Just booked a flight on United

[Kaido]

Pray for me

 

[highland145]

That you hit the mile high lottery or the tarmac lottery?

 

[SKORPI0]

Why?

 

[dullard]

Sorry, it was nice knowing you. Not because you'll crash, but because you won't get to your destination.

Right during the big United debacle last month, I was booked on United. My flight was delayed for ~6 hours, then cancelled because there was no crew, even though the crew (two pilots and three stewardesses) was sitting at the gate with us passengers (and left with us for hotels), rebooked 14 hours after the initially scheduled time, gave us hotels that took 2 hours to reach with the hotel shuttle, we each got about 3 hours sleep, and then we got to take the shuttle back for our flight. In repayment, they did at least give us an overnight goody bag (United forced us to gate check bags and wouldn't let us get them back since they were already in the plane) and a $20 food voucher. Since the hotel had free breakfast, I bought the next four customers behind me in Starbucks a drink since I was using every last cent of that voucher.

Then last weekend my wife was on United. Over halfway to the destination, in mid-air, they annouce that the plane is turning back with some combination of brake and/or landing gear problem. So, rather than land at the closer destination airport, United flew them back to the starting airport. Which because landing in Chicago with bad brakes and/or bad landing gear is better than landing in the proper destination.

 

[Exterous]

Eh, I've had 4 United flights since the incident - I'm willing to bet you'll be fine

gave us hotels that took 2 hours to reach with the hotel shuttle, we each got about 3 hours sleep, and then we got to take the shuttle back for our flight.

If it makes you feel better (not that I know why it would) it took us 2 hours to get to and get checked into the hotel we had booked 6+ months in advance because Etihad cancelled a flight after a hours of delays and then sent everyone to our same hotel completely overwhelming the shuttle and checkin

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Pray for me

You have to be more specific. Are you hoping to make it through safely or are you hoping to get the shit beat out of you so you can sue?

 

[TallBill]

Odds are you'll be fine... 40,000 people booted annually, 3 others on that very flight, and you can't name any of them.

 

[dullard]

If it makes you feel better (not that I know why it would) it took us 2 hours to get to and get checked into the hotel we had booked 6+ months in advance because Etihad cancelled a flight after a hours of delays and then sent everyone to our same hotel completely overwhelming the shuttle and checkin

Basically that is why it took us 2 hours. The shuttle only came once an hour and was packed to the brim the first time it came around 58 minutes after we arrived at the shuttle stop, so we had to wait another hour; all while the hotel across the street looked about 1/3rd booked. Then it took almost an hour to check in.

I was mostly mad because I was missing my vacation, being delayed by 14 hours. And that is time that I can never get back.

 

[TallBill]

Sorry, it was nice knowing you. Not because you'll crash, but because you won't get to your destination.

Right during the big United debacle last month, I was booked on United. My flight was delayed for ~6 hours, then cancelled because there was no crew, even though the crew (two pilots and three stewardesses) was sitting at the gate with us passengers (and left with us for hotels), rebooked 14 hours after the initially scheduled time, gave us hotels that took 2 hours to reach with the hotel shuttle, we each got about 3 hours sleep, and then we got to take the shuttle back for our flight. In repayment, they did at least give us an overnight goody bag (United forced us to gate check bags and wouldn't let us get them back since they were already in the plane) and a $20 food voucher. Since the hotel had free breakfast, I bought the next four customers behind me in Starbucks a drink since I was using every last cent of that voucher.

Then last weekend my wife was on United. Over halfway to the destination, in mid-air, they annouce that the plane is turning back with some combination of brake and/or landing gear problem. So, rather than land at the closer destination airport, United flew them back to the starting airport. Which because landing in Chicago with bad brakes and/or bad landing gear is better than landing in the proper destination.

So what is the extraordinary story that you're trying to share in order to strengthen your position that United is bad?

 

[dullard]

So what is the extraordinary story that you're trying to share in order to strengthen your position that United is bad?

I have none, these are just typical United flight stories.

 

[TallBill]

You mean, those exceptional events regarding airlines get shared? Nobody is every like, "I made it to the airport online, sat in my seat and had an average flight"

 

[dullard]

You mean, those exceptional events regarding airlines get shared? Nobody is every like, "I made it to the airport online, sat in my seat and had an average flight"

I can't think that I've ever experienced that with my hundreds of flights on United.

I had been a gold member on Delta for a couple of years when I flew more. No real problems other than a half hour delay here or there. I fly Southwest and American somewhat regularly with the only problem being when a whole airport was basically shut down with snow. But with United, over and over again I have had to be put up in a hotel due to some flight problem. It happened on my flight to Vietnam, another with a flight back from Spain, and just last month with a flight back from Boston. All were on United, all were preventable.

 

[TallBill]

Shrug, I've never noticed any difference between any airline in maybe 100 lifetime flights. Whatever is the cheapest..

 

[zinfamous]

I hope you don't look Azn, OP.

 

[torpid]

Kaido is actually the less-well-known, smaller but sentient offspring of Darius the rabbit. I do not like his chances.

