers

United Airlines does not appreciate passengers who engage in hidden city ticketing. Now it wants airport agents to play a greater role in discouraging this practice…covertly, not overtly. First, a review of hidden city ticketing. Briefly, United (and all...
United President Scott Kirby Reflects On Customer Service

What will the future of customer service look like on United Airlines? United President Scott Kirby recently sat down with employees at Newark Airport. In a copy of the video forwarded to Live and Let’s Fly by an attendee, Kirby...
Rooftop Fire Erupts In United Airlines Maintenance Hangar At SFO

A rooftop fire flared up at a United Airlines maintenance hangar at San Francisco International Airport yesterday, but damage was thankfully minimal. A fire on the roof started at 7:30 AM, sending thick plumes of smoke into the crisp...
United Airlines Testing First Class Meal Pre-Ordering

United Airlines is testing out the opportunity for first class passengers to pre-order meals. If the trial is successful, it may eventually roll out systemwide. The first phase of the trial will occur tomorrow, only on select flights from...
Review: United 787-10 Polaris Business Class Newark To Los Angeles

If you’re going to be delayed, it’s always nice to be delayed in a premium cabin…like United’s 787-10 Polaris business class. With storms raging across the country, our flight was re-routed after we had pushed back from the gate,...
Wow! An Expired Club Pass And Going The Extra Mile…

I’d like to end the week on a positive note, with a feel-good story that links travel to humanity. Despite suffering from terminal cancer, John wanted to attend his daughter’s wedding in Cancun. His wife Pam wanted to make...
Southwest Hands United Airlines A Free Gift

As the 737 MAX saga continues, Southwest is really feeling the squeeze. Its latest response is to close its Newark station. Talk about a free gift for United… Southwest has been forced to cancel an escalating number of flights...
United Airlines Expands ConnectionSaver To More Hubs

United Airlines will expand its already-popular ConnectionSaver to more hubs starting this week. In June, I wrote about United’s ConnectionSaver tool that rolled out to Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. Starting this week, United will roll out the tool...