• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » United Airlines » United Airlines: “We Are Officially The Largest Airline In The World”
NewsUnited Airlines

United Airlines: “We Are Officially The Largest Airline In The World”

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 28, 2023November 13, 2023 80 Comments

a group of airplanes on a runway

United Airlines now claims to be the world’s largest airline.

United Airlines CEO Kirby Claims United Now Largest Airline In The World

In a video message to employees reviewed by Live and Let’s Fly, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby proudly proclaimed that United Airlines is now the largest airline in the world:

“In the first quarter, we’ve now passed both American and Delta to be the largest airline in the world. And while that’s a really important milestone, what’s even more important is to talk about how we got that to that milestone and what it means for us in the future.”

There are different ways to measure which carrier is largest, but United is using available seat miles (ASM), which refers to how many seat miles are actually available for purchase. Seat miles are calculated by multiplying the number of miles that a given airplane will be flying (based on the published schedule) by the number of seats available for a given flight.

Kirby points to a crucial moment in February 2020 which marked a turning point for United:

“Our modern history really begins on February 29th, 2020, when COVID first shows up in Northern Italy. And we were the only airline, and really amongst the only people to realize quickly how serious the COVID crisis was likely to become. And because of that, we were able to take steps quickly and ahead of everyone else to not only survive COVID but also importantly to prepare for the future. And because we were clear-sighted about it we always believed the travel demand would fully recover and everyone out flying today can see that, in fact, has happened.”

But while other carriers used the pandemic to shrink and cut, Kirby says United used the time to invest in what today has made it the largest airline in the world (with a lot more growth to come):

“While we were going to be on the sidelines for a couple years, it gave us the chance instead of pulling back like most of our competitors to actually invest in the future. And we built more gates in Denver. More gates in Newark. New baggage system in Houston. More simulators in Denver. A brand new flight training Center in Houston. 49% more club space. New technology. We really took the two years that COVID was impacting us as a chance to invest and prepare for the future. And of course that was culminated with the largest aircraft order in the history of aviation which now leads to us being in a position where we are uniquely positioned to grow and grow faster than any airline in the world.”

Kirby concludes his video by hoping for a day when the airline is so strong that furloughs will never be a threat during economic recessions and admonishes his employees to provide excellent service to passengers so United will not only be the largest, but the “best” airline in the world.

CONCLUSION

United Airlines has claimed the mantle of world’s largest airline, based on available seat miles. With 500 new aircraft on order, this was not an unexpected announcement.

But a word to the wise: quality, not quantity. I’ve sincerely enjoyed great food and great service on my last few United flights, but there is still a ways to go. As my preferred carrier, the quantity is great in terms of the broad schedule, but it is always quality that will ultimately secure meaningful loyalty. It’s good to be big, but it’s better to be great.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Review: Lufthansa Senator Café Munich (MUC)
Next Article 2023 Freddie Awards – Farewell To A Travel Icon

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • a row of seats in an airplane

    Delta Adds Rome And Barcelona Flights From Seattle, Edging Out Alaska

    June 25, 2025
  • a sign in an airport

    American Airlines, United Airlines Extend Middle East Flight Cancellations

    June 25, 2025
  • Carl Brothers United Airlines

    A Mileage Run For The Ages To Achieve Lifetime United Global Services Status

    June 24, 2025

80 Comments

  1. vietri Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 12:37 pm

    Forcing a vaccine with health complications for some isn’t “preparing for the future”, Scott. You literally made the pilot shortage worse. I guess you can just hire more (of every workgroup) to make up the difference..easy.

    Overall I try to be neutral on United aside from casserole dishes but really they are the king of bad takes. I hope they have their salary and healthcare exp budgeted correctly for increased costs with STD/LTD, present and future. In short: avoidable excess expense.

    Truthfully I hope I get over all of this someday. With stories and studies like these coming out daily, not looking good: Vaccinated Blood is Contaminated with COVID Vaccine mRNA, Study Finds. https://igorchudov.substack.com/p/vaccinated-blood-is-contaminated

    • vietri Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 12:40 pm

      On a positive note, I’m glad to see Australia (of all places COVID..) has filed a class action with 500+ individuals so far. Let us see more of this—

      The class action, organised and crowd-funded by Queensland GP Dr Melissa McCann, takes aim at the Commonwealth government and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — along with a number of senior public servants — alleging negligence, breach of statutory duty and misfeasance in public office.

