United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Anyone Being Ridiculed By Colleagues For Flying United?

I just missed a day of work due to some flight delays returning from vacation. This, combined with missing the first hour of a couple of all-day meetings due to delays and cancelations, and getting home at all hours of the night have my co-workers mocking my airline of choice. They often fly direct for less on AA and Jetblue, receive frequent upgrades and have wifi on USAirways and often have stories on the great customer service they've received (we are in that business).

On the vacation, I had a delay announced 16 hours prior to departure based on crew availability, had my wife, six year-old son and I split up across three different rows for reasons nobody could explain, and both the GA or FA rolled their eyes when I told them the best the UC could do was put me and the six year-old in an exit row and we would need help. Of the last twenty segments I've done, at least ten of them have been delayed and I've misconnected three times as a result. I have run into some very friendly and willing-to-help staff during that time, but they are now the exception rather than the rule.

Earlier in the month I had to fly USair for cost reasons and was shocked at how much their domestic product had improved. People were friendly, cabin was clean, they seemed to get off the gate about 50% faster than UA and the wifi kept me busy. I used to be able to easily advocate for UA over US with my colleagues but I'm having a hard time justifying my loyalty lately.

Constantly. They still have delusions you can operate a circa-2000 CO airline in 2012.

I just missed a day of work due to some flight delays returning from vacation. This, combined with missing the first hour of a couple of all-day meetings due to delays and cancelations, and getting home at all hours of the night have my co-workers mocking my airline of choice. They often fly direct for less on AA and Jetblue, receive frequent upgrades and have wifi on USAirways and often have stories on the great customer service they've received (we are in that business).

On the vacation, I had a delay announced 16 hours prior to departure based on crew availability, had my wife, six year-old son and I split up across three different rows for reasons nobody could explain, and both the GA or FA rolled their eyes when I told them the best the UC could do was put me and the six year-old in an exit row and we would need help. Of the last twenty segments I've done, at least ten of them have been delayed and I've misconnected three times as a result. I have run into some very friendly and willing-to-help staff during that time, but they are now the exception rather than the rule.

Earlier in the month I had to fly USair for cost reasons and was shocked at how much their domestic product had improved. People were friendly, cabin was clean, they seemed to get off the gate about 50% faster than UA and the wifi kept me busy. I used to be able to easily advocate for UA over US with my colleagues but I'm having a hard time justifying my loyalty lately.

Not ridicule...but we will have a talk (more of a "you have other options" discussion) with those employees who continue to fly UA and have "severe" issues. Even though UA is no longer our preferred airline, we allow our employees to fly anyone they desire as long as the fares are competitive. Last year our organization flew UA nearly 80% of the time (UA was our preferred carrier for nearly 40 years)...this year it is more like 15%...usually when there are no other options or the fare difference is significant!

Not ridicule...but we will have a talk (more of a "you have other options" discussion) with those employees who continue to fly UA and have "severe" issues. Even though UA is no longer our preferred airline, we allow our employees to fly anyone they desire as long as the fares are competitive. Last year our organization flew UA nearly 80% of the time (UA was our preferred carrier for nearly 40 years)...this year it is more like 15%...usually when there are no other options or the fare difference is significant!

Really? Even when the employee is traveling on vacation (as the OP appears to be) ...

Really? Even when the employee is traveling on vacation (as the OP appears to be) ...

OP did indicate missing a day of work, plus more work related meetings.

the best the UC could do was put me and the six year-old in an exit row and we would need help.

Not flaming or berating - but are six year olds allowed to be seated in an exit row ?

And in agreement with the OP's question........ I have indeed been ridiculed by colleagues for flying United.

Only by European colleagues and friends who laugh at the fact that I would fly internationally on an airline with no free alcohol and horrific, rude service - but of course that applies to most of the US-based airlines. Domestically I haven't come across any materially better option.

Yes - whenever I fly UA my colleagues assumes that I will be late.
They laugh and ask when I will switch to WN, DL or AA....

Why should anyone care? Perhaps any problem is with your colleagues.

She asks when I am flying home "is it UA" If I say "yes" she says "well I guess you will not be back on time." :eek:

Last couple trips I have avoided this issue by avoiding UA :o

Just kidding, most of my team still prefers UA. They've been lucky and haven't had itins go seriously FUBAR to date.

Not flaming or berating - but are six year olds allowed to be seated in an exit row ?

Not allowed per FAA regs. FAs should have done something about it.

I get this all the time, but mainly from my customers and colleagues at other companies. Not my co-workers. Why? Because they are flying UA as well per our corporate contract requirements.

This is mainly for international TATL/TPAC travel where customers abroad feel bad that one has to fly over on an "american carrier" (e.g. they don't limit their pity to just UA flyers). UK folks expect BA standards. France, obviously Air France standards. Don't even get me started on Japan.

The point is that overall, american carriers tend to leave a lot to be desired. All of that said, I've had some pretty subpar experiences in intra Europe and intra Asia travel on their local 'budget' carriers as well. I must admit that their flagship brands (ex: SQ, TG, NH, BA) do tend to outperform our "flagship" brands. Or in another way of putting it, there are no flagship carriers in America.

No, but most of my co-workers (friends, family) have their expectations pretty low for domestic carriers to begin with. i.e., they consider flying to be something that will suck regardless.

United is really at a low point. I have gotten better service on the phone, at the counter, & boarding with US Airways (and no status with US) than a Premier on UA. :rolleyes: Even the US Clubs are better than UA Clubs, they have chips & salsa, soup, keurig machine. Even before UA/CO merged I got excellent customer service with UA, but i'm just accepting that those days are gone.

