Programs: happily dropping to UA 1P, CO Silver, HH Diamond, worthless Hertz #1 Gold 5 Star thing
Posts: 3,669
Quote:
Originally Posted by correction
Well I'm just wondering where you got the idea you were entitled to CH 9 access. Can you shed some light on that?
Sure. United Airlines advertises Channel 9 in all the on-board literature, united.com, etc etc. Now, of course, we all understand that is at the discretion of the PIC. However, the recent trend is for Ch9 to be off during many more flights than we UA flyers are used to. Most of us seem to agree Ch9 used to be on about 90% of the time, or a number close to that. It is no longer on with anything close to that frequency. So that's when this thread really started to pick up speed.
It's my assertion that UA passengers are "entitled" to Channel 9, much in the same way we are "entitled" to upgrades and Economy Plus and using miles for free tickets and all the other things that don't always happen, but are offered by United. Outside of that context, you won't find me or anyone else on this thread saying they are entitled to Channel 9. I know it's a long thread, but it's all there for the reading.
__________________
Still here, still flyin, just not as often as before
Sure. United Airlines advertises Channel 9 in all the on-board literature, united.com, etc etc. Now, of course, we all understand that is at the discretion of the PIC.
Do you? Do you really? Because this thread would not have the same posts coming up over and over again if you really understood it.
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Originally Posted by flyinryan
However
No however, Ryan - its their decision - period!
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Originally Posted by flyinryan
the recent trend is for Ch9 to be off during many more flights than we UA flyers are used to.
Still hearsay. There is an awful lot of thumbs up going on but they are being ignored for the 'good' stories and thumbs down scenarios. Do you have any real statistics from prior to this year? If no, there is no trend, because you have no solid info on what happened before.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flyinryan
Most of us seem to agree Ch9 used to be on about 90% of the time, or a number close to that.
Who is this "us" you speak of? A handful or even a 100 (which this thread is far short of) is not a "most" on a bulletin board with thousands of members.
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Originally Posted by flyinryan
It is no longer on with anything close to that frequency. So that's when this thread really started to pick up speed.
And I thought it was the growing antagonism that did that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flyinryan
It's my assertionthat UA passengers are "entitled" to Channel 9
And there you have it -- YOU don't have any rights with regard to channel 9, that is what it means to be at the pilot's discretion. It's their right, entitlement, etc - not yours
Quote:
Originally Posted by flyinryan
, much in the same way we are "entitled" to upgrades and Economy Plus and using miles for free tickets and all the other things that don't always happen, but are offered by United.
Was there a line about pilot's discretion regarding upgrades that I missed in my 1K booklet?
Quote:
Originally Posted by flyinryan
Outside of that context, you won't find me or anyone else on this thread saying they are entitled to Channel 9. I know it's a long thread, but it's all there for the reading.
If you assert you're entitled in this manner, I gotta think it boils over into your flying experiences too. If it doesn't, good on you but otherwise
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA (Recently of San Francisco)
Programs: UA-1P,SPG-Gold,Marriott-Silver
Posts: 10,347
Quote:
Originally Posted by correction
What's next with you people?
1. Would you mind asking the captain to fly at a higher altitude? He wont? Well ask him why. I want to know why.
As a matter of fact, I used to do this quite often, when my flying phobia was quite severe. If we were at an altitude that was uncomfortable for me because of turbulence, I'd ask the FA if he or she could speak to the captain and see if a more comfortable altitude was available. The FAs on every US carrier that I flew always did so and, more often than not, a few minutes later we'd go up or down and things would smooth out. I remember once on an AA flight to DFW, when I made the request of the FA, she said, "You know, you're right -- I was about to ask myself." I don't do this anymore because my phobia has gone as quickly as it came on (don't ask me why). However, I found that, if my request wasn't accommodated, I'd always get a report back from the FA telling me something like, "The captain said we'd only be in rough air for another 10 minutes, so just try to hang on."
The only exception was on a China Eastern transpac. I asked the FA for an altitude change. He looked at me strangely, went away, came back and said, "I spoke to the captain. We don't do that."
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2. Can you ask the captain to descend at a slower rate? My ears hurt. He refuses? I demand to know why or I'm calling customer care.
I've never done that, but I'd expect a captain, alerted to a medical problem of a pax that could lead to a ruptured ear drum, would take that into account as he or she descends.
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Of course the captains CAN do something differently, but it's their JOB and their PLACE to decide how they run their ship - not yours.
It's their responsibility. That doesn't mean that pax can't voice an opinion if it's done so politely and respectfully.
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Do you question the way a surgeon makes an incision?
Actually, yes. When I had melanoma surgery, I discussed, in detail, how the surgeon would make the incision, since a potential outcome would have been severing a facial nerve that would have paralyzed half of my face.
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What makes you think you are QUALIFIED to make such decisions?
I'm not qualified to make technical decisions. However, I'm certainly qualified to communicate my concerns to the professional in whom I've reposed my trust so that he or she is aware of my concerns.
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More importantly, what makes you think you are ENTITLED??
It's my life, my comfort, my face, my eardrums, etc. That entitles me politely and courteously communicate my concerns.
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Get over yourselves!
It's you who needs to get over something. Life (and airlines) aren't the military, and "we're just following orders" isn't much of an excuse even then.
Programs: happily dropping to UA 1P, CO Silver, HH Diamond, worthless Hertz #1 Gold 5 Star thing
Posts: 3,669
The problem arises when pilots use their discretion to turn off Channel 9 because of their (legitimate!) beef with UA execs. Plain and simple. 80 pages into the thread and that's the big issue I have. So, no, sorry, discussion not over by any stretch. Some UA pilots have said that's why they are turning it off, and that's where the problems come up for me. Don't deprive me and other passengers who enjoy Channel 9 - and choose UA because of - Channel 9 - simply because you hate Tilton and think he is stealing from you. That's all well and good, but keep the passengers out of it. There's your 80 page thread in a nutshell.
Captain wants to keep it off because he/she doesn't like it? That sucks and it's kinda lame, but whatever.
Afraid of YouTube? Again, lame, but whatev.
National Security? Ahh, how that one made me laugh.
"The pilots of United are DONE doing anything that is at their discretion. Sorry, but that's the way it is." Sound familiar? Yeah, I have a bit of a problem with that, and if no one else does, well, they are free to ignore this entire discussion. I don't bend so easily, and I am not going to let something I enjoy get taken away for such a ridiculous premise.
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Still here, still flyin, just not as often as before
Moderator: United Mileage Plus, Women Travelers & Trip Reports
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Alamo, CA
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Sorry for the delay. We will be opening a new thread for you to report on Channel 9's availability shortly, and we will be moving on-topic posts from this thread over to the new one. Thanks for your patience.
![The Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Thread [Merged]](/forum/iconimages/united-mileage-plus/consolidated-channel-9-availability-thread-merged_ltr.gif)
Ahh, how that one made me laugh. 
