Tagged With "United Airlines"
Comment
Re: United's Award Chart: Premium Award Cost Goes UP
I've seen a lot of "award creep" in my days, and I think there's more to come. A "mile" is worth less and less all the time. It's clear that airline miles aren't worth banking for any period of time. Use them when it's logical to do so. They likely will be worth less in the near future. Thanks for the link, PHeymont.
Comment
Re: United's Award Chart: Premium Award Cost Goes UP
Not sure I agree with the "burn 'em" philosophy. At the premium class end, there's certainly been a lot of creep, but not so much in coach, which is more price-sensitive, even for awards. True, summer awards to Europe have generally gone from 50K to 60K, but on the other hand, off-season at American went DOWN to 40K--and with the flexibility of taking one-way awards and combining them in interesting ways...it's actually a better situation. Also, there are some card-linked sales on flight...
Comment
Re: United's Award Chart: Premium Award Cost Goes UP
I think you'll find reward trips from the Western USA are harder to get for European travel than from the East coast. But if your schedule is flexible, you could be lucky.
Comment
Re: United's Award Chart: Premium Award Cost Goes UP
I think for premium travel,it makes sense. It has always surprised me that premium travel is so much cheaper from a frequent flier perspective (2:1) vs economy than when you actually buy the ticket. Just as a side note, aeroplan has recently reduced miles required on some of their reward charts as well.
Comment
Re: United's Award Chart: Premium Award Cost Goes UP
John's point about the ratio between the two tiers is interesting (we looked at that a little in a forum post this week on value of miles). My guess--and it's just that--is that the same kind of yield-management used to set prices has taken a look at this and is carefully balancing loyalty vs. burn... I can't really compare East vs West availability personally; my school schedules have defined when I can travel well enough that I'm able to start hunting tickets 330 days out, when the...
Comment
Re: Up, Up and Away: Airline miles cards with big bonuses
I LOVE my airline credit card, but it's great to have all this information in one place to see if I could do better. Probably not without some whopping fees, but whopping bonuses, too. Thank you sir, for showing us all these choices!
Comment
Re: Up, Up and Away: Airline miles cards with big bonuses
I have a Delta American Express Platinum card that has served us well. The fee is higher than the gold card, but we can check two bags free, priority boarding, and a free companion pass yearly. We fly two or three times a year and the value of the waived baggage fee and the companion pass far exceed the $150 annual fee. The card also accrues one mile for each dollar spent and lately has offered cash back incentives. For example: spend $15 at Panera's using the card and receive $5 credit on...
Comment
Re: Airline scheduling: Hurry up and wait, or run like crazy?
Excellent and informative article!!
Comment
Re: United, Air China sign up new codeshares
Good to hear. I just took an Air China flight and the airline has some good points for the longf distance budget traveler, like free meals and free video options.
Comment
Re: Airline scheduling: Hurry up and wait, or run like crazy?
Of course the king of "Banking" for years has been Icelandic Air. They have made their whole business plan around bringing planes from 10 different North American cities in the morning and having those same planes fly out to 10 different European cities 1-2 hours after landing. This allows 10 plane loads of passengers the ability to mix and match origins and destinations. Then in the afternoon they do the reverse run. For 2-4 hours a day the terminal is full as passengers switch planes, the...
Comment
Re: Airline scheduling: Hurry up and wait, or run like crazy?
Thanks for reminding me of that, Jonathan...since it's where I first noticed it. It's actually so bunched that most of the terminal employees work two short shifts a day, with a gap between.
Comment
Re: United Economy to Offer 3 Course Meals, Free Beer & Wine on Some Flights
Alaska has been offering free microbrewery beer and local wine on its Horizon flights for years. So Kudos to United for expanding their economy services. We need to acknowledge their service improvements when they occur
Comment
Re: Airline scheduling: Hurry up and wait, or run like crazy?
Fascinating piece, PHeymont. And I've noticed how tight they are making these connections. For example, in Europe we had connections scheduled 50 minutes from the plane's landing, assuming it was on time. We were definitely running, and it seemed everyone else at Schipol was as well. We made the connection, but I'd rather have an extra hour for a more relaxed transfer. I'm like you -- book a direct flight if possible, even with a premium, and look carefully at where and how long those...
Comment
Re: Airline scheduling: Hurry up and wait, or run like crazy?
very informative and useful article, PHeymont. Yes, I can relate with most of this, especially trying to make connections with only minutes to spare. We've now taken to seeking alternative forms of transport like trains and buses just to avoid airports!
