Expanding Mercedes-Benz USA partnership—to the airport, plane to plane GS transport
Jul 17, 2013, 9:58 pm
#61
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Boston
Programs: UA GS MM
Posts: 129
Great to see that United is making a good effort here^^
One suggestion is that a similar proactive offer with an alternative cart for wheel chair users in this plan will be nice. So this will make the effort focus more in smooth and quick connection, with or without the fancy car.
One suggestion is that a similar proactive offer with an alternative cart for wheel chair users in this plan will be nice. So this will make the effort focus more in smooth and quick connection, with or without the fancy car.
Jul 17, 2013, 10:26 pm
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Great to see that United is making a good effort here^^
One suggestion is that a similar proactive offer with an alternative cart for wheel chair users in this plan will be nice. So this will make the effort focus more in smooth and quick connection, with or without the fancy car.
One suggestion is that a similar proactive offer with an alternative cart for wheel chair users in this plan will be nice. So this will make the effort focus more in smooth and quick connection, with or without the fancy car.
Jul 17, 2013, 10:49 pm
#63
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Boston
Programs: UA GS MM
Posts: 129
I don't think that this program is strictly a Daimler's marketing initiatives. United, I believed, have an equal, if not greater, objectives here.
Jul 17, 2013, 11:18 pm
#64
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Chicago USA
Programs: *A Junkie, SQ PPS, Skywards Gold, 2 Million Mile Flyer;*wood LT Plat, BA MM
Posts: 1,762
At FRA, the gates that I have arrived to and departed from while travelling in F Class were widebodies (744/748/A380/A340s). In every case there was an elevator on the jetbridge located about halfway between gate and aircraft. The car drops you off in front of the plane, you walk a few steps through a door and inside is a stairwell and elevator. This has been the case everytime for me (couple dozen times?).
The Mercedes drop-off program is a bigger part of Lufthansa's First Class product (HON members have access to this as well) which is excellence in flying. They own (I asked) a fleet of luxury vehicles (Cayennes & MB)* and the service is truly, well, first-class.
Having Mercedes "lend" two cars, because I know there is absolutely no way UA will pay $100K for a car, let alone two, and the inconsistency of maybe you'll get the service, maybe you won't, just leaves room for a less than stellar experience for your top customers. It's also a very cheap way to cover up all the deficiencies of a COMPLETELY flawed product lacking a seamless experience. You can put Chanel lipstick on a pig (and let's give it an Hermés bag too), but it's still a pig.
I am all for EXCELLENCE, I love first-class travel when it's done properly, and I am CERTAIN many of my fellow FTers understand what I mean. I am also sure many have experienced a true premium product on other airlines.
Who thinks of these schemes at Willis Tower!? It's like branding has no budget and the "team" (if there's even one) has no direction. As someone said as well, of all cities IAH? Which possibly has the fewest GF flights from most of the hubs in the US and p GS. Heck, I live in Trump Tower, I'll come over to UA, get your branding together and work for flights!
As a premium passenger, my expectations for United are set very low. To make me happy, just give me BASIC CONSISTENT customer service, that's all I want. EDUCATE your employees for a start. That would make me SO thrilled and happy. But for me to call three times and get three different responses is awful. Take ALL the efforts and time and $$ spent on approvals, etc., in order to get two cars drive around airside with passengers and put together and easy TRAINing program.
The Mercedes drop-off program is a bigger part of Lufthansa's First Class product (HON members have access to this as well) which is excellence in flying. They own (I asked) a fleet of luxury vehicles (Cayennes & MB)* and the service is truly, well, first-class.
Having Mercedes "lend" two cars, because I know there is absolutely no way UA will pay $100K for a car, let alone two, and the inconsistency of maybe you'll get the service, maybe you won't, just leaves room for a less than stellar experience for your top customers. It's also a very cheap way to cover up all the deficiencies of a COMPLETELY flawed product lacking a seamless experience. You can put Chanel lipstick on a pig (and let's give it an Hermés bag too), but it's still a pig.
I am all for EXCELLENCE, I love first-class travel when it's done properly, and I am CERTAIN many of my fellow FTers understand what I mean. I am also sure many have experienced a true premium product on other airlines.
