united airlines

Tag Archives for united airlines.

United’s New Premium Regional Jet Launches Sunday. How Long Will It Last?

by Gary Leff on October 26, 2019

Oct 26 2019

United Airlines is launching their new premium regional jet configuration on board what they are calling the Bombardier CRJ-550. United can’t add more regional jets for large numbers of passengers. So they’re putting just 50 seats in a plane that can fit 50% more. This new aircraft makes its first commercial flight this Sunday, October 27th.

There are some positives – and, I think, real negatives – to this new aircraft. And it’s unclear United will even keep it in service if they get the deal they want from pilots in a new contract.

7 Things United Shared During the Morning Session of Media Day

by Gary Leff on October 25, 2019

Oct 25 2019

I’m at United’s Media Day in Chicago and the morning session gave me seven key takeaways, from new overhead bins to free baggage delivery to Marriott hotel rooms and a new member-driven charity program in MileagepPlus.

United Airlines Won’t Rely on the FAA Alone to Say the Boeing 737 MAX is Safe

by Gary Leff on October 25, 2019

Oct 25 2019

I’m here at United Airlines Media Day in Chicago and United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said that relying on commitments from Boeing and the FAA that the 737 MAX is “is not going to be enough.”

United Says Dynamic Award Pricing Benefits the Airline, Doesn’t Increase Redemptions

by Gary Leff on October 16, 2019

Oct 16 2019

United admitted during their earnings call that dynamic award redemption is about their own financial bottom line – not customer benefit – and that it doesn’t actually help customers book more awards.

Why Higher Spending Requirements Put Elite Status on a Collision Course With Itself

by Gary Leff on October 14, 2019

Oct 14 2019

Status does a great job motivating customers who buy coach, or at least fly coach a substantial portion of the time – for instance the road warrior whose company will spring for business class internationally once or twice a year but has a rule of 6 hours or more for premium cabin so domestic trips are mostly out up front.

Status does almost nothing to motivate someone who buys all premium cabin tickets. When elite status spending requirements are so high they’re met primarily by people who buy first class, elite status is meaningless.

United is Trying to Stamp Out the Mileage Run – and the Customer Evangelist

by Gary Leff on October 12, 2019

Oct 12 2019

Do you remember when people felt so attached to an airline brand that they paid more money to spend extra time flying, just to demonstrate enough loyalty for when they’d fly in the coming year? It’s hard to say there hasn’t been something lost.

Should a Man Wearing a T-Shirt Threatening to Kill Journalists Have Been Kicked Off a United Flight Yesterday?

by Gary Leff on October 12, 2019

Oct 12 2019

While Snopes actually has an entry debunking whether United Airlines has an ‘armed seating and apparel division’ the airline is now coming under fire for doing nothing over a passenger’s t-shirt.

On yesterday’s United flight UA824 from Los Angeles to Boston a passenger was wearing a t-shirt advocating hanging of journalists.

11 Takeaways From United’s New $18,000 Elite Status

by Gary Leff on October 11, 2019

Oct 11 2019

United Airlines has declared that miles no longer matter at all – a strange position for MileagePlus to take. Distance flown no longer matters for earning miles. Redeeming miles is more revenue-based with the elimination of award charts. And now even qualifying for elite status will be based on spending starting next year.

You can earn status by spending more than before and counting up the number of flights you take, or just based on spending alone. Here are 11 takeaways from this historic change.

Starting Next Year United Elite Status Will No Longer Be Earned Based on Distance Flown

by Gary Leff on October 11, 2019

Oct 11 2019

United will stop counting how far you fly for earning elite status. United will no longer have 25,000 mile, 50,000 mile, 75,000 mile and 100,000 mile status.

Instead – starting in 2020 for customers earning status for the 2021 program year – United will count how many flights you take and how much you spend. And if you want to earn status without taking a lot of flights, just spend more.

No, United Hasn’t Changed Anything With Partner Award Pricing

by Gary Leff on October 3, 2019

Oct 03 2019

While United certainly hasn’t promised that won’t ever change, they haven’t made any changes to their thinking. For now this appears to be a false alarm, but without published award charts the program in effect makes no promises as all about the future. Even though this FAQ answer doesn’t suggest the program is being devalued, we can assume that’s the direction it will continue to head.