What is the #1 United advantage to you over the next best competitor?
Feb 18, 2005, 8:00 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MileagePlus Premier Gold
Posts: 11,522
What is the #1 United advantage to you over the next best competitor?
First of all, thanks to everyone here for flying United.
Can you pinpoint the number one advantage United has over your next best choice for air travel? If you care to, perhaps share your travel patterns too as each person's situation is different. For example, a loyal UA customer based at a strong competitor hub like DFW or DTW may be very different reasons for being loyal to UA that someone based at a strong UA hub like SFO (or maybe we just give great service all around
and it doesn't matter where you're based).
Thanks!
Can you pinpoint the number one advantage United has over your next best choice for air travel? If you care to, perhaps share your travel patterns too as each person's situation is different. For example, a loyal UA customer based at a strong competitor hub like DFW or DTW may be very different reasons for being loyal to UA that someone based at a strong UA hub like SFO (or maybe we just give great service all around
and it doesn't matter where you're based).Thanks!
Feb 18, 2005, 8:07 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicagoland/ORD
Programs: UA Million Miler (Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,458
Hard to narrow down to one. One: E+. More: nonstop flights out of ORD to almost everywhere I want to go, generally good customer service although there is still room for improvement.
Feb 18, 2005, 8:08 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: United MM- Marriott Titanium - Air France/KLM Flying Blue Platinum
Posts: 4,835
1) convenience with the SFO hub and choice of non-stop destinations
2) international network
3) bigger and better planes
4) channel 9
2) international network
3) bigger and better planes
4) channel 9
Feb 18, 2005, 8:11 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Nah.
Posts: 13,967
I travel USA->Australia a few times a year, and if I want to take the west coast->Australia direct flights, I can only choose QF or UA. I was a loyal QF flyer for quite a few years, but I switched.
For the little amount of domestic flying I do, AA/UA (OW/*A) makes not much difference to me. However, the transatlantic trips are a little more inconvinient, since AA has a hub in my home airport. Connecting through ORD/IAD is doable for the < 6 transatlantic flights I do each year.
The QF scheme has been devalued yet again, and it does not make it worth my while. Despite the fact that their cabin service and schedules are more convinient, it is the MP benefits which make it advantageous to be a UA flyer.
For the little amount of domestic flying I do, AA/UA (OW/*A) makes not much difference to me. However, the transatlantic trips are a little more inconvinient, since AA has a hub in my home airport. Connecting through ORD/IAD is doable for the < 6 transatlantic flights I do each year.
The QF scheme has been devalued yet again, and it does not make it worth my while. Despite the fact that their cabin service and schedules are more convinient, it is the MP benefits which make it advantageous to be a UA flyer.
Feb 18, 2005, 8:27 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
Being based at ORD I have a choice between AA and UA. After using both for awhile, I switched completely to UA a few years back. Why?
1) route structure and destinations that more closely match my travel habits.
2) E+
3) reasonable (and ofter better than reasonable) service at a competetive price
4) the people. While I sometimes encounter a bad egg, in general the UA personnel are friendly and competent, some are truly outstanding.
5) larger planes on major routes than those flown by AA
6) no MD-80's
1) route structure and destinations that more closely match my travel habits.
2) E+
3) reasonable (and ofter better than reasonable) service at a competetive price
4) the people. While I sometimes encounter a bad egg, in general the UA personnel are friendly and competent, some are truly outstanding.
5) larger planes on major routes than those flown by AA
6) no MD-80's
Last edited by milepig; Feb 18, 2005 at 8:36 am
Feb 18, 2005, 8:34 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
The only other choice from SYD is Qantas.
Easy decision.
Glen
Easy decision.
Glen
Feb 18, 2005, 8:42 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS and vicinity
Programs: Former UA 1P
Posts: 3,725
If it must be narrowed to 1:
E+
E+
Feb 18, 2005, 8:49 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 68
Living 15 minutes from IAD, easy decission as well.
- most directs routes to the major cities I travel
- many non-stops to Europe, especially Germany
- E+
- new Embraer RJs to NYC
- frequent upgrades
- had to travel only once thru concourse G
- most directs routes to the major cities I travel
- many non-stops to Europe, especially Germany
- E+
- new Embraer RJs to NYC
- frequent upgrades
- had to travel only once thru concourse G
Feb 18, 2005, 8:53 am
#10
Used to be Premier Monkey
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA EXP; Priority Club PLT; HHonors Gold
Posts: 475
This is Easy (and not "easy" like MrChicken):
Economy Plus.
Economy Plus.
Feb 18, 2005, 8:55 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: NYC/SYD
Programs: Virtuoso Travel Advisor. FSPP, Ritz STARS, Rosewood Elite, Belmond BelliniClub. SPG PRO
Posts: 2,445
If I had to pick just one it is E+. My last trip was on Lufthansa and I was rather disappointed with the small seats. Now that I am 1P most of the airlines seem to care what I think and go out of their way to make me comfortable. Even AA with whom I have a short history with has offered me single day services of equal level out of JFK.
But NOTHING compares to the E+ for cheap comfortable flights in my mind.
But NOTHING compares to the E+ for cheap comfortable flights in my mind.
Feb 18, 2005, 8:57 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: DEN: WN or UA, AA LT Gold, VIA Preference Preferred
Posts: 1,550
Originally Posted by studentff
If it must be narrowed to 1:
E+
E+
Feb 18, 2005, 9:00 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA & YSB-YYZ Canada
Programs: AC SE, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 210
No 1 Definitely Economy plus
No 2 Ch 9
No 2 Ch 9
Feb 18, 2005, 9:01 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,637
1. UA route structure is better for me than any other one carrier.
2. Generous upgrade program.
3. Mileage Plus program in general.
4. E+ for the very few times I haven't been able to upgrade.
Most of my flying these days is international. Even though I listed UA's route structure as #1, having to connect in SFO much of the time (not easy to do from ONT!) has caused me to evaluate other options. Then I consider the pther reasons, and I stay in UA.
2. Generous upgrade program.
3. Mileage Plus program in general.
4. E+ for the very few times I haven't been able to upgrade.
Most of my flying these days is international. Even though I listed UA's route structure as #1, having to connect in SFO much of the time (not easy to do from ONT!) has caused me to evaluate other options. Then I consider the pther reasons, and I stay in UA.
Feb 18, 2005, 9:02 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: Bar Alliance Gold
Posts: 16,271
Originally Posted by UnitedSkies
Can you pinpoint the number one advantage United has over your next best choice for air travel?
As a Premier Executive, I am rarely not in an Exit Row seat, but it is very comforting to know that I have that extra 4-5 inches, period, in case they're all taken.