Appreciating UA
#16
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,971
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,297
So you are stuck if you are a domestic work flyer.
Anyone with a choice, eventually lets go of their AC chains.
How long can you keep flying an airline with a <60% on time rating, and zero customer service/recovery without a functioning website/app or a call center......
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
#20
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 734
Hah. It's a cultural facade. The response about service industry is spot-on. Same happens in US public education now. Don't want to hurt anybody's feelings with a failing grade, so... Another example is medical practice in some countries [shall not be named/shamed here] where there's no enforcement on reporting medical errors, hence it's "error-free" with no real reason for quality.
I noticed the actual seat hardware for AC has gone down hill in the last few years--who put the IFE controls in the arm rest where your elbow keeps landing on them? Like UA, AA, LH, SQ, and almost everybody else, the rest is the same--you can get more cattle-like treatment. UA, AA and other domestic airlines are in such a hurry to turn their planes around, they don't get cleaned as nicely as before. Then there's HU. HU's interiors were all fine when they were new. If they bothered to maintain anything ever is a different story.
Soft product is another story. SQ and AA customer service always "seems" happier than UA. 1st prize in my experience has been QX (not AS) and HA. WN used to be borderline goofy but seems to be getting more sober.
I agree with others that in accordance with your customer tier, when push comes to shove, customer service all seems about the same. Situation seems to keep changing from year to year. Just waited 2-3 hours for AA phone rep the other day. Three times. It was immediate 20 years ago. The days of DL call-center in India are long gone. For normal people, QX and HA still seem the best.
I noticed the actual seat hardware for AC has gone down hill in the last few years--who put the IFE controls in the arm rest where your elbow keeps landing on them? Like UA, AA, LH, SQ, and almost everybody else, the rest is the same--you can get more cattle-like treatment. UA, AA and other domestic airlines are in such a hurry to turn their planes around, they don't get cleaned as nicely as before. Then there's HU. HU's interiors were all fine when they were new. If they bothered to maintain anything ever is a different story.
Soft product is another story. SQ and AA customer service always "seems" happier than UA. 1st prize in my experience has been QX (not AS) and HA. WN used to be borderline goofy but seems to be getting more sober.
I agree with others that in accordance with your customer tier, when push comes to shove, customer service all seems about the same. Situation seems to keep changing from year to year. Just waited 2-3 hours for AA phone rep the other day. Three times. It was immediate 20 years ago. The days of DL call-center in India are long gone. For normal people, QX and HA still seem the best.
Last edited by Long Zhiren; Jan 16, 2020 at 9:57 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier
Posts: 781
You guys are scaring me. I have the whole family...6 of us booked LAS to YVR on AC in July. They have a non-stop, it was only 12k miles per seat. Sticking with UA wul have been twice the miles and more than twice the travel time with the stop....so I am going to hope for the best.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,297
You guys are scaring me. I have the whole family...6 of us booked LAS to YVR on AC in July. They have a non-stop, it was only 12k miles per seat. Sticking with UA wul have been twice the miles and more than twice the travel time with the stop....so I am going to hope for the best.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...lls-today.html
This thread says it all....
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
Yup. Grew up on AC. As bad they were back then, it's worse now.
When I go back to YYZ, I have the option of non-stop CRJ AC flights, but I often book on UA via ORD (or IAD). Its often not worth AC, and I think CVG is about the lowest priority route they have, besides say, Kingston, ON (if they still fly that). In fact, half the time, even with a 1-2 hour connection on UA, I feel like its faster from scheduled departure to actual landing time, due to the often extreme AC regional delays.
When I go back to YYZ, I have the option of non-stop CRJ AC flights, but I often book on UA via ORD (or IAD). Its often not worth AC, and I think CVG is about the lowest priority route they have, besides say, Kingston, ON (if they still fly that). In fact, half the time, even with a 1-2 hour connection on UA, I feel like its faster from scheduled departure to actual landing time, due to the often extreme AC regional delays.
#24
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: YVR
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 975
You guys are scaring me. I have the whole family...6 of us booked LAS to YVR on AC in July. They have a non-stop, it was only 12k miles per seat. Sticking with UA wul have been twice the miles and more than twice the travel time with the stop....so I am going to hope for the best.
#25
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,834
As this is the UA forum, there has probably been enough said about AC ( and there are certainly plenty of threads in the AC forum for such a discussion.)
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
#26
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier
Posts: 781
I cringe and shake my head when I see those signs at YVR.
Exactly. While there is a choice in WestJet, I don't know anyone personally who flies WS for business. They simply don't have the network to compete with AC outside of Canada (No alliance; partnership with DL isn't enough). And don't get me started on their FF program. I had WS Gold for 1 year via a AA status match and it was a total joke.
Haha. Guess I haven't given it too much though either. Never thought about quicksand though.
Ouch. You'll be in AC Rouge. Unqualified college dropout flight attendants aside, I'm a smaller guy and it's pretty much the only plane I've flown on where I had zero leg room.
Exactly. While there is a choice in WestJet, I don't know anyone personally who flies WS for business. They simply don't have the network to compete with AC outside of Canada (No alliance; partnership with DL isn't enough). And don't get me started on their FF program. I had WS Gold for 1 year via a AA status match and it was a total joke.
Haha. Guess I haven't given it too much though either. Never thought about quicksand though.
Ouch. You'll be in AC Rouge. Unqualified college dropout flight attendants aside, I'm a smaller guy and it's pretty much the only plane I've flown on where I had zero leg room.