United airlines - not the best experience
Discussion
Just returned from a round trip with United from LHR to IAH with a shorter return flight into Central America.
Maybe I have been spoilt with all my flights, in the last 5 years, have been with Emirates or Singapore airlines but oh dear United are dire. We went premium economy on the trans- Atlantic legs for an extra $125 pp per leg, the only difference was about 4" leg room, all alcoholic drinks had to be paid for and then only by CC, no cash! For two small wines and two gin and tonics it came to $32.
Food outbound was not too bad but returning it was appalling, tasteless, unappealling sh*te. Entertainment and food on the shorter legs had to be purchased even though we were flying international.
The only redeeming factor was it was all on time and as we returned on Thanksgiving day, completely empty- max of 50 people on board!
Why do Americans put up with such poor service and noisy, uncomfortable elderly planes when they demand good service in so many other areas of their lives?
Are all American Airlines just as bad?
Maybe I have been spoilt with all my flights, in the last 5 years, have been with Emirates or Singapore airlines but oh dear United are dire. We went premium economy on the trans- Atlantic legs for an extra $125 pp per leg, the only difference was about 4" leg room, all alcoholic drinks had to be paid for and then only by CC, no cash! For two small wines and two gin and tonics it came to $32.
Food outbound was not too bad but returning it was appalling, tasteless, unappealling sh*te. Entertainment and food on the shorter legs had to be purchased even though we were flying international.
The only redeeming factor was it was all on time and as we returned on Thanksgiving day, completely empty- max of 50 people on board!
Why do Americans put up with such poor service and noisy, uncomfortable elderly planes when they demand good service in so many other areas of their lives?
Are all American Airlines just as bad?
We flew to NY with American Airlines, and also internally to Orlando. I was impressed.
Was supposed to be the new 777-300er's, but they were delays a few weeks, so on one of the refurbished 777's. Decent (not fantastic) entertainment, inclusive drinks (including booze), pleasant staff.
Internal flight was on a 757. Extra legroom with fast boarding for about £25 each. Can't remember if we got drinks, I suspect not though. Staff were great. Saw the daughter looking at the flight deck as we came on board, and they were right there inviting her to take a look, at what must be a bust time for all.
I'd fly with them again very happily.
Was supposed to be the new 777-300er's, but they were delays a few weeks, so on one of the refurbished 777's. Decent (not fantastic) entertainment, inclusive drinks (including booze), pleasant staff.
Internal flight was on a 757. Extra legroom with fast boarding for about £25 each. Can't remember if we got drinks, I suspect not though. Staff were great. Saw the daughter looking at the flight deck as we came on board, and they were right there inviting her to take a look, at what must be a bust time for all.
I'd fly with them again very happily.
Most US airlines are s
te.
I used to do 4 or so round trips to the US a year with United. Glad I no longer have to. Seats are OK on their business product but the middle eastern / asian airlines piss all over them these days.
Economy plus is OK for more leg room (it's not a true premium economy product) and being able to leg it off the plane at ORD to beat the inevitable rush for immigration before my connecting flight.
I think AA have cottoned onto the fact that their product was a bit ste and are improving it. Flew AA (economy) to Dallas last year and it was bearable.
Would I fly with United these days? Probably not.
te.I used to do 4 or so round trips to the US a year with United. Glad I no longer have to. Seats are OK on their business product but the middle eastern / asian airlines piss all over them these days.
Economy plus is OK for more leg room (it's not a true premium economy product) and being able to leg it off the plane at ORD to beat the inevitable rush for immigration before my connecting flight.
I think AA have cottoned onto the fact that their product was a bit s
te and are improving it. Flew AA (economy) to Dallas last year and it was bearable. Would I fly with United these days? Probably not.
BigBen said:
The only good thing about United is they have a premium economy / extra legroom option at reasonable cost on internal US flights. As far as I know no one else does this. I would never fly them any significant distance mind you.
They all do it - never heard of Delta Economy Plus?Something maybe to consider on this thread - US Domestic air travel is very much public transport - US carriers bread and butter is cramming as many sorry b
ds onto a flight as possible as economically as possible. It's rather like National Express with wings. Matt Harper said:
They all do it - never heard of Delta Economy Plus?
Something maybe to consider on this thread - US Domestic air travel is very much public transport - US carriers bread and butter is cramming as many sorry bds onto a flight as possible as economically as possible. It's rather like National Express with wings.
Yes, and it felt like it!Something maybe to consider on this thread - US Domestic air travel is very much public transport - US carriers bread and butter is cramming as many sorry b
ds onto a flight as possible as economically as possible. It's rather like National Express with wings. Matt Harper said:
BigBen said:
The only good thing about United is they have a premium economy / extra legroom option at reasonable cost on internal US flights. As far as I know no one else does this. I would never fly them any significant distance mind you.
