Do UA flyers actually like this? PDE, United Club food, lack of food to Hawaii, ....
Nov 14, 2019, 2:30 pm
#46
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Nov 14, 2019, 4:44 pm
#47
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It was cheaper (like, 30% cheaper), and I was trying to save my department some money. I work for a state university, and I like to be a good steward of the taxpayers' money.
And yes, it has changed my attitude as far as future purchases. I'm definitely willing to pay a little more for the comfy DL flight. I think their Buy on Board food options are actually better, and the lounge food is WAY better. Short-haul, it probably wouldn't make much difference. But long-haul--I'd definitely think twice before flying UA again. It would have to be massive savings, like this time. And I now feel that United club access is basically worthless. (And I'd bring my Bluetooth earbuds!)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 14, 2019 at 7:42 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Nov 14, 2019, 4:56 pm
#48
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
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PDE on UA is the bane of my existence on UA flights. It does not matter how much I ensure I have updated to the most recent version of the app. Purchased a S9 after a UA FA told me it was because my S4 was too old (although it worked for everything else I did including anything UA app related except for the Entertainment).
The PDE only works about 50% of the time when I try to use it and generally only on SAN-LAX legs. I am so thankful when they have Direct TV on a flight.
I have given up contacting UA - waste of time.
So to the question posed by the OP.
Does this UA flyer like the PDE? NO
(However, as I will be migrating away from UA it is going to become a moot point.)
The PDE only works about 50% of the time when I try to use it and generally only on SAN-LAX legs. I am so thankful when they have Direct TV on a flight.
I have given up contacting UA - waste of time.
So to the question posed by the OP.
Does this UA flyer like the PDE? NO
(However, as I will be migrating away from UA it is going to become a moot point.)
Nov 14, 2019, 4:57 pm
#49
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I like PDE on my iPad - lots of options. Besides the costs of in seat entertainment, another issue is the technology/screens become stale after a few years.
Airplane food is awful - eat before your flight or grab a sandwich.
Lastly, I've never understood why people think their should be food offerings in a UC. It isn't a restaurant. If you want food, go to a restaurant in the airport.
Airplane food is awful - eat before your flight or grab a sandwich.
Lastly, I've never understood why people think their should be food offerings in a UC. It isn't a restaurant. If you want food, go to a restaurant in the airport.
Nov 14, 2019, 5:03 pm
#50
Join Date: Jul 2011
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I like PDE on my iPad - lots of options. Besides the costs of in seat entertainment, another issue is the technology/screens become stale after a few years.
Airplane food is awful - eat before your flight or grab a sandwich.
Lastly, I've never understood why people think their should be food offerings in a UC. It isn't a restaurant. If you want food, go to a restaurant in the airport.
Airplane food is awful - eat before your flight or grab a sandwich.
Lastly, I've never understood why people think their should be food offerings in a UC. It isn't a restaurant. If you want food, go to a restaurant in the airport.
Clearly someone who doesn't visit the NH lounges at NRT often enough. Or the SQ lounge at HKG. Or the even the CA lounge at PEK. The last one doesn't have great food, but you can at least get a full meal there.UA is the only airline which does not give free meals on their Hawaii flights especially the ones which are longer than 7 hours. I don't know why many passengers still chose UA from EWR/ORD/IAH to Hawaii (and IAH to ANC) given that the fares are not cheap in comparison to other airlines. UA copies DL on everything, why don't they copy this too.
It really is just inane to compare WN to UA. the business models are different and the scope is different. If you're a domestic flier who doesn't mind the lack of a F option, doesn't fly enough to find away around bag fees, don't want an associated lounge, doesn't need the worldwide network or alliance, an ounce of snack (and not even the option of buying a meal on board) and WN are for you. They do a good job for what they do. It works for a lot of people but also doesn't work for a lot of people.
.
.
Nov 14, 2019, 5:17 pm
#51
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You know. UA has made a marketing decision to provide domestic service on Hawaii flights. That’s their right. If you don’t like it there are plenty of options. I suggest you take advantage of them. There’s nothing to see here, move along.
