travel

United Airlines image bruised after latest round of PR fiascos

9 Comments
By Alana Wise

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9 Comments
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What is going on with United.

They need to get things together.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Paradox - I have over 2 million miles on United. They had issues before merging with Continental but they were issues I could tolerate and still fly them. After the merger with Continental things went downhill pretty rapidly. They just got too big.

I totally get that airlines are in business to make a profit for shareholders. However the U.S. airlines have become so profit driven that customers are treated like cattle and animals now are treated worse it seems. All this occurs while the executives bank 7 or 8 figure bonuses/compensation packages and employee benefits/salaries remain stagnant. This stagnation is reflected in the attitudes of some of the front line staff.

I no longer fly on U.S. carriers unless I must.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I only fly United, or any US carrier when I have no choice, occasionally the US office will say, the United flight is a few hundred less than ANA for example, though have successfully pointed out that while the initial ticket might be cheaper the likes of ANA don't make me pay $200 if my bag is half a KG over..

(I would be more than happy to pay the difference personally if the travel system allowed for it).

As its the only Star Alliance option to the states, and at least get a few miles out of the ordeal, in my experience Delta etc are just as bad.

The United service is frankly shocking, the staff dismissive and past caring about just about anything, who knows, it could be a generally quite aged staff compared to other airlines or maybe they are treated like the passengers are by their management, the little fees here and there for the slightest thing, the fact if you have an issue in Japan you end up calling the states to try and sort it out....

Recently I was stuck in that snow storm a month or so ago flying United, and sure no-one can change the weather but it was absolutely shockingly bad service and while I try to stay calm it was hard to not be annoyed at the ground staff who simply had no idea about anything.. it was clear for hours the flight would be cancelled but made us sit on the plane.. then I found out before just about anyone it was cancelled when it came up in my United app on my phone. Tell them please let us off so those of us who can might be able to get home, as because they had waited all the hotels were all totally full.. they were saying, its not cancelled.. Im saying call someone.. it is.. having dealt with the nonsense before I got straight on the phone to the US office to rebook my flight, but I felt so sorry for all the Japanese travelers, begging, what do I do, the local staff say call the US.. rebook.. and get out of the airport.. everyone says there are no trains, no hotels.. what do we do.. no answer just get out of the airport..

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I mean, if assaulting an innocent paying customer to the point they knocked him unconscious and dragging him off the plane wasn't enough to sink this airline, it would send a terrible message if them killing a dog was.

But then, 17 innocent children were murdered at Stoneman Douglas and Congress didn't do anything, but one dead dog and suddenly we've got Congresspeople introducing the WOOFF Act (srsly?).

I guess the takeaway is that Americans really do care about their pets more than they care about other Americans.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The doggie thing was upsetting, but more upsetting to me was the way the family handled it. They never once went up and opened the compartment to console their new little friend. There is plenty of seat belt off time on planes.

Other issues they have I can totally blame the airline itself.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I have flown back and forth across the Pacific over the years. Two weeks ago, it was the first time to see a passenger carrying a cat in the cabin. The chat meowed and meowed during the flight but no one was complaining and everyone around gave sympathetic looks. RIP Kokito.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

One of the worst airlines around. My last choice along with most of the rest of the U.S. airlines.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

United has its own share of problems but I really have an issue with the out of control “comfort animal” thing. I definitely have absolutely no issues with a seeing eye dog, but there are many people that abuse this “comfort animal” thing. I’m allergic to dogs but will be willing to suffer in silence for people with these Nina fide medical reasons. How did these people fly in the past when you couldn’t bring your dog, cat, or whatever on the flight? There was something in the news 2 weeks ago when a woman tried to board with a peacock in the US! Does anyone know if you need a doctor’s note or something, or do you just bring your pets and negotiate at the check in counter?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nina = bona

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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