I had the chance to speak with Luc Bondar, the President of MileagePlus, yesterday and he shared with me several refreshingly positive improvements coming to the United Airlines MileagePlus program this summer. United Airlines MileagePlus Summer 2021 Changes – Cheaper Awards & Upgrades, No Blackouts Discounted Prices On European Routes Throughout the pandemic, United MileagePlus […]
United Perks Plus Changes Offers Peek Behind Curtain
United’s Perks Plus, the airline’s business incentive program, made changes to its redemptions. Those changes give us a rare glimpse behind the curtain of United Airlines’ current performance. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com. If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add […]
What Kind Of Food Does United Airlines Serve In Polaris Business Class?
I’ve reviewed the 787-10 on United Airlines many times and don’t need to do so again. But I did want to provide a catering update for those wondering what food and drink you might expect if you are traveling in United Polaris Business Class this summer to Europe. Food + Drink In United Airlines Polaris […]
A Tasteless, Misleading United Airlines Review
I’m not immune to clickbait, but a recent United Airlines video review titled, “DON’T fly UNITED: America’s WORST Business Class” really leaves me shaking my head. A Misleading United Airlines Review The review is done by Trek Trendy, a vlogger who travels the world reviewing luxury airlines and hotels (wow, what a concept). In his latest […]
Review: United Airlines 787-8 Polaris Business Class [2021]
In February, I traveled to London on United Airlines to attend a funeral. My outbound journey was via Chicago O’Hare and inbound journey via Washington Dulles. Both flights were on a 787-8, though I had the old configuration on the outbound flight to London Heathrow and new configuration on the inbound flight to Washington Dulles. […]
Review: United Club Newark (EWR)
This lounge is now closed for remodeling. It will re-open in 2023. In the meantime, you can visit the C123 lounge. While not much has structurally changed since my last review of this lounge in 2018, I thought a pandemic update was in order for the United Club in Newark near gate C74. United Club […]
United Airlines Delays Return To JFK
With travel restrictions on both coasts and tepid demand for premium travel, United Airlines is delaying its return to New York JFK…but only for a month. United Airlines Delays JFK Return In November, United Airlines announced it would return to New York John F Kennedy Airport for the first time in five years. It planned […]
My Top 10 Airline Lounges In 2020
As 2020 draws to a close, it is time for my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on the 10 best airport lounges I visited in 2020. Note, this is my “top 10” list, but only my “top 10” list of lounges I visited this year. 10. British Airways Galleries First Lounge T3 […]
Christmas Eve Breakfast In United Polaris Lounge LAX
I’m looking back fondly this morning on one year ago, when I enjoyed a tasty breakfast in United’s Los Angeles (LAX) Polaris Lounge after a 13-hour flight from Sydney, Australia. Christmas Eve Breakfast @ LAX United Polaris Lounge In what seems so long ago, I embarked on a mileage run December 22-24th last year to […]
Flying With United’s Most Loyal Customer
As he entered the United Polaris Lounge, eyes turned as staff stood. Mr. Stuker was back, United’s most loyal customer in terms of miles traveled. He sat down at the table next to mine. We started chatting. Turns out we were heading to Cape Town together. Flying to Cape Town With United’s Most Loyal Customer […]
Review: United Airlines 787-9 Business Class Newark To Cape Town
This is a review of my March 2020 trip from Newark to Cape Town onboard a United 787-9 in business class. The trip seems so far in the past, but is a reminder of how much the world has changed since spring. That said, this will not be a conventional Live and Let’s Fly review […]
United Airlines Will Resume Investments In Onboard Product
United CEO Scott Kirby dreams of United Airlines emerging from the pandemic as the #1 airline in the USA. To that end, United will resume investment in its onboard and ground product, restarting pre-pandemic investments in all cabins. United Promises Investment In Onboard Product Kirby sees United in an “intermediate” phase. With positive news on […]
Review: United Club San Francisco (SFO – F Gates)
The United Club at San Francisco International Airport near Gate F11 is near and dear to my heart and remains on the of the last “vintage” United lounges. This review not only showcases the lounge, but will give you an idea of what sort of amenities you can expect during COVID-19. United Club SFO Review […]
Review: United Airlines 787-9 Polaris Business Class – International Pandemic Edition
Tremendous service and a comfortable seat made up for a reduced serving offering, but I have to admit my flight from Frankfurt to San Francisco greatly exceeded my expectations. This United Airlines Polaris business class review will give you an idea of what to expect during the pandemic on United’s recently retrofitted 787-9. United Airlines […]
Details: United Airlines Returns To New York JFK
United Airlines will return to New York Kennedy (JFK) in 2021, five years after abandoning the airport in a move it came to quickly regret. The return of premium transcontinental service between JFK and the West Coast is a boon for local traffic and intercontinental Star Alliance connections. United Airlines Will Return To JFK Returning […]
United Airlines Reopens More Airport Lounges, Slashes Price Of One-Time Passes
Ahead of the holidays, United Airlines will reopen four additional airport lounges. It will also discount the price of one-time club passes. United Airlines Reopens More Airport Lounges In late March, United Airlines shuttered most of its United Club lounges and all of its Polaris lounges for longhaul business class travelers. For months, United has […]
United Airlines + Amtrak End Partnership
United Airlines and Amtrak will end a decades-long partnership, eliminating reciprocal lounge access and what historically has been a convenient way to earn miles when traveling on Amtrak. Amtrak + United Wind Down Partnership Stretching back two decades, Amtrak and Continental Airlines (and later United after the merger) partnered to provide reciprocal mileage earnings and […]
Oscar Munoz’s Legacy At United Airlines
Earlier this week, Oscar Munoz stepped down as CEO of United Airlines, after nearly five years on the job. How should we evaluate his legacy? My friend Gary at View from the Wing called the Oscar Munoz legacy disappointing. His focus, however, was not so much on Munoz himself, but his critical decision in 2016 […]
United Airlines Prepares To Officially Enter The Kirby Era
On May 20, 2020 United President Scott Kirby will officially become the new Chief Executive Officer. How will consumers, employees, and shareholders react? Kirby: Hope Is Not A Strategy In several pieces over the last two months I have highlighted Kirby’s contrarian approach to COVID-19. While every major airline has acknowledged that it will emerge […]
Trip Report: Flying United During COVID-19 Epidemic
Reader Mark, a family friend, travelled on United earlier this week. He shared with me with this report, which is interesting on so many levels about what it was like to travel across the country during the height of the COVID-19 epidemic. I’m a worker in the medical industry. While life has slowed to a […]