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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 1:47 am
  #1  
guilt by association
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Platinum, QF
Posts: 59
The best and worst things about United

This is my list. Post yours!

FOUR REASONS TO LIKE UNITED
  1. Economy plus
  2. Good prices and a solid route network
  3. Decent customer service (for a US carrier; not competitive with QF)
  4. A good chance of upgrading myself and a companion on the flights where it really matters to me (even as a 2P)

THREE REASONS TO DISLIKE UNITED
  1. Insane change fees
  2. $175 each way to check a bicycle on domestic flights??? Even a folding bicycle? Is this because you hate cyclists? SW lets me take one for free...
  3. The food, wine, IFE, service... compared to QF or NZ or SQ, UA's standards are dreadful. But I'll take E+ or a $100 cheaper ticket over these any day.

The first of those isn't just a reason to dislike United, it's a reason to look for an alternative. $250 + fare diff for international itineraries, or even for domestic segments of international itineraries? Really? Twice this year I've been asked for $500-800 for trivial date changes between equally full flights (or even when moving to less full flights). I refuse to pay those ransoms, and live my life with messed up, inconvenient travel dates. By comparison, QF seemed to charge $0 for date changes, and maybe $75 for routing changes.

Post your list!
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