united airlines

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United Airlines Offers 30 Clues For New Routes They’ll Be Announcing Tomorrow

by Gary Leff on September 8, 2020

Sep 08 2020

At 10 a.m. Central time (11 a.m. Eastern) on Wednesday United is making a big route announcement, and they’re dropping hints – they say there are 30 clues – in a video posted to social media.

Here’s the video, and some of the hints they’re dropping. There’ll almost certainly be new transatlantic service from Washington Dulles, Newark, and Chicago. A Boeing 767-300ER is involved. And there’s a new ultra-long haul route with a Boeing 787-9, could United actually fly to Bangkok?

Internal Memo: United Airlines To Furlough 16,370 Staff In October

by Gary Leff on September 2, 2020

Sep 02 2020

Airlines are much smaller today than they were a year ago. They expect to continue to be smaller even a year from now and perhaps even two years from now. So they need fewer people on staff.

United, which was the first and most vocal about the need to shed staff, is now out with their layoff plans and they’re looking at shedding 16,370 staff come October, according to an internal memo:

United Airlines Permanently Eliminates Domestic Change Fees And Standby Fees

by Gary Leff on August 30, 2020

Aug 30 2020

United Airlines is offering free same day standby starting January 1, and eliminating change fees on domestic tickets (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands but not other territories) effective immediately though this excludes basic economy tickets. A waiver of change fees for basic economy and international ticket purchases is being extended through the end of the year.

All MileagePlus elite members can confirm same day changes at check-in provided the same fare class is available. Currently complimentary same day changes are only available to Gold members and above.

Detail On United’s New Program To Save Money Cancelling Lightly Booked Flights At The Last Minute

by Gary Leff on August 29, 2020

Aug 29 2020

United is selling flights at specific times, earning customer business on the basis of that schedule, and then reneging – not because they’re unable to operate the flights, but because they decide it’s cheaper not to deliver what customers purchased.

Selling flights and then cancelling them for reasons entirely within the airline’s control, for their own benefit, while 23% of rebooked customers are impacted by more than four hours is an unfair and deceptive practice. Customers whose travels are adversely affected to a significant degree should file a complaint with the Department of Transportation.

New United Program Cancels Flights When Not Enough People Buy Tickets

by Gary Leff on August 28, 2020

Aug 28 2020

This is a major move that’s unlikely to get the coverage it deserves. United Airlines now has a system to cancel flights that don’t have enough passengers, and a quarter of passengers are being delayed over four hours to save them money. When you buy a United Airlines flight, then, you’re no longer guaranteed they have an intention of operating it.

United Airlines Is Outsourcing Management Jobs To India

by Gary Leff on August 27, 2020

Aug 27 2020

Like American, United set a goal of reducing management head count by 30%.

Yet United Airlines is actually hiring – just in Gurgaon, India. And they aren’t offshoring the way you normally expect, looking for cheap coders or call center employees. They’re hiring for more analytical, and traditionally white collar, positions. This includes Senior Analyst, Manager, and Senior Manager roles

Fewer Flights And International Border Restrictions Put Travelers In Limbo When Things Go Wrong

by Gary Leff on August 19, 2020

Aug 19 2020

United Airlines flight UA79 was delayed three hours on Sunday due to a crew scheduling issue. Flight delays happen all the time, and a three hour delay of an international flight isn’t usually devastating during normal times.

However with limited air service, as a result of depressed demand during the pandemic, and international border restrictions a small delay can turn much more challenging for travelers – especially those trying to connect between secondary cities.

United Airlines Evacuates Operations From Downtown Chicago Due To Riots

by Gary Leff on August 11, 2020

Aug 11 2020

For several years gun crimes have been a major concern in the U.S. except when they’re happening in Chicago. A couple of things have changed, though. And protests and riots in downtown Chicago have prompted the airline based there to move operations to the suburbs and layover flight crew at airport hotels.

United Offering Targeted Global Services Challenges

by Gary Leff on August 10, 2020

Aug 10 2020

United’s top elite tier is Global Services. There’s no published criteria for achieving this status.

Right now though they’re offering it to targeted members for a certain amount of spending on flights within 90 days, and letting members choose the challenge period (even retroactively).

Sick Passenger Hallucinates Bomb On Board, United Airlines And Law Enforcement Scramble