Yesterday, I wrote a eulogy for United’s international first class product. There, I promised to offer a report on my best first class trip of all time on United. There’s a difference, I think, between best and favorite. I have already written about my favorite experience in Global First, which was a flight from Frankfurt to […]
Oscar Munoz Offers Insight On United’s 30% Profit Surge
After reporting a 30% increase in profit even with a higher fuel bill, United Airlines finds itself in a strong position. United’s stock is up 24% this year. Meanwhile, Delta has dropped 5% and American has dropped 36%. Although critics were skeptical of President Scott Kirby’s domestic capacity expansion, it seems to be working. A […]
United Airlines Adds 22 New Routes, Cuts Three Of My Favorites
United Airlines is adding 22 new domestic routes in 2019 as it continues its robust domestic expansion. At the same time, it is retreating from a pair of routes from Los Angeles that face fierce competition plus a surprising international route. I’ve written before about United’s push to recapture its “natural share” of the domestic market. […]
President of United Airlines DEFENDS Family Separation…On Airplanes
United Airlines hates family separation…unless their customers won’t pay to sit together. Last June, United Airlines, along with other airlines, came out strongly against the White House decision to separate minor children from parents who are captured while crossing the border illegally. In fact, United CEO Oscar Munoz even laid down the gauntlet against the federal government: […]
United Considers Significant Expansion To Washington Dulles Hub
United Airlines is considering up to a 50% increase in its number of flights at Washington Dulles. Speaking at the Boyd Group International Aviation Forecast Summit in Denver, United President Scott Kirby hinted at the expansion: Today we have a four-bank structure at Dulles. The team is actually evaluating a six-bank structure that would create […]
The Economics of Lie-Flat Beds on 737s
United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby announced yesterday that United is exploring lie-flat seating on upcoming 737 MAX 10 deliveries. Speaking at the Boyd Group International Aviation Forecast Summit in Denver, Kirby touted United’s lie-flat domestic flights: It’s been really successful in the markets that we have it in. There are other markets out of Newark and […]
United Airlines Wants JFK Slots Back
In 2015, United sold its 26 New York Kennedy (JFK) slots to Delta. Three years later, it wants them back. Last year, I wrote about United President Scott Kirby conceding it was a mistake for United to abandon New York. To sum up his thoughts, it was penny-wise, pound-foolish. While United’s transcon flights were losing […]
Why is United Slashing Domestic First Class Meal Service?
Can someone explain to me why United Airlines continues to slash domestic first class meal service? Oh, I know. One word, right? Kirby. United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby is just doing what he attempted to do at American Airlines: cut his way to growth. And first class fares have dropped so much over the last […]
The Encouraging Tenure Of United’s CEO, Oscar Munoz
My friend Ben at One Mile at a Time wrote a thoughtful but critical piece on the tenure of United Airlines’ CEO Oscar Munoz. While normally spot-on in his analysis, I view the matter differently. I’m not going to dismiss the many unforced errors that turned into PR nightmares. Nor will I downplay unkept promises […]
The Flight Attendant Bubble
The internet, social media, and technology in general has allowed us to more easily live within our own bubble, a world of confirmation bias and groupthink. My conversations lately with flight attendants have been quite revealing in that respect. A lot of FAs read my blog, and I am quite thankful for that. I’m often […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: March 18, 2018
A trip is on the horizon…I’m anticipating a trip to Europe coming up, perhaps as early tomorrow. But for now, another week in LA. I didn’t even spend this many consecutive days on the ground when my son was born! United was in the headlines again this week…after a dog died onboard a flight from […]
United Airlines Already Has “Premium Economy” on Domestic Flights
United Airlines already has “premium economy” on domestic flights…it’s called first class. I’m not saying that to be facetious. Honestly. But the one image we have seen thus far of what United’s new premium economy class product will look like is nearly identical to United’s current domestic first class seat– United’s new “Premium Plus” premium […]
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 was swift and fierce. When news surfaced last week of Scott Kirby’s plan to replace $300 […]
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 its customer service model. > Read More: United Airlines Reveals Major Policy Changes As part of the […]
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 just sent employees– Dear United colleagues, Since announcing our planned changes to the quarterly operations incentive […]
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 the waning days of Jeff Smisek. Bill Murphy Jr., a writer for INC., was given access […]
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, which is always hard to do. But I’m trying to clear the backlog of old trip […]
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 over the last 24 hours and the response is unanimous: they are angry. There is not […]
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 areas, ranked in order of importance: Safe Caring Dependable Efficient > Read More: United’s Surprising New Emphasis […]
United Airlines Gambles on Increased Capacity
United Airlines will increase capacity 4 to 6% each year, thru 2020. Is this a wise strategy or a fool’s errand that will inevitably trigger a price war? We know what the market thinks. In response to the capacity increase news, United shares tumbled more than 11% yesterday. But I take a much more optimistic look […]