News and notes from around the interweb:
- I just wrote about a United Airlines broken tray and power outlet. Airlines should be proactively compensating passengers for this, because they aren’t delivering the product that they sold. Airlines like to fall back on being ‘just transportation’ but advertise their inflight experience to sell tickets.
Here’s another United Airlines tray table. The airline may have plans to refresh its cabins over the next few years but that’s not an excuse to let their current ones go to rot.
Calling @united TechOps … @Boeing 737-800 N14230: just at my seat, a tray table hanging on by a thread. And a busted window shade. pic.twitter.com/yRZ72hd0kU
— Lee Powell (@leepowellTV) April 12, 2023
- Well there’s a pitch to spend more on your travel – you’re about to die.
Yikes. @plumguide getting to the point pic.twitter.com/PgZSDOuU1e
— Will Hide (@Willhide) April 11, 2023
- Endorse this in an airport – though not inside the plane.
@SouthwestAir They are rockin’ at Hartsfield-Jackson and this is why I fly #Southwest 👏🏽👏🏽✌🏾—nice touch! pic.twitter.com/MWMk7y4Wsf
— Simone Joye (@SimoneJoye) April 12, 2023
- How Chiang Mai became the world’s most polluted city
- The story of the Comac C919
The story of how China built an airline to compete with @Boeing and @airbus reads like a spy novel. Our @CBSMornings report: pic.twitter.com/VOhUPzitya
— Kris Van Cleave (@krisvancleave) April 11, 2023
- Another caring flight attendant with a baby. Sadly Etihad eliminated their onboard nanny service (available even to economy passengers) during the pandemic.
@united the best experience on our flights today. Our fussy baby reached for a flight attendant and she calmed her right down. I didn’t catch her name but would love to thank her! pic.twitter.com/pVwDD9Btnb
— Ehrin Clark (@EhrxRose) April 11, 2023
- 10% bonus transferring Amex, Citi and Capital One points to Avianca LifeMiles through April 22. This bonus is posted by LifeMiles about a day after the transfer takes place. (HT: One Mile at a Time)
A former 20+ year 1K (GS a few random years) who defected to AA about 9 years ago… Just flew two UA flights a few weeks ago. Both aircraft had seat issues in F (Stitching on seats frayed – one on the back – other on the seat in front seat pocket); one had a dead power connector, other had a non functional window shade (which I FIXED), one had a disgusting sticky drink residue get in the center storage that look like it was NEVER cleaned or noticed in weeks.
One was aa aged 737-800 – the other an aged A319. Amazing how downhill UA is when you come from another carrier now. I won’t even mention the attempt at the meal (brought my own with the warnings I heard)
Not sure I understand the holidays Tweet. There are 11 holidays per year. Is this trying to say a 53 year old will have 2.5 years to live?
@daniel
Non-Americans typically use the word holiday instead of vacation. The ad is assuming one vacation per year.
@NPS — I know what you mean. I’m a lifetime 1K but don’t fly UA that much these days (it’s just less convenient for me). Took a UA transcon flight in FC and I was pretty shocked by the condition of the aircraft. It looked like something I’d flown on Continental more than 20 years ago, and hadn’t been refurbished. Even the luggage bins looked battered. Not the end of the world, but if you mostly fly AA, you may definitely be surprised by some of the aging equipment seen elsewhere.
@daniel
I understand it like their rentals are so expensive you can afford it only once a year
The comments here about aging United aircraft do not reflect the experience of everyone who flies United. As for me, I happened to see this article because I stumbled upon it via a random link that showed up in a news article at a completely different website. In other words, I’m not a regular to this website, unlike some of the commenters here. So here is my comment about my United experience, as a very stark contrast to the comments here.
My most recent United flight was completely different from the ones mentioned in the other comments here. In my flight, the plane looked immaculate, new, and sparkling clean. There was nary a scratch to be seen anywhere. The overhead bins were almost gigantic, compared to the ones in the other planes that I had flown previously. The safety placard revealed that this plane was a model of 737 MAX (can’t remember the exact variant, such as MAX 8 or 9, since I didn’t pay too much attention to that). When I looked up my flight number in a flight tracking app, it showed that the plane had flown only a couple of thousand miles since United took delivery of it. In other words, it was practically brand new. So there. That was my most recent United experience.
Also, I had flown United for many years. I can’t remember a single flight where I had an experience like the ones in the other comments here. I’m not saying that there aren’t very old aircraft in United fleet. All I’m saying is that the people commenting here do NOT represent everyone who flies United. I would be wary of taking some random isolated articles, tweets, or comments (including mine) on the web as being representative of typical United customer. By my experience does show that United is making upgrades in their fleet.
@James, Thank you James!! Although I have to say I would have responded back to these people in a very different tone, I appreciate the clarity of your message and the truth in regards to what United is really like. As far as I am concerned, you didn’t leave anything out. You did it with style and class sir!!!
There’s aging aircraft everywhere.
The OP said United shouldn’t let their current planes rot but his solution: he wants more money, not faster aircraft updates.
This isn’t just a United problem.
On AA this week, their a319 was also a dirty mess and held together with tape. Last week, nothing on the FC seat worked.
Delta two weeks ago and the power outlets were not working.
I think it’s a never ending list of maintenance needs with varied aircraft ages.
Holding on to old, worn & dated aircraft will always give the passenger a bad impression. Perhaps the deciding factor in what airline one will fly.
James lives a charmed life. I have so many pics in United first class where it is literally falling apart. The trays are a Herculean task to open and close, if at all. It was makes me concerned for the integrity of the rest of the plane. I am a million miler but use United as little as possible. They charge more for less in every respect.