I don't fly nearly as much as some of regulars, but am happy that I will get UA status this month. Although I live in another airlines' hub city, and have flown that carrier for 10 years, I have been flying UA since last fall at the request of a client who is reimbursing the trips. At first I complied due to my clients request, but I am now sold on UA. As an example:

On a recent flight out of DEN, I was in row 5 in E+, with an empty seat next to me on an otherwise VERY full flight. I was trying to work but there was an unhappy infant across the aisle, and a family of 5 with the most unruly children imaginable directly in front of me. About an hour into the flight, the FA from first class stepped back and gave me a complimentary glass of wine, whispering that something to the effect that it looked like I might need it based on the behaviour of the kids in front of me. This probably cost UA less than $2, but was so appreciated, and just reinforced my resolve to fly UA.

In 10 years of flying my ht airline I only once (and that was after pleading) experienced the type of nice gestures I have in 10 months of flying UA. Have others experienced similar nice gestures from UA staff?