Skacorica

+1

Saying "assaulted" because of bad service ... really?

BearX220

This sort of disgusting performance by the shameless, vicious saboteurs out of the SFO base has been going on for years, and will continue until passengers somehow make it more costly for UA to tolerate than to confront.

I learned to avoid UA transoceanic flights years ago, and periodic reports like this create no incentive to re-sample. On TPAC, when I was with CO/NW-ST, I could fly NW or KE. Now that I've ended up with UA-*A, it's AC or OZ for me. I can't understand why anyone would choose to subject themselves to UA TPAC.

Yet some customers still want to pretend these things don't happen:

You have absolutely no basis for asserting that. In fact a second passenger on the OP's flight has chimed in on this thread to confirm things were that bad. Irrational, reflexive defense of UA no matter how appalling the service is not going to make things any better.

azepine00

I'd gladly support any move to get rid of bad apples within UA however comments like "nearly assaulted" are not gonna add credibility to your story. If there is a problem - document it, report to UA, explain how much revenue UA is likely to lose because of that, post it here and on other social media sites - just stick to the facts and leave the nonsensical exaggeration out. It will not help you in this battle.


And since there is a perception that SFO is a hub of nasty FAs and many here report similar issues why not put together a group letter to UA management from 1K/GS folks here with proper documentation of those incidents. Attach 20-30 credible examples, note the consequences to UA and perhaps things will start moving. UA/CO transition may be a good opportunity to address some of that. Again the way it's presented here is not gonna help - this is ranting and venting, nothing more.

weero

They can hardly walk in their ridiculous clown garments. How would they dance in their overly tight costumes and their overloaded towering hair and oil paint make up ?

Minnesota Bruin

I realize you're trying to be humorous here, not all people that enjoy lap dances are sleazy, straight, and/or men!

BearX220

I think that's a great idea. Not only is the SFO base notorious, I believe there are specific employees who've been discussed on FT that, by alienating customers, have cost UA many times their annual compensation in lost business.

I am sure UA management is aware but as I said it's all still seen as easier to tolerate than confront.

mh3265a

How can the OP say a golden rule is to fly a "real airline" especially UA when they're a 1K flyer. Seems like a straight-up contradiction to me!

SFO777

+1,000

rankourabu

Wasnt that OP referring to transoceanic travel "golden rule"?

In that case, what does flying UA have to do with being 1K, as long as the OP flies a partner "real airline" and credits to UA.

I've made 1P this year already with only 2 short domestic UA metal flights.

mcgahat

I have no sympathy for the OP. You obviously knew that you dont every fly in the cabin your paid for on UA or else you are getting screwed and you broke that rule. It was in the cards that you had to pay for that mistake.

My history of purchasing with UA involved paying for F then paying for C and upgrading to F then dropped to buying Y and upgrading to C as I just couldnt see the value anymore. I still fly UA because of SWU's but as the price of SWU'able fares keeps increasing it may well be thsat we need to move our business to some other carriers offering cheap C/J seats.

Now, while I dont think UA is awesome in the service category, the experience described above is not typical in my travels but unfortunately it is not unbelievable either. Most of my transpac flights are uneventful, some are great and every now and again you get something like what is described above. It sticks out in your mind for sure. You will get uneventful flights on other carriers as well but something like what is described above is in the NEVER category. Just cant imagine such a thing happening on TG, SQ, NH, OZ etc. No way.

My favorite was the lady with the cane that usually flew HKG-ORD and was just the crankiest thing you ever met and would threaten to put notes on your profile.

It becomes clear real quick on UA if the crew is a good one or a bad one. If it is good, the enjoy if it is bad, stock up on water and try to just curl up and sleep until you land and ingore as much as possible the circus show around you. Honstly, the average or great crews way outnumber the bad ones....the bad ones just stick out sooo much more.

cesco.g

Please write to UA, you do everybody a favor, especially us fellow FTers, who can relate very much to your experience!

Exleftseat

You could appear as a much more credible voice, had you not suggested the "SQ girl lap dance". That disqualified you as a serious contributor. Sound of a "buzzer"

Dr_Adventure

I've flown in C to PEK, PVG and HKG - and I've never experienced what was described in these posts - I've always been very happy with the service, the meals, etc. All of mine were out of SFO!

Boraxo

IME UA international C service is average, sometimes good, but never exceptional. Sadly LH seems to be reverting to the same model. No doubt SQ would be a better choice, but the negotiated fares are roughly double what my company pays for UA C. Ergo, you get what you pay for.

If your experience is that the price is the same, then the choice is obvious assuming you don't care about lifetime miles, etc.

mh3265a

BLUF - If you don't like flying an airline then why credit to them? He should pick an airline he likes more...