      The suit alleges that the respondents approved the vaccines “with no proper or reasonable evidentiary or logical basis to reasonably determine the vaccines to be safe, effective and possessing a positive risk-benefit profile”.

      “The action will argue that the Therapeutic Goods Administration did not fulfil their duty to properly regulate the Covid-19 vaccines, resulting in considerable harm and damage to Australians,” Natalie Strijland from NR Barbi Solicitor said in a statement. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/waiting-to-drown-covid-vaccine-injury-class-action-filed-against-federal-government/news-story/8f91ca843cc4b62b7df9cbabd398cfe6

      • Billy Bob Reply
        April 28, 2023 at 12:54 pm

        Maybe someday they’ll have a vaccine for schizophrenia. Don’t give up hope!

        • Aaron Reply
          April 28, 2023 at 1:29 pm

          LOL

        • vietri Reply
          April 28, 2023 at 5:26 pm

          Speaking of schizophrenia, A Beautiful Mind was a wonderful true story and is one of my fav movies. Its screenplay was inspired by Sylvia Nasar’s 1998 biography of the mathematician John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics

    • JP Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 5:58 pm

      Well good for you. No one cares about your vaccine conspiracies at this point. This is an airline/travel blog. I took the vaccines, never caught Covidalong with 100+ millions in this country. Billions world wide. Please never tak a vaccine again!

      • vietri Reply
        April 28, 2023 at 8:19 pm

        It is estimated that most who actually received the vaccine–and not saline–will be dead in 3-5 years, if not before. Now, at least some people (and hopefully many people) received saline (documented in MSM), as the elite couldn’t cause that many issues at once with a truly immediately dangerous vaccine. Boiling a frog in water–please google the analogy–doesn’t happen quickly.

        So while you are certainly free to say you don’t care “at this point”, you will end up caring because it will personally affect you and basically every other human in heavily vaccinated countries.

        You and your loved ones are dying. We were always dying, but now on an accelerated timetable for some.

        Make the most of each day as life is short. For my part I’ll certainly never take an untested vaccine again.

        • vietri Reply
          April 28, 2023 at 9:16 pm

          And I don’t say this 3-5 year thing to scare you. As with anything, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Either way, it’s best to be informed. I certainly don’t take any of this entire mess lightly. At the same time, it’s freaking dumb AF for people to call me schizophrenic and whatever else just because they don’t like the truth..if you want to enjoy your points and miles for as long as possible on this earth, then go to a detox specialist and get better and heal. I did not personally cause the problems that we face. The fact that people are mad about others (me) encouraging healthy living, requesting medical freedom, and demanding transparency–when the gov works for me and you–is seriously hard to comprehend at this point. So please excuse any frustration.

          • Glen Greezy
            April 30, 2023 at 5:35 am

            This is the goofiest thing I’ve ever read online. 3-5 years most vaxxed folks will die??

            You are what I’d assume was a functional adult, and you believe this nonsense. That’s shameful.

            Good luck.

          • vietri
            April 30, 2023 at 7:29 pm

            If a large % of the population received saline, and all signs do point to that being the case, then it makes sense why not all “vaccinated” will die but just those whose spike protein is destroying their organs. Considering the personal attacks, I don’t really feel like finding the exact studies I’m referring to, as y’all are not worth it, so I’ll just repost this and you can figure it out:

            https://igorchudov.substack.com/p/vaccinated-blood-is-contaminated

        • Aaron Reply
          April 29, 2023 at 6:10 am

          “It is estimated that most who actually received the vaccine–and not saline–will be dead in 3-5 years”

          ROFLMAO

          • vietri
            April 29, 2023 at 8:58 am

            What if it’s true though? The spike protein is causing all sorts of problems in the body. That much we know. Doesn’t seem impossible.