I just missed a day of work due to some flight delays returning from vacation. This, combined with missing the first hour of a couple of all-day meetings due to delays and cancelations, and getting home at all hours of the night have my co-workers mocking my airline of choice. They often fly direct for less on AA and Jetblue, receive frequent upgrades and have wifi on USAirways and often have stories on the great customer service they've received (we are in that business).

On the vacation, I had a delay announced 16 hours prior to departure based on crew availability, had my wife, six year-old son and I split up across three different rows for reasons nobody could explain, and both the GA or FA rolled their eyes when I told them the best the UC could do was put me and the six year-old in an exit row and we would need help. Of the last twenty segments I've done, at least ten of them have been delayed and I've misconnected three times as a result. I have run into some very friendly and willing-to-help staff during that time, but they are now the exception rather than the rule.

Earlier in the month I had to fly USair for cost reasons and was shocked at how much their domestic product had improved. People were friendly, cabin was clean, they seemed to get off the gate about 50% faster than UA and the wifi kept me busy. I used to be able to easily advocate for UA over US with my colleagues but I'm having a hard time justifying my loyalty lately.

I found myself recently constantly defending CodbaUA (or UA) and it appears that CodbaUA does not have the reputation it used to with occasional mainstream flyers. Ding...dong....UA is dead but I foolishly still believed it lived...:eek:

Even when UA was actually UA, my friends and colleagues always wondered why I preferred them. Although I did concede/convince some that UA was great for 1K elites and garbage for non-elites. Much harder to do that these days...

We started a sweepstakes on facebook for a friend's latest trip to guess where his luggage would end up this time and how many of his connections would be delayed. Route was ASE-DEN-IAD-GVA. He arrived late with IAD-GVA with being delayed (paperwork), missed a meeting, and had no luggage.

I get to book domestic F (or C on PS) on transcons. They book Y on VX. I think I win. I hit 100K on UA early July so I fly alot and 90% of it is out of a hub. I wish I had horror stories to tell like the rest of you but I don't. I'm 4-4 on SWU's clearing on TATL's (including EWR-TLV) and the only flights that have gone MX on me are PMUA PS flights. I've also never missed a mid-con upgrade since becomming a 1K. I've has long wait times the weeks following 3/3 but that's about it. Not doubting the doom and gloom and saying its imaginary, I guess I've been lucky in avoiding it. The most upset I've been in 2012 was when a PMUA pilot told me he wasn't turning on Channel 9 because he was doing "the bare minimum" until "he got his". Thought that was incredibly selfish and I reported the story word for word to Managemet. What a petulant, sad little man.

I don't know anyone in Dubai that flys UA (or DL) to the States with the exception of one person who works for the consulate so has no choice. We have some fun with him but that's all it is, fun. He is pretty funny as when he must fly back to the US, we all get a blanket email asking if any if us are flying ANYWHERE on the same date / time so he can walk over to T-3 & invite himself to use the EK lounge.

I can see giving someone a hard time for flying UA (or any other American carrier) when it's an international trip but come on......AA & DL suck too. They may not be at that low UA's on right now but they both have been before & both will be again. Let's face it, there is NOTHING about any American legacy carrier worth bragging about.

Not ridicule...but we will have a talk (more of a "you have other options" discussion) with those employees who continue to fly UA and have "severe" issues. Even though UA is no longer our preferred airline, we allow our employees to fly anyone they desire as long as the fares are competitive. Last year our organization flew UA nearly 80% of the time (UA was our preferred carrier for nearly 40 years)...this year it is more like 15%...usually when there are no other options or the fare difference is significant!

If I were in UA management I would tell my staff to read this post over and over.

This thread is shocking and a wake-up call for UA. I certainly have not been "ridiculed" but I have experienced repeated comments by colleagues and associates who would be highly valued by any airline that they refuse to fly UA. They are tired of delays and poor service. I often stick with UA out of loyalty, habit and familiarity but it seems to get harder to justify each month. I am close to reaching 1 million miles status and that provides a motivation to me that most would not have.

With all of this said, I have had a lot of good experiences this year and can't quite make sense of what is going on. The computer/IT changes are definitely all for the negative. I have had some additional delays (some substantial) but overall I find the attitude of the employees (especially in flight) has improved. If UA would go back to the old computer system, and generally improve its reliability, I think it might dramatically improve its chance of survival.

I'm sure I'll stick out like a sore thumb when I say that I actually PREFER pmCO and COdbaUA. Why? I've never had a problem with pmCO flying with them many times domestically and internationally. Likewise, I've also never had a problem with COdbaUA after the merger. Likewise, I've never had a problem with US even though people (including the FAs) rant about it all the time.

On the other hand, I've had my share of problems with DL and B6. I generally take into account the type of aircraft being flown and the price of the ticket. So usually I take a different airline every time due to ticket price although I have to say, I used CO the most. Because of this... I probably won't get any sort of Elite status anytime soon although I might get Premier Silver sometime next year since I will be flying from BOS-SAN a few times.

If I were in UA management I would tell my staff to read this post over and over.

They don't care. High value pax are leaving and they don't care.

They might start caring with a few more quarters of PRASM in the tank.

They don't care. High value pax are leaving and they don't care.
It's in their DNA. They don't believe pax have a choice. PERIOD.

Until that changes, NOTHING else of consequence will. Mark my words.

Dave

i do hear from just about everyone that I should fly anything else. I made 1K and have enough miles for next years vacation. So I decided to start shopping around. United has put me on Delta quite a few times this year and I have enjoyed it so that's where I plan on flying now.

Last week I flew BKK-IAH Rt for the 4th time this year. Each trip there has been a definite decrease in the number of GS's during the boarding process. I would guess a lot of GS's have already departed UA for other carriers.

