Boy, do I agree with Mare! If we all settled for mediocrity, that's all we'll ever get in life! The airlines are just an out of control, mismanaged entity. And, I have been hearing more and more about young women with DVT---that's going to be an interesting topic pretty soon. Sitting here in California with relatives in Chicago and Pennsylvania, it's pretty hard to say take the car. We really need to fly for the time it saves, but the agravation is tremendous. I am actually fearful when I board an airplane now a days. Not fearful that the plane will go down, but that something terrible will happen to me because of the way I've been treated on the flight. Either my bags will be torn apart by the inspectors and I will be missing valuable things at the end of the journey, I will be made to sit in my seat and not allowed to use the ladies room thus causing a bladder infection, I will suffer from food poisoning, I will breathe unsafe air and suffer the consequences of that or I will land with a clot in my leg which will move to my lungs and kill me because I had no opportunity to move about in the plane. It's really a scary situation. How many of you out there know someone who has had a DVT from flying?

On a recent flight, a flight attendant said to us "for a while after Sept 11, all the customers were so polite, and treated us so nicely. Now, they are back to their grumpy old selves".

We replied "Most people aren't grumpy at all, until they get to the airport, have to wait in your endlessly slow lines, have to get our bags opened and pawed through by someone who's talking donuts to his co-worker the whole time he's SUPPOSED to be inspecting, and then we have to deal with your gate agents, not one of whom has cracked a smile in about 8 years. That's why we're all grumpy".

Boy, that's really going out on a limb, predicting that K-Mart, a company that recently filed for bankruptcy, may go belly up.

UNITED SUCKS!

All customer service is horrible for all airlines. Yes that's one of the areas they probably cut there payroll as long as they don't cut there payroll where it counts with the pilots and aircraft mechanics who take care of the aircraft. I always use the online service because you are in control of your reservation. This is the new trend and will be mandatory soon. Hey if it lowers the ticket prices and puts money back in areas for safety of passengers I am all for it. Let the customer agents be grumpy.
Also remember United had two flights go down on Sept.11th. Thats a financial disaster and if this loan is going to keep jobs I am all for it. Do you know how many jobs will be affected if United goes belly up. The government and taxpayers cannot let that happen. Lets hope the funds are used properly.

I'm sorry to resort to this but didn't American Airlines also have 2 planes go down...how come they are so much nicer than the flight attendants on United?? FF

I last flew on United about 3 years ago, and the flight attendants were just complete Haughty Bitches. Dripping in gold jewelry, black hair dye and attitude.

Fly the FRIENDLY skies!

I'm flying UA on July 3rd. God help me.

Let me explain. There are congressional whores, and corporations who buy them.

Mediocrity would be a step up for the entire industry.

Unfortunately I HAVE to book by phone because my company gets a discount that's not valid if we book online. I usually do all my homework on line, then call and "walk the reservationist through it". They usually can't get me the flights that I want unless I give them all the information EXACTLY as I found it online. Flight number, time, etc. They need my help and I am glad to assist wherever I can in order to get things straight!

On the news they announced that airlines are going to start charging $80 for a third piece of luggage. It said they are "struggling to find ways to make money". Why don't they charge each employee ten bucks everytime they are rude to a customer. They'd be rolling in the dough in no time.

I'm curious about al the people that have said the would never fly United again.

Suppose United offered a $99 rt coast to coast fare. would you sell out and take the cheap fare or would you stick to your principles and pay 3 to 5 times more to fly on another airline?

I have a free ticket on United and I'm STILL hesitant to fly them! Anyhow, whenever one airline has a sale fare, several others match it. You might have to prod and plead and tell the reservationist to "look further because United has this fare so YOU probably do too!", they will usually find it.

People hoot and holler about Southwest Airlines "low fares", but nine times out of then I have found the same fare on a full service airline.

Wow, I can't believe people have had that many negative experiences with United. I fly United all the time out of Dulles and have never had a bad experience. They're a great airline to fly if you're a federal employee because our government fares are considered full-fare coach. Even though I'll never be able to fly first class on a business trip, I at least get an automatic seat in the Economy Plus section--a perk that no other airline offers.

The surliest airline employees I've ever encountered were on American and Northwest. Have to say I also think United's food (when we get it anymore) is significantly better than the average airline meal. The most disgusting food I've ever had was on Continental, with U.S. Airways not far behind.

The bottom line is that all of this is totally subjective anyway. I'm sure you could find just as many negative comments about almost any American airline if someone started a similar post about them.

Well I may as well chip in and echo Julie's comments. Flew to Anchorage via Seattle with United last year - no problems. Flew to London with them the other week using "Value Miles" from credit card. As a Brit making frequent visits home, I usually fly Virgin or BA, but United on this occasion was the only one coming in cheap enough to use the Value Miles. I was pleasantly surprised, they were just as good as the other 2 airlines. Also this week I have used some United miles to make quite a complicated inter-island booking with Aloha. The United reservations guy was very helpful and all my tickets are correct. No complaints at all with United. Apart from Julie and me, are there any other satisfied customers out there??

No, there aren't. In fact it's funny that you and Julie pipe in here just a couple of days after I wrote to UA customer service and told them that they oughtta take a look at the Fodor's comments regarding their airline.

Go ahead, post a topic regarding any other airline. Except for maybe America West' Saloon-in-the-Sky, I don't think you'll get as many negative comments about ANY airline, and you'll probably get a lot more positives.

Obviously, none of you have taken U.S. Airways. Otherwise, you'd really know what a crappy airline is all about!

They couldn't be on time if their lives depended on it, and their employees give new meaning to the term "lousy service."

So next trip, book U.S. Airways (or whatever they're calling themselves this year) instead of United . . . it'll make your complaints of United seem petty!

-

We know that ALL the airlines continue to have financial challenges (except of course Southwest, the only carrier to make a profit this past quarter).

http://money.cnn.com/2002/08/02/news/companies/ual_lawyers/index.htm
Saw this article on CNN today re: UAL and their hiring of bankruptcy attorneys --- will they be the next one to file Ch. 11?

In all honestly, I get the same treated from most airline service staff. When things are backed up, crowded, late, and everyone, including me is complaining, I get grumpy staff. If I am in no hurry, or visit an office away from the airport, or call on the phone late at night, I usually get helpful, patient staff.