          • Aaron
            April 29, 2023 at 12:25 pm

            Lol ok

          • vietri
            April 29, 2023 at 12:51 pm

            Pfizer CEO, Albert Borula: “I truly think the best days of Pfizer are ahead of us, because Covid was for me like a rehearsal.” https://twitter.com/DiedSuddenly_/status/1652087365920276485

            The scariest thing is how people actually trust psychopaths like Bill Gates and this guy.. the lack of gut instinct and discernment is so incredibly off for most individuals. Scary that so many don’t suspect anything. That level of disconnection from your intuition is terrifying!

            “They’re making $60 billion a year selling us vaccines, but they’re making $500 billion a year selling the remedies for the injuries caused by vaccines,” attested Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “If you can give somebody that vaccine and make them diabetic for life, then you’ve got a permanent customer.”

            All we can do is bow our heads and ask God to save this country from those who seek to destroy it.

            Amen.

        • Marissa Reply
          April 30, 2023 at 4:38 pm

          I take it you are not an epidemiologist (I am). Perhaps some day you’ll actually learn about this stuff and how complicated it is.

          • vietri
            April 30, 2023 at 7:25 pm

            Hi Marissa, correct but I closely follow doctors and medical orgs who are speaking the truth. Please, feel free to educate me though. I am always willing to consider other opinions that aren’t personal attacks.

          • vietri
            May 1, 2023 at 3:25 am

            Also Steve K just sent out a post just now about his attempt to debate Céline Gounder, CBS News, internist, infectious disease specialist, epidemiologist.

            In the last sentence he mentions wanting to find someone willing to debate him if she won’t. Just putting it out there. We really need actual formal debates on these topics. They should have happened long ago. Would be interesting.

            https://stevekirsch.substack.com/p/my-offer-to-dr-celine-gounder-to

          • vietri
            May 1, 2023 at 3:33 am

            Hi Dr. Gounder,

            My name is Steve Kirsch. I am contacting you because you are an expert on COVID misinformation.

            Quick background on me: I trusted the CDC and FDA and had two Moderna shots in March 2021. But after my friends died or were injured after getting the COVID vaccine, I directly looked at the data and became a journalist to tell people what I found.

            I have two degrees from MIT, one of the auditoriums at MIT is named after me, and I have a respectable h-index despite the fact that I went into a business career immediately after graduating from MIT. Over my years of funding medical research, I have developed a strong understanding of research studies, evidence-based medicine, and statistics. I have spent many hours doing VAERS queries, reading the medical literature, and talking directly with world experts.

            What I found was quite troubling to me. But even more troubling was that none of the members of the medical community were able to explain the data I uncovered from disparate sources. And all that data was consistently showing the vaccines had an unfavorable risk/benefit ratio.

            Today, I’m considered one of the world’s top “misinformation spreaders.”

            In fact, if you do a Google search for “misinformation superspreader” I’m the top hit.

            To be honest with you, I don’t really want to spread misinformation, but nobody will explain the data to me, even after I offered to compensate them up to 10X their normal consulting rate for their time.

            If someone would just agree to do this on camera, even though there is no guarantee that it will change my mind, I’m sure the video of an expert calmly explaining how we got it wrong will be useful in changing the minds of my millions of followers who currently believe what I’m saying is true. So they are as confused as I am.

            So it’s a worthwhile endeavor and will help to reduce vaccine hesitancy.

            Since you are a professor of infectious diseases, perhaps you would be willing to do this yourself?

            I have reached out to Peter Marks and Peter Hotez to request their assistance, but apparently they believe that I’m more likely to change my views if they ignore me.

            This is clearly not the case.

            In fact, it’s backfired. I have more and more followers every day.

            More troubling of course is that there isn’t a single example of a prominent expert who flipped from anti-vax to pro-vax after looking at the evidence. And fewer and fewer people are getting the boosters.

            So the current “ignore them” strategy is failing badly. Will the medical community continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome?

            One of us is wrong. I’m sure we both agree that misinformation costs lives. We simply disagree on who is spreading it.

            I believe that the best way to resolve this is through open civil dialog where we ask questions and the experts simply answer our questions.

