Ysitincoach

Yep, dead on. The UA attitude has been an instant hit with CO employees.

I'm just lost with where to go? UA/CO may be the first of the worst in this industry.

UA-NYC

I'm curious about what the "UA attitude is" that's rubbing everyone the wrong way, since it seems to be $misek's CO team that is running the show now (and doing a piss poor job of it). Instead of elevating the airline, it's death by 1000 cuts.

Luvs2snowbordbut1kSEA

WOW! UNBELIEVABLE!!

Maybe it's because they don't have a pillow anymore, or they are frustrated with the UA flyers asking them to actually DO something.

Now I know there were some bad CS issues with UA, but this is Mr. Smisek's group that he hired and trained... I guess that's what you get! Give me an F'ing break!

Dr_Adventure

This unfortunately is something CO folks can't see - the CO they remember is the buthune co - which has been gone for a while - they think of UA as the company of the 90's. It is the attitude of the more recent CO that is corrupting co - and migrating to UA via executive management.

CMK10

Delta does seem to be beefing up service to MCI. I'm doing far better on upgrades as a Silver Medallion with Delta (6/11) than as a Premier with United/CO (3/20). Although is the situation with UA aircraft to MCI that bad? When I went there in May I had a CR7 in from ORD (on a Saturday) and a CR7 out to IAD.

robyng

Sometimes it's not an attitude problem. Our last CO flight out of LAX -> IAH -> JAX got into trouble when the flight from EWR (which we were supposed to take to IAH) was delayed because of weather at EWR. By the time the EWR/LAX flight arrived - the crew couldn't get to IAH without exceeding maximum work hours. So CO had to find a new crew. It did find a new crew for LAX/IAH - but not in time for us to make our connecting flight IAH/JAX (last of the day). But we took the flight anyway - figuring halfway was better than nothing. And CO paid for our hotel and our dinner at IAH (albeit at the "El Dumpo"). We would have paid for a better hotel ourselves - but IAH hotels were basically sold out (there were tons of stranded passengers that day due to weather).

Frankly - thinking back - the last time we encountered an attitude problem at an airport or on an airplane was at CDG a few years ago when my husband tried to go through security wearing his big leg brace. The French equivalent of our TSA was unspeakably rude and offensive and seemingly incompetent (perhaps our French wasn't good enough for them ).

Anyway - if you see people working in the airline industry today who are grumpier - perhaps it's because of a lot of the jerky passengers they have to deal with. Just a thought. Robyn

Perhaps I am missing something - or am not a demanding passenger - but what do you ask flight attendants to do during a flight that they don't do? On any airline. That irks you. I'm not even sure what you do with a pillow (I am usually awake during daytime flights and try to avoid red-eyes if possible because - even with an Ambien - I can't sleep on my back - and have not yet had the opportunity to sleep on a lie flat seat). Robyn

I think we're going to see a lot of jockeying between DL and CO/UA when it comes to service out of smaller airports like MCI (I use JAX - they're probably similar). Also - we will have to keep in mind that all domestic carriers are cutting back in terms of flights (there was an article to this effect in the WSJ in the last week). I booked JAX/LAX on DL perhaps 4 months ago - and just had all my flights changed again today (for the second time). Robyn

weero

I could live with most of the ugly little changes the new hybrid airline inflicted upon us: the socialist red carpet, the annihilation of zone boarding at least in the US, the silly medical needs and warrior priority boarding. I took it the WGASA way.

But the crippling blows to MileagePlus are driving me away from the Simsek's Frankenstein creature. The dismantling of the SWUs to assure their timely death. Then the catastrophic redemption increases for travel to and and within Asia. And now the a posteriori destruction of the upgrades from full fares.

In three fat blows MP went from one of the best FFPs IMHO to a very mediocre European style loyalty program.

And other than MileagePlus ... there isn't much left of UA which I like or fondly remember. In the contrary, next to the babble-addicted pursers on the NRT route, I now also have to put up with that disgusting piece of propaganda they shove into our faces every time we make the mistake to fly with them .

