Good evening from Los Angeles. I am resting up after a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC and Frankfurt, happy to be home for the next couple weeks*. Although a trip to Las Vegas was in the cards for this week, I ended up not straying too far from home. *The travel bug is such an infectious virus […]
United May Cut p.s. Name, but not Premium Service
In 2004, United Airlines introduced p.s. (premium service) onboard its transcon flights between New York Kennedy and Los Angeles/San Francisco. This enhanced domestic product mimicked an international flight with menus, enhanced meals, and a premium business and first class seat. When UA closed its JFK station in 2015, p.s. shifted to Newark. But rumors have […]
The Trip Home from DC…Washington to Los Angeles via Frankfurt
As if our busy inauguration day was not enough, John and I detoured to Germany on our way home from Washington. A number of factors were to “blame”. A prefect storm brewed—procrastination and sold out flights with the specter of more hotel costs or sleeping in airports. Ok, let’s not kid ourselves. I’m not so […]
UA Christens First 777-300ER “New Spirit of United”
United Airlines has christened its first 777-300ER the “New Spirit of United”, a name meant to highlight UA’s optimism it is turning the corner from a stormy past. Indeed, CEO Oscar Munoz added– This special aircraft represents not a commemoration of the past but a commitment to the future. It captures the spirit of excellence we aspire to […]
Review: Houston to Lagos in United Airlines 787 Business
I flew United’s 787-8 for the first time from Houston to Los Angeles just weeks after it was introduced in 2012, but almost two years passed before I had the chance to fly it again, this time from Houston to Lagos. My day started in Chicago but I gave myself a five hour buffer in case of […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: January 14, 2017
Another week has flown by, but as I sit at my desk on this beautiful Saturday evening, I am thankful that the last several days have been very productive. While managing Award Expert and this blog are critical, an even more important task is caring for my wife and child. The two go hand and hand, since we have […]
United Airlines on Display at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC
United Airlines has partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue to provide bedding in its new Polaris business class. This week, the partnership is on full display in the windows of the department store’s flagship Manhattan store. Walk by Saks and you’ll be met by a United fuselage, beautifully dressed passengers, FAs, and the new Polaris product. Saks Fifth […]
United Accelerates 747 Retirement to 2017
Last week I wrote about United’s plan to retire its 747-400 fleet by the end of 2018. Today, UA President Scott Kirby announced plans to accelerate the retirement of the fleet by a full year. In a letter to employees, Kirby stated– As deeply connected as we all are to this iconic aircraft, the time […]
Last United 747-400 Departs from Chicago
UPDATE: United Accelerates 747 Retirement to 2017 The last United Airlines 747-400 has left Chicago O’Hare. I noticed a tweet from United late last night announcing that the final 747-400 departed ORD for Tokyo Narita. That’s quite a momentous occasion for a plane that has dotted the United terminal at O’Hare for several decades. Indeed, in an […]
2016: A Year of Change
What a year 2016 has been! Many cannot wait for this year to end, but I try to keep things positive here on Live and Let’s Fly. While there is so much bad news to reflect upon this year, let’s not do that today. Instead, let’s recall what went well this year. There is always much […]
My First International Business Class Meal: SFO-LHR on UA930
For this week’s Matthew’s Meal of the Week, I remember my first international flight. In September 2006 I travelled to Europe for the first time, a United 747-400 from San Francisco to London. I had just turned 20 and it was my first time leaving North America. I spent a month driving through Germany, Austria, the Czech […]
United Cuts International Routes, Will Focus on Domestic Travel
An interesting Chicago Tribune article details how United will focus more on domestic travel in 2017. With yields down on international routes thanks to low-cost competition, United will look inward. Strategies includes: Strengthening its existing hubs Continuing the trend of more mainline and less regional jet service Banking flights to make hub connections easier Basic […]
Which United Clubs Have Showers?
The beautiful new United Club at LAX has opened and although it has received great praise, many are disappointed that it does not offer shower facilities. Say you are flying from Melbourne to LA and then on to Washington. You get in from Melbourne – a 14 hour flight – and have a two hour layover […]
First Look at the Super Cool New United Club at LAX
I had the privilege of attending a special opening ceremony of United’s brand new United Club at LAX yesterday. Underscoring the significance of this event, both CEO Oscar Munoz and President Scott Kirby were present and their remarks were noteworthy. The new lounge is 20,000 square feet and is beautiful — sleek, modern, and quintessentially LA: […]
United Airlines Boasts of Its Great Summer
United Airlines claims it just had its “best summer every in company history” for on-time performance. To demonstrate, it presents this infographic: (click to enlarge) And indeed, the numbers look great. In my own United flying I encountered few delays (other than an airport wide problem of insufficient gates and long wait times at LAX […]
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. […]
Odd New Commercial from United Airlines
United Airlines has released a commercial highlighting its new Polaris Business Class product, which will begin to roll out later this year. The commercial is well-done with great music and visuals but the strangely exotic, British narration strikes me as odd. Instead of Matt Damon, United’s go-to voice in its commercials, United has chosen gone […]
