united airlines

Tag Archives for united airlines.

Pandemic, Schmandemic: United Airlines Is Profitable Again.

by Gary Leff on June 28, 2021

Jun 28 2021

United Airlines was the first to really get the seriousness of the pandemic and scale down its operations accordingly. They furloughed almost as many workers as American Airlines did, and cut deeply into management ranks. They’re also though symbolically coming out of pandemic serving alcohol on more flights than competitors and first class meals too.

Some of the tactics they employed to get through the pandemic were downright despicable, such as illegally withholding refunds from customers and devaluing MileagePlus awards when no one was looking. We’ll see what they announce tomorrow about how they plan to make up for these betrayals.

United Airlines Is Changing How They Calculate Distances For Mileage Accrual

by Gary Leff on June 17, 2021

Jun 17 2021

The airline is changing the method they use to calculate distances between two airports. That’ll mean some customers earn more miles and some earn fewer. And that matters also because ‘Million Miler’ status is still based on distances flown.

United Airlines Won’t Count AstraZeneca As A ‘Covid-19 Vaccine’

by Gary Leff on June 11, 2021

Jun 11 2021

United Airlines is running a sweepstakes giving away free travel to people that have been vaccinated. But they won’t consider someone getting AstraZeneca shots to be vaccinated. Anyone who took AstraZeneca needs to follow the same mail-in route to enter as a vaccine refusenik.

United CEO Declares Goal To Double MileagePlus Earnings In Four Years

by Gary Leff on June 6, 2021

Jun 06 2021

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, speaking at the Alliance Bernstein 37th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on Thursday, explained his cost-cutting vision as eliminating fat from management and unnecessary processes without touching product investment.

He offered that they will “save $2 billion in expense, not a single penny is going to come from customer product, in fact we’re going to spend more on those things” and noted upcoming product announcements will be coming. And he declared a goal of doubling MileagePlus revenue in four years.

United Airlines Takes Half-Measure To Ban Inflight Alcohol, Keeps It On 800-Mile Flights

by Gary Leff on June 3, 2021

Jun 03 2021

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have delayed the return of alcohol to their flights, ostensibly because of poor behaving passengers – although they’ve behaving badly while also not being served alcohol inflight so it seems an odd connection to make. American Airlines continues to serve alcohol in first class.

Facing a call by the international head of their flight attendants union for federal action to ban alcohol during air travel, United Airlines has joined the mix in a rather odd way.

United Airlines Places Order For 15 Supersonic Jets, Fly Transatlantic in 3.5 Hours Or 5 Hours To Asia

by Gary Leff on June 3, 2021

Jun 03 2021

United Airlines has aggressively bet on new technologies, like its billion dollar order in February for electric aircraft from Archer Aviation to provide quick, efficient connections to the airline’s hubs.

Now they’ve become the first major U.S. carrier to place an order for Boom supersonic jets putting themselves down for 15 with an option for 35 more.

United’s CEO: Why Business Travel Will Be Come Back Fully And Why United Will Be The Low Cost Leader

by Gary Leff on May 25, 2021

May 25 2021

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby reported at the Wolfe Research conference on Tuesday that leisure demand is back over 100% of pre-pandemic levels, and business travel is going to fully recover too. He’s seen a spike in people using MileagePlus credit cards. And United will win customers with technology, soft product, and lower costs rather than investing in hard product.

United Airlines Offering Free Travel To Vaccinated Passengers

by Gary Leff on May 24, 2021

May 24 2021

United Airlines MileagePlus members can win free flights by uploading their proof of vaccination to its mobile app by June 22. They call it “Your Shot To Fly.” Ha ha ha.

This helps build excitement around vaccination, which we need to reach incremental arms, and even includes cash to help with the tax liability for winning the prize.

Another Defect In That United Flight Attendant Lawsuit Against Marriott

by Gary Leff on May 21, 2021

May 21 2021

The fired United Airlines flight attendant who is suing Marriott under a variety of theories stemming from a positive Covid-19 test, quarantine at the Courtyard Wilmington Downtown, and the hotel sharing his behavior with the airline including that he was allegedly maskless in the lobby among other guests despite his Covid-19 diagnosis is getting quite a bit of coverage.

Much of the detail in the suit is a total distraction. I detailed several problems with it yesterday. A law professor shares another.

United Flight Attendant Fired For Covid Antics Sues Marriott For Ratting Him Out

by Gary Leff on May 20, 2021

May 20 2021

United Airlines flight attendant Jonathan Ray tested positive for Covid-19 in April 2020. He landed at Newark airport and checked into the Marriott Courtyard Wilmington Downtown to quarantine.

The property reported the twenty year airline veteran’s behavior while on property to United. He was suspended from his job and then terminated. And he’s suing – Marriott – for interfering with his employment relationship.