Who is UA's most repugnant (flying) partner?
Aug 8, 2022, 11:05 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
LOT, in my experience. my few flights on TAP have been excellent, and the 1 refund I needed to run for family was processed painlessly and quickly, so no complaints. AC my only real issue (apart from the lack of room in the J seat from knees down) was one seat deflation, and I had no problems getting appropriately (in fact generously) compensated for that. At least that's how I remember it years later - quite possible digging through FT will reveal that I complained about AC at the time :-D
LOT - had to cancel a refundable ticket 3 years ago. Was about $500 or so. Multiple times they said they issued the refund, and I never received it. Eventually gave up because neither my employer nor I had any interest in investing further time.
LOT - had to cancel a refundable ticket 3 years ago. Was about $500 or so. Multiple times they said they issued the refund, and I never received it. Eventually gave up because neither my employer nor I had any interest in investing further time.
Aug 8, 2022, 11:13 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 520
I'm assuming you were on the Air Japan flight -- that's not real ANA -- its like flying UEX vs UA - except the planes are cleaner.... Air Japan is NH's version of the "JV" team -- limited services, less experienced FA, and older planes -- but still better than most....
Aug 9, 2022, 2:44 am
#19
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,453
Aug 9, 2022, 2:49 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
Recently flew AC biz int'l twice and had no issues at all apart from the crazy biz check-in stuff at YVR (lesson learned there).
I would fly them in preference to UA on TATL flights because of the more comfortable seat and incomparably better food and wine on board.
I would fly them in preference to UA on TATL flights because of the more comfortable seat and incomparably better food and wine on board.
Aug 9, 2022, 5:42 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,922
I tried using some, don’t remember why it didn’t work out, it was several years ago and it’s too late now.
Aug 9, 2022, 5:57 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
Got to be a tie between AC and TP at this point. Both are actually fine IMO if all goes well. In case of irops or any other issues, they are the most horrible to deal with.
Aug 9, 2022, 6:52 am
#25
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Formerly Box 350, Boston Mass, Oh two one three four. Now near Beverly Hills 90210
Programs: Loyal Order of Water Buffalos
Posts: 3,937
OP uses the word "Repugnant", not "Worst". I think those are two totally different things. We have some great examples of "Worst" here, but "Repugnant" goes so much further than bad service. Much worse than, say, Air Canada's or TAP's owners.
Long wait times and bad refund policies are bad. But don't come close to the behavior of some of the actions of United's partners' owners.
Long wait times and bad refund policies are bad. But don't come close to the behavior of some of the actions of United's partners' owners.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 9, 2022 at 10:53 am Reason: Let's switch to travel experiences and not go OMNI/PR
Aug 9, 2022, 7:18 am
#26
Join Date: May 2001
Location: IAD
Posts: 6,148
Avianca once tried to downgrade me from a J seat in an A332 to an exit row coach seat in an A320 GRU-BOG when they swapped aircraft.
After much arguing I won and they sent me to JFK on the now deceased Avianca Brasil.
TP, LO, AC have not tried to pull such stunts on me.
After much arguing I won and they sent me to JFK on the now deceased Avianca Brasil.
TP, LO, AC have not tried to pull such stunts on me.
Aug 9, 2022, 7:19 am
#27
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,020
Surprisingly, the call wait time for AC 2 weeks ago was only 35 minutes, and they now offer a call back option.
Then again, I had to call to get a seat assignment in business class, since their website craps out every time I tried to save the assignment.
Then again, I had to call to get a seat assignment in business class, since their website craps out every time I tried to save the assignment.
Aug 9, 2022, 7:44 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,049
i just flew them [AC] to NRT (on the way to SIN), and onboard (once the planes actually left - both late), I found it very average, which at least was average. Speaking of OTP, they are absolutely worst in class, and have traditionally had pretty bad OTP - gotten worse now for sure.
on the other hand, they do operate their own aircraft flying SFO-YYZ, which is more than I can say for UA right now.
on the other hand, they do operate their own aircraft flying SFO-YYZ, which is more than I can say for UA right now.
Aug 9, 2022, 7:47 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Formerly Box 350, Boston Mass, Oh two one three four. Now near Beverly Hills 90210
Programs: Loyal Order of Water Buffalos
Posts: 3,937
I'm just picking out the word "Repugnant" because I don't think it means what the OP thinks it means.
It's like threads with "NIGHTMARE" or "DEVASTATING" in the title, when a bag got lost or a hotel was sold out or similar.
It's like threads with "NIGHTMARE" or "DEVASTATING" in the title, when a bag got lost or a hotel was sold out or similar.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 9, 2022 at 10:54 am Reason: stick to travel related issues