If you stopped flying UA due to COVID, when will you start?
Apr 24, 2021, 12:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
If you stopped flying UA due to COVID, when will you start?
In February and March, many were posting about their 1 year anniversary of not flying UA due to the pandemic. While many have returned to the skies, for those that haven't, when do you think you will?
I got a check-in call from United; they were seeing how I was doing and were curious when I'd return flying again. I told them unlikely until August, but a lot of it depends where I can go and how many hoops I need to jump through to get there. I'd love to go to SYD or AKL, but that won't be possible this year as an example.
They said in their talks with their other top customers, they see another wave coming back to the sky in June/July but another larger wavenof returning flyers coming in the fall.
I got a check-in call from United; they were seeing how I was doing and were curious when I'd return flying again. I told them unlikely until August, but a lot of it depends where I can go and how many hoops I need to jump through to get there. I'd love to go to SYD or AKL, but that won't be possible this year as an example.
They said in their talks with their other top customers, they see another wave coming back to the sky in June/July but another larger wavenof returning flyers coming in the fall.
Apr 24, 2021, 5:16 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
In February and March, many were posting about their 1 year anniversary of not flying UA due to the pandemic. While many have returned to the skies, for those that haven't, when do you think you will?
I got a check-in call from United; they were seeing how I was doing and were curious when I'd return flying again. I told them unlikely until August, but a lot of it depends where I can go and how many hoops I need to jump through to get there. I'd love to go to SYD or AKL, but that won't be possible this year as an example.
They said in their talks with their other top customers, they see another wave coming back to the sky in June/July but another larger wavenof returning flyers coming in the fall.
I got a check-in call from United; they were seeing how I was doing and were curious when I'd return flying again. I told them unlikely until August, but a lot of it depends where I can go and how many hoops I need to jump through to get there. I'd love to go to SYD or AKL, but that won't be possible this year as an example.
They said in their talks with their other top customers, they see another wave coming back to the sky in June/July but another larger wavenof returning flyers coming in the fall.
That is what they were waiting for, and with vaccination numbers so high now, it has arrived.
Planes are packed recently, including soliciting volunteers at check-in for oversold flights.
And trying to book upcoming travel, finding flights that are sold out a week before departure.
There is pent up demand, and the flood gates are about to open, me thinks...
Apr 24, 2021, 5:57 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: No. California
Programs: UA MP HH LTD
Posts: 2,040
Flew in December and March. Next flight in late May. Now that we are fully vaccinated, will not double mask in May. Agree, demand should really be climbing into summer. Expecting fuller planes and busier airports...hoping UA will resume more routes soon, like SFO -DCA.
Apr 24, 2021, 6:14 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,290
Will start flying for business in September. The daily nonstops to where I need to go were discontinued last March, and I am not excited about having to connect, but I guess I need the 4 segments to have any kind of status going forward. Or maybe I should just fly another airline instead of UA.
Apr 24, 2021, 10:16 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
Once fully vaccinated. Starting in June for personal travel. My best guess is that business travel will resume in 2022 ... still not allowed unless there is a business emergency and with VP approval.
Apr 24, 2021, 10:53 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
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It looks as if it’s June, maybe July, for me too. It’s going to be the longest period of time I’ve spent without flying since 1982.
Apr 24, 2021, 10:58 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 477
We will have our first flight in a week - we only started limited travel to see family that are vaccinated (my parents) once we were vaccinated. Our work still does not allow business travel. International travel likely will not functionally return until vaccination expands and case counts fall - currently the hurdles and risks are too high. Suspect 2022 will see a return of demand. That said, living in Chicago, if United doesn't do something to keep my business (as there is no way without business travel, esp international travel, to maintain 1K), I will def become more of a free agent and shop around.
Apr 24, 2021, 11:41 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
Once the FAA mask mandate ends, I'll fly whichever major carrier is first to drop their policy.
Apr 24, 2021, 11:54 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
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Our first post-vax UA flights (or any flights for that matter) are at the end of August.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 24, 2021 at 1:54 pm Reason: Content removed per Moderator note
Apr 24, 2021, 1:52 pm
#12
Moderator: United Airlines
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Location: SFO
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If we start debating responses, we will go down one of the many COVID rabbit holes. Believe the OP's request was for when, under what circumstances you would return flying, This is asking for an individual responses, and not really debatable -- disagreeing is expressing your opinion, your reasoning, perhaps it would be more useful to the community to listen versus trying to "correct" the other person thinking or telling an individual how they are mistaken or wrong. If not yet resumed actively flying, when might you?
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 24, 2021 at 1:57 pm
Apr 24, 2021, 2:11 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: BWI
Programs: UA 1MM & 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 255
Just resumed flying after myself and the Mrs. reached 2 weeks after getting our second vaccine shot. We did a 1 week leisure trip. Our experience generally validated our decision not to travel until fully vaccinated.
Apr 24, 2021, 5:34 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 226
Last flight was return from Sydney January 2020. Cancelled 6 other trips including Hawaii and China and Indonesia.
Got fully vaccinated, business trip to Denver in June. Nervous because being high risk, we stopped going to indoors places over a year ago.
Would like to go to Hawaii, but only after testing stops. Too much drama getting it done timely.
if we had been flying I would have my MM by now to match my husband's.
Got fully vaccinated, business trip to Denver in June. Nervous because being high risk, we stopped going to indoors places over a year ago.
Would like to go to Hawaii, but only after testing stops. Too much drama getting it done timely.
if we had been flying I would have my MM by now to match my husband's.