Comment
Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
Beautiful photos Kirsten!!
Comment
Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
Bee-eaters are amazing birds. I've never seen more than one or two around, so it must be quite a treat to be at the edge of a migration of them! And they fly so quickly -- amazed you were able to get that last photo framed as well as you did. Thanks for sharing these.
Comment
Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
Thanks, Marilyn!
Comment
Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
It was pretty amazing... a bit dizzying actually to try and keep up with all of them!
Comment
Re: Why your airline chose your plane
I rode a 747 to and from China a few months ago. It was the first time in years that I had been on one, and it reminded me that not all coach flights have to be like a sardine can. The wide body had room to walk and stretch on the 13 hour flight, and toilets were actually comfortable. I wish they were still using them on cross country flights.
Comment
Re: Why your airline chose your plane
Thanks for the bit of history, Pheymont. Nicely written and I, for one, found it very interesting. Looking forward to part II.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 24, 2015: Poppies -- Weeping Window at Woodhorn
What an amazing memorial to all those who died in WW1. I would suggest visiting the 14-18 NOW website for some more interesting memorials and stories.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 24, 2015: Poppies -- Weeping Window at Woodhorn
Most Americans aren't very familiar with the symbolism of the poppy to the Commonwealth countries. They are a sign of remembrance, and appreciation of loss of life for those who fought in the Great War(s). "In Flanders Field the poppies blow, between the crosses row on row,..." When I was young, Remembrance Day (similar to US Veteran's day) in Canada was always characterized by poppies. Everyone wore one, and I'm glad to say that tradition continues. I've never seen a more impressive display...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 24, 2015: Poppies -- Weeping Window at Woodhorn
We southern North Americans are not that unfamiliar with the poppies, although perhaps the younger ones...in my childhood and on, they were annually a tradition carried on by the American Legion. Actually, a little research tells me that the tradition started with them in 1921, and then spread to UK and Commonwealth! Here's the text of the poem, written by John McRae, a Canadian soldier and physician: In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place;...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 24, 2015: Poppies -- Weeping Window at Woodhorn
While the poppy is mainly used in the Commonwealth it is a symbol for all who have died in war. As Chris de Burgh sang in one of his songs "Up here in heaven, we stand together, Both the enemy and the friend, 'till the end of time"
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 24, 2015: Poppies -- Weeping Window at Woodhorn
PHeymont -- perhaps its something I missed then, but in over 30 years of living in the USA I never once saw a poppy on a lapel.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 24, 2015: Poppies -- Weeping Window at Woodhorn
Ah, remember my note about my childhood! Your 30 years are later, and after the Vietnam War had changed many people's view, not necessarily on the poppies or on remembrance, but on the American Legion and VFW, and their role during the Vietnam era.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 24, 2015: Poppies -- Weeping Window at Woodhorn
I bought a Poppy in September this year from a Vietnam Vet in Easton MD. I commented on his cap with the dates on - and he removed his jacket to show me his T-shirt with his Division and Da Nang and a host of other cities where he fought. Had some amazing stories to tell. There should have been a crowd watching him, but just me. In 2015 a total of 888,246 hand made ceramic Poppy's were placed at Tower Bridge London to remember the number of men who fell in battle 1914 - 1918. The Poppy was...
Comment
Re: White-hat hackers get million-mile bonus from United
And then United's systems crashed last week.
Comment
Re: Britain's #1 attraction: The British Museum
Another "Best of Britain" survey that doesn't see beyond London. The Albert Dock in Liverpool has 6.3 Million visitors per annum - and not a mention. The Albert Dock is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
Reply
Re: Londonist: Anglo Saxon London Map: Updated
Those Londonist folks are great to know about...I wonder if there are similar projects for other cities (of course...I'm thinking Paris).
Comment
Re: United Campaign: Enforce carry-on limits, reduce complaints and crowding
I hope this effort is a real and continuing one and that other companies follow. Carrying everything onto the plane, to my way of thinking, is like any trend where if enough people say it's a good idea, even when it's not, hoards fall right into step, like lemmings. If I was offered valet service for a nominal fee to have someone carry my suitcase for me and I wouldn't have to touch it from the time I arrived at the airport until the time I was leaving at my destination, I'd jump at the...