They all do it - never heard of Delta Economy Plus?Something maybe to consider on this thread - US Domestic air travel is very much public transport - US carriers bread and butter is cramming as many sorry b
ds onto a flight as possible as economically as possible. It's rather like National Express with wings. We had a United flight back home from Chicago to Frankfurt a couple of years ago. I didn't check it wasn't a code shared flight. Oh what a mistake!
I complained to Lufthansa, 3 times, by registered letter, detailing how poor United were and that they should move away from associating themselves under the Star Alliance banner. Finally, Lufthansa sent me some free gifts and thousands of miles on my Miles & More a/c, but I'd still avoid United at any and all costs.
ETA: the drink payments by CC is to stop the staff taking the $ in their pockets. The (aged) stewardess told my wife!
I complained to Lufthansa, 3 times, by registered letter, detailing how poor United were and that they should move away from associating themselves under the Star Alliance banner. Finally, Lufthansa sent me some free gifts and thousands of miles on my Miles & More a/c, but I'd still avoid United at any and all costs.
ETA: the drink payments by CC is to stop the staff taking the $ in their pockets. The (aged) stewardess told my wife!
Lived and travelled all over the world and there is nowhere worse to change planes than a major US airport (delays, cancellations, immigration queues, surly security staff, overcrowded terminals with poor facilities etc) and no airlines worse to fly than most American carriers with United being the worst of that terrible bunch. Avoid at all costs.
surveyor said:
We flew to NY with American Airlines, and also internally to Orlando. I was impressed.
Was supposed to be the new 777-300er's, but they were delays a few weeks, so on one of the refurbished 777's. Decent (not fantastic) entertainment, inclusive drinks (including booze), pleasant staff.
Internal flight was on a 757. Extra legroom with fast boarding for about £25 each. Can't remember if we got drinks, I suspect not though. Staff were great. Saw the daughter looking at the flight deck as we came on board, and they were right there inviting her to take a look, at what must be a bust time for all.
I'd fly with them again very happily.
I came back from NY about 6 weeks ago using AA. I hadn't paid attention to the booking and it was a BA flight 'operated by AA'. This was a club world booking.Was supposed to be the new 777-300er's, but they were delays a few weeks, so on one of the refurbished 777's. Decent (not fantastic) entertainment, inclusive drinks (including booze), pleasant staff.
Internal flight was on a 757. Extra legroom with fast boarding for about £25 each. Can't remember if we got drinks, I suspect not though. Staff were great. Saw the daughter looking at the flight deck as we came on board, and they were right there inviting her to take a look, at what must be a bust time for all.
I'd fly with them again very happily.
The airport lounge at JFK was an utter joke. The food consisted of cheese cubes and pretzels; the drink consisted of 2 free tokens and paid for thereafter. The plane was tired and business seats meant a tiny bit more legroom and recline. The hostesses were rude, some of the seat equipment didn't work and the food and drink on board was infrequently offered and of poor quality when you could get any.
In contrast, the outbound BA flight from Heathrow>NY was utterly perfect. Fantastic lounge at T5, 747 with the lay flat seat and cubicles, wonderful service, a superb meal with continuous fizz replenishment. Really couldn't ask for more.
Funnily enough, I have today received a response to my complaint to BA about their partnership with AA, together with a £400 e-voucher by way of an apology.
For US domestic, AA nearly every time, with the odd flirtation with delta who have improved massively in recent years. Virgin America arent too bad either.
United can go **** themselves - very firmly on my 'do not travel unless absolutely no alternative' list along with a select few other carriers scattered around the world. Truly awful in every cabin.
United can go **** themselves - very firmly on my 'do not travel unless absolutely no alternative' list along with a select few other carriers scattered around the world. Truly awful in every cabin.
Flew to Tampa and back with UTD, out several rows lost all entertainment. So Trolley dolly says write and complain. We did and got a $100 voucher each!
Plane old and uncomfortable and the plane back was really old, like a 4" screen that didnt tilt....I know bugger eh!
BUT it was under 400 return and I havent got a price under 400 for like 10 yrs, so.....Usually fly in n out with BA but they wanted 650 each. AND thats a chunk of change differant.
Plane old and uncomfortable and the plane back was really old, like a 4" screen that didnt tilt....I know bugger eh!
BUT it was under 400 return and I havent got a price under 400 for like 10 yrs, so.....Usually fly in n out with BA but they wanted 650 each. AND thats a chunk of change differant.
Internal flights I recently (couple of weeks ago) flew with Virgin America. I was pleasantly surprised! Certainly will be using them again, couldn't knock the price. From memory $59 each way, as I was on holiday had baggage so another $25 on top but less hassle than driving between SF-LA, LA-LV, then from LV-SF for my flight home. Plus really didn't have the time.
Decided to get the points onto my Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account. The miles credited were laughable, but the tier points not too shabby.
Would use again. Especially as when looking between them, South West, UA, and AA the prices were within $5-$10 of each other.
Decided to get the points onto my Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account. The miles credited were laughable, but the tier points not too shabby.
Would use again. Especially as when looking between them, South West, UA, and AA the prices were within $5-$10 of each other.
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