And there is not a single good thing. After a year of shameless bragging, there is still not SWU use on CO, still no confirmed upgrades on codeshares, no shared miles. Nothing whatsoever for the customers other than a steep hike in fares, lies, lesser awards, fewer benefits. Nothing whatsoever.

dinoscool3

There's a daily 737 flight to Houston, and A320s and even a 757 sometimes to at least DEN.

rruaco

Apart from a reduction in TATL J award miles, better beer in the RCCs, more flight options, more clubs, more flat beds in the fleet, better IFE and at-seat power, better food in F, one way awards, better award searching and lifetime EQM on partners... what has CO done for US?!

(UA has done some good things for CO too ^)

robyng

Are you saying you mind disabled people boarding first? If so - . I mean we're not talking about Southwest Airlines* - everyone has an assigned seat on CO/UA. So if you get to your seat at X minutes + 5 instead of X minutes - what's the big deal? FWIW - my husband is partially disabled (he has MS - needs a big leg brace to walk - sometimes a cane or crutches too). So he is a bit slow to board (especially if he has to climb stairs to get on an Embraer). Allowing him and people like him to board first actually speeds up the entire boarding process IMO. Also note that we always check luggage - don't carry on - as a courtesy to other passengers (because carry-on luggage would slow us up even more - especially going through security - my husband's assistive devices always get "tested" to make sure they're not bombs ). As for our soldiers - I am more than happy to give them "first dibs". They've earned some perks IMO.

Also - are you saying that the CO FF program/platform is worse than the UA FF program/platform? If so - that is ok by me - because I was worried about getting a worse FF program/platform from UA (I know zero about UA or its FF program/platform). OTOH - I have read many conflicting messages about this. And just curious. With regard to UA - how many points/miles did you need for a front of the plane trip from North America to Asia before the merger - and how many do you need now? Did (or does) UA have something similar to the SaverPass/EasyPass rewards system on CO? You pretty much need 300k miles RT on CO these days for BF - that's an EasyPass Reward - except if you're traveling to a somewhat touristy destination in Asia during very low season (think Beijing in January - you might be able to get a SaverPass reward then). No problem if you don't know the answers (you may be a real FF - and I am more of a spending on credit cards for miles kind of person).

Finally - like I've said many times - all of my questions are asked so I can decide what actions to take before the merger is completed. In particular - I have to decide whether or not to move a lot of AMEX MR points to CO before 9/30. Sometimes - it seems like most CO people and most UA people are unhappy with the consequences of the merger - so I don't know what to think. The merger can't be totally bad for everyone - can it?. At least one writer seems to think it can be:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/deals...er-miles_N.htm

Robyn

* - I don't think I've ever flown more than 1 short leg of a multi-leg flight on Southwest Airlines. But I looked into it recently - since it flies out of my local airport - and I've been getting some good credit card offers from it recently. If you're disabled - you have to go to customer service - or something like that - prove your disability - and get a blue sleeve to put on your arm to show you're entitled to "disabled boarding" (which comes between group A and group B boarding). Thanks but no thanks.

LarkSFO

Robyn - you have been around FT enough (1900+ posts, 6 years) to know that FT certainly does not represent the opinions of all UA FF'ers out there... So my assumption is that there is some element of 'Tongue in Cheek' to your post.

Everybody should consistently (probably in December of each year) re-evaluate their travel plans, their priorities, what they value in a flying experience, etc. and decide whether to stick with their incumbent airline of choice or whether to go see if the grass is greener.

In my case, none of the changes UA has made so far appear so drastic that it will immediately cause me to jump ship. I like the way I am treated by UA, as a 1K.

My thinking recently has been more along the lines of a macro level questioning of the value of loyalty to any one airline.

Since so many of them (including UA) now sell the benefits that I receive as a loyal elite, why should I go out of my way to maintain elite status?