Blog Post
More Frequent Flier changes in the air
The world of award travel and elite perks continues to shake and shift. Delta, which like United, has switched for next year to awarding flight miles based not on distance but on price paid for ticket—a move that hurts many frequent...
Blog Post
United flight attendants get iPhone 6+
United, which like most airlines, has equipped pilots with iPads to replace the 40-60 pounds of paper flight and safety materials they used to carry, is now distributing 23,000 iPhones to its flight attendants to handle retail sales, company manuals...
Blog Post
WiFi in the air spreads on regional jets
The networks of regional flights that connect the major airline hubs to smaller cities are getting wired...or rather, wirelessed. Delta has already added some, United recently announced plans, and yesterday, American put in its bid, announcing that...
Blog Post
United's Award Chart: Premium Award Cost Goes UP
United Airlines has released a new award chart that bumps up the miles required for nearly all business and first-class awards, and (for the first time) makes flights on its Star Alliance partner airlines cost more miles than on United. Details HERE
Blog Post
New Target for Thieves: Frequent-flier miles
If you believed all the whining about how this airline's or that airline's loyalty programs were no longer worth anything...a ring of thieves didn't, and have turned frequent flier accounts into new targets for thefts. Both American and United...
Blog Post
SQUEEEZE, Please! United pushes in more seats
United Airlines has almost completed its installation of new seats throughout its fleet; the new slimline seats are also set closer together (as close as 30" pitch in some planes) and give United the equivalent of 14 more planes worth of space,...
Blog Post
United "right-sizes" its fleet; who's next?
United Airlines has just announced a whole bunch of swaps and changes in its fleet, based on changed priorities and preferences. Among the key changes: more wide-body domestic service, swapping some 787 orders for 777s, and phasing out the 50-seaters...
Blog Post
United Economy to Offer 3 Course Meals, Free Beer & Wine on Some Flights
Photo from United Airlines On June 1st, United will introduce to United Economy three-course meals and free beer and wine on some international flights. Check United's website...
Blog Post
AA joins Delta, United in tweaking capacity
AA's 787s...arriving slower The last MD-80s...leaving sooner U.S. legacy airlines are all making money again, but...
Blog Post
United off the hook on "mistake fares"
The U.S. Department of Transportation has ruled that United is not obligated to honor $50 first-class trans-Atlantic fares sold in error two weeks ago. DOT ruled that since customers were only able to obtain the fares by misrepresenting themselves as...
Blog Post
United adds cruise awards for DividendMiles
Take your choice...cruise or fly. United Airlines has connected with a dozen or so cruise lines to offer cruises as awards for its loyalty program. DividendMiles members who buy cruises on some of those lines through United's website can also earn...
Blog Post
United testing revamped boarding areas...and scents.
Gotcha on that last one. Yes, United's plan to re-invent boarding areas includes a signature scent that you'll get a whiff of as you approach the plane! On a more down-to-earth basis, the new areas being built at several Chicago O'Hare gates,...
Blog Post
United upgrades Newark Terminal——including meals for miles
United and the company that manages its Terminal C at Newark have a new way for you to burn miles: You can now use your United Mileage Plus points to buy food and merchandise in the terminal. It's believed to be the first place to allow in-person use...
Blog Post
Airline scheduling: Hurry up and wait, or run like crazy?
Have you ever stopped to wonder, while planning a trip, how your airline’s schedule was planned? Especially when it seems you’re about to be condemned to a headlong half-marathon across the airport to a flight that leaves all-too-soon, or...
Blog Post
United "test-flies" its new website
United Airlines, which has taken heavy criticism for a bad job of merging computer systems after its merger with Continental, is taking no chances with its major overhaul of its website, according to an analysis in USA Today. The new site is...
Blog Post
No "Love" in this battle for Dallas airport gates
Southwest, which already controlled 16 of the 20 gate spots at Love Field, Dallas' second airport, has been approved to buy two more from United, in a move that could freeze Delta out altogether. The gate slots are highly prized because the...
Blog Post
Welcome to North America...not!
In a poll by the Guardian (UK) of countries that have the most unfriendly and intimidating border crossings, the Big 3 of North America dominated the top of the list, with the U.S. selected by 22%, Mexico 9% and Canada 8%. Only UAE/Dubai managed to...
Blog Post
July 26, 2017: Lady Liberty—The Statue of Liberty
Samantha takes us to visit the famed Statue, and fills us in on its history.