Here is my take from the perspective of using all three majors (AA; DL; UA). I'm using UA more now and definitely less than AA and staying the course with DL. I pay discount buy up F when I can, use certificates/UG etc when I can and if that does not work grab good Y seat.

AA has slipped. DL stable. UA rising. On FT UA posters tough. UA works best for me to Asia. Beats AA/DL. Can even UG to F often. But 787's to KIX and MEL works. Like the 787 in J. DL tough on UG's from Y, no F UG's of course and J costs more. J seats on UA OK and less coffin like on DL. DL good though and that's why I own DL stock.

UA however better than the past. PDB better than AA but not as good as DL.

But overall UA better. DL solid. AA third.

Just some thoughts. ll

If you're retired and have no special deadlines, UA may be a reasonable choice.

But if your first priority is to get there on time, with your baggage, you'll be choosing another airline.

Cmon, really? UA is fine. My bags have never been lost by United, and they usually arrive pretty quickly at the carousel at LAX.

Speaking from personal experience or just rehashing the UA bashing in these threads?

My personal experience is high 90% range for on time flights out of and into SFO. Bags have always made it on my flight or even the flight before mine and are waiting for me.

To the OP, If UA has the routes and schedules and price points that meet your needs then UA is for you. If it doesn't then look elsewhere.

Much like other things, it's always fine until it is not.

The data indicates that "until it is not" is a lot more frequent and consistent with UA.

Now, the trend *may* change but a bump in the right direction is not (yet) a trend, and many, many operational factors and risks remain in UA's management and operation.

It's not an invalid question or concern - when it comes to *controllable factors* the data is incredibly unfriendly to choosing UA if you want to be somewhere on time consistently.

If you are flying transpacific regularly why would you not fly an Asian airline? Most are miles ahead of anything UA, AA or DL offers. Now that miles and status are increasingly irrelevant there is no reason to stick with a US airline.

Are you serious? Not lost, but delayed. I've had ridiculous issues with UA baggage. Most recent was 1 of 2 bags didn't make it, it never got loaded at SFO despite being checked 1:20 out. All flights on time, UA didn't reroute via most expeditious route possible after the miss (which would have delayed the bag 4 hours), rather they rerouted it over the same route, which delayed it 24 hours.


If I had the same level of flexibility and little urgency, UA would be tolerable.

For me, E+ is the biggest differentiation. AA seats are torture. I get 2nd hand info from colleague in ATL that upgrades to China on DL are non-existent.

My biggest gripe of late on UA is maintenance issues and delays.

Exactly. Once you experience premium service on an Asian airline, it is difficult to fly transpacific on 1 of the big 3.

Good luck. I just migrated away from UA and couldn't be happier.

I've been late a lot on UA (44%) or just not made it at all (6%). My bags have been lost or delayed 9 times out of the 12 times I have ever checked them (I rarely check). Once it was a Beretta shotgun they lost for 12 days. It's pretty bad to loose a firearm that is supposed to be handled with the utmost of care, far above routine care, you have to file special paperwork with it. That was when I had zero confidence in checked luggage with UA.

@bcj1949, why do you prefer DL coffin like seats, higher price J, no upgrades over AA, or Asian airlines ? I am asking out of curiosity as I am thinking about DL vs AA ( UA difficult for me - hub connection issues).
@ travlinman, any suggestions for a particular Asian airline with a decent FF Program ( for redemption of miles in US on partner). Thanks

AA MCE is far better than UA E+ Those slimlines on UA are torture. UA's E+ on the 777-300 will be 10 across, just like E- and least with AA the MCE section remains only 9 across.

+1
UA Mileage Plus - stay with *A but an airline which provides clean planes and good service.

Read thread title and knew without a doubt that the former UA flyers turned-bashers would be in here like vultures.

Seems I wasn't disappointed.

If the OP is flying UA, reasonably happy with them, and feels that for his/her travel patterns their experience is worth giving UA more business, why the need to bash?