The World Health Organization officially declared the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne illness that has been linked to birth defects in thousands of babies, an International Health Emergency. [More]
united airlines
World Health Organization Declares Zika Virus “Emergency”: Which Airlines Offer Refunds, Rebooking?
By 2.1.16
American Airlines Bringing Back Free Snacks, Meals On Some Flights
By 2.1.16
Nearly two months after United Airlines said it would turn back the clock and start providing passengers with free nibbles, American Airlines is also jumping on the snack bandwagon, once again offering complimentary treats — and, on some flights, free meals — to economy-class travelers. [More]
Airlines Allowing Travelers To Zika Virus-Affected Countries To Cancel, Postpone Trips At No Cost
By 1.27.16
UPDATE: JetBlue is also offering refunds for travelers with tickets to regions affected by the Zika virus. [More]
Flying On United Could Soon Mean More Legroom For Travelers With Airline’s New Plane Plans
By 1.21.16
If you’re sick of folding yourself into a seat on one of United Airline’s 50-seater planes, relief is in sight in the somewhat near future. The Chicago-based carrier says it’s going to ditch many of those smaller aircraft, while planning to buy a bunch of larger planes for its fleet. [More]
10 Things We Learned About United Airlines’ Efforts To Not Annoy Customers
By 1.14.16
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.
[More]
Delta Moves Past United To Snag No. 2 U.S. Airline Spot By Traffic
By 1.12.16
When you’re a major U.S. airline, there’s only one direction you want to go, and that’s up. Which is why Delta Air Lines is likely in a celebratory mood and United Airlines is perhaps a bit down in the dumps today, upon hearing the news that the former has passed the latter to become the No. 2 carrier based on traffic for 2015, behind American Airlines. [More]
United Passenger Leaves iPad On Plane, Has Joyful Reunion With Airline’s Help
By 1.11.16
Denise made a very understandable and common mistake: she stashed her iPad in the seat-back pouch in front of her during a United flight, and didn’t realize it until later. She ran the always handy “Find my iPad” app, and found that the iPad was in the hands of United staff at George Bush airport in Houston. The problem: she lives in Ohio, and no one at United was interested in helping her. [More]
United Airlines Fined $2.75M For Tarmac Delays, Treatment Of Disabled Passengers
By 1.8.16
In October, United Airlines apologized to a disabled passenger who ended up crawling off the plane after he was told he’d have to wait up to 50 minutes for a wheelchair. This is just one of several complaints related to United’s treatment of disabled passengers. When combined with penalties for stranding passengers on the tarmac for more than three hours, the airline now faces federal fines of $2. 75 million. [More]
United Airlines Creates “Essentials,” “Enhanced” Bundles For Extra Legroom, Checked Bags
By 1.4.16
In a day and age when it seems as if you can bundle just about anything from cable, Internet, and phone service to those little extras you’re charged during a hotel stay. So it makes sense that airlines would also offer the same options for customers looking for extra legroom or an additional checked bag. [More]
When The Biggest U.S. Airlines Try To Compete With Low-Cost Carriers, Travelers Win
By 12.30.15
Usually we wouldn’t be fans of fighting, but when it comes to companies vying for consumers’ hard-earned dollars, the more they try to one-up each other, the better it is for us. So it’s cause for celebration now that the three biggest airlines in the U.S. are paying attention to their low-cost rivals, bringing down ticket prices for everyone. [More]
United Airlines Flight Slides Off Chicago Runway After Landing
By 12.30.15
Winter storms have wreaked havoc on post-holiday travel this week, canceling thousands of flights across the country. Perhaps hardest hit was Chicago, where nearly half the flights in and out of the city were canceled Monday. Issues continued at O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday when a United Airlines flight slid off the runway. [More]
United Airlines Expands Age Range For Children Flying Alone Who Are Required To Use $150 Service
By 12.28.15
If you’ve got a tween who’s preparing to fly alone on United Airlines, you might end up paying a fee you weren’t prepared for: United Airlines has quietly expanded the age range of children who have to use a $150 service when flying without an accompanying adult, raising it from an upper limit of age 12 to age 15. [More]
United Airlines Bringing 200 Comfort Dogs To Seven Airports For A Bit Of Holiday Travel Stress-Relief
By 12.21.15
With holiday travel predicted to reach record levels this week, it’s probably a safe bet that someone at some overcrowded airport across the country will get a bit stressed out. In a bid to make sure holiday travel is a bit less grueling for passengers, United Airlines is sending in the dogs, literally. [More]
United Airlines Bringing Back Free Snacks For Economy Passengers
By 12.9.15
United Airlines appears to be bringing back the glory days of flying. Okay, not the ’60s-esque glory days, but the other ones: when you didn’t have to shell out $5 (or more) for a bag of chips. The carrier announced today that it’s leveling the snacking playing field by once again offering economy passengers free nibbles. [More]
United Airlines Offers On-Time Guarantee For Corporate Travelers, Probably Won’t Have To Actually Pay Anything
By 12.8.15
With accusations that airlines have padded flight schedules to improve on-time performance stats still fresh, one carrier is hoping to prove it’s all about valuing your time — as long as you’re a big corporate client. United Airlines launched a new reliability guarantee for some business travelers, promising to get them to their destination on-time or it will provide them with credits for upgrades and fees. [More]
Long Live Inflight Shopping: United Airlines Brings Back SkyMall For A Limited Time
By 12.7.15
There has been an inflatable movie screen-sized hole in our hearts ever since SkyMall announced in January that it had filed for bankruptcy protection, essentially ending 25 years of inflight shopping entertainment. But that void for all things you-never-knew-you-needed-until-you-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-flip-through-the-pages-of-the-kooky-retail-magazine will soon be full: SkyMall will once again by flying high on United Airlines. [More]
Lawmaker Questions Airlines, Plane Manufacturers On Cybersecurity Measures
By 12.2.15
Eight months after a government report found that airplanes with WiFi connections may be vulnerable to cyber attacks and seven months after a hacker claimed to have commandeered a United Airlines flight via the plane’s in-flight entertainment system, one lawmaker wants to know just what airlines are doing to protect their computer systems — and passengers. [More]
United Airlines Will No Longer Charge $50 To Get A Hardship Refund
By 11.16.15
While it seems like the major players in the travel industry are constantly coming up with new ways to charge customers more money, travelers flying on United Airlines can say good-bye to at least one fee: the carrier announced it’ll no longer charge a hardship refund fee of $50. [More]