            The former Dean of the Harvard Medical School apparently agrees with this approach because he wrote an op-ed about it.

            Censorship hasn’t worked.

            Don’t you think it is time to give this a try? It would only take one person a couple of hours to clear the confusion.

            Will you be willing to do this? Or help me to find someone who is?

            Thanks!

            -steve

    • UA-NYC Reply
      April 29, 2023 at 7:24 am

      Funny how the anti-vaxxers keep coming here to spread misinformation month after month, just with a new handle each time. Guess the dregs of society have to exist somewhere…

      • vietri Reply
        April 29, 2023 at 9:06 am

        Anti-lies
        Anti-zero liability
        Anti-unsafe
        Anti-rushed testing
        Anti-forced
        Anti-willful ignorance
        Anti-corruption
        Anti-censorship

        > Anti-vax

        • GreatLakesSurfer Reply
          April 30, 2023 at 2:19 am

          Wow, just wow.

          Cuckoo
          Cuckoo
          Cuckoo

          If only there was a way to stop the anti-vax disinformation bots. smh

          Back to airline talk, I wish UA the best and yeah, work on the quality before talking up the quantity.

          • vietri
            April 30, 2023 at 7:26 pm

            All y’all have is personal attacks.. do better. If I’m so wrong and cuckoo, debate the substance and not the individual. I’ll wait.

  2. vietri Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 1:05 pm

    For schiz..or for science? Either way, human testing—I guess on you, too?—continues:

    Spike protein wasn’t enough so now they’re testing an mRNA jab that will make your cells produce other coronavirus proteins (nucleocapsid, membrane, and ORF1ab proteins) And they will administer this new genetic cocktail along with the current bivalent Spike protein encoding mRNA jab.

    “BNT162b4 is currently being clinically evaluated in combination with the BA.4/BA.5 Omicron-updated bivalent BNT162b2”

    This will have the potential to create mutations at the nucleocapsid level that can become more pathogenic to those with natural immunity—along with all of the existing jab issues—including death, so I’m good.

    https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)00403-8

    • UA-NYC Reply
      May 1, 2023 at 6:38 pm

      @Matthew – you happy with your blog being overrun by nut jobs like this chump?

      • vietri Reply
        May 1, 2023 at 8:06 pm

        First, I am not a nut job. I am speaking the truth. Forgive me for not trusting an industry that is financially dependent on me being sick. I just see something you don’t, learned something you haven’t yet, and understand patterns you don’t. I am not a nut job for seeing through propaganda. And even with your never-ending ridicule, I am still trying to translate it for you.

        Second, to your never-ending “anti-vaxxer” insult, which is so old, if by calling me that you mean I’m opposed to injecting synthetic carcinogens made by habitually criminal companies who aren’t liable for injury or death, for theories that rely on flawed reasoning, speculation, and pseudoscientific presuppositions, you’d be right.

        Third, you’ve asked Matthew the same question for years now. Was his answer different previously? He’s made his views on free speech known time and time again.

        Fourth, the unvaxxed aren’t spreading anything other than the truth. It is not wrong to question things. The fact that you insist that I stay silent shows that you’re five levels of wisdom behind someone like me who is asking the important questions. COVID showed us all of the many authoritarians in our communities and companies. I am still blown away and disgusted by how many people bent the knee to gov and corps (like United) on this.

        Fifth, please see Dr. Aseem Malhotra on Joe Rogan re: celebrity vaccine injuries: “A lot of the have stories..people that I know have come up to me privately to tell me about their own vaccine injury”

        Sixth, we still have a lot of work to do:

        * Remember when we were not on the verge of WW3
        * Remember when the borders were secure
        * Remember when gas was under $2 a gallon
        * Remember when interest rates were much lower
        * Remember when we had a president who had press conferences and actually answered the questions
        * Remember what your 401K looked like
        * Remember when the rest of the world respected the USA
        * Remember when eggs were affordable
        * Remember when the president’s son wasn’t a crack head

        Government: “Just give us y0ur money, your guns, your privacy, your children, and your ability to make your own medical decision and everything will be okay.