Mostly I heard about it here on flyertalk, no where else. :rolleyes:

They often fly direct for less on AA and Jetblue, receive frequent upgrades and have wifi on USAirways and often have stories on the great customer service they've received (we are in that business).

In ANY situation where you are booking connections and someone else is booking non-stop flights, they are going to be on-time far, far, far more often than you are. You have more than double the chances that something goes wrong, and when something does go wrong, you can have a 1-hour delay on your first segment morph into a 4-6-hour or overnight delay on your second segment.

So, if being on time is important to you, BOOK NON-STOP FLIGHTS!


As to the other issues, no, I don't get ridiculed. Have had some issues recently with on-time performance, but nothing outside previous experiences in the past 10 years I've been flying regularly. We ain't taking trains in Germany here.


And who is better? I could move to DL, but then I basically lose FF miles and SWUs. I could move to AA but their network is far smaller, and who knows how long before they get bought out. US's network is tiny, and I fly to asia. WN is expensive, and the other discounts have poor or non-existent service to the upper-midwest.

UA definitely has some issues, but they are no worse than the disadvantages anywhere else.

If you positively have to get somewhere on a date and time certain, and positively have to fly UA, then make sure you have a backup, i.e., a later flight the same day or a way to get there first thing the next day. I've got a vacation planned later this year using GPUs to upgrade, but my return flight is one day earlier than I plan to return to work just in case something happens with the return flight. I don't want the stress of knowing UA needs to get me across the ocean on a day certain or I will face consequences at work.

United is really at a low point. I have gotten better service on the phone, at the counter, & boarding with US Airways (and no status with US) than a Premier on UA. :rolleyes: Even the US Clubs are better than UA Clubs, they have chips & salsa, soup, keurig machine. Even before UA/CO merged I got excellent customer service with UA, but i'm just accepting that those days are gone.

Honestly US Airways has improved substantially in the last two years or so. Their club spread is improving, they're installing wifi (already on their A321s) and the food in F isn't bad!

My travel has decreased significantly this year but so far, on the flights Ive taken since 3/3, the experience is about the same as before but maybe I've just been lucky. Aside from one flight that was delayed for a couple of hours, everything else has been pretty much on time, no cancellations, etc.

I need a MR or two to get to 1MM, mostly for the *G benefits for the Mrs and me on *A carriers for TATL/TPAC routes. Domestically, I will still look at UA but plan to go with whichever airline offers the best deal and service. AA, DL, UA, US all suck about equally and premier status on UA isn't what it used to be.

Mostly, I live my life by what other people say and tell me that I should do. Any ridicule from my co-workers would be something that I could not handle or even bear to think about. Therefore, in this particular case I would be changing airlines instantly, as the ability to think independently is definitely not something that I could by myself!

Mostly, I live my life by what other people say and tell me that I should do. Any ridicule from my co-workers would be something that I could not handle or even bear to think about. Therefore, in this particular case I would be changing airlines instantly, as the ability to think independently is definitely not something that I could by myself!

^There are just too damn few of us who don't give a hoot what anybody else thinks about our lifestyle and beliefs.

I believe that America originally prospered so greatly because of the large number of independent-minded, freedom-loving risk-takers that emigrated to this continent. However, with the proliferation of things like Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites where people go to be noticed and "like(d)" or "friended", I sadly fear the we are repeating the mistakes of the Roman Empire and are now sliding into oblivion as a society.

"A wise man learns more from his enemies than a fool from his friends." --Titus Flavius

We ridicule colleagues that take connections when non-stops are available, or choose less convenient connections on any carrier when more sensible options are available.

We also ridicule colleagues that spend an extraordinary amount of time trashing an airline yet continue to patronize it.

It's in their DNA. They don't believe pax have a choice. PERIOD.

I guess their belief is true since so many FT members continue to fly UA and then whine about it here online.

I've had more hassles dealing with the incompetent McDonald's rejects at TSA than flying 100 EQS (all domestic) on UA this year.

^There are just too damn few of us who don't give a hoot what anybody else thinks about our lifestyle and beliefs.

"A wise man learns more from his enemies than a fool from his friends." --Titus Flavius

"Unless you're the lead dog the view never changes"? Hannah Whitall Smith

Mostly I heard about it here on flyertalk, no where else. :rolleyes:

Yep.

"So what do you think about United post 3/3?"

"What's three three?"

"I mean, the systems integration following the merger"

"Oh, there was a merger? Who did they merge with?"

Yep.

"So what do you think about United post 3/3?"

"What's three three?"

"I mean, the systems integration following the merger"

"Oh, there was a merger? Who did they merge with?"

Tell that to my colleague who was trying to get to Montana on 3/3.
And the one that was trying to get to London 8/28.

Neither of them had heard about FT.

But they definitely know about the merger.

"We" only ridicule those that support a lame duck leadership team and their ill-advised policies

Every time that:

A) I have to purchase tickets for personal travel from my co-workers that fly WN and have amassed so many tickets that they let them go for a song.

B) Most weeks when I whine about rarely getting upgraded and my co-workers that fly AA and DL are upgraded almost without fail and usually pay less for their tickets.

C) I whine about the grumpy FA's and my co-workers laugh and just ask "Why don't you switch? - we always get great service)

Should hit 1K in a few months and I keep telling myself "Then I will get the perks and enjoy flying again" I'm a fool I guess...

I just missed a day of work due to some flight delays returning from vacation. This, combined with missing the first hour of a couple of all-day meetings due to delays and cancelations, and getting home at all hours of the night have my co-workers mocking my airline of choice. They often fly direct for less on AA and Jetblue, receive frequent upgrades and have wifi on USAirways and often have stories on the great customer service they've received (we are in that business).

