Am I just ignorantly blissful? I'm happy with UA.
#271
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: MileagePlus 1K, Marriott BonVoy Titanium
Posts: 166
I think United is a decent airline. I wish it had planes and FAs like Virgin America, but it's still ok.
I may be an exception though as I buy only first class tickets so I don't care about upgrades. The new mileage accumulation based on dollars spent will be awesome for me, I will earn significantly more miles as a 1K who buys expensive tickets.
I may be an exception though as I buy only first class tickets so I don't care about upgrades. The new mileage accumulation based on dollars spent will be awesome for me, I will earn significantly more miles as a 1K who buys expensive tickets.
#272
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,899
I believe you must have an excessive amount of something. I think it is great UA is working for you!
I just flew UA last weekend with my family. I have flown over 200k miles this year. We were treated poorly on every connection. In fact on one flight , the minute we stepped on the small jet, the FA started nagging us about our carry on items and made one of us move to accommodate a woman with two children.
On our last flight of return there were two small children crying and screaming (until one finally threw up) in first class for the entire 3 hour flight. There were only eight seats in first class. I was not in one of them. When I say screaming, I mean full lung capacity, no resting. It was miserable.
On several of my most recent flights, the FAs seem to hate their jobs and have acted like the passengers are just bothersome nags. Flying international business class is a complete waste of good money. The service is horrible and certainly not worth thousands of dollars.
I just flew UA last weekend with my family. I have flown over 200k miles this year. We were treated poorly on every connection. In fact on one flight , the minute we stepped on the small jet, the FA started nagging us about our carry on items and made one of us move to accommodate a woman with two children.
On our last flight of return there were two small children crying and screaming (until one finally threw up) in first class for the entire 3 hour flight. There were only eight seats in first class. I was not in one of them. When I say screaming, I mean full lung capacity, no resting. It was miserable.
On several of my most recent flights, the FAs seem to hate their jobs and have acted like the passengers are just bothersome nags. Flying international business class is a complete waste of good money. The service is horrible and certainly not worth thousands of dollars.
#273
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AS, US, Hilton, BA, DL, SPG, AA, VS
Posts: 1,628
No, it reflects the fact that the airline works for them.
Last edited by LETTERBOY; Dec 21, 2014 at 9:43 pm Reason: typo
#274
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: united
Posts: 7
I don't live in a hub city, I fly frequently and most of it is international business first. I have been very disappointed in the service I received in the last year. The service is mediocre at best. My location hinders my choice of airline. I think UA can do better in many ways.
#276
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: UA ex-1k, now Gold bumped up from Silver
Posts: 155
How happy you are with the airline depends in large part on your priorities and flying pattern.
If, like me and my wife, your primary interest is in lie-flat TPACs and TATLs under $2-$3k RT, and if like us you have no problems redeeming your GPUs (or using miles + copay), then you're likely to be a relatively happy camper with United. Delta only gives 4 SWUs and requires an extra 25k BIS to get them. AAs SWU policy is more generous than United's, but their TPAC schedules (from where we fly) are not an attractive option and their international fleet is not fully lie-flat in C.
And we have been able to find attractive P and Z fares both to Central America and Europe. We're essentially budget C flyers and on about 70 segments this year only sat in Y (where C or F was offered) on a few short hops intra-Europe (where C is a joke) and 3 domestic segments.
We represent a very particular segment though: primarily (flexible) international flyers for whom domestic flights are not that important. CPUs? We don't care. Since we have to connect to go almost anywhere we usually don't have a domestic flight over 3.5 hours. If sitting in front matters we pay for F (if there is F). RPUs? We give them to friends or family. RJs? For two or three hour flights we don't care except insofar as they seem more subject to delays than mainline (and that is a problem). Food? We don't fly airlines for a gourmet experience (in fact while in the air my wife never eats and will only drink water).
