Originally Posted by
RobOnLI
Don't fall for "United is better operationally" hook, line & sinker just yet. Here are a few points:
1. United is struggling to get flights out on time just like DL because their hubs do not have enough workers for below-the-wing functions like getting fuel to the plane, bags loaded, cargo loaded, or catering.
2. Speaking of catering...United is switching catering companies by October. This means the current caterers are basically doing a "work stoppage" and several hubs are having a hard time getting flights catered. IAH is the worst. Several flights are going out with no catering which means you're lucky to get a bottle of water in first class.
3. Upgrades on United are much harder to come by this year. As a 1K I'm batting around 30% (haven't tallied the numbers recently). This is, by far, the worst I have ever done as a 1K, even before the pandemic. And this cannot be blamed on "fewer flights, fewer seats". This summer every United flight I'm on has solicited for volunteers because they are 100% booked.
Fly the airline with the right schedule and price because at United you can forget upgrades (as a Plat, which is what I assume you would be if you did a status challenge/transfer) and will be just as frustrated with delays and cancellations. Yes, I think UA has far better IT than DL though. The app is generally superb.
-RM
I'm currently Platinum on United, and given my lack of business travel this year, I can't justify the spend necessary to hit 1K. I'll probably him 1MM next year.
I do see that upgrades on UA look awful. A couple times, I've booked an award ticket on United as a backup to a DL revenue ticket, and I've canceled the award tickets both times because I got upgraded on DL -- and pretty early, too -- while I was halfway down the 10-50-person UG list on United with 1 seat left in First.
My theory for the sell-out of F is two-fold:
- The carriers are selling first-class fares for less, given the lack of business travel, so affluent leisure travelers are finding the prices tolerable, and
- More significantly, a lot of well-off travelers have decided they're willing to fly, albeit reluctantly, but only with personal space. Even if people aren't that concerned/scared of covid-19, I think the past year has instilled in people a stronger aversion than ever to being in physical contact with strangers. And, since flying coach often means literally touching shoulders with one or two seatmates, I imagine a lot of affluent-but-not-rich flyers -- especially those who are older -- have decided, "To hell with it; I'm not doing that," and paying the $100-300 more each way for First. I know my own parents would do so. So F sells out while Y is two-thirds empty.