On the vacation, I had a delay announced 16 hours prior to departure based on crew availability, had my wife, six year-old son and I split up across three different rows for reasons nobody could explain, and both the GA or FA rolled their eyes when I told them the best the UC could do was put me and the six year-old in an exit row and we would need help. Of the last twenty segments I've done, at least ten of them have been delayed and I've misconnected three times as a result. I have run into some very friendly and willing-to-help staff during that time, but they are now the exception rather than the rule.

Earlier in the month I had to fly USair for cost reasons and was shocked at how much their domestic product had improved. People were friendly, cabin was clean, they seemed to get off the gate about 50% faster than UA and the wifi kept me busy. I used to be able to easily advocate for UA over US with my colleagues but I'm having a hard time justifying my loyalty lately.

I just don't understand why anyone who had to be back at the office on a specific day would return with less than an entire day cushion. Stuff happens - on all airlines - allow sufficent padding. And in the case of a person who has experienced "stuff" regularly, to not allow that extra day is really something.

I have never had any one ridicule me for flying any airline. Although some have enjoyed stories from me about aircraft toliets being held together by duct tape (blue ozzing), continual water dripping from ceiling, flight attendents picking noses, luggage bins not latching and unlatching causing bags to hit little old ladies, dead stick landings after fuel starvation... none of this on UA (old or new) nor on CO when it existed.

It amazes me how much energy people spend complaining about flying, and to hear that one's colleagues gives a rat's a** about one's airline choice amazes me to no end.

Yes, US has improved greatly. Now if they would only get rid of those awful credit card pitches -- they make me feel like I am on FR. But, Parker charges more.

Not ridicule...but we will have a talk (more of a "you have other options" discussion) with those employees who continue to fly UA and have "severe" issues. Even though UA is no longer our preferred airline, we allow our employees to fly anyone they desire as long as the fares are competitive. Last year our organization flew UA nearly 80% of the time (UA was our preferred carrier for nearly 40 years)...this year it is more like 15%...usually when there are no other options or the fare difference is significant!

That's the kind of fact that should really catch the eye of bean counters at United. Unfortunately I somehow doubt that they will even notice. :td:

If you positively have to get somewhere on a date and time certain, and positively have to fly UA, then make sure you have a backup, i.e., a later flight the same day or a way to get there first thing the next day. I've got a vacation planned later this year using GPUs to upgrade, but my return flight is one day earlier than I plan to return to work just in case something happens with the return flight. I don't want the stress of knowing UA needs to get me across the ocean on a day certain or I will face consequences at work.

Interesting observation, because it's exactly what I'm worried about. I'm booked to SYD in 3 weeks, and need to leave the day after I return to attend an important event. I wouldn't have the option of going a day late to the "new" location, and while I'de never have worried much in the past, I'm hesitating about even making a new reservation now. (And I can't change my flight from SYD dues to critical timing issues while I'm in Australia.

I'm close to just bagging the follow-on trip now before I even book it. It's a sad new reality with the new COdbaUA.

I just don't understand why anyone who had to be back at the office on a specific day would return with less than an entire day cushion. Stuff happens - on all airlines - allow sufficent padding. And in the case of a person who has experienced "stuff" regularly, to not allow that extra day is really something.

re.

Many of us come home from a vacation or business trip the day before we need to be at the office. Why do you think Sundays are such busy travel days. There is nothing wrong w expecting an airline to get you to where you need to be reasonably on time (certainly on the same day). It's a sad state of affairs when so many if us now either have corporate policies forbidding travel on UA or at least limiting it. Up till last month I could have NEVER imagined such a thing but to blame the passenger is just ridiculous. Many frequent business travellers already know we can't trust UA to get us from A to B on time these days but the average leisure traveller has no idea. It's ludicrous to think there is anything wrong w them flying home on a Sunday when they need to be at work the following day.

Many of us come home from a vacation or business trip the day before we need to be at the office. Why do you think Sundays are such busy travel days. There is nothing wrong w expecting an airline to get you to where you need to be reasonably on time (certainly on the same day).

Well, there's nothing WRONG with it, but relying on getting there the same day when international travel is involved is not wise, regardless of airline, especially when you're on a once-a-day route.

I *ALWAYS* pad my travel by one full day when on international travel to 1x per day destinations.

It's in their DNA. They don't believe pax have a choice. PERIOD.

Until that changes, NOTHING else of consequence will. Mark my words

Ding. Ding. We have a winner. @:-)

I have had THREE overnight delays this year on UA (to be fair also one on DL - busy year), including the IAD-GRU UA 861 flight turned around on 8/25. It is quickly becoming a joke since everyone who flew home on AA nonstop had no problems. To be fair the company put me on UA....

If you positively have to get somewhere on a date and time certain, and positively have to fly UA, then make sure you have a backup, i.e., a later flight the same day or a way to get there first thing the next day. I've got a vacation planned later this year using GPUs to upgrade, but my return flight is one day earlier than I plan to return to work just in case something happens with the return flight. I don't want the stress of knowing UA needs to get me across the ocean on a day certain or I will face consequences at work.

Regional NE traveler, here. This quote is why, even on travel Mondays with no meetings booked, I'll still choose the first flight out of IND for the day, because I know I have a good shot of getting hosed somewhere along the way...then at least I have options to get me to my dest city at a reasonable time. Then I have the rest of the day to prep, eat a decent meal, etc.

