AA New Website So Much Better than UA
Jan 18, 2013, 8:44 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 91
Jan 18, 2013, 9:00 pm
#17
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
I want to put in
Then I want to
I really don't care what font they use, what colors they use, or is some may call it dated.
- where I want to fly from
- where I want to fly to
- when I want to fly
Then I want to
- See the flight choices
- pick one
- pay for it
- get a ticket number
I really don't care what font they use, what colors they use, or is some may call it dated.
Jan 18, 2013, 9:06 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,001
UA has much more fundamental IT issues to address. Too many stories here of issues which all look to me to be the signs of a very brittle, poorly tested pile of software.
Here are some IT issues I've read about here in the past few weeks that I can recollect straight from memory:
A new web site would be the classic example of lipstick on a pig.
They may own SHARES and avoid paying any royalties to anyone for something better, and think it saves them money, but I really do wonder. The bug fix costs must be enormous, and the hundreds of additional call center staff to field the complaints ain't free either.
Here are some IT issues I've read about here in the past few weeks that I can recollect straight from memory:
- Having to stop posting miles for several days because of unexplained issues
- Two years in a row of many people getting the "wrong" higher status for several days at the turn of the year
- Changing and missing and inexplicable seat assignment snafus
- Running promotions, awarding miles, and then clawing them back because the wrong number was posted
- The infamous 4-miles to HKG in GlobalFirst debacle
- Being unable to print out an acceptable boarding pass
- Stuck CPU processing (was this ever working properly? Will it ever? Will UA ever come clean?)
- Numerous reports of issues actually ticketing award travel on partner airlines, and then not owning the problem
A new web site would be the classic example of lipstick on a pig.
They may own SHARES and avoid paying any royalties to anyone for something better, and think it saves them money, but I really do wonder. The bug fix costs must be enormous, and the hundreds of additional call center staff to field the complaints ain't free either.
Jan 18, 2013, 9:11 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19,506
Yeah. This. I'd actually appreciate a more minimalist approach. I certainly don't go to an airline website to be "inspired". Sheesh!
Jan 18, 2013, 9:15 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 91
Agreed @elCheapoDeluxe and @bmr12. So United has two things going against them. A poorly looking site plus the backend system that fails regularly.
I think sometimes management really are too short sighted on business spending. Yes, SHARES might be dirt cheap, but the technology is unable to support the system. I've been a victim of the screwy system where the gate agent basically gave up as much as they tried to help.
I think sometimes management really are too short sighted on business spending. Yes, SHARES might be dirt cheap, but the technology is unable to support the system. I've been a victim of the screwy system where the gate agent basically gave up as much as they tried to help.
Jan 18, 2013, 9:33 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Now MFE... formerly SEA and DCA
Programs: Now UA free!, AA Ex Plat, AS MVP, Marriott Titanium for life
Posts: 664
As pointed out the United sit is ugly and dysfunctional! I have no idea if this is a SHARES problem, but it is a mess. Other airlines are moving forward while Jeff's doesn't, except for the 787...
Jan 18, 2013, 9:47 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Hertz Prez Circle
Posts: 572
Just searched a few regular route on aa. Things worked fine. They work fine on UA as well.
I couldn't care less about goofy window dressings like websites. UA.com functions fine. Who cares. There are bigger fish to fry.
I couldn't care less about goofy window dressings like websites. UA.com functions fine. Who cares. There are bigger fish to fry.
Jan 18, 2013, 10:03 pm
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
Jan 18, 2013, 10:16 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
On topic, aa.com still looks/works about the same as it did before. ua.sux can't ever forget what last search you ran. or forget what date(s). maybe a "new search button" to clear + ita matrix's "recent" would be an immense improvement.
David
Jan 18, 2013, 10:17 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
Not bad, the design of the AA site is much better than United.com, but functionality is a problem...can't sort by price, you've got to be kidding.
Of course, I'd take the pmUA .bomb, if it only worked all the time.
OT, I like the new AA logo, the livery on the other hand
.
Of course, I'd take the pmUA .bomb, if it only worked all the time.
OT, I like the new AA logo, the livery on the other hand
.I've not explored rewards, but the booking engine is 500x better than CO.com
Jan 18, 2013, 10:59 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
I can't stand AA.com ... I find it so frustrating that I actively avoid using it at every opportunity I can.
Things United.com can do that AA.com can't:
- Partner award searches (at least for more than a small handful of partners)
- Request an upgrade using a SWU
- Change international flights
- Change flights issued by a TA
- Change award flights that I've purchased for someone else
- Present data in a readable format ...
United isn't going to win any design awards on the site, but it's functional, the data is easy to access (rather than hidden beneath 3 menu options like on AA.com), and it works well for about 95% of the functions that I need to access it for. I find myself having to call AA far more often than I have to call UA ... the vast majority of the time, I can take care of the UA-related issues myself. (Having said that, the phone call is far more pleasant to AA, but that's another issue all-together.)
I'll be probably re-qualify for both UA 1K and AA EXP this year, and give me united.com any day over aa.com.
Things United.com can do that AA.com can't:
- Partner award searches (at least for more than a small handful of partners)
- Request an upgrade using a SWU
- Change international flights
- Change flights issued by a TA
- Change award flights that I've purchased for someone else
- Present data in a readable format ...
United isn't going to win any design awards on the site, but it's functional, the data is easy to access (rather than hidden beneath 3 menu options like on AA.com), and it works well for about 95% of the functions that I need to access it for. I find myself having to call AA far more often than I have to call UA ... the vast majority of the time, I can take care of the UA-related issues myself. (Having said that, the phone call is far more pleasant to AA, but that's another issue all-together.)
I'll be probably re-qualify for both UA 1K and AA EXP this year, and give me united.com any day over aa.com.
Jan 18, 2013, 11:40 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: PDX
Posts: 2,284
• Lowest fare was 5th option down
• Next lowest fare was on the 3rd page of results
No option to sort results by price.
Jan 18, 2013, 11:49 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA1MM*GL/1K, AA, BnVy PlatL, HH Silver,
Posts: 681
While I haven't tried a complex routing, for a simple round trip, the AA grid results are great from cheapest to most expensive. Even if you want an economy fare it will give you the F fares as well. Recently booked a short haul AA F that was half the price of UA Economy fare...Md route vs UAX.
Jan 19, 2013, 12:10 am
#29
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html