Thunderroad

For years I urged my PHL-based brother to switch to UA from UA because UA was a better airline. Over the past year, I've reversed myself and told him that he was smart not to listen to me.

It's true that the OP's experience with the repeated delays could happen with any airline and that comparing elite status treatment on one airline with accorded a regular passenger on another can be misleading. But UA has most definitely gone downhill in dealing with IRROPS -as well as regarding its the antiquated reservations system brought over from CO, a deteriorating FF program and customer service, etc. As long as UA's current management team is in place, the slide unfortunately will continue...