Tag Archives for united airlines.
In a blunt internal message to employees, United Airlines says it has offered flight attendants the highest pay rates in the industry, but claims union leaders are refusing to agree to the needed tradeoffs. After five years without raises, here’s what’s holding up a deal.
United Airlines is quietly giving away Silver elite status—a dramatic shift from traditional airline loyalty strategy—by pairing it directly with targeted credit card offers, signaling a bold new approach that could change how frequent flyer perks are earned industry-wide.
When a passenger broke down in tears, terrified she’d miss her connecting flight to China, a United Airlines flight attendant paused snack service, knelt in the aisle, and comforted her in a powerful moment of compassion—captured in a viral video that’s going around for all the right reasons.
After 71% of United Airlines flight attendants rejected their latest contract offer, the airline is back with a controversial demand—PBS scheduling could fundamentally change what trips flight attendants work.
A United Airlines passenger headed from Los Angeles to Nicaragua suddenly found himself landing in Tokyo instead—after no one noticed he had boarded the wrong flight. Here’s how it happened, and why it’s not as rare as you’d think.
American Airlines and United are locked in a fierce, expensive battle over Chicago O’Hare Airport—flooding the market with flights, low fares, and aggressive marketing. Yet both carriers are strangely leaving their strongest strategic weapon unused: their massive frequent flyer programs and credit card partnerships, a surprising oversight that could cost either airline the competitive edge they desperately need.
A United Airlines first class passenger and his hearing impaired wife were threatened with removal from their flight after a conflict with an off duty crewmember. Video from the cabin shows the man in his seat, upset but controlled, explaining that the employee snapped at his wife because she “didn’t hear” and “wasn’t listening.”
United Airlines will purchase the last two Spirit Airlines Chicago O’Hare gates for $30 million, significantly escalating its strategic battle to push American Airlines out of the critical hub. With both airlines locked in an intense fight and billions in loyalty revenue at stake, United’s aggressive move sharply raises the pressure on American as the two carriers are in a pitched battle at the airport.
An FAA safety inspector is suing United Airlines for $12.75 million, claiming he was banned for life from flying the airline after reporting a torn seat pocket—a violation of safety regulations. He had been investigating United’s 737 MAXs and was taken off that duty.
United Airlines continues its quiet, unpublished policy of granting elite-status extensions upon request—despite initially trying to sell members expensive status buy-ups. If you just lost your MileagePlus elite status on February 1, contacting United and politely requesting an extension (especially if you had unusual circumstances in 2025) remains surprisingly effective, as the airline recognizes keeping loyal customers is far cheaper than acquiring new ones.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