        No! 🙂

        • vietri Reply
          May 1, 2023 at 8:09 pm

          Finally, we are in a weird space rn as a country and global community. Many now realize that people like me were exponentially closer to the truth than the approved narratives, yet the masses still carry on with the charade like nothing happened. While that may be fascinating, it’s also extremely disturbing. Extremely.

          https://i.postimg.cc/XYcv0CFm/unnamed.png

  3. Santastico Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 1:11 pm

    Kirby is megalomaniac. His ego is about numbers and he has no clue about how bad his airline is. There is absolutely no comparison with Delta when it comes to quality. But he likes bigger than better.

    • vietri Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 1:18 pm

      Questionable numbers apparently. Just waiting for “United Airlines CEO: We’ll never lose money again”

    • Jan Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 1:38 pm

      But does Delta have 200,000 787’s on order with a million more well on the way? Bastian can only wish he had the fraction of the size of Kirby’s big brain.

    • Dee Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 11:34 pm

      You delta people are absolutely insane. It’s comical. Surprised you had time to post between your 10 connections on a route that every other airline flies nonstop. But go off about how great 40 year old airplanes are.

  4. Jan Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 1:13 pm

    The best and the largest airline in the solar system, headed by the best CEO of all time.

    • CR- Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 6:43 pm

      Really? My mom’s brain is bigger than your’s.

  5. Christian Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 1:13 pm

    By almost any metric, this is an absolute falsehood. Between Kirby’s recent claim that United is the best airline in the world and now this, any credibility is shot for years. Kirby may as well be the other idiot from Ryanair. It’s a great shame because United really isn’t a bad airline, just one that you increasingly can’t believe. Why does he come out with such blatant falsehoods?

    • Aaron Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 1:31 pm

      Who cares lets talk about Covid and vaccines instead.

      • vietri Reply
        April 28, 2023 at 1:37 pm

        It’s all fair in love and war. Sorry that you think the war ended just because there was a lull in government and corporate propaganda. United’s vaccine errors and the financial implications and overall implications to pilot shortages are more than fair game. But thanks, I didn’t know that historical business decisions within a few years were exempt from discussion.

        As to you and Billy saying I have schiz, seems more about you and him than me:

        A disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel, and behave clearly. Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling.

        —seeing you both interpreted that the government and evil pharma corporations could be trusted, and literally promoted everything they said as gospel, clearly y’all have the issues with thinking clearly, delusions and disordered thinking. Not me.

        • Aaron Reply
          April 28, 2023 at 1:43 pm

          Gurl, you’re the one trolling sites like this with posts about Covid and vaccines and how you’re a special enlightened snowflake fighting against the evil controlling elite while the rest of us are mindless sheeples. I mean, it gives me a good laugh, and it seems to give your life some sort of value and meaning and purpose, so by all means, have it. I hope you enjoy having the last word too, as well. Lord knows I’ll probably have a good laugh at that as well 😀

          In any case, on topic:

          “admonishes his employees to provide excellent service to passengers”

          IS anyone going to admonish him to provide better catering?

          • vietri
            April 28, 2023 at 1:44 pm

            He mentioned COVID in his quotation so I’ll wait to hear how I’m not on topic. Thanks 😉

          • Aaron
            April 28, 2023 at 1:46 pm

            He mentioned it. But it wasn’t the point, purpose, or focus of his article. Try to keep up 😉

          • vietri
            April 28, 2023 at 1:48 pm

            He mentioned it four times directly. And more indirectly. He’s talking United’s COVID strategy. I am doing the same. I’ll continue to wait as to where discussion of this is not allowed in (your) rules.

          • Aaron
            April 28, 2023 at 1:53 pm

            You go, girl!

            Meanwhile the rest of us will be discussing on point whether United is the largest and/or best airline in the world (definitely not the latter, that’s for sure).

          • vietri
            April 28, 2023 at 1:55 pm

            ..definitely not the latter due to the points I’ve already made.

          • Aaron
            April 28, 2023 at 1:59 pm

            Nah, they were on a downward trend before the pandemic hit, with cutbacks on Polaris service in quality and amenities offered (like the wine tasting was gone before the pandemic). But keep telling yourself whatever you need to, you enlightened truth-busting radical.

