United in real trouble?
 

I saw this article on the CNN web site in which United is actually talking about liquidation. I hope this is just a scare tactic that they are using with the unions, but doesn't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling since I still have several hundred thousand frequent flyer miles with them. They claim that their international reservations are down by 40% in this last week alone. Not a good sign. I'm using up my miles as fast as I can. Of course, they still won't free up FF seats on the return leg of my trip to Vancouver despite all these empty seats.<BR><BR>http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...nited-loss.htm

It certainly does sound like a threat for the unions, and even was worded that way, but still may be right. I'm sure lots of reservations where down last week, that isn't a great time period to measure in general. I was considering flying them in late June to Paris from DC, which is a hub, because only AF and United have nonstops. Well, United's fare was higher than all of the major airlines, even Air France, so why would they think I would buy a ticket on them? I don't know why anyone would in that case. By contrast, I got one of those cheaper fares on AA because they are in financial trouble, also. Even though it's not nonstop, the fare was $400 cheaper than United's for the same dates, so maybe United mgt. better figure this out as to why no one is buying their tickets. I think United has been in real trouble for a long time, though. <BR><BR><BR>

I don't know what's going on with United-you would think their E-Fares would be cheaper if they're in so much financial trouble. I just got an E-fare notice which lists a fare to London for $449 (not including the $110 in taxes and fees) which is ridiculous because that's the standard price I see on most of the other airlines websites. I flew on an E-fare to London in January for about $320 RT total and the plane (a triple 7) only had about 50 people on it on each leg.

Well, I'm flying to London tomorrow for $329 RT, including taxes.<BR><BR>I think United is the best carrier to Europe. I fly DC-London at least twice a year (five times last year), and have flown all of the majors many times. United beats them all. Unfortunately, it looks like I'm going to be forced to go elsewhere. Damn.

Lot of the talk about liquidation are to get the unions to agree to changes. This is true of many industries.<BR><BR>However, I think an airline will fail during the upcoming war just as Pan American World Airways, Eastern, and Midway Metrolink failed in the last war.<BR><BR>It may not be United. It could be Swiss or SN Brussels.

If you get a Hilton Honors # and sign up for the Visa or AmEx (no charge), you can transfer you miles to Hilton points for safe keeping or buy an air ticket from Hilton Rewards. You do lose some miles in the transaction, but if you are worried about losing them completely this might ease your mind.

You can also use your miles to get a ticket on a partner carrier such as Luftunsa. Tickets will be good for one year.