How many are REALLY leaving UA? [2014 edition]
#211
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Utah
Posts: 454
I'm upset, and would like to leave, but realistically have nowhere to go. Delta blows (completely unsuitable for my needs) and AA generally cost twice as much for the routes I fly.
#212
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Global
Programs: AAexp, UA*G, HY LT Globalist, FB Plat, Centurion
Posts: 988
EXP desk excellent in the case of irrops. Was on a BA F class AAdvantage award. BA flight was delayed only 2 hours which would have caused a missed connection and AA endorsed ticket to LH F with no if ands or buts 2 hours before the flight departure. Amazing indeed.
#214
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,621
Just because you're the "world's most popular member" of FT doesn't mean you're always correct.
#215
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
Perhaps this is clearer. The new UA sucks. DL and AA are by far better carriers at this time. Perhaps UA will return to its past, until they do I will stick with other carriers for my travel needs.
First I've used the phrase once. Second I'll use another.
Fly the "new UA", put on your "Rose Colored Glasses".
That is the new UA!
I retract my greener grass thoughts. Even if the pastures are better at DL and AA than UA at this time.
Fly the "new UA", put on your "Rose Colored Glasses".
Q: What are rose colored glasses?
A: If someone looks at something with rose-colored glasses, they think it is more pleasant than it is.
A: If someone looks at something with rose-colored glasses, they think it is more pleasant than it is.
I retract my greener grass thoughts. Even if the pastures are better at DL and AA than UA at this time.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jan 18, 2014 at 9:44 pm Reason: merge
#216
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,866
I am not leaving, but slowly being forced away, just like the drip-by-drip Chinese water torture.
With US Air leaving the alliance connections from PBI (West Palm Beach, FL) on United only are difficult to many destinations. For 2014, Delta, US Air, and Southwest will have much better flights for at least 60% of my travel.
For the first time ever, following People's Express which was absorbed by Continental, which used full-size jets, small jets with like 6 first class seats are now being used on the PBI-EWR route.
When I was flying Delta a few years ago, their small jets (CRJ-900) had like 12 first class seats.
I just need to determine whether I start towards Delta, American (US Air), or Southwest. I may go with American because I could get my next million miler status from them sooner after mu US Air miles are combined.
I am not leaving, United is just gradually forcing me away.
With US Air leaving the alliance connections from PBI (West Palm Beach, FL) on United only are difficult to many destinations. For 2014, Delta, US Air, and Southwest will have much better flights for at least 60% of my travel.
For the first time ever, following People's Express which was absorbed by Continental, which used full-size jets, small jets with like 6 first class seats are now being used on the PBI-EWR route.
When I was flying Delta a few years ago, their small jets (CRJ-900) had like 12 first class seats.
I just need to determine whether I start towards Delta, American (US Air), or Southwest. I may go with American because I could get my next million miler status from them sooner after mu US Air miles are combined.
I am not leaving, United is just gradually forcing me away.
#217
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,871
Moved across the pond, so I wasn't flying UA much anyway. Kept Mileage Plus just in case I'd move back but that's not looking to be the case. Crippled partner earnings, and no Lifetime miles accumulation on partner flights so there's 0 reasons left to stick around.
Hard to decide between OW and *A as OW has some pretty good premium fares but in the end *A is still very strong regionally
Hard to decide between OW and *A as OW has some pretty good premium fares but in the end *A is still very strong regionally
#218
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SEA & RDM
Programs: UA - 1MM, DL Diamond, AS MVP75, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 8,041
Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in
I can't route my first two international trips on DL and throw in the transcon where I need to be in NJ (rather than JFK)...dammit.
I don't think I can waste 30K miles and still make Diamond.
Dammit Dammit Dammit
I don't think I can waste 30K miles and still make Diamond.
Dammit Dammit Dammit
#219
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: MDE
Programs: AA EP, CM PP, AV GM, UA Silver, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,002
I'm not leaving, but I am going to put everything over 100K on AA, which will certainly get me Platinum. It'll be a good backup if UA continues to spiral in terms of lacking concern for their customers.
#220
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: United mileage Plus 1k and Million Miler, Krisflyer, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin
Posts: 211
Every announcement recently from UA has been about ways the airline will cut back benefits/service or impose greater restrictions on customers, while other carriers are announcing new products they're excited about.
A business can choose to offer less and charge more, and likewise customers can choose with whom to do business.
As a business owner myself, I can't see what good could ever come from giving loyal clients the impression that their business wasn't valued - perceived or real - unless I was going under and making a last minute cash-out.
A business can choose to offer less and charge more, and likewise customers can choose with whom to do business.
As a business owner myself, I can't see what good could ever come from giving loyal clients the impression that their business wasn't valued - perceived or real - unless I was going under and making a last minute cash-out.
#221
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Programs: IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond, DL Diamond and 1MM
Posts: 3,611
UA's was crowded, lines for kiosks, huge general lines and a long 1K check-in line.
DL's kiosks were staffed with agents helping people and their general check-in line much shorter than UA's 1K line. Both airlines checking-in customers for multiple departures for 4 to 6pm-ish.
