I am starting to look at flying CO for some domestic routes this year. It's not a total defection from UAL, just that our corp. travel department seems to like CO for a lot of bookings.
So, hi, hello, how are ya, glad to be here. ^ Looking forward to being part of 2 FT boards now.

welcome to CO!

I hope you enjoy the well-maintained planes and younger, nicer employees!

Welcome to the bright side

I had been 1K with UA for years before moving to IAHland 5 years ago. I started flying CO and realized how poor the service was on UA. I had to make a flight on UA a couple of weeks ago and that flight just reinforced my view of how much better CO is than UA. Yes, I miss the SWU, but not so much.

And meals at meal time.

And flight schedules that don't collapse at month-end for lack of staffing.

(Sorry, though, no E+).

and fly co to meet the yanks ^

Hi flyinryan! Nice to see you in these parts!

Personally, I think both airlines are solid US based carriers, where each carrier is unique. Focusing on the positives:

United Airlines:

* Economy Plus
* International F class on longhaul flights
* Channel 9
* Drinkable wine in international premium cabins
* Better Asian network
* Excellent global alliance and partners
* Introduction of flat/ horizontal seats in international F & C classes
* Million Miler program
* Very decent reward availabilty 11 months out
* 6 SWUs (confirmed international upgrades on most fares) for top tier elites
* Up to 8 CR1s (domestic confirmed upgrades on any fare) for top tier elites
* Standby upgrades (day of departure) using miles/ SWUs for lounghaul intl. flights

Continental Airlines:

* Better meals in domestic F
* Better meals in international J
* Free meals in Y during mealtime
* Free booze in lounges
* Kickass wines for purchase in lounges
* Free wifi in lounges
* Free lounge access with Amex Plat card
* All US based phone agents for US based customers
* CO Insider on FT
* Far better website
* Mix and match award types
* Amex Membership Rewards Participation

Thanks for the welcome, everyone.
My first flight is Monday 1/7, SFO-IAH-CRP. It's in full Y, and I am already upgraded. The return in later in the week on a B fare, so that has a decent shot at the upgrade, right?

So, the grub in F is better on CO, is it? Sweet. ^

I kinda shudder at the thought of doing any longish flights in CO Y. I'm tall. That 31" pitch scares me and my knees. Hopefully, I can snag exit rows when I miss the upgrades.

I am willing to give CO an honest shot. I will miss some stuff about UA - mostly Channel 9 - but as for the rest...meh. I do like my SWUs, and most of my interaction with UA employees has been good. But aging planes, pi$$ed off employees, IT that is a total joke - they can have it.

See you in the sky!

Babu: one of the other neato things about UA: First Class seating in some regional jets, including the wretched CRappyJet. I have never missed an upgrade on an exPlus configured aircraft. ^
I had to take CO on a last-minute one-way last year CRP-IAH-ORF. It was all ERJ145's. I cannot describe my happiness when the Brazilian Torture Tube finally landed in Norfolk. Fortunately, I do not judge CO by that trip.

To/from SFO isn't a great upgrade chances route, either from IAH or EWR, though IAH is better. I wouldn't hold your breath, but be happy when it does happen. At least as a platinum you have a chance. Silvers/golds not so much most of the time.

I wouldn't judge any airline based on one flight, but please keep in mind that approximately 50% of CO's domestic flights are comprised of RJ's (ERJ & CRJ) and props. None of these planes has FC.

If you fly in and out of CLE, the majority of the flights are on RJ's.

And the 50% EQMs on your low bucket fares not booked at co.com!

duplicate post

Welcome to the CO Forum!

So, did you get comp'd to Plat?

Nah, I snuck in a quick 75K EQM before I bothered to post here.
(yes, I did.)
And many thanks to a great OnePass service center. I e-mailed about a comp to PLT this morning. I got a response, and took a photo of my UA1K card, cut n pasted my UA 2007 statement, put it all in a Word doc, e-mailed it off and blammo: a couple hours later, I'm PLT.
Now, whether I keep it - that's a different story. But as I said: I really will give CO a fair shake. And so far, so good. ^

After you fly CO and get to enjoy new, clean planes and other amenities and folks that actually enjoy working for CO...you will not look back at United Airlines and miss those SWUs. A

nd what you really should do is send a letter to Uniteds CEO and let him know that you have left, where you moved your business., and why. Feel free to tell your other UA flyers of your CO experience and get them to switch and send those letters to the CEO.

I am sure UA knows that the cost to get a new customer is probably 10x or more than of keeping an existing UA frequent flyer happy.

I have had the unfortunate experience of flying United once...and I was not impressed at all. Planes were old, dingy, gate agents were crabby, and flight attendents were not friendly. Its all about customer service and if an airline can't provide decent customer service then why are they around?

I would not be surprised to see one of the majors go under/get bought out this year with oil prices at $100 per barrel.