flyingnosh

I'm with the OP. No complaints. In 30 years of flying, no cancellations other than because of snow. I pay economy, I get economy. I'm not aware of anything in the fare rules that says I'm entitled to more. When I get more, that's a bonus. Yes, the food in economy is not great, but I can deal with that as long as places like Balducci's stay open. I'm not saying UA is the best airline. They go where I need to go, at the price I'm willing to pay, at the times that I need to travel.

pruss2ny

+1.
i've had my share of cxlld flights, unimpressive meals etc...and frankly think UAL does fine...more frequently irked by individual fellow travelers than i am by UAL

Ringer909

I really have no complaints about UA either. In fact, I rather appreciate them.

Beginning this year they have started service to the airport near where I live. It's an hour connection to ORD on a CRJ but it beats driving in traffic an hour and a half to MSP. It's funny how bearable the Barbie Jet is when considering the alternative.

My departing flight last Monday morning was cancelled due to fog but United seamlessly rescheduled me on the afternoon flight. Last October when the goofball tried to burn up the flight control center in Chicago my flight was cancelled as well. Since flying to Chicago is my only option from my home airport wasn't going to work, United found me a flight out of MSP that avoided Chicago - even though it was a Delta flight.

And not to mention, United's planes seem much cleaner than Delta's or WN's. If I have to fly Delta I pack some wet wipes to clean off the seat, based on experience. As far as food goes, I can pack my own bag of snacks.

Delta eliminated service to my home airport immediately after taking over Northwest a couple years ago. Granted the Saab 340 Mesaba flew wasn't great, even for a 15 minute flight to MSP, but it was convenient. I've flown for work for over 10 years and never flew United prior to this year (first trip involved a leg from DEN-IAH on a Dreamliner. )

I will continue to fly them to support their commitment to our small airport. If the load factors aren't high enough we will lose the service and I will have to go back to someone else. But in the meantime, count me as a satisfied UA flyer.

Always Flyin

Interesting that those who claim they are satisfied with UA haven't responded to any of the questions about UA raised in post #10.

Does that reflect that it is blind satisfaction?

artvandalay

Welcome to FT, a great source of useful information for frequent (UA) flyers looking for answers. FT offers different and sometimes priceless comments...and these are based on experiences from millions of miles of travel by savvy business travelers...travelers who sometimes feel strongly about "their" airline.

Hope you will enjoy FT, and please continue to share your comments and observations.

tom911

As a 1K, I noticed you didn't touch on how you're doing with your global upgrades. Care to comment about that area? Are you clearing 100% at a minimal extra cost?

bajrbajr

You "pay economy" and you "fly economy"... I don't quite see it that way. UA (and most airlines) offer the elite programs to garner our loyalty. I see that as a promise of certain benefits, even if I "pay economy." But when these benefits are chipped-away with TOD upgrade offers, and numerous other program devaluations, it is cause to complain.

USHPNWDLUA

I agree completely, and "consistency" is the one word I always use in my survey responses. But, last year I posted "I see it getting better with every flight" and had to put a FT Flame Suit on after. This year, it has continued to get better. There are ups and downs, but mostly ups, and the downs are rare for me this year. And I've flow a lot.

I see a lot of compares to DL on FT. I've flown only two trips (~6 segments) on DL this year, and they were perfectly consistent, but the best of DL was not better than the best of UA.

Sure, it's one example, but on my most recent TATL DL flight, they were rushed for reasons unclear, and when I asked for a hot towel at breakfast, was told "no time." On UA TPAC this last week, breakfast service was delayed by terrific turbulence. I asked if I had missed it, and was told they skipped it for limited time, yet they still brought one to me. Little things make the difference, and after waking up on a long haul, the hot towel to me is the best end of the flight. (It sure isn't the breakfast!!!) Before you think it's just status, the Purser on the DL TATL thought my wife and were both Diamond.

Why must every post that speaks positively of UA, and responses that agree to said positive post, answer to an inquisition from those that disagree?

sfo

Let me respond to your questions since I was one that posted that I was pretty happy with UA. GPU's for 2014 100%^ and for all past years prior to 2014 100%^ and all flights booked for 2015 and GPU's 100%^, also the four International flights I did with co-pay and miles 100% cleared, as for CPU's domestically about 95%

mrswirl

Since the merger, I see UA's efforts to gradually but consistently lower everyone's expectations. Some changes are small; some are big - but there is no doubt that they are all intentionally designed to put downward pressure on frequent flyer benefits on every possible level.

I'd argue that most of the complaints you hear are from those of us who remember how great the Mileage Plus program used to be and how far the program has eroded over the past 3 years.

If you're relatively new to UA, then I can see how it generally compares to all the other U.S. based carriers - neither the best nor the worst.

Mediocrity is the goal and they won't stop until it's achieved!

Kmxu

I heard that there are too many GSs flying out SFO every day. This CPU success rate (95%) for 1K seems to be comparable to failure rates experienced by other 1Ks at SFO. Please reveal the secret and you will be the most admired person at FT.

StingWest

^^

PushingTin

Exactly. Half the text in the 'mystatus' website is about upgrades, CPUs and GPUs. That's the issue. They make these statements and then even 1Ks have a hard time seeing the benefits.

Air travel, especially FF programs and rewards is in flux right now. Once the airlines' messaging gets in tune with reality of what they are offering there will be a lot more 'satisfaction'. Nothing is worse than over-promising and under-delivering. We'll eventually will get to not-promising and under-delivering, or at least dollarizing everything, a much more stable situation.

Tchiowa

Have you ever gone to see a movie and really enjoyed it and all your friends enjoyed it and the critics said it was trash? Or had a great time at a restaurant and the critics claim it's patrons all get food poisoning?

Same concept in many other areas.

RealFan

First, let me say that the mods obviously merged the thread started today into one that began many months ago so I see that I've already posted many times in this combined thread. I don't plan to repeat what I've said in detail. Overall, I am very pleased with UA in 2014. Thus, I am moving all of my flying from AA to UA in 2015. My experience on both airlines was similar but my treatment as a GS on UA was superior to my treatment as a CK/EXP on AA.

Also, I know several others in my boat who are also moving all of their flying to UA in 2015 due to the mileage program. I acknowledge that there are many who don't like UA for their own reasons, but I know there are many who also like UA for their own reasons. I'm in the positive camp and have noticed substantial improvement from UA in 2014 so that I'll commit all my flying to them.