With yields weak and demand far lower than expected, we’ve seen many carriers reduce or eliminate service to Cuba. Even so, U.S. airlines are still fiercely fighting for Havana slots. Under current U.S. Department of Transportation rules, airlines are...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: March 11, 2018
Another week spent entirely on the ground…this is really something out of character. But I’ve cherished the time spent with my wife and son lately: the little one is growing up so fast. I hope to finish up my...
Airport Restaurant Catering on United Flight: Compliment or Complaint?
Flying United Airlines out of Pittsburgh in 2018 has meant no breakfast 75% of the time this year for my travels. When catering let me down again, someone came through from United, but I can’t decide if it’s an...
The “Real” Reason United is Changing Bonus Program
After a unanimously negative reaction to the replacement of a popular bonus program with a lottery that would leave most employees with nothing, United is promising to listen to employees…before making changes. But WHY are changes needed? The reaction...
United Now Sells Priority Boarding A La Carte
If you’re flying on United Airlines, you may be able to purchase priority boarding for $9 on your next flight. My biggest concern when traveling for business: missing out on overhead bin space. There are few annoyances worse for...
United Will Focus on Compassion, Dignity in New Employee Training
United Airlines is sending employees back to school with a laudable goal: cultivating the compassion, discernment, and empathy of every front-line worker. Almost a year after the Dao incident, United is following through on its promise to fundamentally reshape...
200 Free United Miles + New Fuel Partnership with BP
United Airlines and BP are partnering to offer you the chance to earn and burn and miles at the fuel pump. On the earning side, you can earn up to three miles per gallon purchased by linking your MileagePlus...
Breaking: United Reverses Course on Employee Bonus Changes
Great news for United employees and the passengers who are served by them. United Airlines is wisely reversing course, suspending plans for a new lottery system to replace more predictable quarterly bonuses. Here’s a letter United President Scott Kirby...
Anger Mounts Over United Bonus Cutbacks
If United Airlines thought employee protest over its bonus cutback would fizzle out over the weekend, it could not have been more wrong. In fact, I haven’t seen so much anger, disappointment, and fear from United Airlines’ employees since...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: March 04, 2018
I’ve been grounded all week and am thankful for it. No plans to travel next week either. Plenty of time with family and friends instead. Lots of work too. There have been a handful of trips I’ve turned down,...
United FA Forced to Delete Her Petition to Restore Performance Bonuses
United Airlines’ employees are not happy about the replacement of performance bonuses with a lottery. One even went so far as to start a petition to reverse course…only to be silenced hours later. I’ve heard from dozens of employees...
United Airlines Inflames Employees With Bonus Cutbacks
United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby is on the warpath again, this time unleashing a plan that will slash bonuses for most employees. In January, I wrote about United’s new “core4” emphasis, which will focus training on the following four...
Rude Exchange Over Carry-On Bag – But Who Was Rude?
I woke up this morning to a story entitled, “United passenger records heated exchange with ‘rude’ airline staff over carry-on bag” topping my airline travel news feed. It is a incident that occurred in the check-in lobby of Chicago...
United Solves its Ice Cream Bowl Crisis
Paper or plastic? United Airlines finally has a permanent solution for its ice cream bowl issue…plastic. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, read here. In a nutshell, United’s glass ice cream bowls were cracking, prompting the...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: February 25, 2018
Hello from the American Express Lounge at San Francisco International Airport. I’m on my way home from FTU after a great weekend in Seattle. It was an honor to meet many readers. Remember, there are four upcoming Frequent Traveler...
United FA Compels Passenger to Change Seats: Ridiculous or Justified?
My brother Andrew commutes weekly between Southern California and the Bay Area. Since United Airlines brought mainline service back to Burbank, he has switched his business from Southwest to United. He shared this story with me from his flight yesterday. As...
Why Latest United Airlines Promo May Not Make Sense for You
United Airlines is running an attractive promotion on award redemptions to four incredible destinations. But before you jump on the bandwagon, make sure you practice due diligence. Now through March 2, 2018 you can save 20% on economy class...
First 10 United 737 MAX 9 Routes Announced
United Airlines will soon take delivery of its first 10 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft and has revealed what routes these new aircraft will fly on. What’s a MAX 9? It’s the latest version of the 737 from Boeing,...
Surprisingly Delicious United Airlines First Class Salad
United is currently in a period of cutbacks in terms of domestic first class meal service. Thus, I was quite surprised to find an apparent upgrade to meals on a recent transon flight. That’s the subject of this week’s...
Cathay Pacific Chairman: No Budget Airline (Thanks to Disgraced United CEO)
While legacy carriers across Asia have introduced their own budget carriers, Cathay Pacific steadfastly refused. Ironically, credit may go to the disgraced former CEO of United Airlines. In a university speech last week, Cathay Pacific Chairman John Slosar told students...