Pretty suck that it has to be that way...would be great to pick a 5pm flight and have confidence there wont be any issues...but that's just not the case...for this or any other domestic carrier IMO. As stated in a diff thread: to me, domestic air travel is barely a notch above a greyhound bus these days...partly because of the providers, partly because of the traveler.

to me, domestic air travel is barely a notch above a greyhound bus these days...partly because of the providers, partly because of the traveler.

Yes, this is often said. However, I have had the occasion to take the Greyhound and can assure you that the notch between domestic air travel and Greyhound is quite large. (Except, perhaps on SOME of their northeast corridor runs where they have new busses, leather seats with good pitch, wifi, good air conditioning and can take the airlines for a run.) For most routes, I'd even take NK over Greyhound anyday.

Not ridiculed any more than in years past. UA has always been inferior to WN, VX and B6 in service (both inflight and on the ground). Not much has changed in this regard, so the ridicule has been continuous.

Haven't been ridiculed yet, but the performance has never been worse. Last weekend, my wife and inlaws were on den to ORD, and the flight was canceled. This week, den to SFO left 3 hours late due to mechanical, and SFO to cos was two hours late due to late inbound.

My long haul this week is on AF.

My office flies UA a lot for schedule/route reasons (i.e. hub captives). We've all been commiserating about UA woes since 3/3. Friends as well have been asking me why UA has been so bad lately.

I still usually have not-terrible experiences as a 1K. But every interaction and transaction with this company feels like a crapshoot. Delays are inevitable. A lot of self-help is needed when things go wrong (i.e. look up one's desired reroute during IRROPS). I'm also constantly babysitting future bookings for seat shenanigans and stuck upgrades. I give myself plenty of time at the airport, and take a deep breath amidst the negative atmosphere, knowing that the environment usually becomes less toxic inside the aircraft once greeted by FAs. In general, I keep my expectations low and I'm pleasantly surprised when they're exceeded.

It's been exactly six months, and the image problem has clearly gotten worse as the root causes do not appear to have been solved.

everyone on our team has UA stories to tell. The airlines of choice would be AA and Southwest if they were direct. Currently we are working in NW Houston and United has that market cornered. :rolleyes:

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If you positively have to get somewhere on a date and time certain, and positively have to fly UA, then make sure you have a backup, i.e., a later flight the same day or a way to get there first thing the next day. I've got a vacation planned later this year using GPUs to upgrade, but my return flight is one day earlier than I plan to return to work just in case something happens with the return flight. I don't want the stress of knowing UA needs to get me across the ocean on a day certain or I will face consequences at work.

This advice applies regardess of carrier IME. Just read back through the history of threads here about people talking about getting to a cruise port and the near universal consensus that they go a day early.

Even 5 years ago on UA metal.

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This advice applies regardess of carrier IME. Just read back through the history of threads here about people talking about getting to a cruise port and the near universal consensus that they go a day early.

Even 5 years ago on UA metal.

Always a good idea for vacation of course

The difference now is that for many of us who travel for business, UA is no longer a reliable option, especially for same day travel (whereas I still have the utmost confidence in AA/DL to get me to my destination).

...The difference now is that for many of us who travel for business, UA is no longer a reliable option, especially for same day travel (whereas I still have the utmost confidence in AA/DL to get me to my destination).

And at the same time, it's amazing how many of us business travelers just don't seem to have the problems that so many other posters apparently have...especially when it comes to same day travel...

And at the same time, it's amazing how many of us business travelers just don't seem to have the problems that so many other posters apparently have...especially when it comes to same day travel...

Of course, the DOT stats post-3/3 don't like - last (with a bullet) in on-time rates the last few months, highest cancel %, highest IDB rates, higher (by a 5x factor) number of complaints, etc. Do those count if they don't jive with a single rosy travel picture?

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This advice applies regardess of carrier IME. Just read back through the history of threads here about people talking about getting to a cruise port and the near universal consensus that they go a day early.

Even 5 years ago on UA metal.

^Truly sound advice.

In 24+ years of business travel, I have never missed a business meeting/commitment because I always travel with a time cushion.

I have also been pretty lucky and have never once missed an international connection on UA in that time. I have missed multiple international connections on other airlines. The difference, I believe, was that UA always did an outstanding job protecting PEs and 1Ks, while I was not an elite on the other airlines at the time of my missed international flights.

To answer the OP's question:

Yes, everyone calls me a complete idiot moron fool.

There, I said it. :D

Of course, the DOT stats post-3/3 don't like - last (with a bullet) in on-time rates the last few months, highest cancel %, highest IDB rates, higher (by a 5x factor) number of complaints, etc. Do those count if they don't jive with a single rosy travel picture?

My mistake....naturally, I assumed you were speaking for all business travelers...some of us do manage to slip through the cracks...

Not a lot of ridiculing, just a bit of teasing by employees flying BA or Lufthansa or Singapore, but they didn't wait 3/3 to get going, and most company travel is regulated by pretty extensive policies anyway, there is not a lot of choice involved.

Really? Even when the employee is traveling on vacation (as the OP appears to be) ...
If the employee is traveling on vacation and returning late, we'll have a little chat, no matter what the airline. Unless it isn't the first time, then the chat will be longer.

Mostly I heard about it here on flyertalk, no where else. :rolleyes:
^
44 flights on this year, and I feel mostly the same. Service is hit-and-miss, and I certainly enjoyed my flights on Air Canada, Qatar or a few other carriers more, but UA hasn't screwed me anywhere near the horror stories I read about.

I'm a bit late to this thread, but what any colleague or other person says about my choice of carrier doesn't matter to me in any way.

^
44 flights on this year, and I feel mostly the same. Service is hit-and-miss, and I certainly enjoyed my flights on Air Canada, Qatar or a few other carriers more, but UA hasn't screwed me anywhere near the horror stories I read about.