The PQD requirements aren't a problem. The RDM changes will have little effect on us. IRROPS handling? Our experience has been relatively good although I believe it would have been much worse were I not able to feed the agents information. (In the last 300,000 miles, only once did we arrive more than three hours late.)
So while I don't consider us to be UA loyalists (or apologists), for us they remain the best option.
If, like me and my wife, your primary interest is in lie-flat TPACs and TATLs under $2-$3k RT, and if like us you have no problems redeeming your GPUs (or using miles + copay), then you're likely to be a relatively happy camper with United. Delta only gives 4 SWUs and requires an extra 25k BIS to get them. AAs SWU policy is more generous than United's, but their TPAC schedules (from where we fly) are not an attractive option and their international fleet is not fully lie-flat in C.
And we have been able to find attractive P and Z fares both to Central America and Europe. We're essentially budget C flyers and on about 70 segments this year only sat in Y (where C or F was offered) on a few short hops intra-Europe (where C is a joke) and 3 domestic segments.
We represent a very particular segment though: primarily (flexible) international flyers for whom domestic flights are not that important. CPUs? We don't care. Since we have to connect to go almost anywhere we usually don't have a domestic flight over 3.5 hours. If sitting in front matters we pay for F (if there is F). RPUs? We give them to friends or family. RJs? For two or three hour flights we don't care except insofar as they seem more subject to delays than mainline (and that is a problem). Food? We don't fly airlines for a gourmet experience (in fact while in the air my wife never eats and will only drink water).
The PQD requirements aren't a problem. The RDM changes will have little effect on us. IRROPS handling? Our experience has been relatively good although I believe it would have been much worse were I not able to feed the agents information. (In the last 300,000 miles, only once did we arrive more than three hours late.)
So while I don't consider us to be UA loyalists (or apologists), for us they remain the best option.
#277
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
#278
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,253
I was able to live with a lot of the thousand cuts that UA offered, even though many of them injured my love for UA. But loosing all my upgrade chances and having no more red meat on my intl. routes made it virtually impossible for me to use them reasonably.
Also the advent of real Premium Economy classes in Asian and European carriers, rendered UA a much less attractive alternative to me. I can now avoid the ugly upgrade rodeo everytime I flew UA.
Because with the cult of UA and the apologetics of UA, there must also come the inquisition of UA.
That's just fair .
Many like me - 1K of 16 years and 2.8MM - have left UA because of the unbearable changes and are now posting less on the UA forum.
That portraits UA in a disproportionate positive light.
And new posters who are upset, come here to tell their experience that's also not all that surprising.
Also the advent of real Premium Economy classes in Asian and European carriers, rendered UA a much less attractive alternative to me. I can now avoid the ugly upgrade rodeo everytime I flew UA.
That's just fair .
That portraits UA in a disproportionate positive light.
And new posters who are upset, come here to tell their experience that's also not all that surprising.
#279
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
Take a gander at a couple of relatively new threads over on the Delta board. It seems that DL is in the process of copying UA w/r/t monetizing the FC cabin. Many of the posts are eerily similar to those that appeared in threads here a few years back.
There's no place to hide if choosing among UA, AA, and DL, especially once AA and US merge and adopt the "$$$ not miles" model also.
There's no place to hide if choosing among UA, AA, and DL, especially once AA and US merge and adopt the "$$$ not miles" model also.
#280
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: UA PP, AA, DL, BA, CX, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 2,002
after all those praises I read on FT, i decided to try EXP match just for the fun of it
last friday I got a free sticker upgrade to AA domestic F cabin on a 5-hour non-premium transcon on a 738. the plane has that overpriced gogo WiFi, streaming entertainment but no movies are free, no in-seat live TV, better recline than UA F, roughly same level of service, and food quality only a small notch above UA (i'd rate AA as a B+ and UA as a B in food, but nothing totally drastic like what's portrayed here).
it was a decently pleasant experience (overall grading B+), but nothing like the "AA is infinitely better than UA in XYZ" that so many people love to proclaim. by the time I factor in their route network, the limited number of partners, potential challenges once they're combined in SOC, and the inflexible award routing rules, i've decided not to jump ship. I have yet to try DL F, but their list of partners is so fatally flawed that migration to SkyTeam is not remotely an option.
