Is it better? After 2 years, a pensive return...
Feb 8, 2017, 9:46 am
#31
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
So when I go to buy I can (1) buy AS and have a ok shot at an upgrade, (2) buy DL and have an ok shot at an upgrade (on many routes I will be flying) or (3) fly UA and sit in Y. And I say this as someone who is of basically equal level in all three programs.
Basically all I really get at this point from my status in MP is E+ (which I also get on DL and AS) and some miles that are less and less usable. E.g. Just looked at going SFO-MUC on a mileage ticket. United will let me fly (with a connection) in J for 220,000 miles, Delta will let me fly for 285,000. Neither are very appetizing options for me...
Bottom line, if someone is looking at changing to United, they ought to have their head examined if they are doing it for MileagePlus at this point....
Feb 8, 2017, 12:25 pm
#32
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 1,313
If you left 2 years ago, you left at probably the worst possible time. Airlines go in cycles. You rode the wave all the way down, and then jumped off right when it started to go back up. UA is the airline to jump on board now. It's been on a upward trajectory for some time, and one can make a strong case that it's the best airline in the U.S. AA is about a year or two behind UA, but it's a good one to jump on too. DL would be the one to jump off of now. They've hit their peak, and they're starting to slip.
Feb 8, 2017, 1:53 pm
#33
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
Feb 8, 2017, 2:36 pm
#34
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
The crews seem happier, and the soft product has improved noticeably.
Feb 8, 2017, 2:47 pm
#35
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: IAD, DCA
Programs: UA-Plat, Marriott-Plat, AAI, AAII
Posts: 3,758
Wow! You're a lot easier going and more easily pleased than I am.
The happier crews are probably ex-CO, and in my experience, likely due to exposure, they're slowly but surely catching the UA crankiness. The breakfast snickerdoodle-wafflecone thing is OK but it doesn't exactly make up for years of abuse. And the personal device free entertainment choices are beyond pathetic (particularly in view of the fact that the on-demand movie choices on international flights are pretty good).
Also, even tough I'm invariably in 20 A or F domestically, the new plastic 737 seats are killing my back. I am, however, finally used to the landing shower that the exit door always provides.
The happier crews are probably ex-CO, and in my experience, likely due to exposure, they're slowly but surely catching the UA crankiness. The breakfast snickerdoodle-wafflecone thing is OK but it doesn't exactly make up for years of abuse. And the personal device free entertainment choices are beyond pathetic (particularly in view of the fact that the on-demand movie choices on international flights are pretty good).
Also, even tough I'm invariably in 20 A or F domestically, the new plastic 737 seats are killing my back. I am, however, finally used to the landing shower that the exit door always provides.
Feb 8, 2017, 7:01 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: UA
Posts: 324
My experience is that UA is better than it was at the worst of the post merger....it got almost okay for a while, but I've had some issues recently. I don't think AA or DL are that much better though.
For me, it got horrible, then got a little better, and then kind of sank back into 'meh-ugh' again. I think there's a lot of unhappy campers out of the IAH base. I hear its 12 years of experience for a line now.
I do loathe the "Fischer Price" seats on the new planes. I think you guys call them the 'slim line' seats.
For me, it got horrible, then got a little better, and then kind of sank back into 'meh-ugh' again. I think there's a lot of unhappy campers out of the IAH base. I hear its 12 years of experience for a line now.
I do loathe the "Fischer Price" seats on the new planes. I think you guys call them the 'slim line' seats.
Feb 8, 2017, 7:32 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,225
I recently took my first paid biz class ticket on UA in 6 years. I'd been a 1K 7 or 8 years in a row up until 2011 and then left for AA and was an EXP for 7 or 8 years. The combo of AA miles being really hard to redeem for anything reasonable plus UA launching a late night non-stop PVG-SFO got me to give them a try again.
I would say that the in flight experience is pretty much identical to AA with maybe a slight edge to UA thanks to the gel pillow and pajamas. In the past year I've flown BA, CX, EK, LH, AA, CA, MU, SQ, TG, and UA long haul biz class. To be honest, if there is a flat bed seat they are all pretty much the same. The same is true in economy class I'm guessing.
I would say that the in flight experience is pretty much identical to AA with maybe a slight edge to UA thanks to the gel pillow and pajamas. In the past year I've flown BA, CX, EK, LH, AA, CA, MU, SQ, TG, and UA long haul biz class. To be honest, if there is a flat bed seat they are all pretty much the same. The same is true in economy class I'm guessing.
