Is United turning into American Airlines? (delays, reliability, ...)
Dec 1, 19, 10:01 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,677
Originally Posted by timfountain
You should try being a West coast loyalist flying through SFO every week. SFO and on-time are never mentioned in the same sentence....
With those early AM flights; I'm 100% on time.
Dec 1, 19, 10:08 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,236
Originally Posted by chavala
No way. Speaking as someone whose home airport is DFW, AA is still way worse. They will cxl a flight at the slightest crack of lightning.
Dec 1, 19, 10:22 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,360
Originally Posted by JimInOhio
Here in CLE, if the main flight info board is showing any cancellations, you can bet it’s dominated by AA flights.
Look at the UA vs the AA delays.
Dec 2, 19, 11:55 am
#21
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 6,614
It's a balancing act.
When UAL's on-time stats peeked the hub schedules included a lot of slack. One of Scott Kirby's initiatives was rebanking the hubs to create more and better connection opportunities. It has worked very well in driving bookings and aircraft and crew utilization but it requires a lot of arrivals, and a lot of departures, to be compressed into shorter pushes. More congestion leads to delays and less flexibility in gate assignments. Shorter ground times increases the chances of misconnections of passengers, aircraft, and crews.
Customers like having more, better, more efficient connection opportunities. Customers also like on-time flights. The trick is in finding the right balance between the two.
When UAL's on-time stats peeked the hub schedules included a lot of slack. One of Scott Kirby's initiatives was rebanking the hubs to create more and better connection opportunities. It has worked very well in driving bookings and aircraft and crew utilization but it requires a lot of arrivals, and a lot of departures, to be compressed into shorter pushes. More congestion leads to delays and less flexibility in gate assignments. Shorter ground times increases the chances of misconnections of passengers, aircraft, and crews.
Customers like having more, better, more efficient connection opportunities. Customers also like on-time flights. The trick is in finding the right balance between the two.
Dec 2, 19, 12:03 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 13,595
Originally Posted by Kleffen
Hi,
maybe its only me being unfortunate, but 2019 has been pretty poor when it comes to reliability with departure times for United. I’m flying out on Houston for the most part, and there has been delays on at least 60% of the flights. It’s always something about mechanical issues, late aircrafts, waiting on crew etc. etc.
only me, or has United deteriorated on reliability in recent time?
maybe its only me being unfortunate, but 2019 has been pretty poor when it comes to reliability with departure times for United. I’m flying out on Houston for the most part, and there has been delays on at least 60% of the flights. It’s always something about mechanical issues, late aircrafts, waiting on crew etc. etc.
only me, or has United deteriorated on reliability in recent time?
Dec 2, 19, 12:39 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,633
Originally Posted by LarryJ
It's a balancing act.
When UAL's on-time stats peeked the hub schedules included a lot of slack. One of Scott Kirby's initiatives was rebanking the hubs to create more and better connection opportunities. It has worked very well in driving bookings and aircraft and crew utilization but it requires a lot of arrivals, and a lot of departures, to be compressed into shorter pushes. More congestion leads to delays and less flexibility in gate assignments. Shorter ground times increases the chances of misconnections of passengers, aircraft, and crews.
Customers like having more, better, more efficient connection opportunities. Customers also like on-time flights. The trick is in finding the right balance between the two.
When UAL's on-time stats peeked the hub schedules included a lot of slack. One of Scott Kirby's initiatives was rebanking the hubs to create more and better connection opportunities. It has worked very well in driving bookings and aircraft and crew utilization but it requires a lot of arrivals, and a lot of departures, to be compressed into shorter pushes. More congestion leads to delays and less flexibility in gate assignments. Shorter ground times increases the chances of misconnections of passengers, aircraft, and crews.
Customers like having more, better, more efficient connection opportunities. Customers also like on-time flights. The trick is in finding the right balance between the two.
In my personal situation, the increased flight frequencies mean I get to spend more nights in my bed at home. I haven't had one delay-caused hotel stay yet this year. So, for me, in my situation, the formula's a winner.
Dec 2, 19, 12:50 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: On the Road Again
Programs: UA 1K MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 766
I must’ve flying a different air carrier. With 130,000 BIS miles and 79 segments I have had Zero missed connections and one flight delayed my more than an hour. Delta matched that with my one and only trip with them ‘this year.
Dec 2, 19, 12:54 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: YEG
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 72
Originally Posted by Dublin_rfk
I must’ve flying a different air carrier. With 130,000 BIS miles and 79 segments I have had Zero missed connections and one flight delayed my more than an hour. Delta matched that with my one and only trip with them ‘this year.
Dec 2, 19, 1:01 pm
#26
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago ORD/MDW and overseas much of the time
Programs: UA GS 2.7MM, MR/SPG LT Plat
Posts: 230
Originally Posted by COMMONC3NTS
I have been getting stupid delays with their regional carrier mesa airlines from IAH.
I never have delays when flying IAH to ORD.
United is getting stupid by making different tiers of economy. This is getting out of hand. How do you have 3 tiers for economy???
Basic Economy
Economy
Premium Economy
Business First
First First
Why stop there??? How about middle seat economy, rear economy, lay in the overhead bin economy, ride in the cargo economy. There is so much more potential here.
I never have delays when flying IAH to ORD.
United is getting stupid by making different tiers of economy. This is getting out of hand. How do you have 3 tiers for economy???
Basic Economy
Economy
Premium Economy
Business First
First First
Why stop there??? How about middle seat economy, rear economy, lay in the overhead bin economy, ride in the cargo economy. There is so much more potential here.
Dec 2, 19, 7:22 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: DL Plat, Marriot Plat
Posts: 293
Originally Posted by timfountain
You should try being a West coast loyalist flying through SFO every week. SFO and on-time are never mentioned in the same sentence....
Dec 2, 19, 8:21 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 11,119
Originally Posted by PsiFighter37
Pretty surprised that B6 does poorly.
Same with HA, in the other direction.
Dec 2, 19, 8:31 pm
#30
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AC E50K, AS MVPG, Hertz PC, Hilton Diamond, Delta/Marriott/SPG Plat, UA Gold
Posts: 2,471
Originally Posted by PsiFighter37
Pretty surprised that B6 does poorly.