I agree as well, UA is not a horrid airline, it's an American airline.

I think the ridicule comes from the extremes that flying United has caused in my travels. I recently moved from a part of NYC that makes transit through Newark the best option to a region of NYC that makes transit through LGA the best option. Like any United flyer with Stockholm Syndrome, I will trek across NYC and North Jersey to Newark just to remain loyal to United, even though LGA (and Delta) probably makes the most sense for me logistically. The issues with service have caused me to fly out the night before any important meetings since I don't have the confidence that United will get me from NY to wherever I'm going with any semblance of reliability (isn't this a business airline?). I remain hopeful that United can turn it around, but my colleagues are baffled why I don't audible to Delta or American even though I end up having horror stories from flying with United on a regular basis.

I still want UDUs to travel to meetings in comfort and I will never get to 1K (should get to Platinum), so my options are really Delta or United since AA only has UDUs for Exec Plat and I won't reach that plateau. However, if I am forced to travel ~75k miles a year for work, I'd like to be accumulating valuable currency for award travel and since Delta's skypesos are so devalued, I'm stuck with United unless I want to connect in Charlotte or Philly frequently on US Airways. For as much as service has suffered, United does have attractive benefits if you can stick through the tough times. If some of these benefits were diminished for some reason (no more UDUs / devaluation of United miles), I'd leave for Delta in a heartbeat. I'd imagine that others have similar points of view.

I think the ridicule comes from the extremes that flying United has caused in my travels. I recently moved from a part of NYC that makes transit through Newark the best option to a region of NYC that makes transit through LGA the best option. Like any United flyer with Stockholm Syndrome, I will trek across NYC and North Jersey to Newark just to remain loyal to United, even though LGA (and Delta) probably makes the most sense for me logistically. The issues with service have caused me to fly out the night before any important meetings since I don't have the confidence that United will get me from NY to wherever I'm going with any semblance of reliability (isn't this a business airline?). I remain hopeful that United can turn it around, but my colleagues are baffled why I don't audible to Delta or American even though I end up having horror stories from flying with United on a regular basis.

You're like me then :D LGA/JFK both easier and preferred - a decent amount of destinations from each fortunately. And there are still some good options (and fares) for US ex-LGA.

I really need to switch to WN to go OAK-GEG on a 737 rather than SFO-GEG on a CRJ.

However, if I am forced to travel ~75k miles a year for work, I'd like to be accumulating valuable currency for award travel and since Delta's skypesos are so devalued, I'm stuck with United unless I want to connect in Charlotte or Philly frequently on US Airways. For as much as service has suffered, United does have attractive benefits if you can stick through the tough times. If some of these benefits were diminished for some reason (no more UDUs / devaluation of United miles), I'd leave for Delta in a heartbeat. I'd imagine that others have similar points of view.

I couldn't agree with this more. United's miles and redemption is still one of the best if not the best. I just booked PHL-DPS in C with 54 dollars in taxes. The wife puts up with the travel without complaint when she knows she will reap the benefits. Delta is ok if redeeming with partner airlines and AA is ok also, but *A coverage to SE Asia is better. If UA institues more cost associated with miles redemption then I will look elsewhere.

Not ridiculed any more than in years past. UA has always been inferior to WN, VX and B6 in service (both inflight and on the ground). Not much has changed in this regard, so the ridicule has been continuous.

I think this is true for kettles, but as a 1K (even post 3/3), I would take UA any day over WN, VX and B6 (and I would add DL to that list -- which I personally find to be a horrible organization.)

I will achieve 1K again next week with a RT from the west coast to ORD. I've had two or three bad customer service experiences this year, but the rest of the time my flights have departed/arrived on time and the service has been just fine. More importantly, I have a fairly good record with UDUs. My big complaints this year have been with IT and web-related issues, and the T1 debacle at SFO.

If, and when, I lose my 1K status, I'm sure I will be whistling another tune, but for now I will stick with UA.

no, i don't get ridiculed.

AA flyers have to connect all the time.
DL flyers tell me their miles are useless.
US flyers... have to fly US.
WN flyers can't use their miles when they want to fly TPAC/TATL.

all airlines have their issues.

and most of all, when we finish our meeting and are sitting at the bar in ORD, when a storm hits we're all screwed together anyway and makes all this moot.

no, i don't get ridiculed.

AA flyers have to connect all the time.
DL flyers tell me their miles are useless.
US flyers... have to fly US.
WN flyers can't use their miles when they want to fly TPAC/TATL.

all airlines have their issues.

and most of all, when we finish our meeting and are sitting at the bar in ORD, when a storm hits we're all screwed together anyway and makes all this moot.

This pretty much sums it up!

Well after the AA/US merger this will seem heavenly :(

I think this is true for kettles, but as a 1K (even post 3/3), I would take UA any day over WN, VX and B6 (and I would add DL to that list

+1 Family vacation in SEA. In-laws booked on WN we had award travel with UA for our family of 6. WN does a MX on their flight to BNA and with no more planes and seats, strands in-laws in SEA until next day for a late night flight. We were home about the same time the in-laws worked their way through the WN system and to the hotel.

A phrase I've heard frequently in the IT industry seems to apply here:

"We suck less"

I am a MM with both Delta and United and been flying for over 30 years. I also talk to my work friends and hear the same examples of occasional horror stories on almost all airlines. I (knock on wood) have had good experiences with UA for years now. You need to learn how to choose your flights to reduce your potential challenges but that goes with all airlines. I have flown Thai, Singapore, Emirates, Swiss, Lufthansa, Air China, Eva plus several China and India airlines in the past two years. I cannot remember any experience that says I wish United was like that. Yes, I fly business or first most of the time so my experience may be different than the economy experience but I am guessing most of the FT posters do too.

