The union representing United Airlines flight attendants has admonished them not to “cede authority” onboard to anti-maskers and that non-confrontation is not an option. Flight Attendants Urged Never To “Cede Authority Onboard” By Ignoring Passengers Who Refuse To Wear Mask United Airlines has largely been out of the news this year concerning mask compliance in […]
United Airlines To Flights Attendants: Duct Taping Passengers Not Allowed!
With stories of passengers being duct taped to their seats making headlines, United Airlines has reminded flight attendants that they are not to use tape if a problematic passenger must be restrained. United Airlines Tells Flight attendants That Tape Should Not Be Used To Restrain Passengers I recently discussed how United Airlines embraces a more […]
How United Airlines Plans To Be World’s Number One Airline
In a passionate video message to employees, CEO Scott Kirby outlines his vision for making United Airlines world’s number one airline as it emerges from the pandemic. The focus is on customer service, with particular emphasis on transparency. United Airlines CEO: We Are Going Become The World’s Number One Airline The video, sent to all […]
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 […]
Exclusive: United Airlines Cuts Compensation Limits By Up To 85%
Those $10,000 offers to take a later flight when your flight is full? Another relic of the past. United Airlines will now limit voluntary denied boarding compensation to a maximum flight credit of $2,500, a 75% reduction. It is also reducing maximum compensation for involuntary downgrades to $1,500, an 85% reduction over present levels. Generous […]
The Existential Airline Dilemma: Refund Or Survive
I’ve been hard on airlines all week, noting they are breaking the law by refusing to issue refunds for flight cancellations. My opinion remains principally unchanged. Today, however, I want to look at the issue from the airline side. Airlines Are In Survival Mode Airlines are currently backed against a wall due to negative demand […]
No Pay Raise, But A Labor Day Message From United CEO
It might not be an unsolicited pay raise like Delta, but United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz shared similar sentiment to his counterpart at Delta in his 2019 Labor Day note to employees. Thanks to several friends at United for passing along this note from Munoz. It’s official: 2019 was the busiest summer travel season in […]
When You Fly United Express You Are Flying United!
United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby recognizes that when you fly on United Express, you are flying on United. Speaking to United employees in Houston in a recording obtained by Live and Let’s Fly, Kirby addressed the “confirmation bias” of dismissing delays on regionals as being somehow divorced from United Airlines. There is sometimes a confirmation […]
A Classy Move From A Classy United Express Captain
Flight delays stink. Especially when they occur around meal times. But one United Express/MESA captain went above and beyond the call of duty during a prolonged flight delay. A mechanical issued delayed a United Express flight from Tulsa (TUL) to Houston (IAH) on March 11th. When a flight attendant approached Captain Matthew Hoshor stating she […]
Woman Thrown Off Plane For “Emotional Support Squirrel”
Miniature horses may be allowed, but squirrels? Not so fast. A wheelchair-bound woman in Orlando was thrown off a Frontier Airlines flight for refusing to part with her so-called “emotional support” squirrel. Frontier Airlines Flight 1612, bound for Cleveland, was set to depart Tuesday night when a “situation” developed onboard. A passenger had indicated that […]
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 […]
$10,000 Voucher for United Airlines Bump!
Back in the day, I thought a $600 for a bump was a job well done. But how about $10,000?! The Northeast storm earlier this week led to thousands of flights cancellations, including most United flight in/out of New York and Washington, DC on Wednesday. Allison Preiss was booked on an oversold United flight from […]
United CEO Still Defends Employees Over Dragging Incident
Genius or cowardice? That’s my quandary as United CEO Oscar Munoz continues to defend employees over the dragging incident in April. If you recall, Dr. David Dao was dragged off a flight from Chicago to Louisville after he refused to give up his seat on an oversold flight. United initially blamed him, backtracking only after […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 30, 2017
Good evening from Los Angeles. I’m home for a few days between trips, trying desperately to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from my life. I need to do a better job of it… Anyway, I’ve got a great story coming up about my trip home from New York. A truly unexpected surprise that I look forward to sharing with […]
Lengthy New Email from United CEO Oscar Munoz + Commentary
Yesterday was a very good day for United Airlines. The carrier debuted its new customer service action plan and later announced a settlement with Dr. David Dao over the UA3411 incident. Even so, MileagePlus members received a lengthy email from CEO Oscar Munoz that again apologized for that happened. Let’s take a look at the […]
Police Officer Who Dragged Doctor Off United Flight Tells His Side
Although it should come as no surprise, two of the Chicago Aviation Police Officers who dragged Dr. David Dao off UA3411 tell a very different story of what happened. Obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request by the Associated Press, the reports of Officer James Long and Mauricio Rodriguez Jr. assert that: One officer boarded initially and […]
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 16, 2017
Happy Easter from sunny Los Angeles. While I don’t take any days off, I am trying to limit my work today. It has been so busy lately and a day of rest is greatly needed. After travel for so many consecutive weeks, the week ahead should be calm and local. The big news last week centered on Dr. […]
United CEO Apology Tour at Asian Consulates
Apparently United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz paid visits to Japanese and Chinese consumes this week in the aftermath of the UA 3411 controversy. Although United has thus far not responded for my request for comment, I’m told that Munoz visited Japanese and Chinese consulates to commit “to more outreach” in Asian markets and to “address the negative customer response” seen in […]
United Airlines Board of Directors Addresses Controversy
The United Airlines Board of Directors has been silent this week over the UA3411 controversy. Until now. In a letter directed to employees, the Chairman Robert Milton offers his take on what happened and what United will do about it. The full letter– Dear fellow members of the United family, We on the board of directors have […]
Lawyers Stage Elaborate Press Conference to Pummel United Airlines
The pageantry of a made-for-TV legal case was on full display yesterday, as Dr. David Dao’s lawyers used a carefully staged press conference to lay out their case against United. Here’s the press conference — 1hr in length — In the press conference, we learn that Dao Suffered a “significant” concussion Broke his nose Lost two teeth […]
