United Airlines ...

[APS]

As a Brit, I've got limited experience with U.S. Airlines beyond American, so flying from SAN - DEN last week, considering the things I've heard about United, I was prepared for the worst.

Having enjoyed a clean, comfortable Airbus, in-flight entertainment and the geek-joy of listening to ATC as we fly, all in Economy Basic, I am looking forward to the return leg to SAN tomorrow.

It just goes to show that it's best to rely on your own observations, than what others "tell" you is the "truth".

(I was also glad to get a Northwest flight to IA last month in the nick of time before they were totally subsumed into Delta. Hooray!)

[Crunk415balla]

United isn't as bad as people say. Service isn't great, thats for sure, but channel 9 is a pretty cool thing.

[trooper]

Agreed.... In fact I can't say I've had a bad flight with UA... or even US for that matter.. (which some folks just won't believe..:smilewin:)

It would be nice - I must say - if E+ seating was offered to *Golds generally.. even on a last minute all-UA-elites-looked-after-first basis.. but that's not policy so..........fair enough.

Last time I did "buy up" to E+ (asked about it hoping to be "comped".. Hey - can't blame me for trying!!) was YVR-DEN which seemed long enough to make it worthwhile....especially after arriving in SFO in C on SQ then C on AC from there... Paid the fee.. and had the whole bulkhead row to myself.. so well pleased there! Those bulkheads with the "cutouts" give marvellous legroom...

I will complain when it is deserved.. but that isn't "yet".

[rohank4284]

Living in Denver, I have had over 50 flights with UA, and the vast majority, probably around 85%, have been good to excellent. UA has put me through a couple of terrible experiences, but for the most part, they have been a good airline. I have always found UA's cabin crew to be above average, but their ground-staff is generally horrible.

Also, one reason why UA's reputation has taken a beating is because during the 1990s, UA was one the better airlines in the world. Due its bankruptcy in 2002, UA fell way behind other airlines, which is why UA's reputation is so bad.

Rohan

[BoeingKing77]

[quote=trooper;497449]Agreed.... In fact I can't say I've had a bad flight with UA... or even US for that matter.. (which some folks just won't believe..:smilewin:)
US Air is a good airline.

[Crunk415balla]

US Air is a good airline.
Did you used to be a writer for a fellow named Wesley Willis?

Anyway, I'll add working at OO I'm surprised how well UA treats the 1Ks. Most things we wouldn't be allowed to do for pax we are supposed to do for the 1Ks. For example, a guy shows up from a late connection for an SNA flight today. The jetbridge has been retracted, but since he was 1K we were advised to take him down on the ramp and board him on the CR7 since the door was still open. Not bad.

[AA 1818]

Ok, I have a little theory - perhaps you guys can aide me in either prooving or disprooving it. Unlike in Europe (where de-regulation led to a massive amout of LCC - and as of such domestic/reigonal/inter-European service as a whole has suffered to compete with LCC competition), in the U.S. we often enjoy a higher standard of airline experiences due simply to a rather well controlled and covered market (namely relitavely few airlines providing service to the nation as a whole*), and as of such our expectations are higher of our airlines. As of such - we often tend to critisize what would other wise be considered generally good service - claiming it to be sub-standard by our standards when, compared to others world-wide - the service is either good or better than their standards. what do you guys think?

*Disclaimer - I understand that there are quite a few airlines operating within the U.S. but even in the wake of many closures, bankruptcies and mergers - there are relitavely few carriers serving the population of the U.S., especialy when held against the example of Europe. In previous statements I fully advocated more mergers and consolidation within the industry as a steadfast and progressive step to stability - yet, at this time - we are entereing the gray area where, even with such mergers and consolidations - we may be headed to the need for more competition.

[APS]

Weirdly enough my good man, I would have thought exactly the opposite. In Europe the line between Legacy carriers and LCCs is not so much set in stone but eighteen feet high and surrounded by a No Man's Land. People fly on LCCs knowing precisely what to expect, and what they'll pay - invariably on short-hop.

When they get on a legacy carrier for a long-haul, they expect and almost always receive far superior service. Deregulation in Europe has had quite a different effect than in the US - witness how many of Europe's biggest names have fallen, not many when you consider mighty names like TWA and Pan-Am, and now soon to be Northwest have disappeared.

For example, in the US legacy carriers have increasingly taken to adopting LCC practices like charging for checked luggage which is something simply not done by most European legacy carriers.

In my experience, the service of US Domestic carriers has been quite different - for example on Northwest there was nothing to do but drink a can of Pepsi and listen to the engines. United provided in-flight entertainment - both in Economy.

I think it's more down to the individual US Airlines, than a perceived superior service offered when compared to European ones.

[rohank4284]

Weirdly enough my good man, I would have thought exactly the opposite. In Europe the line between Legacy carriers and LCCs is not so much set in stone but eighteen feet high and surrounded by a No Man's Land. People fly on LCCs knowing precisely what to expect, and what they'll pay - invariably on short-hop.

When they get on a legacy carrier for a long-haul, they expect and almost always receive far superior service. Deregulation in Europe has had quite a different effect than in the US - witness how many of Europe's biggest names have fallen, not many when you consider mighty names like TWA and Pan-Am, and now soon to be Northwest have disappeared.

For example, in the US legacy carriers have increasingly taken to adopting LCC practices like charging for checked luggage which is something simply not done by most European legacy carriers.

In my experience, the service of US Domestic carriers has been quite different - for example on Northwest there was nothing to do but drink a can of Pepsi and listen to the engines. United provided in-flight entertainment - both in Economy.

I think it's more down to the individual US Airlines, than a perceived superior service offered when compared to European ones.

I agree completely. In Europe, most people know what to expect when flying a LCC, such as, Easyjet, Ryanair, etc. and expect much more when flying on legacy carriers, such as, BA, LH, and AF. It's kind of funny, how in Europe, the legacy carriers will do as much as possible to differentiate their service from the LCCs, but in the US, most of the Legacy carriers tried to reduce their fares and service levels to match those of the LCCs.

AA1818 does make some valid points though. Americans historically have a lower tolerance for what they will accept from an airline, than do Europeans. For instance, when many Americans fly Ryanair, they are astounded by the low service levels and the rude treatment they receive. Most Europeans, simply brush it off, claiming that "you get, what you pay for." This is one reason why when American carriers first starting charging for alcohol and meals on-board, they had to offer "better" meals and beers or otherwise customers wouldn't buy them. Nevertheless, Americans are seemingly becoming more like Europeans because many people just accepted the new baggage fees andthe loss of free snack without demanding so-called "upgrades." Even more disturbing, few people complained last summer when US Airways stopped offering free non-alcoholic beverages.

Another factor, is the fact that US airline customers often see air travel as a commodity and are often unwilling to pay that much extra for better service and amenities. However, Americans are also strange, in that they will not accept poor treatment for very cheap fares, thus more airline fares hover in a small range. For years, that range was between $160-250 per ticket, Americans weren't willing to pay $300-325 for a ticket on a airline that would offer them good service and plenty of amenities, yet Americans didn't want to pay $100 for an airline that would treat them poorly. Thus, seeing this trend, the American legacy carriers decided that the best way to compete in the market was to have fares that were competitive with those of the LCCs. European consumers more often factor the perceived service level and amenities provided by an airline into the ticket price, than do American consumers.

It's sad to say, but consumers get what they pay for. Americans, just weren't willing to pay $50 or $100 more for a round-trip airfare on the legacy carriers, so these carriers reacted by lowering their service and amenities.

Rohan