 

[Svnla]

I made multiply trips oversea via United and American plus Delta for years and so far, nothing to whine and bitch about. Are they perfect? Of course not but they are not the monsters like some of you think they are.

And no, I do not work for them or know anyone who works for them.

In other news, if you can, book your flight via a foreign airline, do it. The flight attendants and the food and the airplanes are a lot better than US legacy airlines.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Suing the airlines, its the new 401k.

 

[dullard]

In other news, if you can, book your flight via a foreign airline, do it. The flight attendants and the food and the airplanes are a lot better than US legacy airlines.

It depends.

Lufthansa, for example, had great planes (USB ports in every seat years before I ever saw that on a US airline). But, Lufthansa often actually weighs each and every suitcase at the gate so just fitting in the overhead bin is not sufficient.

South African Airways is often sparse in amenities but very friendly. South African Airways however weighs every bag at check-in with a 17 lb limit being extremely difficult for international travel. The empty bag itself can approach half that weight limit. There is some odd system there where they tell you a password to get past the next person with the overweight bag limit without paying a fee. I assume I was supposed to tip him, but once I had the password, I didn't think it was really necessary.

Volaris (a Mexican airline) is often sparse in amenities but very friendly.

Vietnam Airlines isn't like you think of with Asian flights. It is no Singapore Airlines. It felt more like our Southwest than anything.

Ryan Air, while cheap, just tries to nickel and dime you at every single chance. Want a plane plastered in ads so that it looks like a rundown subway car? Fly Ryan Air. Want to sleep a bit on your flight? Good luck as they peddle lottery tickets, snacks, drinks, duty free, and smokeless cigarettes every 2 minutes loudly. But, at least the fee to have tickets is only like $10 if you get them emailed to you (I assume the money paid when booking the flight was for the IDEA of a flight, as you still need to pay more to take the flight).

I haven't yet had the pleasure of the nicer Middle East airlines.

 

[Kaido]

Kaido is actually the less-well-known, smaller but sentient offspring of Darius the rabbit. I do not like his chances.

Annnnnnnnnnnd I've been outed.

 

[Kaido]

Odds are you'll be fine... 40,000 people booted annually, 3 others on that very flight, and you can't name any of them.

Wow seriously, 40k people annually? I fly a few times a year but I've never seen anyone taken off the flight, wow!

 

[Uppsala9496]

United on Monday for me. First flight of the day so this way if there are any issues, I at least have a better chance of standby.
My last flight with them earlier this year was cancelled - so that bad luck is out of the way.

 

[dullard]

Wow seriously, 40k people annually? I fly a few times a year but I've never seen anyone taken off the flight, wow!

That 40k number includes those who are there at the gate, with a paid ticket, but are not allowed to board. Very few are actually removed from the plane.

 

[Svnla]

It depends.

Let see.

I did fly multiple times with Asiana (Korea), ANA (Japan), Japan Airline, Air Asia (discount airline - no first class seats), Thai Air and every single one of them was better than US legacy airlines of American, Delta, and United. No exception. Oh yes, just saw the part about the weight of carry on. Asiana did that to me but another poster said he did not have to do that. ANA and Japan did not do the weight in so guess who I will use from now on? ANA or Japan Air because the air fare would be the similar with Asiana but no carry on weight in.

The flight attendants were younger, better looking, and nicer. The airplanes were newer and cleaner. The airports were nicer and newer and cleaner. The only things I did not like were the custom/border agents at some of the developing countries that tried to squeeze out some hush money from the travelers.

Oh, I did fly with Mexico Air one time because the United flight from Asia to US was cancel due to mechanical issue. The experience was ok but Mexico City air was so polluted. I was in shock because the air was more dirty than some of the developing countries in Asia.

All of my flights were in coach because I am not a stinking rich ATOTer/internet playboy/hot shot.

 

[Exterous]

I can't think that I've ever experienced that with my hundreds of flights on United.

I had been a gold member on Delta for a couple of years when I flew more. No real problems other than a half hour delay here or there. I fly Southwest and American somewhat regularly with the only problem being when a whole airport was basically shut down with snow. But with United, over and over again I have had to be put up in a hotel due to some flight problem. It happened on my flight to Vietnam, another with a flight back from Spain, and just last month with a flight back from Boston. All were on United, all were preventable.

It's a moving target. We suffered through Southwests on time arrival debacle in 2014 due to an ill advised decision to pack their schedule. I had 15+ segments in a row that were late at best during the winter as they plunged from slightly above average to 10 percentage points below average.

AA had their problems last summer when they ranked worst in the US for on time arrivals in June. Subsequent attempts to fix it failed well into the fall giving me the pleasure of adding Charlotte and Philly to the list of airports I've run through and a few delayed baggage claims.

 

[dud]

Wow seriously, 40k people annually? I fly a few times a year but I've never seen anyone taken off the flight, wow!

Nor have most of us. Typically, the airline makes increasing offers to incentivize surplus passengers to give up their seats. About 10% or less of the flights that I've taken over the years were overbooked and I've NEVER seen anyone taken off of a flight.

Feel bad for that doctor who was forced off that flight ... think again. After everything is said and done ... he's set for the rest of his life.


OP, this is for you:

http://www.untied.com/main.shtml