This thread just proves the old axiom that people will complain a lot more than they will complement. If you don't like the service quit wasting your time posting and make different choices...

Of course a company can learn from complaints so hopefully they have someone who monitors the forums and doesn't take things personally.

If the employee is traveling on vacation and returning late, we'll have a little chat, no matter what the airline. Unless it isn't the first time, then the chat will be longer.


What exactly would this "chat" be about? Should the employee have stowed away in Cargo to get home? Should they have been required to buy new tickets to get home? If there was a legitimate IIROPS issue (which is easily verifiable), I'm not really sure what you would accomplish with this "chat".

Well after the AA/US merger this will seem heavenly :(

Yeah...especially after they start to combine "the best of both" :eek:

Yes, but once they have flown the slides that AA calls intl business class seats compared to flatbeds on UA, they calm down.

But.... I do miss the days of AA hospitality on the ground (was EXP Plat until last year when I migrated to UA).. Oh well. And, the first time I flew on UA business, I asked if they have noise cancelling headphones since i forgot mine - the FA looked astonished and said "do you know how much those cost?" .... yes, UA does have its downsides. (many actually, but the flat beds and EWR-DEL/ EWR-BOM / IAD-PEK are hard to beat in terms of convenience).

Not me. My colleagues are all once a year travelers (including some who have literally never flown before) so I'm safe :D

What exactly would this "chat" be about?
First and foremost, what happened. Coming back from vacation a day late may be unavoidable, but providing an explanation should not.

If it is a repeat occurrence (it has happened), the explanation is progressively harder to give...

I absolutely have been ridiculed, especially for my pig-headed insistence on flying United to India when I could be flying Emirates, for example, which has much bigger plusher wider seats, or Jet Airways, which has noise-cancelling headsets and a bidet in the bathroom in Business Class.

But what my colleagues don't understand is that I live 15 minutes from Newark Airport, I fly a huge range of around 40-100k miles a year, and if I don't consolidate all my flights on one airline, I won't end up with any kind of status whatsoever. United goes the most places that I am going that leave from Newark, so I fly United. End of story.

I didn't notice such a huge impact from the merger until recently. 3 weeks ago, my flight to London was delayed for 3 hours, then finally canceled because the plane we were supposed to take failed its inspection. I had to give an important presentation over the phone the next morning at 3:30am instead of doing it in person, in London.

Last week there was that massive computer outage, which caused my flight to FRA to be delayed by 2 hours and subsequently caused me to miss a connecting flight from FRA-MAA (Chennai). I was rerouted via Dubai on Emirates, and got to Chennai 3 hours after the critical meeting had already started - the meeting that was the sole purpose for my visit to India. I had been traveling for 36 hours straight and spent 2 nights on planes.

This morning, I arrived at LHR and checked in at the kiosk, only to find that my flight back to EWR had been canceled. No email, no SMS, no phone call, not even an apology, just the computer informing me that my itinerary had changed. I was rebooked on a 4pm flight and am now spending the entire day in the SkyTeam lounge instead of my office in London, or my hotel room, since United apparently couldn't be bothered to inform me not to come to the airport.

I'm sitting in the lounge right now fuming and cursing United. The only thing keeping me from screaming is the fact that I am IN the lounge, not outside lugging my heavy laptop bag around duty free or trying to nap by lying across 3 seats at an empty gate, is that even though I am flying economy, I HAVE lounge access, thanks to the Elite status that I have BECAUSE I've made it a priority to fly United.

Catch 22?

Truly

I couldn't agree with this more. United's miles and redemption is still one of the best if not the best. I just booked PHL-DPS in C with 54 dollars in taxes. The wife puts up with the travel without complaint when she knows she will reap the benefits. Delta is ok if redeeming with partner airlines and AA is ok also, but *A coverage to SE Asia is better. If UA institues more cost associated with miles redemption then I will look elsewhere.

UA miles are worth a lot. I get easy Saver FC redemptions, very much so compared to DL. I'm looking to burn off my DL miles here and there. UA miles have more value to me as well, and that is a benefit to me, especially with all the premier level earning accelerators.

no, i don't get ridiculed.

AA flyers have to connect all the time.
DL flyers tell me their miles are useless.
US flyers... have to fly US.
WN flyers can't use their miles when they want to fly TPAC/TATL.

all airlines have their issues.

and most of all, when we finish our meeting and are sitting at the bar in ORD, when a storm hits we're all screwed together anyway and makes all this moot.

+1 ^ Great summary and hits it on the nose.

I absolutely have been ridiculed, especially for my pig-headed insistence on flying United to India when I could be flying Emirates, for example, which has much bigger plusher wider seats, or Jet Airways, which has noise-cancelling headsets and a bidet in the bathroom in Business Class.

I'm sitting in the lounge right now fuming and cursing United. The only thing keeping me from screaming is the fact that I am IN the lounge, not outside lugging my heavy laptop bag around duty free or trying to nap by lying across 3 seats at an empty gate, is that even though I am flying economy, I HAVE lounge access, thanks to the Elite status that I have BECAUSE I've made it a priority to fly United.

Truly

I understand the frustration. You have good reason for it.

But, if you are flying Economy, Emirates packs them in tight . . . REALLY tight in economy. Pitch on a 777 is awful, and the seat cushions on the Airbus (not A380) was awful too. It is really "cattle" class back there. Flying Emirates econ is worst comfort-wise in my experience. But, the food and in-seat entertain was a big plus.