UA, despite its flaws in certain aspects, serves a Manhattan-based international traveler the best.
last friday I got a free sticker upgrade to AA domestic F cabin on a 5-hour non-premium transcon on a 738. the plane has that overpriced gogo WiFi, streaming entertainment but no movies are free, no in-seat live TV, better recline than UA F, roughly same level of service, and food quality only a small notch above UA (i'd rate AA as a B+ and UA as a B in food, but nothing totally drastic like what's portrayed here).
it was a decently pleasant experience (overall grading B+), but nothing like the "AA is infinitely better than UA in XYZ" that so many people love to proclaim. by the time I factor in their route network, the limited number of partners, potential challenges once they're combined in SOC, and the inflexible award routing rules, i've decided not to jump ship. I have yet to try DL F, but their list of partners is so fatally flawed that migration to SkyTeam is not remotely an option.
UA, despite its flaws in certain aspects, serves a Manhattan-based international traveler the best.
Last edited by 787fan; Dec 22, 2014 at 8:36 am
#281
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,165
after all those praises I read on FT, i decided to try EXP match just for the fun of it
last friday I got a free sticker upgrade to AA domestic F cabin on a 5-hour non-premium transcon on a 738. the plane has that overpriced gogo WiFi, streaming entertainment but no movies are free, no in-seat live TV, better recline than UA F, roughly same level of service, and food quality only a small notch above UA (i'd rate AA as a B+ and UA as a B in food, but nothing totally drastic like what's portrayed here).
it was a decently pleasant experience (overall grading B+), but nothing like the "AA is infinitely better than UA in XYZ" that so many people love to proclaim. by the time I factor in their route network, the limited number of partners, potential challenges once they're combined in SOC, and the inflexible award routing rules, i've decided not to jump ship.
UA, despite its flaws in certain aspects, serves a Manhattan-based international traveler the best.
last friday I got a free sticker upgrade to AA domestic F cabin on a 5-hour non-premium transcon on a 738. the plane has that overpriced gogo WiFi, streaming entertainment but no movies are free, no in-seat live TV, better recline than UA F, roughly same level of service, and food quality only a small notch above UA (i'd rate AA as a B+ and UA as a B in food, but nothing totally drastic like what's portrayed here).
it was a decently pleasant experience (overall grading B+), but nothing like the "AA is infinitely better than UA in XYZ" that so many people love to proclaim. by the time I factor in their route network, the limited number of partners, potential challenges once they're combined in SOC, and the inflexible award routing rules, i've decided not to jump ship.
UA, despite its flaws in certain aspects, serves a Manhattan-based international traveler the best.
A few notes or clarifications:
- Hope you appreciated the "free" sticker UG...we all know that's not likely to happen on UA on a TCON...they even happen on the A321B
- Always, always buy Gogo ahead of time...all-day flat $16 rate. Very fair IMO.
- Agreed on service, it's not like you're getting CX/SQ
- New 738s are all getting seatback AVOD in F/Y (along with power)...I've been on a few, they're quite excellent planes
- Food...yes, unfortunately, with the post-9/1 cuts, AA is no longer heads and shoulders above UA quality-wise (just a big higher). Still nice to pre-order online, and of course flying RJs there's no comparison.
Fly AA as an EXP for the year and you'll appreciate the difference (much like FlyWorld, not a huge difference if flying in Y as a non-elite, or in your case, a single flight)...you are actually treated as the top customer on the airline. And this NYC-based mostly-business-traveler thinks AA/OW is just fantastic ^
#282
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,356
Take a gander at a couple of relatively new threads over on the Delta board. It seems that DL is in the process of copying UA w/r/t monetizing the FC cabin. Many of the posts are eerily similar to those that appeared in threads here a few years back.