Who thinks of these schemes at Willis Tower!? It's like branding has no budget and the "team" (if there's even one) has no direction. As someone said as well, of all cities IAH? Which possibly has the fewest GF flights from most of the hubs in the US and p GS. Heck, I live in Trump Tower, I'll come over to UA, get your branding together and work for flights!
As a premium passenger, my expectations for United are set very low. To make me happy, just give me BASIC CONSISTENT customer service, that's all I want. EDUCATE your employees for a start. That would make me SO thrilled and happy. But for me to call three times and get three different responses is awful. Take ALL the efforts and time and $$ spent on approvals, etc., in order to get two cars drive around airside with passengers and put together and easy TRAINing program.
Last edited by UrbaneGent; Jul 17, 2013 at 11:43 pm Reason: *Tom911's pictures...see below
Jul 17, 2013, 11:30 pm
#65
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
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Jul 17, 2013, 11:40 pm
#66
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Chicago USA
Programs: *A Junkie, SQ PPS, Skywards Gold, 2 Million Mile Flyer;*wood LT Plat, BA MM
Posts: 1,762
You should be able to see some of their fleet HERE (that's me in the photo from last year after arrival in award F on the LH A380).
Jul 17, 2013, 11:45 pm
#67
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVP 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA 1MM,
Posts: 1,707
At FRA, the gates that I have arrived to and departed from while travelling in F Class were widebodies (744/748/A380/A340s). In every case there was an elevator on the jetbridge located about halfway between gate and aircraft. The car drops you off in front of the plane, you walk a few steps through a door and inside is a stairwell and elevator. This has been the case everytime for me (couple dozen times?).
The Mercedes drop-off program is a bigger part of Lufthansa's First Class product (HON members have access to this as well) which is excellence in flying. They own (I asked) a fleet of luxury vehicles (Cayennes & MB) and the service is truly, well, first-class.
Having Mercedes "lend" two cars, because I know there is absolutely no way UA will pay $100K for a car, let alone two, and the inconsistency of maybe you'll get the service, maybe you won't, just leaves room for a less than stellar experience for your top customers. It's also a very cheap way to cover up all the deficiencies of a COMPLETELY flawed product lacking a seamless experience. You can put Chanel lipstick on a pig (and let's give it an Hermés bag too), but it's still a pig.
I am all for EXCELLENCE, I love first-class travel when it's done properly, and I am CERTAIN many of my fellow FTers understand what I mean. I am also sure many have experienced a true premium product on other airlines.
Who thinks of these schemes at Willis Tower!? It's like branding has no budget and the "team" (if there's even one) has no direction. As someone said as well, of all cities IAH? Which possibly has the fewest GF flights from most of the hubs in the US and p GS. Heck, I live in Trump Tower, I'll come over to UA, get your branding together and work for flights!
As a premium passenger, my expectations for United are set very low. To make me happy, just give me BASIC CONSISTENT customer service, that's all I want. EDUCATE your employees for a start. That would make me SO thrilled and happy. But for me to call three times and get three different responses is awful. Take ALL the efforts and time and $$ spent on approvals, etc., in order to get two cars drive around airside with passengers and put together and easy TRAINing program.
The Mercedes drop-off program is a bigger part of Lufthansa's First Class product (HON members have access to this as well) which is excellence in flying. They own (I asked) a fleet of luxury vehicles (Cayennes & MB) and the service is truly, well, first-class.
Having Mercedes "lend" two cars, because I know there is absolutely no way UA will pay $100K for a car, let alone two, and the inconsistency of maybe you'll get the service, maybe you won't, just leaves room for a less than stellar experience for your top customers. It's also a very cheap way to cover up all the deficiencies of a COMPLETELY flawed product lacking a seamless experience. You can put Chanel lipstick on a pig (and let's give it an Hermés bag too), but it's still a pig.
I am all for EXCELLENCE, I love first-class travel when it's done properly, and I am CERTAIN many of my fellow FTers understand what I mean. I am also sure many have experienced a true premium product on other airlines.
Who thinks of these schemes at Willis Tower!? It's like branding has no budget and the "team" (if there's even one) has no direction. As someone said as well, of all cities IAH? Which possibly has the fewest GF flights from most of the hubs in the US and p GS. Heck, I live in Trump Tower, I'll come over to UA, get your branding together and work for flights!
