United Airlines is extending an attractive loan offer to Avianca while vowing to keep the airline independent. At the same time, it is trying to oust the company’s chairman. Last week, I wrote about the possibility of United taking...
An Unfortunate Seating Snafu On United Airlines Provides Important Lesson
Monitor seat assignments. Monitor them often. A recent seating snafu involving a family of seven provides a perfect case study. A British family spent some time in the USA and had booked their return flight from Denver to London...
My Mother Loves Seattle’s Second Airport
My mother visited her sister who lives in Everett, WA. Instead of flying into SEATAC she tried out Seattle’s second airport north of Seattle in Everett, WA (Paine Field). She loved it as does nearly everyone. If you are...
A Tasty Vegetarian Choice In United Polaris
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. I recently...
Delta CEO Dismisses United CEO’s “Pissed Off” Passenger Assessment
Delta CEO Ed Basitan does not agree with United CEO Oscar Munoz’s assessment of how passengers feel by the time they step onto a plane. Last month, Munoz told ABC News that by the time passengers stepped onto any...
Big Problems Booking Lufthansa First Class Awards With United Airlines
15 May 2019 UPDATE: United has resolved this issue. The United Airlines award search tool is currently broken when it comes to first class awards on Lufthansa. At the moment, there is not a fix for it. See below...
United Airlines May Acquire Avianca
Avianca finds itself in a vulnerable position thanks to a recent default by its controlling shareholder. The default gives United Airlines a chance to take majority control of the growing Colombian carrier. Avianca is majority controlled by BRW Aviation, a...
New Spider-Man Safety Video From United Airlines
United Airlines has introduced its latest safety video, this time with a Spider-Man theme. You can watch the news safety video below: Speaking about the new safety video, Mark Krolick, United’s Vice President of Marketing, stated: For decades, Spider-Man has...
Mother’s Day Message From United CEO
I’m a day late to the party, but a friend shared with me a Mother’s Day note from United Airlines’ CEO Oscar Munoz that I wanted to share with you. Here’s the note, in full: Dear United family, At...
Review: United Airlines 787-8 Business Class Zurich To San Francisco
I’ve asked my two-year-old son Augustine to offer his thoughts on our recent 787-8 flight from Zurich to San Francisco on United Airlines in Polaris Business Class. Last time Daddy asked me write up a trip report was after...
One Year Later: How Is United Polaris Lounge Holding Up At SFO?
Between flights last weekend, I had 2.5 hours in United’s SFO Polaris Lounge. How is it holding up one year later? I’ve reviewed this lounge twice already…once during a media preview and again as a passenger. The lounge is...
What Made My Latest United Flight Simply Fabulous
Last Saturday I flew from Zurich to San Francisco on United Airlines in business class with my family. While there were many positive aspects of the flight, the service was so excellent that it overshadowed everything else. I offered...
United Restores Two Polaris Cutbacks
United is restoring two cutbacks in Polaris Business Class on late-evening flights from Washington Dulles to Europe while extending its mandatory express dining trial another month. Last month I wrote about a one-month trial program at Washington Dulles on...
Review: United Airlines 787-9 Economy Class Los Angeles To London
Not only did I survive my economy class trip from Los Angeles to London on United, but I found it a far better experience than my recent flight from LA to Frankfurt on joint-venture partner Lufthansa. I took a...
United Airlines Adds Free Meal To Another Hawaiian Route
United will expand its complimentary meal service trial in economy class to a second Hawaiian route starting later this month. Beginning May 15, 2019, complimentary sandwiches will be offered to economy class passengers on flights from Chicago to Honolulu....
When You Fly United Express You Are Flying United!
United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby recognizes that when you fly on United Express, you are flying on United. Speaking to United employees in Houston in a recording obtained by Live and Let’s Fly, Kirby addressed the “confirmation bias” of...
United President Scott Kirby Addresses Customer Service
Scott Kirby, United’s President and second in command, understands how essential providing good customer service is. But can his leadership empower employees to deliver it? Speaking to employees in Houston this week in a recording obtained by Live and Let’s...
Catching Up With An Old Friend In The SFO United Club
One advantage of long-term loyalty to one airline is that you get to know some of the staff. I had a wonderful reunion with an old friend in SFO last week, who happens to be a United Airlines employee....
Review: United Airlines 777-200 Premium Plus San Francisco To Frankfurt
My 11-hour flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt aboard United’s new premium economy (“Premium Plus”) product was quite comfortable, though no replacement for business class. MileagePlus members can upgrade to either (or both) Premium Plus or Polaris Business Class...
United CEO Believes New Livery Represents Culmination Of United’s Journey
United CEO Oscar Munoz penned a letter to staff reflecting on the recently unveiled new livery. Two sentences stood out in particular. A flight attendant forwarded me the note below. I am including it in its entirety and then...