If you are in Biz, then different story entirely.

I absolutely have been ridiculed, especially for my pig-headed insistence on flying United to India when I could be flying Emirates, for example, which has much bigger plusher wider seats, or Jet Airways, which has noise-cancelling headsets and a bidet in the bathroom in Business Class.

But what my colleagues don't understand is that I live 15 minutes from Newark Airport, I fly a huge range of around 40-100k miles a year, and if I don't consolidate all my flights on one airline, I won't end up with any kind of status whatsoever. United goes the most places that I am going that leave from Newark, so I fly United. End of story.

I didn't notice such a huge impact from the merger until recently. 3 weeks ago, my flight to London was delayed for 3 hours, then finally canceled because the plane we were supposed to take failed its inspection. I had to give an important presentation over the phone the next morning at 3:30am instead of doing it in person, in London.

Last week there was that massive computer outage, which caused my flight to FRA to be delayed by 2 hours and subsequently caused me to miss a connecting flight from FRA-MAA (Chennai). I was rerouted via Dubai on Emirates, and got to Chennai 3 hours after the critical meeting had already started - the meeting that was the sole purpose for my visit to India. I had been traveling for 36 hours straight and spent 2 nights on planes.

This morning, I arrived at LHR and checked in at the kiosk, only to find that my flight back to EWR had been canceled. No email, no SMS, no phone call, not even an apology, just the computer informing me that my itinerary had changed. I was rebooked on a 4pm flight and am now spending the entire day in the SkyTeam lounge instead of my office in London, or my hotel room, since United apparently couldn't be bothered to inform me not to come to the airport.

I'm sitting in the lounge right now fuming and cursing United. The only thing keeping me from screaming is the fact that I am IN the lounge, not outside lugging my heavy laptop bag around duty free or trying to nap by lying across 3 seats at an empty gate, is that even though I am flying economy, I HAVE lounge access, thanks to the Elite status that I have BECAUSE I've made it a priority to fly United.

Catch 22?

Truly

Meh, you can buy the lounge access for $200 from US Air most of the time (gets you into UA and US lounges domestically, almost the same international lounges as your *G gets you into except for the LH SEN ones). Or you can credit 19K miles to Aegean airlines and get Star Gold and lounge access for life, including domestic UA/US lounges when traveling on purely domestic itineraries.

But, if you are flying Economy, Emirates packs them in tight . . . REALLY tight in economy. Pitch on a 777 is awful, and the seat cushions on the Airbus (not A380) was awful too. It is really "cattle" class back there. Flying Emirates econ is worst comfort-wise in my experience. But, the food and in-seat entertain was a big plus.

Thanks for this. Very helpful. I actually flew economy, and found it was not at all tight. However, I wasn't on the route I would have flown from home (EWR-FRA-MAA), I was only flying from Dubai to Chennai. I'm glad I didn't assume I would have the same experience on a longer flight!

Truly

Or you can credit 19K miles to Aegean airlines and get Star Gold and lounge access for life, including domestic UA/US lounges when traveling on purely domestic itineraries.

I wonder how long that will last. I don't have the flexibility to rack up 19k miles on Aegean, but I'd be more inclined to do so if I was confident I would really get * Gold for life! Anyway it's not just the lounge access, the priority check-in and short security lines at EWR save me tons of time ...

Interesting observation, because it's exactly what I'm worried about. I'm booked to SYD in 3 weeks, and need to leave the day after I return to attend an important event. I wouldn't have the option of going a day late to the "new" location, and while I'de never have worried much in the past, I'm hesitating about even making a new reservation now. (And I can't change my flight from SYD dues to critical timing issues while I'm in Australia.

I'm close to just bagging the follow-on trip now before I even book it. It's a sad new reality with the new COdbaUA.

If its any help, there is a thread somewhere about routing through the west coast to SYD in terms of delays, etc. Our flight Aug 27 SFO-SYD was delayed about 2hrs: a man was sick and they had to get him and his luggage off the plane. (Better than turning around in mid flight) We did get in almost on schedule, though.
Our return flight SYD-SFO on the 7th Sept was delayed 2hrs, (plane from MEL delayed) but it did leave, and the extra hours in the Kouru Lounge were appreciated. They made up some time, we arrived about an hour late. So no cancellations. Give yourself plenty of connection time.

Cruising speeds are set to save fuel. I don't know if it's up to the pilot or not, but occasionally, some flights do push it to the max. For example, on PMCO, I had a night time flight from EWR to BOS (scheduled about an hour and a half, actual flight should have been about 30-35 mins) that left EWR an hour late because of a storm, but arrived at BOS early because of schedule padding and the pilot gunning it (the flight took about 15-20 minutes) while flying straight through a storm. (I had a window seat. It did not stop raining horizontally the whole time)

Cruising speeds are set to save fuel. I don't know if it's up to the pilot or not, but occasionally, some flights do push it to the max. For example, on PMCO, I had a night time flight from EWR to BOS (scheduled about an hour and a half, actual flight should have been about 30-35 mins) that left EWR an hour late because of a storm, but arrived at BOS early because of schedule padding and the pilot gunning it (the flight took about 15-20 minutes) while flying straight through a storm. (I had a window seat. It did not stop raining horizontally the whole time)While the pilots can increase their speeds to compensate for delays, you are talking +-10% or so and not 2X (30-35 mins vs 15-20 mins). Direct Flight paths and appraoches which the pilot can request can help also. Taxi time is also a big factor at some airports.
BTW rain will be horizontal at normal speeds or higher speeds.

I wonder if we should start a poll in the thread - how many are being ridiculed versus how many are doing the ridiculing :D