Any UA pilots or mechanics on FT: why so many MX this year?
Jun 29, 2015, 6:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXPLT, NZ GE, VA PLT Hyatt Diam, Marr Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 3,445
Any UA pilots or mechanics on FT: why so many MX this year?
Are there any UA pilots or mechanics on FT that can answer this question: why does UA have so many MX delays and cancellations nowadays? I know that us armchair pilots/mechanics have our opinions, so no need to add those to this thread -- would prefer that we not regurgitate this. Rather, would prefer to hear something from actual UA employees. Thanks!
Jun 29, 2015, 6:56 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
Perhaps, or perhaps not.
You start with an airline that thinks striving for 80% reliability is good enough, add quick turns and high aircraft utilization so there is no time to correct entries on the maintenance log, and add one additional back-up system on the minimum equipment list going down when the primary system had not been repaired and was on the squawk sheet, and you end up with maintenance delays.
DL made reliability a specific focus. UA doesn't care. "80% is good enough." Even though UA can't even make the 80%.
You start with an airline that thinks striving for 80% reliability is good enough, add quick turns and high aircraft utilization so there is no time to correct entries on the maintenance log, and add one additional back-up system on the minimum equipment list going down when the primary system had not been repaired and was on the squawk sheet, and you end up with maintenance delays.
DL made reliability a specific focus. UA doesn't care. "80% is good enough." Even though UA can't even make the 80%.
Jun 29, 2015, 8:41 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,116
Is there any factual evidence that this is true, or is it just anecdotal?
Jun 29, 2015, 9:14 pm
#7
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,087
When I look back at when I began frequent flying in the mid-2000s, I routinely took multi-segment trips with no real fear of irrops, outside of weather. Now, I shudder when I have even a single connection for the very real fear of MX and other operational issues (e.g. a WX 4 flights back in EWR affects my flight in LAX, thanks to UA's utilization strategy and tight turns).
So at least in my experience, things have gotten far worse than I can ever recall them being as a frequent flyer with UA. So far this year, at least 50% of my flights have had irrops, the majority of them not directly WX.
So at least in my experience, things have gotten far worse than I can ever recall them being as a frequent flyer with UA. So far this year, at least 50% of my flights have had irrops, the majority of them not directly WX.
Jun 29, 2015, 9:17 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: 1K
Posts: 784
My last 3 flights have all had IRROPS. I'm really starting to wonder what's going on... Never used to be like this. Im going to have to start traveling on Sunday so that I don't continue to miss work every Monday.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 29, 2015 at 9:20 pm Reason: OMNI comment removed
Jun 29, 2015, 9:21 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
Jun 29, 2015, 9:49 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,718
http://crankyflier.com/2015/06/29/is...been-terrible/
Jun 29, 2015, 9:56 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,116
But I still don't see anything there about maintenance. I'm trying to be objective (I haven't flown UA enough this year to have any personal data), and I just wonder if people are jumping to conclusions.
Jun 29, 2015, 9:57 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, UA Mileage Plus 1K, AA Executive Plat, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 2,336
its not jumping to conclusions. You can look at the employee facebook page and see the evidence first hand.
Jun 29, 2015, 10:05 pm
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,116
Jun 29, 2015, 10:17 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ATL
Programs: UA Global Services, Bonvoy LT Titanium, National EE
Posts: 887
I've noticed the same thing. I've had mechanical issues or other fleet/staff related issues on more than half of my flights this year that has caused travel disruptions. That, combined with the fact that I live in a non-hub city (ATL) and need to connect for almost all my trips, has made for a very stressful year.
Jun 29, 2015, 10:27 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,404
No direct evidence, but we might call this circumstantial.