There's no place to hide if choosing among UA, AA, and DL, especially once AA and US merge and adopt the "$$$ not miles" model also.
There's no place to hide if choosing among UA, AA, and DL, especially once AA and US merge and adopt the "$$$ not miles" model also.
Like my mom said, just because everyone else is doing it.....
#283
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Midwest
Programs: UA GS, UA 1.6MM, AA LT PLT, AA 2.6MM, Intercontinental Royal Ambassador
Posts: 837
I believe you must have an excessive amount of something. I think it is great UA is working for you!
I just flew UA last weekend with my family. I have flown over 200k miles this year. We were treated poorly on every connection. In fact on one flight , the minute we stepped on the small jet, the FA started nagging us about our carry on items and made one of us move to accommodate a woman with two children.
On our last flight of return there were two small children crying and screaming (until one finally threw up) in first class for the entire 3 hour flight. There were only eight seats in first class. I was not in one of them. When I say screaming, I mean full lung capacity, no resting. It was miserable.
On several of my most recent flights, the FAs seem to hate their jobs and have acted like the passengers are just bothersome nags. Flying international business class is a complete waste of good money. The service is horrible and certainly not worth thousands of dollars.
I just flew UA last weekend with my family. I have flown over 200k miles this year. We were treated poorly on every connection. In fact on one flight , the minute we stepped on the small jet, the FA started nagging us about our carry on items and made one of us move to accommodate a woman with two children.
On our last flight of return there were two small children crying and screaming (until one finally threw up) in first class for the entire 3 hour flight. There were only eight seats in first class. I was not in one of them. When I say screaming, I mean full lung capacity, no resting. It was miserable.
On several of my most recent flights, the FAs seem to hate their jobs and have acted like the passengers are just bothersome nags. Flying international business class is a complete waste of good money. The service is horrible and certainly not worth thousands of dollars.
after all those praises I read on FT, i decided to try EXP match just for the fun of it
last friday I got a free sticker upgrade to AA domestic F cabin on a 5-hour non-premium transcon on a 738. the plane has that overpriced gogo WiFi, streaming entertainment but no movies are free, no in-seat live TV, better recline than UA F, roughly same level of service, and food quality only a small notch above UA (i'd rate AA as a B+ and UA as a B in food, but nothing totally drastic like what's portrayed here).
it was a decently pleasant experience (overall grading B+), but nothing like the "AA is infinitely better than UA in XYZ" that so many people love to proclaim. by the time I factor in their route network, the limited number of partners, potential challenges once they're combined in SOC, and the inflexible award routing rules, i've decided not to jump ship. I have yet to try DL F, but their list of partners is so fatally flawed that migration to SkyTeam is not remotely an option.
UA, despite its flaws in certain aspects, serves a Manhattan-based international traveler the best.
last friday I got a free sticker upgrade to AA domestic F cabin on a 5-hour non-premium transcon on a 738. the plane has that overpriced gogo WiFi, streaming entertainment but no movies are free, no in-seat live TV, better recline than UA F, roughly same level of service, and food quality only a small notch above UA (i'd rate AA as a B+ and UA as a B in food, but nothing totally drastic like what's portrayed here).
it was a decently pleasant experience (overall grading B+), but nothing like the "AA is infinitely better than UA in XYZ" that so many people love to proclaim. by the time I factor in their route network, the limited number of partners, potential challenges once they're combined in SOC, and the inflexible award routing rules, i've decided not to jump ship. I have yet to try DL F, but their list of partners is so fatally flawed that migration to SkyTeam is not remotely an option.
UA, despite its flaws in certain aspects, serves a Manhattan-based international traveler the best.