          • vietri
            April 28, 2023 at 2:02 pm

            So a continued decline, but we can only talk about the prior decline you mention but not what I mention.

            Free speech for y’all to insinuate severe mental illness and free speech for me to bring up United historical policies, positions, and posturing.

            Guess ima radical.

        • Aaron Reply
          April 28, 2023 at 2:04 pm
          • vietri
            April 28, 2023 at 2:12 pm

            Facts got you speechless?

          • Aaron
            April 28, 2023 at 2:19 pm

            If you ever gave any real ones, maybe lol

          • vietri
            April 28, 2023 at 2:20 pm

            “Free thought” is a philosophical viewpoint which holds that positions regarding truth should be formed on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricism, rather than authority, tradition, revelation, or dogma.

            If you’re so big on diversity, then allow diversity of thought.

          • Aaron
            April 28, 2023 at 2:26 pm

            Ok lol

          • vietri
            April 28, 2023 at 2:29 pm

            staying on my schizo tip.. https://i.postimg.cc/NFhFtPLf/7-A6-D08-D5-A943-4815-B355-ACD4-B69-ABAF0.jpg

          • Aaron
            April 28, 2023 at 2:31 pm

            Lol

  6. vietri Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 1:27 pm

    More importantly, what’s your plan for the next GOF plamdemic, which Gates & Fauci have said will occur. Just going to do it all over again? Vaccines? Masks? Lockdowns? School closings? Groundhog Day. Point being I’m concerned with individuals who still make personal attacks instead of extrapolating the lessons in recent history and being an advocate for humanity. There must be some truth to authentic pure blood humans not being alone here.

    Christine Anderson: If You Want to Know How 1930s Germany Happened, Just Look at the Past 3 Years

    “There’s a lot of people that think … they would have been in the resistance back then. Well, take a look at what you did in the last three years, and you have your answer,” voiced MEP Anderson.

    “Most of the people would not have been in the resistance back then because they just went right along with everything the government asked them to do.”

    • vietri Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 1:28 pm

      @billy

    • Jan Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 1:33 pm

      Why.

      • vietri Reply
        April 28, 2023 at 1:40 pm

        Why not. Why ask why anyway. Regardless, the elite leaders of this disaster literally gave us a heads up about COVID and now they are saying another virus is coming. It’s always been known the elite would try to take control in anyway they can—like Kirby. But yeah, I’ll stay quiet. Thanks, Jan.

  7. vietri Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 1:46 pm

    “And because we were clear-sighted about it we always believed the travel demand would fully recover and everyone out flying today can see that, in fact, has happened.”

    Except lucrative biz travel.

  8. viapanam Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 2:02 pm

    Literally, who cares ?????

    • vietri Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 2:27 pm

      People who care

  9. VibePilot Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 3:00 pm

    Did not see this comment thread coming. When reading the post, I expected debate over the definition of “biggest”.

  10. Anthony Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 3:37 pm

    I have never eaten one thing that I would label as great on United either in flight or in its lounges.

    • Tony N. Reply
      April 30, 2023 at 2:21 am

      Why would you eat on an airplane? Restaurants are for dining and airplanes are for flying.

  11. Walt Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 3:44 pm

    It’s usually the emptiest wagons that make the most noise.

  12. Scooter Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 6:06 pm

    I came here expecting to see people question United’s growth strategy, whether it was sustainable, fuel usage, or any sort of intelligent critique of strategy. Instead we get the four Russian trolls clowning about COVID decisions. It’s 2023 – get over it.

    With that said – I cannot wait for the two horse race between United and Delta for dominance. United has edges IMO in software and offplane customer service (Delta route cancellations are brutal) while Delta has better on board product (food and crews, seats are about to be a tossup) and a better debt balance. Southwest and American are gonna fall by the wayside

    • vietri Reply
      April 28, 2023 at 6:16 pm

      As to your first point, the impacts are measurable and serious and y’all want to pretend like it’s no issue and we should just move on. “It’s 2023”. Nope. We will move on when dictators like Kirby and Biden are replaced.

      The colleges are trying the same—moving on—but I thought there was nothing more important than accountability and cancel culture (to the left anyway)?

