Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Gold, Avis First
Posts: 85
Birthday recognition?
I've never been acknowledged when traveling on my birthday on UA...but had the computer at the Brighton (UK) Hilton play happy birthday from its really bad speaker one year. Unexpected and entertaining as the rep at the counter had never had it happen. Got an unexpected room upgrade and some goodies sent to the room.
If UA had their stuff together they would at least acknowledge special days that they should know about. They could totally use passport info to figure it out in the background.
Programs: Last 1K flight 1/21/11; fun while it lasted, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012, 13, 14, 15 & 2016.
Posts: 7,977
No formal birthday recognition from United, but about 6 years ago I was caught up in the big messy nor-easter of whatever year it was, had to evening flight out of BWI cancelled after boarding. Next day I'm at IAD, which is re-enacting the Fall of Saigon (never, ever, been so appreciative of lowly 2P status, which enabled me to use Premier lines with a 10-minute wait instead of GM line which literally ran the length of the building!!!). Re-routed IAD-SEA-SFO. Fight to SEA
delayed enough to miss my SFO connection by 15 minutes. Last flight to SFO.
As we're landing I do my usual thing, looking to see my connection pulling away from the gate. Instead an FA approaches me and says, if I run, I can make my flight.
I get off the plane and there were literally four UA staff pointing where to go and waving me through. The people on the plane to SFO must have thought I was a VIP to have the plane held! (I'll admit I was in F). And yes, it was my birthday, but no mention of that was ever made. Sure was nice though.
Color me surprised. Upon boarding my flight at LGA on my birthday yesterday the gate agent handed me an official looking pre-printed United Airlines Birthday card and wished me Happy Birthday. The card was handed to me during the boarding process after scanning my boarding pass.
My name was handwritten then it said "Congratulations from United and MileagePlus. We appreciate your business and want to recognize you on this special occasion. Thank you for Flying United. From your United Team at LGA" followed by 7 handwritten names. Note that LGA is not my home airport.
The reason I'm surprised is that I have hardly been flying UA this year preferring instead to take my business elsewhere for various reasons which don't seem uncommon to many on FT. It does give me some small hope that UA may actually realize that they need to at least pretend on occasion that they welcome me as a paying customer. It has been a long time since UA gave me a pleasant surprise. It was a nice touch.
We flew MCO-SFO a couple of months ago. My wife visited the desk to ask whether they needed VDBs and whether her upgrade would clear from #1 on the list, and during the conversation she noticed they had a card with her name written on it. She didn't ask about it then.
When she boarded, she noticed the IFE at her economy seat was broken. (Her upgrade didn't clear — she's only a 1K, after all.) She thought that maybe the card was a proactive SkyKit — how thoughtful of UA to notice the problem! So she asked the gate agent about it when the GA came on near the end of boarding. "Hi, um, did you have a card with my name on it?"
The GA left the plane and came back after a minute or two. "Happy birthday!". Same kind of card from the MCO station as the one you describe here ex-LGA.
Nice of UA to print the card; kinda weird that they didn't actually deliver it and a pax had to notice it was at the gate and ask about it.
(No SkyKit for the broken IFE.)
Upgrade didn't clear, but agents did leave us with an empty middle. "Euro business" is about the best we expect as 1Ks traveling together now, pretty good deal.
(Her upgrade didn't clear — she's only a 1K, after all.)
I'm still only a 1K too and mine did not clear either. I was #10 on the list so not even close with an H fare. They did offer to sell me the upgrade at check in for $59 though.
After reading about UA sometimes remembering your birthday, I was on a flight on my birthday, after take off, the FA came on and said there was a person celebrating their birthday on board, my ears perked up, I started to turn a bit red, then the FA announce the name, it wasn't mine, oh well guess there is always next year.
Programs: United 1k, SPG Plat & Ambassador, ClubCarlson Concierge
Posts: 690
Just saw this thread bubble back to the top. I wanted to say thanks to the community for making grandma's flight special. She passed away a few weeks ago and we both appreciated the help. 1K voice came through and got the captain to wish her happy birthday from United and her grandson.
I travel almost every year on my b-day. First year doing it out of SLC. Did SLC-SFO-NRT-SIN earlier this month. Surprised to be called up to the podium at SLC and given a birthday card from the SLC UA team. Crew on the SFO-NRT leg also recognized it and upper-deck attendant gave me a bottle of Champagne. Unfortunately, couldn't get it through transit in NRT but a nice gesture nonetheless.
I travel almost every year on my b-day. First year doing it out of SLC. Did SLC-SFO-NRT-SIN earlier this month. Surprised to be called up to the podium at SLC and given a birthday card from the SLC UA team. Crew on the SFO-NRT leg also recognized it and upper-deck attendant gave me a bottle of Champagne. Unfortunately, couldn't get it through transit in NRT but a nice gesture nonetheless.
At least they're trying to improve their customer service. Not a bad idea for starters.
I was given this card two months ago on my birthday while waiting in the gate area for my departing flight. About 10-15 minutes prior to boarding they paged my name, and when I went up to the gate, a GS agent wished me a happy birthday and handed me this.
A nice gesture and totally unexpected. The card does not say anything specific about GS, so I assume they must also give these out to others as well.
I was given the card two years ago. Printed with added hand written wishes and gratitude. It made me feel that UA really appreciates my business (that's what they wrote). I don't know if this is the case or not , but I felt like it was a nice gesture.
