united airlines

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New United Airlines Status Match Program

by Gary Leff on January 5, 2020

Jan 05 2020

There’s a new United Airlines status match program. Elite frequent flyers are valuable customers – to the airline they’re loyal, and also potentially to other airlines who might poach their business. The same holds for elites in hotel loyalty programs.

Status makes it difficult to switch, you’re better treated by an airline or hotel chain and it’s tough to start somewhere else from scratch. That’s why many loyalty programs offer to match your current status in order to win your business.

The Post-David Dao Era – and the $10,000 Bump Voucher – Is Ending

by Gary Leff on January 5, 2020

Jan 05 2020

Airlines are tightening their belts, trying to cut what it costs them to give out denied boarding compensation to passengers when they overbook a flight. Both United and American have copied Delta in soliciting ‘bids’ from customers for what compensation they’d accept, hoping to avoid bidding wars at the gate.

In the wake of United’s April 2017 passenger dragging incident – where David Dao was told to give up his seat for two crewmembers and refused, winding up bloodied by airport – there was a huge public backlash against bumping passengers off of overbooked flights. And airlines started paying out far more compensation to avoid involuntarily denying boarding to passengers.

United Failed To Roll Out Their New ‘Cash Is King’ Elite Status Tracking System In Time

by Gary Leff on January 1, 2020

Jan 01 2020

They want your money, more money than ever before, but can’t even make the investment to be ready for their own new system in time.

Your Flight Attendant Won’t Be Getting Into The Holiday Season At United

by Gary Leff on December 15, 2019

Dec 15 2019

Airlines face a challenge around the holidays. Do they insist on a standard image for their frontline employees, or do they allow some festive creativity? And if employees can deviate from standard dress, what guidelines should be applied?

United Airlines appears to be taking a conservative stance this holiday season, cracking down on flight attendant holiday dress.

U.S. Airlines Wield Huge Muscle In Washington

by Gary Leff on December 14, 2019

Dec 14 2019

The Hill has named the Top Lobbyists of 2019 who “stand out for delivering results for their clients in the halls of Congress and the administration.”

This list includes all 3 major legacy airlines (but no smaller airlines) and the major airline industry lobby shop’s represenatives, too.

Leaked Seat Maps Show United’s 787s Are Getting A Scott Kirby Retrofit

by Gary Leff on December 12, 2019

Dec 12 2019

United’s Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet – the latter which flies United’s longest flights to places like Sydney, Singapore, and Capetown – have still had the old Diamond 2-2-2 seats that most passengers with a choice avoid.

We finally have a look into United’s retrofit plans for these aircraft, and it isn’t pretty.

United Airlines Charter Takes Off With Kansas City Chiefs Equipment Still On Board

by Gary Leff on December 9, 2019

Dec 09 2019

The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC West last night and stopped the New England Patriots’ home winning streak at 21 games. But the real drama was lost luggage leading up to the game.

The Kansas City Chiefs took a United Airlines-chartered aircraft to play the New England Patriots. When they arrived some of their equipment was left on board. The plane then went to Newark, and the equipment didn’t reach them until two hours prior to kickoff.

Scott Kirby’s Leadership Style: Times He Overruled The AAdvantage Team at American

by Gary Leff on December 8, 2019

Dec 08 2019

Kirby definitely gets in the weeds, including in the management of frequent flyer programs, and he’s known to overrule the executives below him. It may be that the sense is he doesn’t listen to investors (which is good, the growth plan that’s benefited United was unpopular with investors) but my sense is that he’s less likely to listen to his own teams.

Why American AAdvantage Is Better Than MileagePlus And SkyMiles

by Gary Leff on December 6, 2019

Dec 06 2019

I’ve been a frequent critic of American Airlines, and that’s largely because I believe no U.S. airline has greater potential to be better than it is today than American. I’m also frustrated with many things about its loyalty program, AAdvantage, but when I sit down to compare AAdvantage to the programs offered by United and by Delta it actually comes out ahead. Here’s why.

Scott Kirby To Become United Airlines CEO In May, What Can We Expect For The Airline?

by Gary Leff on December 5, 2019

Dec 05 2019

Oscar Munoz is leaving United as CEO and Scott Kirby will take on that job May 20, 2020. Munoz will become Executive Chairman for one year. United’s current chair, former FAA administrator Jane Garvey, will retire from the board at that point. This mirrors predictions I have offered here for some time.

Though there’s been some growth – and will need to be more as Kirby steps into the CEO role – Kirby’s history is one that suggests management from the spreadsheets. He’s taken things too far in the past, such as elimination of elite bonus miles and a plan to charge for water on board at US Airways, moves where he’s had to reverse course. It remains to be seen whether he can moderate those tendencies as he formally takes the reins at United.