Traveler Birthday recognitions by UA while Flying
Dec 11, 2014, 5:54 pm
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
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Dec 11, 2014, 6:04 pm
#92
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Note a related problem is the probability that two of the group will have the same birthday, that is surprisingly high -- 50% for a group of 23 and for 100 near certainty.
Dec 12, 2014, 12:07 am
#93
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,465
So no birthday recognition on UA, but can I call UA and pay to get him a birthday cake on board? I guess no, but I'll try, let's see what they say.
Dec 12, 2014, 6:14 pm
#94
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,338
Unintentional Birthday Upgrade
As a 1K, I was flying on my birthday (a major one ending in zero; not telling which one!) from NRT to SFO with two family members. We had carefully selected E+ seats months in advance.
Three days before the flight, I noticed that the flight no longer showed up in our itinerary. The 1K Desk managed to re-instate the flight, but we were now scattered all over the plane in middle seats. The agent told me to try to sort it out at the airport.
At the NRT United Club, I dealt with the most efficient and polite agent (who I learned later was the agent in charge of GS members). She took our boarding passes and gave all three of us seats together in C. Quite a birthday present!
Three days before the flight, I noticed that the flight no longer showed up in our itinerary. The 1K Desk managed to re-instate the flight, but we were now scattered all over the plane in middle seats. The agent told me to try to sort it out at the airport.
At the NRT United Club, I dealt with the most efficient and polite agent (who I learned later was the agent in charge of GS members). She took our boarding passes and gave all three of us seats together in C. Quite a birthday present!
Dec 12, 2014, 8:42 pm
#95
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,530
I flew a few days after my birthday this year and the GA came on-board with a note saying "Happy Birthday". Nothing super special but a nice touch!
Dec 12, 2014, 9:47 pm
#96
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: Delta Silver. Former AA gold. UA MP and DL Plat AMEX cardholder
Posts: 1,254
I don't think UA is going to care unless the flight attendants check the manifest and put two and two together.
Last edited by goalie; Dec 12, 2014 at 10:36 pm Reason: Off topic portion of post and comment directed towards member removed
Dec 19, 2014, 8:23 pm
#97
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
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No award availability, no upgrade availability. Can't afford cash business class fare as it's expensive on that day - just before Christmas to Hawaii. But my father gets a celebration once he arrives there.
So no birthday recognition on UA, but can I call UA and pay to get him a birthday cake on board? I guess no, but I'll try, let's see what they say.
So no birthday recognition on UA, but can I call UA and pay to get him a birthday cake on board? I guess no, but I'll try, let's see what they say.
Dec 20, 2014, 2:43 pm
#99
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: New York
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.
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.
Dec 20, 2014, 3:30 pm
#100
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
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.
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.
Apr 20, 2015, 12:53 pm
#101
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: UA-1Kmm, AA-EX Plt mm-, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 1,093
Birthday Perk?
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.
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.
Apr 20, 2015, 1:12 pm
#102
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,896
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.
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.
Apr 20, 2015, 1:16 pm
#103
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: UA-1Kmm, AA-EX Plt mm-, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 1,093
Apr 20, 2015, 1:43 pm
#104
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: UA MM *Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,856
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.
Apr 20, 2015, 2:29 pm
#105
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London (Transplant from EWR)
Programs: United 1k, SPG Plat & Ambassador, ClubCarlson Concierge
Posts: 691
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.