United Airlines is ramping up service to three nations that are welcoming vaccinated U.S. citizens with new summer service to Athens (Greece), Dubrovnik (Croatia), and Reykjavik (Iceland). United Airlines Adds Washington – Athens Service From July 1st through October 3rd, United will add daily flights between Washington Dulles (IAD) and Athens, Greece (ATH). The schedule […]
United Airlines Will Light Up New York City Tonight
If you’re in New York City this evening, look up at the skyline. United will light two iconic New York City buildings blue at sunset to celebrate its return to JFK Airport after a five-year absence. United Airlines Lights Up New York City Skyscrapers Tomorrow, United Airlines returns to New York Kennedy with service to […]
Taste Test: United’s First Class Breakfast Sandwiches
My Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. United is currently offering sandwiches or snack boxes in place of meals in first class on most routes over two […]
London – Washington – Los Angeles In United Business Class
We’ve reached the end of my Africa trip report. Thanks for staying with me all this time. Looking back on my flights back to the United States is like looking back back on a whole different era. Because it was indeed a different era. In our new pandemic age, what a difference a day makes. […]
My Top 10 Flights In 2020
As 2020 draws to a close, it is time for my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on my 10 favorite flights from 2020. As a reminder, this is not a top-10 all-time list nor does it necessarily contain the 10 most luxurious flights I enjoyed this year. Rather, it represents my subjectively […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
My Global Entry Enrollment On Arrival Interview
My Global Entry was up for renewal this year. Rather than schedule an interview appointment and make an extra trip to the airport, I took advantage of the “Enrollment on Arrival” program to knock out my interview at San Francisco International Airpot. What Is Enrollment on Arrival? Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) is CBP program that […]
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 […]
United Airlines Loses A Rock Star In Sydney
The famous Annie Walton, United Airlines’ rock star in Sydney, is the latest COVID-19 job casualty. While Annie herself is just fine, her position has been eliminated due to the pandemic. That’s reason for all of us to mourn. United Airlines Sydney Legend Annie Walton Retires Only one United airport agent has a dedicated thread […]
Introduction: An Alliance Smörgåsbord To Finland
I should say an alliance voileipäpöytä since the trip was to Finland, but the Swedish smörgåsbord is a more familiar term. Welcome to my next trip report, which covers a trip in late February that included flights on oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance carriers. As with most of my review trips, it all started with one […]
United Trims Saks Fifth Avenue Bedding Onboard
United Airlines is reducing its bedding onboard with new blankets for premium cabins on select flights to Hawaii and Alaska and all premium transcontinental flights. It will also eliminate the throw blanket from intercontinental flights. United Will Trim Saks Fifth Avenue Bedding Options Part of what makes United’s “premium transcontinental” service premium is the soft […]
A Quacky Dinner On United Airlines
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. Duck is a fairly common appetizer in an airplane premium cabin, but it is rare to see it […]
Happy 25th Birthday Boeing 777! Read This Inaugural Trip Report
This week marks the 25th anniversary of the first commercial Boeing 777 flight, a United flight from London Heathrow to Washington Dulles and from domestically Denver to Chicago. The last quarter century has been quite a ride for the Triple Seven. What was the inaugural trip like? The late Darren Booth, my former colleague 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’ Strategic Fleet Retirement Plan
Earlier I wrote about the revenue challenges United is facing during this time. That was not the only issue discussed during yesterday’s virtual “town hall” meeting with employees. United has also identified which aircraft it will retire and in which order if depressed demand continues. Which Aircraft Will United Retire If Demand Continues To Slump? […]
United Airlines Closes Additional United Clubs
3/20/20 Update United will close five more clubs; two effective today and three on Saturday: Now closed: Raleigh-Durham – RDU – United Club London Heathrow – LHR – Arrivals Lounge Tomorrow (3/21), the following three lounges will close: Mexico City – MEX – United Club Guam – GUM – United Club Tokyo – NRT – […]
