• 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 » shares » United’s Retro Boarding Pass
sharesUnited Airlines

United’s Retro Boarding Pass

Matthew Klint Posted onAugust 28, 2012December 9, 2016 4 Comments

When a portion of United Airlines’ computer network crashed today, gate agents were left to improvise. Most just waited out the 2hr, 20min outage, but some got creative–check out this boarding pass from #moiraforbes:

 united-airlines-handwritten-boarding-pass-shares

It’s like 1955 all over again.

When I say United’s computer network, I do of course mean SHARES–the relic from Continental that replaced United’s Apollo reservation system post-merger.

United said its massive passenger-reservations system called Shares, which also runs the passenger processing at its airports, completely shut down for two hours. The United spokeswoman said the company doesn’t know the cause of the outage and is doing “a complete review of what happened.”

That is so comforting.

I actually just feel bad for United today. I’ve blogged the last two days about problems with how SHARES processes ugprades and now we have this. People say familiarity breads contempt but my reacation is quite different than it would have been in the weeks following the 03 March 2012 merger. I now understand SHARES much better and know how to coax it, to an extent, to get what I want. United may does need a new and updated Passenger Service System, but I do not look forward to having to learn another system, especially if it is less flexible than SHARES is. Today’s news, however, suggests that such a new system is needed sooner rather than later.

united-airlines-shares-website-down

Get Daily Updates

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

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article 40% Bonus for American Express Transfers to British Airways Avios
Next Article No More Bumps on United Airlines for Me

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 plane parked at an airport

    Newark Airport Meltdown: Trapped Passengers Wait 5+ Hours For Gate

    July 15, 2025
  • Delta Los Angeles Hong Kong

    Delta Air Lines Challenges United Airlines With New Los Angeles – Hong Kong Route

    July 12, 2025
  • American Airlines Landline Bus

    United Airlines Ends Landline Bus Service As American Airlines Expands It

    July 11, 2025

4 Comments

  1. A. S. Reply
    August 29, 2012 at 5:48 pm

    @Matthew: I really like you, man, and enjoy your posts, which is why I’m disappointed that you’ve become a United apologist. It clouds your judgement and makes you spin even their worst shortcomings into something positive, which it isn’t at all. I’m a Premier 1K who has given up on them after many incidents — for now. I reserve the right to come back once they get their $h!t together, but for now I’m banking on my AA EXP which I’ve held for many years also, in parallel.

    Here’s hoping to flying next to you on UA again one day, but for now, here’s hoping that you stay objective! 😉

  2. Matthew Reply
    August 29, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    @A.S. I know you are still disappointed at the way I handled the 4 mile HKG fare mistake, but I wouldn’t call myself a United apologist.

    I could write a post ripping the lazy ex-Cons who flew me from PHL-DEN-LAX last week, but what would be the point? A post about no smile, no addressing by name, nuts not warmed up, disappeared for the rest of the four hour flight after meal service–sure, I just sound like an ungrateful and entitled traveler complaining about a free upgrade.

    I think UA’s biggest problem is CO and all the baggage that comes with it–including SHARES–but the point of the post above was that I am finally learning how to use the system to my advantage and I shudder to think of a system like Delta’s that is even worse. United does have the best award program out there–generous routing rules, one-way awards, and no fuel surcharges on any carrier. This is something to be celebrated.

    And flying UA so long out of small stations like PHL and BUR, I know the people and they know me–that helps and starting all over again with AA just doesn’t make sense.

    But if I return to the airline industry full time, I will lose out on all of this and just keep my MM status on UA (to be earned next year) and fly standby.

  3. A. S. Reply
    August 30, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    @Matthew: Thanks for replying, but I think you might have me confused with another poster. I didn’t partake in the 4 miles mistake bonanza and don’t recall making any posts about it. 🙂 I know that there’s another poster that goes by “AS” (sans punctuation) — maybe you’re talking about him?

  4. Matthew Reply
    August 30, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    Indeed I am. Sorry for the confusion!

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for July

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

  • Avelo Burbank
    Avelo Airlines Retreats From Burbank, Abandons West Coast Operations July 15, 2025
  • a plate of food on a table
    Succulent Steak On A Plane: LX17 From JFK-ZRH In First Class July 15, 2025
  • a plane parked at an airport
    Newark Airport Meltdown: Trapped Passengers Wait 5+ Hours For Gate July 15, 2025
  • a group of people sitting at tables in a restaurant
    Our Brunch And Bimble In Paris July 15, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a blue passport on a black surface
    All The Patriotic Quotes In Your U.S. Passport July 4, 2025
  • a lobby with a marble counter and a wood ceiling
    Review: Korean Air KAL Business Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) July 1, 2025
  • a row of seats in an airplane
    If You Abuse Company Travel Policy, Expect To Be Fired! June 16, 2025
  • United PlusPoints Uses
    United Airlines Expands Redemption Options For PlusPoints (Full List) June 19, 2025

Archives

July 2025
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Jun    

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.