Last month I noted that United is blocking partner award space on Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and TAP Air Portugal. The problem has not been resolved. United still blames technical issues on the partner side for this problem and...
United Polaris Dining: The Sad New State Of Affairs
Just how important is meal presentation in offering a premium business class product? United Airlines is betting that it simply doesn’t matter. At least that’s the only explanation I can come up with for its choice to begin pre-plating...
Review: United Airlines 787-9 Business Class Los Angeles To London
My flight from Los Angeles to London on United was a comfortable, consistent, and frankly boring. That’s a good thing on a flight you just want to sleep on. I reviewed this very flight two years ago and not...
United’s 2019 Growth Strategy: Target Hubs
After a year of robust “easy” growth, now United will try a riskier growth strategy: small-city growth from its hubs. United’s domestic growth last year was predicated on “low hanging fruit”. The Chicago-based airline increased service to Hawaii and...
United Dramatically Enlarges Business Class Cabin On 767-300
United Airlines will take delivery of its first “premium heavy” 767-300ER later this month, featuring a dramatic increase in business class seats. Last year I wrote a piece entitled Will United Remove Seats From Business Class? after United’s Executive Vice President Andrew...
Live TV Now Free On United Airlines
United Airlines is making over 100 channels of live DIRECTV available free of charge from gate-gate, effective immediately. 211 Boeing 737s in the United fleet are equipped with seat-back live television, totaling more than 30,000 seats. All live channels of...
Rebuttal: Passengers Of Size To Blame, Not Poor Passenger In Middle
Reader Blake sent me the rebuttal below to my story yesterday on the fat-shaming passenger on United. I am publishing it, in full, because it is well-intentioned and does not denigrate others. Matthew, Your over-the-top political correctness blinded you to key...
Fat-Shaming Passenger Has Meltdown On United Airlines
A fat-shaming passenger was escorted off a United flight after complaining bitterly about having to sit between two passengers of size in economy class. The flight occurred on January 2, 2019 from Las Vegas (LAS) to Newark (EWR). Norma Rodgers,...
United Stays Consistent: 787-9 LAX-LHR (Mini-Review)
On Thursday evening I flew from Los Angeles to London on United in business class. The experience was virtually unchanged from similar flights last year and the year before. Consistency is a good thing when done right. United has...
My First Impressions Of LAX United Polaris Lounge
Last night I flew United in Polaris Business Class from Los Angeles to London and finally had the chance to check out the recently-opened Polaris lounge at LAX. In fact, I made a day out of it… The new...
Testing Out The New United App
With much trepidation I downloaded version 3.0 of the United app yesterday. As I wrote about earlier this month, I just don’t like change…especially unnecessary change. The app worked fine for me. So why change it? But, much to...
United Airlines’ 2019 Fleet Plan
United Airlines will add 40 mainline aircraft to its fleet in 2019, the most since 2010. While United will retire nine narrow-body aircraft this year (three 757-200s, two A319s, and four A320s), it will more than offset the retirements...
In 20-Hour Canada Delay Incident, United Captain Failed
A United captain failed a crucial loyalty test during the extended delay of a United flight in Canada earlier this week. I wrote about the incident here, working through the the timeline of events to argue that United handled...
United’s Upgrade Waitlist Is A Game Of Scrabble
On United, the upgrade waitlist displays the first initial as well as the first three characters of the last name. That often results in a game of scrabble, but sometimes unscrambling is not even necessary. A reader in Singapore...
United Blocking Award Space On Singapore, TAP, Thai Airways
You may have noticed that award space on Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, and Thai Airways has been missing lately on united.com. Unfortunately, United is deliberately blocking the space and has offered no timeframe for a fix. United has...
Reflections On Dr. King From United Airlines CEO
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) day in the United States. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz offers reflections each year on this holiday that I am pleased to share with you. Here’s his note to employees shared by...
Don’t Blame United For Horrific 20-Hour Delay In Canada
Don’t blame United Airlines for a horrific delay that kept passengers on a cold plane for 14-hours and ultimately delayed passengers by nearly a day. United 179, from Newark to Hong Kong, departed Newark Saturday afternoon at 3:00PM. Five...
This Man Has Flown Over 20 Million Miles On United!
Tom Stuker, United’s all-time most frequent flyer, recently crossed over the 20 million lifetime mile mark. It is almost sobering to think how much flying 20,000,000 miles actually is. Over the years, he has clocked in: 803 times around...
United Orders Additional 737 + 777 Aircraft
Buried in the news of United’s excellent financials was a new Boeing aircraft order. As the airline continues to expand, United has placed a firm order for 24 additional 737 MAX aircraft and four additional 777-3o0ER. The deal was...
How A United 777 Ended Up In London Stansted
You may have seen a United 777 recently parked at London Stansted Airport. No, United is not starting service to STN. But, as part of its wider partnership with Sony Pictures, United is playing a role in the new...