Feb 8, 2017, 8:08 pm
#40
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
I'll agree with the coffee and scotch, and add beer.
That said "better" is relative. You'll endure the same miserable UA crews on old UA metal. And the general incompetence hasn't changed. For example, on my last flight we boarded and then waited for 45 minutes in freezing weather for the AC to be fixed (before heading out to subzero DEN). On the flight before that we boarded and waited for over an hour at IAD for maintenance to find batteries for the emergency bullhorn. On the flight before that we boarded and waited an hour for the pilots to show up (they were on an incoming flight so it was obviously known that they would be late because the flight was late).
While I stay with UA I try to do all my TATL on LH.
Oh, and I have not had an RPU clear in 3 years.
That said "better" is relative. You'll endure the same miserable UA crews on old UA metal. And the general incompetence hasn't changed. For example, on my last flight we boarded and then waited for 45 minutes in freezing weather for the AC to be fixed (before heading out to subzero DEN). On the flight before that we boarded and waited for over an hour at IAD for maintenance to find batteries for the emergency bullhorn. On the flight before that we boarded and waited an hour for the pilots to show up (they were on an incoming flight so it was obviously known that they would be late because the flight was late).
While I stay with UA I try to do all my TATL on LH.
Oh, and I have not had an RPU clear in 3 years.
Feb 21, 2017, 11:46 am
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: DEN
Programs: Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec, UA Gold
Posts: 23
OP here with an update:
Having flown:
One mainline (DEN-PHX)
One UX (DEN-YYZ)
Two Codeshares (AC DEN-YYZ, NZ LAX-SYD)
General impression is that things ARE better when it comes to the basics (ontime arrival/departure, customer service, delivery of checked baggage).
Mainline is still better than UX. And the international codeshare carriers still edge out UA. Mileage Plus seems far more complex than when I left (Segments and PQDs and Operated Flights oh my!)
But, I've not yet found a snarky employee (they all seem so much happier) - and both me and my bags made it on-time or early - which is not what I experienced 2 years ago when I left!
Having flown:
One mainline (DEN-PHX)
One UX (DEN-YYZ)
Two Codeshares (AC DEN-YYZ, NZ LAX-SYD)
General impression is that things ARE better when it comes to the basics (ontime arrival/departure, customer service, delivery of checked baggage).
Mainline is still better than UX. And the international codeshare carriers still edge out UA. Mileage Plus seems far more complex than when I left (Segments and PQDs and Operated Flights oh my!)
But, I've not yet found a snarky employee (they all seem so much happier) - and both me and my bags made it on-time or early - which is not what I experienced 2 years ago when I left!
Last edited by sean5280; Feb 22, 2017 at 1:08 pm
Feb 21, 2017, 11:52 am
#42
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 4,044
i do both AS and UA. on the service side, i feel AS blows UA away. hard/soft products are kind of a wash (except the drinks on AS i enjoy over UA). but the upgrade % on AS blows UA out of the water.
it really depends what you are looking for.
it really depends what you are looking for.
Feb 21, 2017, 12:08 pm
#43
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: Delta Gold Status, Delta Platinum AMEX, AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus, SPG Preferred
Posts: 83
I also now live in DEN. UA never did anything awful to me per say even during the dark times of the merger in 2012-2013. I guess I got lucky, but having been following the merger pretty well I didn't like the path they were going down when Smisek was in charge. I appreciate Oscar moving the needle along, but I for one am not ready to come back. Moves like still having a lot of sCO 737s with beat up interiors, the HD 777s, slimline seat Airbuses, streaming issues, still many E145s on long routes are enough reasons for me to me to continue to avoid United. Catering seems to have been a lot better recently in F, even if consistency is still an issue based on photo postings here.
Recently chose AA over UA on DEN-DFW for work. It was better than I expected for sure.
A cookie is not going to make up for operational incompetence though.
Recently chose AA over UA on DEN-DFW for work. It was better than I expected for sure.
A cookie is not going to make up for operational incompetence though.
Feb 21, 2017, 1:08 pm
#45
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: Delta Gold Status, Delta Platinum AMEX, AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus, SPG Preferred
Posts: 83
Didn't they take these comps away for a while when Smisek was in-charge?
I get jacked around by operational incompetence, the last thing I want is $150 for another UA flight when it could very well happen again. Comped DTV, meals, drinks in-flight right after the delay would make up for a rocky start.
I get jacked around by operational incompetence, the last thing I want is $150 for another UA flight when it could very well happen again. Comped DTV, meals, drinks in-flight right after the delay would make up for a rocky start.