Instead, I'll evaluate for each trip on its own merits (cost, timing, connections, airline, etc.) and go with the one that best suits my needs.If I want F, I'll buy it (either initially, or as an upsell). If I want priority boarding, checked luggage, etc., I will buy them also.

Being SFO based, no matter how I look at it UA always seems to be the common denominator, so I'll probably still fly them most. But for certain trips and destinations Virgin, Alaska, Delta, American, an Int'l carrier, or even Southwest may make more sense. And I can buy the amenities I value on most of these carriers too...

On your question regarding Membership Rewards points, I am going through the same evaluation...

I am thinking I will probably transfer all I have to CO before 9/30. But there are also a couple of vacations next year where they may come in handy (either transfer to hotel program, or use the points to book a hotel package with AMEX Travel). Let us know what you decide on that front...

robyng

The number of my posts belies my ignorance in this particular area. Because I mostly chat in the luxury hotel forum and area specific travel forums. For years - decades - as someone who lives in the SE - I have been happy with an AMEX MR card - a CO card - and using CO and Delta as my primary airlines (both have been AMEX partners for as long as I can remember). I can even remember when CO and DL were partners in terms of booking reward flights (guess that disappeared maybe 3-4 years ago). So this "recipe" was always - to me - kind of a no-brainer if you lived in the SE outside of the MIA AA hub. You of course are at the opposite end of the country - and what has worked for us in the SE possibly never made sense in the middle left coast areas - I think you're pretty much in UA - not CO or DL country. So it's kind of a big decision on my part. Will my MR points be better on CO - or DL? My answer in the SE might differ a lot from people like you in other parts of the country.

In terms of your thinking on a macro level about loyalty - I agree. Not only with regard to airlines - but also with regard to credit cards. We've done so much on AMEX - for decades - and I'd have to give my husband a swift kick in the pants to change his thinking about sticking with AMEX - but all they have ever offered us apart from the CO/DL MR partnership (which was great if you live in the SE) was 15k miles for a $30k/year spend - for a $175/year card - and that only started this year best I recall. With CO gone - I'm not sure the card is worthwhile (we buy a fair amount at Costco - which only accepts AMEX - but I reckon there's a better Costco AMEX card than the one I'm using now).

I'll keep talking about this until 9/30 - and hope to hear from other people who are making the same decisions we're making. Robyn

mduell

No additional clubs - there was already mutual access through *A.
Fresh veggies gone from the RCC.
In-seat power on the narrowbodies is a joke - it can't even support my netbook's 45W adapter.
Lifetime mileage methodology has yet to be announced.

LarkSFO

I know this is off topic, but humor me...

Robyn:

If you own your own home (will not be needing a new mortgage), do not need to refinanace soon, have a 'good' FICO score, and are willing to expend some effort for points, then you and your husband should investigate the world of credit card churning!

Do you read the points guys blog? Great source of information on this - he 'churns' quarterly based upon what the latest and greatest offers are.

http://thepointsguy.com/

In my case, between my spouse and I, we have gained hundreds of thousands of points / miles across various programs in just the past few months.

Yes, it has been some effort (and headache) to keep track of the new cards, minimum spend requirements to earn bonus points, when we are going to cancel cards, etc.

But the points / miles we have gotten with AMEX, Marriott, UA, CO, Hilton, Hyatt (2 nights in any hotel), etc. have been well worth the effort!

Good luck,

Lark

demkr

Just did the opposite and impulsively booked about 85K on CO along with a 35K Plat challenge. (I want my CR1s and SWUs for 2012)...It cost me an arm and a leg. 1.5 MM on AA and all I see are cuts, cuts, cuts. Smisek > Arpey.

Smisek may want to trim the trees, but Arpey is sinking the ship.

If you think United's (stellar and consistently industry-leading) on-time rate is bad, lord knows what you would feel like on AA. Zero reliability and operational efficiency (or lack thereof) was the main reason I left.