      Many major universities across the country are quietly dropping their COVID-19 vaccine mandates for students at the end of the spring semester. Critics say in addition to ending mandates, there must be a public conversation about the harms they caused.

      ——that’s what many are missing: the public convo about the legit harms

      https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/colleges-end-covid-vaccine-mandates

      • Scooter Reply
        April 28, 2023 at 7:37 pm

        Yes – the impacts were measurable. By and large, people who got the shots did not die. COVID, like every other virus in history, reacted to the shots by becoming more infectious and less virulent. Universities are dropping the mandate because we have reached herd immunity, and the new COVID shots now have the acuity of a flu shot. TLDR – the vaccines did what they were supposed to, and we can all move on. The only people still screaming at this are people like you and Robert Kennedy. Go outside and enjoy life – culture wars aren’t real.

        • vietri Reply
          April 28, 2023 at 8:45 pm

          I go outside for hours every day, unless nonstop torrential rain around the clock, which is rare. Exercise is a great way to stay sane in this climate–pun not intended. I live in a gorgeous part of Florida–some of the most scenic beautiful areas on the east coast. It might not be Bar Harbor or Nova Scotia but it’s pretty nice. Gorgeous beaches for hundreds of miles on A1A, national parks, state parks, heavily wooded trails everywhere, tons of wildlife and wildflowers. Nature and living in Florida are blessings. Just one of the many pics I took while outside for hours tonight: https://i.postimg.cc/VknFvbFL/IMG-5787.jpg

          To your “by and large” points, please see my reply to JP above re: frog boiling in water etc. The actual non-saline vaccines are primarily a slow kill. There’s tons of documented issues and MSM hasn’t even scratched the surface yet. But they will and it’s going to be crazy once they do. They have to move slowly in this revelation phase because the truth too quickly would send many to the hospital.

          Overall, do you really think as Americans continue to wake up at record pace that people are just going to “move on”? It’s somewhat ludicrous to consider.

          Move on from lies?
          Move on from evil?
          Move on from coercion?
          Move on from a plandemic?
          Move on from forced masks?
          Move on from forced vaccines?
          Move on from vaccine injuries?
          Move on from jobs and businesses lost?
          Move on from the insane CDC, NIH and WHO?
          Move on from children being years behind in ed?
          Move on from the countless other many COVID-related impacts?

          Moving on sounds like privilege to me. Nevertheless I sincerely believe and trust that Fauci and the rest (Biden Trudeau et al) will be held accountable. These trials will make for better TV than anything before like OJ or Casey Anthony. And if there aren’t trials, there should be. TBD.

          The fact that America is this far brainwashed and this far gone is completely unacceptable. It’s far past time for people to wake up. I’m just one messenger of many, my role is not significant and this isn’t about me. It doesn’t matter what anyone says about me or does to me as an individual. If I don’t wake up tomorrow, the truth will not be stopped. If anything, people who agree with me don’t comment anymore, as they are used to be doing the heavy lifting. That’s fine–like I said, not about me. I’m just the messenger.

          What *is* important is that we course correct this ship. And I am not alone in that conviction. Vaccines are the tip of the iceberg. There’s a lot to unravel. I am not sure the Great Awakening can be stopped.

        • Aaron Reply
          April 29, 2023 at 6:14 am

          +1

          • vietri
            April 29, 2023 at 12:48 pm

            https://i.postimg.cc/wBvGTyBw/unnamed.jpg

  13. Gravelly Point Guy Reply
    April 28, 2023 at 8:13 pm

    BTW Matthew, FYI, it is not 500 new aircraft on order, it is NOT, it is a solid 700 total aircraft order which could go up to 800 depending on whether or not they exercise the 100 future 787 options, OR, depending upon, how many of those 100 options United turns into firm orders, on the 787 Dreamliner order.

  14. Adam Kennedy Reply
    April 29, 2023 at 1:42 am

    Oh, he’s from Florida. That explains everything. Especially why is WRONG on every account.
    SAD!!