Nov 14, 2019, 6:30 pm
#53
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Nov 14, 2019, 8:22 pm
#54
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Nov 14, 2019, 8:48 pm
#55
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
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Asia and Europe do things differently than the US - some things are better - other things not so much. It doesn't seem right to compare Asian lounges (many of which you can't buy a membership, for instance NH)
Nov 14, 2019, 9:12 pm
#56
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
I haven't flown a long-haul UA flight in a long time. I just completed ATL-IAH-HNL-DEN-ATL in coach. I have some questions.
What's with the "bring your own screen" entertainment system? I could never make it work on my laptop (yes, I did all the requested Flash updates--or at least tried), so I had to use the app on my phone. Inferior to contemporary seatback screens (at least the ones on DL and other recently-flown airlines).
I got a Chase UA Club card specifically to have lounge access on this trip. Good lord. I tried ATL, HNL, and DEN. The spaces were OK (although the restrooms at all were much worse than the general public restrooms in the concourse), but the food offerings were just terrible. The Priority Pass lounge in ATL is better. DEN was particularly disappointing. I was hoping for something hot after my red-eye, but it was cold fruit (most from cans!), cold pastries (exactly like a Comfort Inn or LaQuinta, except out of the cellophane), or cold cereal.
And speaking of food--the lack of a meal service on a long-haul is just stupid. I did buy the egg-white and chicken flatbread sandwich on the outbound, and it was OK. But they had run out of everything else hot by the time they got to my row. I know people make fun of airline food, but seriously . . . .
I know I'm kind of venting, but I was just genuinely surprised by how . . . meager everything was. Is this normal? I don't understand how this could be effective at keeping customers loyal to UA. So maybe you guys can enlighten me?
What's with the "bring your own screen" entertainment system? I could never make it work on my laptop (yes, I did all the requested Flash updates--or at least tried), so I had to use the app on my phone. Inferior to contemporary seatback screens (at least the ones on DL and other recently-flown airlines).
I got a Chase UA Club card specifically to have lounge access on this trip. Good lord. I tried ATL, HNL, and DEN. The spaces were OK (although the restrooms at all were much worse than the general public restrooms in the concourse), but the food offerings were just terrible. The Priority Pass lounge in ATL is better. DEN was particularly disappointing. I was hoping for something hot after my red-eye, but it was cold fruit (most from cans!), cold pastries (exactly like a Comfort Inn or LaQuinta, except out of the cellophane), or cold cereal.
And speaking of food--the lack of a meal service on a long-haul is just stupid. I did buy the egg-white and chicken flatbread sandwich on the outbound, and it was OK. But they had run out of everything else hot by the time they got to my row. I know people make fun of airline food, but seriously . . . .
I know I'm kind of venting, but I was just genuinely surprised by how . . . meager everything was. Is this normal? I don't understand how this could be effective at keeping customers loyal to UA. So maybe you guys can enlighten me?
Nov 15, 2019, 8:07 am
#57
Join Date: Jul 2011
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I am unaware of any regulation that prohibits UA from doing lounges better than they do in Asia. In any case, if we want to compare to membership lounges, then the food at the United Clubs still sucks in comparison to the Centurions.
Nov 15, 2019, 8:22 am
#59
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And you can easily bring something that's both better tasting and better for you if you bring your own food from home, or even a prepared wrap from Trader Joe's.
Nov 15, 2019, 8:30 am
#60
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 674
Booking websites tell you travel time, price, stops, and baggage restrictions. They don't really say "hey Delta has food on this route and United doesnt!"
So United gets the purchase. Great for United! Except the customer, as seen in the OP, now knows to avoid United in the future. And they tell everyone about it.
So United gets to book a sale in this quarter, and then lose 6 sales next year.
Thats typical wall street thinking. Burn the building down if it means you get to pad the current quarter and cash out.
Delta is clearly running a business they intend to last for a long time. UA and AA don't seem to care. And why should they? If anything goes wrong, the CEO gets a golden parachute and its someone else's problem. Hey, maybe the two could even merge, that solves all problems!