Five years after United Airlines and Continental finalized their mega-merger, the resulting carrier has struggled to deal with both unhappy passengers and employees, and remains at the back of the customer satisfaction pack among the nation’s major airlines.
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continental airlines
10 Things We Learned About United Airlines’ Efforts To Not Annoy Customers
By 1.14.16
New United CEO Apologizes For 5 Years Of Merger-Related Problems
By 10.1.15
The five-year-old marriage between United and Continental airlines appears to be hitting the seven-year itch a few years early, as new United CEO Oscar Munoz began his tenure acknowledging the mega-merger may not have been such a good idea after all. [More]
United Airlines Now Responsible For One-In-Three Consumer Complaints
By 8.10.12 — Updated: 3.26.13
When United and Continental decided to become a couple, they weren’t just combining their bank accounts and airplane collections, they also had to combine all the complaints people file against them. But even that doesn’t account for the huge increase in consumer complaints filed against the united United. [More]
United/Continental Systems Merger Makes Flight Reservations Magically Disappear
By 4.11.12
To be honest, I have to start this post by blaming Ryan and his wife. I don’t know what they were thinking. They assumed that just because they booked their round-trip tickets to and from Cancun two months ahead of their vacation and had an itinerary and confirmation numbers, they had an actual reservation. Maybe they did at one point. But between February and April, Continental and United combined their computer systems as part of their Air Voltron merger. Reservations mysteriously disappeared from the system, including theirs. And that’s how Ryan and the pregnant Mrs. Ryan ended flying coach from Cancun and stuck in Houston instead of flying first-class all the way home to Detroit. [More]
Your Dog May Not Be Welcome On Summer Flights
By 7.13.11
You might have read that you can take your pet on a Continental Airlines flight, but that’s no guarantee that your buddy will actually be allowed on the plane. That can depend on weather, but mostly depends on how full the flight is. You’re shelling out extra money to travel with a creature you consider a family member, but to the airline, your pet is furry cargo that can be left behind. If you stubbornly insist on traveling together, you’re stuck with the flight change fees. That’s what happened to Steve when he tried to fly with his dogs down to his new home in Ecuador. His advice: Don’t fly with pets during the summer. At all. [More]
Unhappy Vegetarian Hurls Tray Of Food At Continental Crew
By 3.21.11
A vegetarian woman aboard a Continental flight from the Dominican Republic to Newark, NJ, was apparently none too pleased when she received a non-vegetarian meal. But rather than file a complaint with the airline, she reportedly opted for the less formal hurl-your-tray-at-the-flight-attendant tactic. [More]
Worst Company In America Round One: United/Continental Vs. Delta
By 3.16.11
Day Two of the WCIA 2011 tournament takes to the skies with this dogfight between the two biggest birds in the business! [More]
Continental Flight Delayed 3 Hours By Broken Toilet In First Class
By 3.7.11
A malfunction in the toilet in first-class caused a Continental flight to leave three hours behind schedule this morning. It was initially reported by that the toilet was backed up and no plunger could be found, but an airline spokeswoman later refuted that. Plungers aren’t used to repair toilets, she said. “It’s not a toilet like you have at your home. It’s a mechanical process to repair the lavatory.” The earlier report had said that no plunger could be found at the airport and someone had to be sent off grounds. [More]
JetBlue: We Won't Be Stingy On The Free Snacks Anytime Soon
By 3.7.11
Last week, we brought you the sad news that the two-headed beast of United/Continental had decided that coach passengers don’t deserve free pretzels. It seems inevitable that this “luxury” is doomed to extinction, but JetBlue says it has no intention of killing off its gratis inflight snacks. [More]
Continental Kills Free Snacks In Coach
By 3.4.11
Continental and new spouse United Airlines have begun to decide which of their pre-marriage belongings to keep and which to discard. One thing that has already gone in the dumpster: free snacks in coach. [More]
Continental Jets To Get United's "Economy Plus" Seats
By 2.18.11
Delta recently announced that they would be adding roomier “Economy Comfort” seats to its international flights. Competing carrier United Airlines already has something similar with its Economy Plus seats, which will be showing up in planes operated by its new merger partner Continental. [More]
Get Your Airline Ticket Changed For Free Because Of Massive Midwest Storm
By 1.31.11
The Superbowl of storms is headed for the Midwest with 20″ snow and 45 mph winds predicted for Chicago. Thankfully, a lot of airlines are waiving their usual ticket change fees for travelers who could be affected. 3,000 flights have already been canceled in advance of the potentially deadly weather. Don’t go to the airport to see if you can make your flight, don’t get stuck in an airport, stay home, stay over at your friend’s house an extra day or two, and take advantage of this leniency. Here are links to the various airlines and their waiver and winter update pages and policies: [More]
Continental & United Make Their Union Official
By 10.1.10
Just two weeks after shareholders for both United and Continental Airlines gave their blessing, the two carriers snuck off to city hall this morning to officially say “I do” so they can get around to screwing… up the airline industry. [More]
Shareholders Say "Voltron Unite!" To United-Continental Merger
By 9.17.10
United and Continental are oh so close to merging, now that shareholders for both airlines have approved the deal. [More]
Continental Loses Dog, Offers $1,000 Reward For Her Return
By 8.31.10
It’s been almost two weeks since Daisy, a 4-year-old Golden Lab/Shepherd mix, broke free of her leash during a layover at Newark Liberty International Airport, but Continental Airlines is holding out hope that she’s still alive and is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone that finds her. [More]
Here's What A Merged United/Continental Plane Will Look Like
By 8.12.10
Continental and United Airlines won’t officially join to form their airline Voltron for several months, but yesterday they released this image of how the branding on their planes will work once the merger is complete. [More]
Passengers Sue To Stop Continental-United Merger
By 6.30.10
With both Continental and United Airlines ready to say “I do,” a group of peeved passengers has busted into the church prepared to give their reasons for why these two carriers should not be wed. [More]
Lawyer Loses Coat, Threatens To Sue City Of Houston & Continental Airlines
By 3.5.10
If you’ve traveled enough in your life, you’ve probably made the mistake of leaving something in the airport or on a plane. But have you ever thought of filing a lawsuit against the airline? Or better yet the city in which the airport is located? Well, just like a middle-age, upper-class male version of Norma Rae, there’s a Texas lawyer willing to put his neck on the line for us all. [More]