    • vietri Reply
      April 29, 2023 at 1:53 am

      Kirby is from Texas and the only other reference to FL was from me. I live in FL but I am not from here. from the northeast. If your comment is about me, please let me know where I am wrong. I get called wrong a lot but no one ever has any substantiation or counter to facts provided.

      • Mike Reply
        April 29, 2023 at 9:21 am

        Vietri,

        The northeast was too sane for you so you decided you’d fit in best in Florida is the only fact I’ve seen in all of your blathering.

        • vietri Reply
          April 29, 2023 at 9:30 am

          I moved here for work. I know you’ve criticized my comments before but again just basic insults not with any factual rebuttal.

  15. EndlosLuft Reply
    April 29, 2023 at 3:22 am

    I agree with other posters that Kirby with statements like this looses credibility. I’m flying a lot less United because other airlines give me better prices, much better food, and the same if not better level of service.

    And there route network with the EWR/IAD is still weird. United, for example, still can’t get me from Europe to Florida before 4 PM which is something British Airways is able to do without issue.

    And it’s very weird how posts related to growth of United or business impacts due to less travel having to do with Covid epidemic prompt people to throw out conspiracy theories that have zero to do with the topic at hand. Reminder: Is United the largest airline in the world at the moment? Or what are your impressions of United at the moment? This is a travel blog. Please stay on topic so we don’t have to spend our time skipping over whatever opinion you have related to vaccines, politics, etc to a reddit thread or something.

    Thanks Matthew and all other travel bloggers and commenters who share their travel experience. I’ve found it very helpful over the years.

    • vietri Reply
      April 29, 2023 at 9:42 am

      COVID impacted travel, aviation, and the related business decisions for United and the rest of the airlines—and it still is doing so. I don’t see that’s off topic. I literally provided my “impressions of United at the moment” so that is a bit contradicting. Furthermore you need good health, a functioning body and your faculties to travel. Physical/business health and aviation are not mutually exclusive.

  16. Exit Row Seat Reply
    April 29, 2023 at 9:00 am

    Bigger is not always better……something Mr Kirby needs to realize!!

  17. jns Reply
    April 29, 2023 at 10:46 am

    My “never again on United unless there is no alternative” still stands. Revenue passenger miles is a more meaningful comparison. I will stay with Asian airlines for my flights to Asia and JetBlue for my domestic flights. I just had another good coach class flight on JetBlue. I actually had a good conversation with a flight attendant before the flight. He told me that he signed up after retiring from government jobs so he could fly the world cheaply. He did a good job onboard.

    • Aaron Reply
      April 29, 2023 at 12:33 pm

      Just curious, what’s your choice for flights to Europe?

  18. Frank Kraus Reply
    April 29, 2023 at 4:12 pm

    Might be number one but old planes 757 767 don’t cut it! American has the youngest fleet but never talked about! Delta is another airline with antiquated equipment!!

  19. Tony N. Reply
    April 30, 2023 at 2:18 am

    I do like the layout of their Website. And they are part of Star Alliance. What else.

  20. Semsem Reply
    April 30, 2023 at 3:46 pm

    Size means nothing as the quality of their overall service is mediocre.

Leave a Reply to JP Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for June

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Thai Lion Air exit row seat incident
    Watch the Wild Moment Thai Police Drag UK Tourist Off Lion Air Flight After Aisle Seat Meltdown June 26, 2025
  • Finnair A350-900 Business Class Review
    Review: Finnair A350-900 Business Class June 26, 2025
  • JetBlue 25th Anniversary Promotion
    Intriguing JetBlue Promotion: 350K Points, Mosaic Status For 25 Years June 26, 2025
  • Qatar Airways Service Recovery
    Amazing Service Recovery From Qatar Airways After Iran Attack June 26, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Qatar Airways Economy Class Breakfast
    Economy Class Breakfast On Qatar Airways June 7, 2025
  • Favorite Airline Commercials
    My 10 Favorite Airline Commercials June 15, 2025
  • Israel Flight Cancellations
    Major Carriers Extend Flight Cancellations To Israel: Here’s The List June 6, 2025
  • Qantas Lounge Review Hong Kong
    Review: Qantas Lounge Hong Kong (HKG) June 14, 2025

Archives

June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.