I am the opposite as I'm a life long AA flyer (CK/EXP, 2.5 LT MM) and due to a job switch had to start flying UA in 2011. I am now a GS on UA and a CK on AA. I flew 200,000 miles on UA and 150,000 miles on AA this year. I agree with you - they both feel the same to me. The flight crews are equally professional and courteous. The FAs are just flat out nice on both airlines. I don't run into these sourpusses that seem to color everyone's perception of the airline industry. Given how much I fly, I find my experience to be the norm and not the exception. When I check with my colleagues, friends, and family, no one complains about UA (or AA).
I think we're going through a secular change in the airline industry where things will never be the same as they used to be. This is hard to endure and I understand that. I also think it causes a lot of emotion to enter into the picture and that's what you end up seeing here on FT. DAL and UA have made their moves and AA will do so in a year bringing parity to the industry. After that, it will be up to each individual airline to compete on service. I think better days are ahead but clearly the industry is moving to a new place - better for some, worse for others, but certainly different.
I also recognize that what is good for me today will be bad for me tomorrow but I'm pretty easygoing about it so it doesn't bother me.
EDIT: I forgot to add that I'm so satisfied with UA in 2014 that I won't be flying AA in 2015. I'm giving all of my business to UA going forward. I find the GS program to be better than the CK program at AA.
#284
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: UA PP, AA, DL, BA, CX, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 2,002
Glad you finally saw the light!
A few notes or clarifications:
- Hope you appreciated the "free" sticker UG...we all know that's not likely to happen on UA on a TCON...they even happen on the A321B
- Always, always buy Gogo ahead of time...all-day flat $16 rate. Very fair IMO.
- Agreed on service, it's not like you're getting CX/SQ
- New 738s are all getting seatback AVOD in F/Y (along with power)...I've been on a few, they're quite excellent planes
- Food...yes, unfortunately, with the post-9/1 cuts, AA is no longer heads and shoulders above UA quality-wise (just a big higher). Still nice to pre-order online, and of course flying RJs there's no comparison.
Fly AA as an EXP for the year and you'll appreciate the difference (much like FlyWorld, not a huge difference if flying in Y as a non-elite, or in your case, a single flight)...you are actually treated as the top customer on the airline. And this NYC-based mostly-business-traveler thinks AA/OW is just fantastic ^
A few notes or clarifications:
- Hope you appreciated the "free" sticker UG...we all know that's not likely to happen on UA on a TCON...they even happen on the A321B
- Always, always buy Gogo ahead of time...all-day flat $16 rate. Very fair IMO.
- Agreed on service, it's not like you're getting CX/SQ
- New 738s are all getting seatback AVOD in F/Y (along with power)...I've been on a few, they're quite excellent planes
- Food...yes, unfortunately, with the post-9/1 cuts, AA is no longer heads and shoulders above UA quality-wise (just a big higher). Still nice to pre-order online, and of course flying RJs there's no comparison.
Fly AA as an EXP for the year and you'll appreciate the difference (much like FlyWorld, not a huge difference if flying in Y as a non-elite, or in your case, a single flight)...you are actually treated as the top customer on the airline. And this NYC-based mostly-business-traveler thinks AA/OW is just fantastic ^
I had one of the older 738s that had drop down TVs but not seat-back ones.
My most frequented route is flown 2x daily by AA but 4-7x by UA (depending on season). That's a tough pill to swallow.
This is quite true. GS has a lot of real concrete benefits like Benz transfers and converting regular upgrade/revenue buckets to saver awards.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Dec 22, 2014 at 10:39 am Reason: Merge
#285
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Midwest
Programs: UA GS, UA 1.6MM, AA LT PLT, AA 2.6MM, Intercontinental Royal Ambassador
Posts: 837
You are right. Also, the GS upgrades are far superior to the CK/EXP upgrade rate. I know a few other double GS and CKs who are moving everything to UA in 2015 due to the GS program and the superior RDM earning potential. If/when AA decides to step up its CK program, I'll reconsider coming back but in 2015 I'm pretty locked into UA.