As a premium passenger, my expectations for United are set very low. To make me happy, just give me BASIC CONSISTENT customer service, that's all I want. EDUCATE your employees for a start. That would make me SO thrilled and happy. But for me to call three times and get three different responses is awful. Take ALL the efforts and time and $$ spent on approvals, etc., in order to get two cars drive around airside with passengers and put together and easy TRAINing program.
Can we just appreciate the fact that this is a new enhancement that will be TESTED out and expanded further with an evolution of product? What has our culture come to?
Jul 18, 2013, 12:28 am
#68
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 815
Jul 18, 2013, 3:10 am
#69
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, SQ PPS Solitaire
Posts: 3,598
They own (I asked) a fleet of luxury vehicles (Cayennes & MB)* and the service is truly, well, first-class.
Having Mercedes "lend" two cars, because I know there is absolutely no way UA will pay $100K for a car, let alone two, and the inconsistency of maybe you'll get the service, maybe you won't, just leaves room for a less than stellar experience for your top customers.
Having Mercedes "lend" two cars, because I know there is absolutely no way UA will pay $100K for a car, let alone two, and the inconsistency of maybe you'll get the service, maybe you won't, just leaves room for a less than stellar experience for your top customers.
Jul 18, 2013, 7:17 am
#71
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
It would never work in this situation. The driver of the Mercedes would get tired of waiting for the passenger's gate-checked bag (with the yellow handle) to come off the RJ, and would just drive off alone.
Jul 18, 2013, 7:32 am
#72
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,011
Now, let's see what new/original ideas the new regime can come up with....
Jul 18, 2013, 7:48 am
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
At FRA, the gates that I have arrived to and departed from while travelling in F Class were widebodies (744/748/A380/A340s). In every case there was an elevator on the jetbridge located about halfway between gate and aircraft. The car drops you off in front of the plane, you walk a few steps through a door and inside is a stairwell and elevator. This has been the case everytime for me (couple dozen times?).
Also when departing on UA flights from FRA, sometimes the plane is sitting in an apron spot, and one takes stairs down to the Tarmac and piles on to a bus. No elevator is available.
Service by LH at FRA for F is inconsistent.
Jul 18, 2013, 8:16 am
#74
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Chicago USA
Programs: *A Junkie, SQ PPS, Skywards Gold, 2 Million Mile Flyer;*wood LT Plat, BA MM
Posts: 1,762
Only once when arriving at a gate has there been ground transport service as an F pax, and that was because the arriving gate was in the Schengen area but the flight was arriving from a nonSchengen airport. And in that case we were dropped off at the main terminal as if it were an "apron" arrival (I never arrived on a UA widebody to a nonGerman airport and had to deplane onto the Tarmac). When departing in LH F, I would say maybe a third of the time I get the ground service from the FCL.
Also when departing on UA flights from FRA, sometimes the plane is sitting in an apron spot, and one takes stairs down to the Tarmac and piles on to a bus. No elevator is available.
Service by LH at FRA for F is inconsistent.
Also when departing on UA flights from FRA, sometimes the plane is sitting in an apron spot, and one takes stairs down to the Tarmac and piles on to a bus. No elevator is available.
Service by LH at FRA for F is inconsistent.
I'm saying that OVERALL there is consistency, down to the rubber duck.
UA used to be one of the best airlines in the country (world?) when it had its partnership with BA, through around 2003ish. After 2003, it was still good, but the decisions made by the new executive team....just destroyed the goodwill made over decades.
To me, United was the best. So yes, today, as a flyer with [fewer] choices, United's service has a long way to go to catch up to global standards.
Notice I am saying this from my perspective. If you don't agree, I love to hear others comments.
I was told they own the fleet of cars it was contracted bc the drivers all work for LH. I am sure MB gave them a good deal, etc.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jul 18, 2013 at 10:35 am Reason: merge
Jul 18, 2013, 8:36 am
#75
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, SQ PPS Solitaire
Posts: 3,598
Does it matter ultimately? It is still a German car - you still get driven to the airplane. I saw one van and I assume it is for a bunch of people on the same flight. And if you had asked to have a private car, they would have accommodated you.
I was told they own the fleet of cars it was contracted bc the drivers all work for LH. I am sure MB gave them a good deal, etc.
I was told they own the fleet of cars it was contracted bc the drivers all work for LH. I am sure MB gave them a good deal, etc.
I am HON Circle and I fly First all the time and I still end up in a van because they don't really give you a choice. And: LH does not own any of the cars.