United Airlines is adding mainline service to San Jose, CA, years after abandoning Silicon Valley from two hubs. Twice daily service from Chicago began yesterday and once daily service from Newark begins today. Silicon Valley and the entire Bay Area is still booming. But as the region continues to grow, San Francisco International faces capacity issues. Thus, […]
United CEO on Gulf Carriers: “Those airlines aren’t airlines”
At the US Chamber of Commerce Aviation Summit this week, United CEO Oscar Munoz voiced strong opposition to Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways (ME3). Those airlines aren’t airlines. They’re international branding vehicles for their countries. -United CEO Oscar Munoz In an interview with Carol Hallett, former CEO of what is now Airlines for America, Munoz demonstrated that United will […]
Will Emirates Squeeze United Out of Athens?
Emirates announced it would offer daily non-stop service between Newark and Athens effective March 26, 2017, the carrier’s latest Fifth Freedom route. The new route puts United and Emirates on collision course — who will blink first or can both survive? New Emirates Athens Service Athens will operate its Newark – Athens flight as part of a […]
The Real Reason LAX is Still a United Hub
A spirited discussion commenced last week on the hub status of United Airlines at Los Angeles International Airport. I argued that LAX remained both a de facto and de jure United hub while Cranky argued that United had abandoned LAX as a hub. We parsed stats including service reductions, ease of connections, international expansion, and […]
Should United De-Hub Los Angeles? No, And It Won’t.
Cranky Flier argues that United has abandoned its Los Angeles hub in a piece entitled Should United De-Hub Los Angeles? It Already Has. The article is worth a read and presents some fascinating stats, but Cranky ultimately gets his analysis wrong: a more strategic and profitable flight schedule does not prove that United has de-hubbed Los Angeles. […]
United Airlines Shuffles Board as Oscar Munoz Readies Return
Two news items from United Airlines. First, Oscar Munoz will be back soon. Second, three new independent members to the Board have been appointed. Is there a link? Munoz is already back in a decision-making capacity but will resume his CEO role on a full-time basis on March 14, 2016. In a press release he […]
United Airlines Announces San Francisco to Singapore Route on 787-9
United Airlines has announced plans to offer daily non-stop service from San Francisco to Singapore beginning 01 June 2016 on its 787-9 aircraft. The new route will be one of the world’s longest at 8,446 miles (second only to Dallas to Sydney on Qantas…for now). Further paring back its Tokyo Narita hub, United’s Tokyo to […]
United Global Services and 1K Members Now Get Free Food in Economy Class
Rumors have been swirling over the last few days that United Airlines’ top-tier elite members would receive complimentary food in addition to complimentary alcoholic beverages when flying in economy class. I reached out to United for confirmation on Monday via Twitter and heard nothing back: Today, though, United made it official with the following […]
Further United International Expansion to Athens, Barcelona, Lisbon
On the heels of United Airlines’ announcement last week that it would commence service from its San Francisco hub to Xi’an, Auckland, and Tel Aviv comes news that it will add three summer routes next year, including the resumption of service to Athens. A United FA on Flyertalk leaked the news over the weekend and […]
United Announces Non-Stop Service from San Francisco to Auckland and Tel Aviv
The Boeing 787 is revolutionary in that it has made otherwise financially nonviable routes viable. United announced two new routes today, to be operated on its 787-8 and 797-9 aircraft from San Francisco — Tel Aviv and Auckland. San Francicso to Tel Aviv Non-Stop on United Airlines Sensing an opportunity in American’s recent announcement that […]
Free Beer and Wine + Upgraded Meals in United Airlines International Economy Class
United Airlines promised a refresh to its international longhaul economy class meal service in January and has finally unveiled its plans, set to debut in June 2015. Free beer and wine return not only to transpacific flights, but to all longhaul international flights. Menus will be refreshed and appetizers, albeit modest, will return. Even desserts […]
United Airlines Should Capitalize on AA’s Poor New In-Flight Meals
Both Rocky and Sriram have sampled American Airlines’ new onboard premium class menu, effective 01 September 2014, and both found it to be supremely lacking. They are not the only ones, for I have not read one positive review of the new meal policy. Meanwhile, United Airlines has announced a true enhancement in in-flight meal […]
Star Alliance Should Pursue Alaska Airlines
For all the complaints about US Airways being a “low-cost carrier” or offering an inferior in-flight product, the carrier has been a valuable member of Star Alliance that will be missed tremendously. With a healthy European route network and an expansive route map in the Southeast and Northeast, US Airways has nicely complimented United’s route […]
The Real Reason Behind United’s New Service to Atlantic City
United Airlines announced new service from Houston Bush Intercontinental and Chicago O’Hare to beleaguered Atlantic City, New Jersey this week in a deal that brought NJ Governor Chris Christie and United CEO Jeff Smisek together for a special ceremony on Thursday. But if you think this announcement is about service to Atlantic City, think again. […]
United Airlines Pulls a "Newark" at SFO
Responding to robust demand and added flights to Newark, Cleveland, and Houston, United Airlines has pulled a “Newark” on us at San Francisco International Airport. To understand what it means to “pull a Newark” you must be familiar with United’s operations at Newark’s Liberty International Airport. In a word, ugh. Faced with a post-merger gate […]
Why Elon Musk Should Buy Ryanair
If Elon Musk were to seriously consider buying a major airline, Ryanair might not be the fantastical choice critics would expect. The Irish ultra-low-cost carrier isn’t just cheap on ticket prices; it’s one of the most profitable and operationally robust airlines in the world. Musk has the capital and appetite for investments that no one […]
International Arrival Mistake At Chicago O’Hare Created A Serious Security Breach
I’ve had hundreds of international arrivals into the USA over the last couple of decades, but my arrival in Chicago O’Hare from Frankfurt was unique…someone seemed to forget that it was an international arrival! My United Airlines Flight Had A Security Breach At Chicago O’Hare… First, a general note. The United States does not currently […]
Immigration Agents Are Using Domestic Flight Passenger Data To Aid Deportations
A quiet but consequential shift is underway in how the U.S. government uses airline passenger data. The Transportation Security Administration has begun sharing information about domestic airline travelers with immigration authorities, expanding how routine travel data can be used for enforcement purposes. TSA Quietly Sharing Passenger Travel Data With Immigration Authorities Under the new practice, […]
Southwest Business Class, Lounges, Europe Flights Inevitable
Southwest Airlines has openly explored the possibility of adding business class, airport lounges, flights to Europe, and new aircraft – but it’s not if, it’s a matter of when. Southwest Will Move Into Premium Expansion, Here’s Why Management at Southwest Airlines has publicly stated it’s exploring a number of options which more or less assimilate […]
Exit Controls Quietly Expand At U.S. Airports
The United States has long avoided outbound passport control, but is quietly building a biometric exit system at airports that functions much like one. Should The U.S. Add Exit Controls? Pros, Cons, And The Quiet Biometric Shift Underway Let’s take a look at recent changes the U.S. has quietly introduced, examine the pros and cons […]