#222
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K 2006-2013
Posts: 334
My last 1K flight was today
It was a bittersweet flight today after all the years I was a 1K and flying United exclusively (I used to go out of my way to fly them from ORD), but today I had my last flight with 1K status. The route network does fit with my needs, but I couldn't deal with the poor customer service, performance, and IT that seems to have become prevalent since the March merge date.
I'll be back if things improve, but for now I'm enjoying the freedom to try airlines like Virgin (Atlantic & America), Delta, Southwest, and more. I've actually enjoyed sampling other airlines and the grass in certain areas can certainly be greener, but I know I'll be missing 1K when it really counts: bad weather and IRROPS. But United isn't gonna exclusively get my 120K to 140K miles any more....
Having an sCO flight as my final flight today was appropriate, because I do place many of the poor decisions and drop in quality on the Houston crew. I don't think all their decisions have been poor (PQD is sensible, for instance), but I feel many customer service oriented choices have been wretched. And sUA employees didn't help either....I've felt a drop in service quality since the merger.
I used to feel important to the United staff in the way I was treated and now I don't. Maybe I wasn't important to them, but at least they made me feel important by providing outstanding service (especially in tough situations), and that's much of the battle. Perception is reality. I won't forget the FA bringing me a handwritten card and glass of Champagne in Economy to congratulate me when I first crossed 1K enroute on a flight.
Best part today was that the pilot seriously bounced the landing at LAX.
Perfect ending.
I'll be back if things improve, but for now I'm enjoying the freedom to try airlines like Virgin (Atlantic & America), Delta, Southwest, and more. I've actually enjoyed sampling other airlines and the grass in certain areas can certainly be greener, but I know I'll be missing 1K when it really counts: bad weather and IRROPS. But United isn't gonna exclusively get my 120K to 140K miles any more....
Having an sCO flight as my final flight today was appropriate, because I do place many of the poor decisions and drop in quality on the Houston crew. I don't think all their decisions have been poor (PQD is sensible, for instance), but I feel many customer service oriented choices have been wretched. And sUA employees didn't help either....I've felt a drop in service quality since the merger.
I used to feel important to the United staff in the way I was treated and now I don't. Maybe I wasn't important to them, but at least they made me feel important by providing outstanding service (especially in tough situations), and that's much of the battle. Perception is reality. I won't forget the FA bringing me a handwritten card and glass of Champagne in Economy to congratulate me when I first crossed 1K enroute on a flight.
Best part today was that the pilot seriously bounced the landing at LAX.
Perfect ending.
#223
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Australia
Posts: 2,814
For the first time in over 15 years I have no revenue bookings in my MP account.
It will probably stay that way.
I don't know how much better or more expensive alternatives are ( from BNE Australia ) but it is time for a change of carrier.
In the past I believed that my loyalty ( 1K , 2 MM) to UA would be rewarded and that was the case.
No longer!
Alternatives will have to be worse than UA and a lot more expensive to bring me back. But who knows, maybe they are?
It will probably stay that way.
I don't know how much better or more expensive alternatives are ( from BNE Australia ) but it is time for a change of carrier.
In the past I believed that my loyalty ( 1K , 2 MM) to UA would be rewarded and that was the case.
No longer!
Alternatives will have to be worse than UA and a lot more expensive to bring me back. But who knows, maybe they are?
#224
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
Months ago, before Delta even started their big "We are going OWN Seattle" campaign, the contrast between the adjacent DL and UA check-in counters was stark:
UA's was crowded, lines for kiosks, huge general lines and a long 1K check-in line.
DL's kiosks were staffed with agents helping people and their general check-in line much shorter than UA's 1K line. Both airlines checking-in customers for multiple departures for 4 to 6pm-ish.
UA's was crowded, lines for kiosks, huge general lines and a long 1K check-in line.
DL's kiosks were staffed with agents helping people and their general check-in line much shorter than UA's 1K line. Both airlines checking-in customers for multiple departures for 4 to 6pm-ish.
At LAX the DL check-in was a zoo. Very crowded and long lines. Especially (but not solely confined to) the LAX-SFO shuttle check-in area. A real mess.
Point you ask? YMMV.
----------------
Anyway, I can already see my flight pattern changing. I know live at the intersection of price, schedule and comfort.
UNITED award flights + cheapest discount F + reduced travel = 2014 strategy.
Being LA based gives me plenty of options and it seems DL last minute and discount F tickets are very reasonable. Hell I might take VX F down to Orlando from LAX this spring.
Friends think I've lost my mind given my years of devotion to UNITED, and I will lose 1K for sure, but I'm not satisfied with how UA is currently running their business. Even so, I would consider purchasing UNITED First, but their prices have yet to be competitive.
It turns out I like a high quality inflight experience over loyalty. Who knew.
Last edited by anc-ord772; Jan 25, 2014 at 9:09 am
#225
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: @LAS
Programs: Concorde Connoisseur, ua 1mm
Posts: 152
more revenue bookings (and don't intend to make any either) ...
Approximately how long ago was that ? Just curious ...