United Airlines - anyone flown with them, what can we expect?

I've flown united (a few years ago) and they seemed very good.

The food and drink on a scheduled flight is usually free. ?

The in-flight entertainment is usually better.

Where are you going? <might have to be jealous of you icon needed>

We flew to Seattle via Chicago on United 10 years ago and it was great. Was on one of the first 777's they bought from boeing and you could watch what you lliked on the Back of the seat TV. I listened to the "Pilot chatter" channel on the way home, fell asleep when there was nothing going on on the way home and then got woken up when they contacted Prestwick Airspace. Not sure if they'll do that channel now.

J

I flew to Sydney with them via America and they were fine. I think you get better service on scheduled flights than charter flights

In my experience, most US scheduled airlines make you pay for alcoholic drinks now. Anyway, I'd always go scheduled over charter, especially long haul. you generally get more leg room and better service. Try this website for reviews: http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/Forum-S_Z.htm#U

I've flown twice with them, once was great and the second time wasn't so great. We were just unlucky though the second time, got put in bad seats and couldn't see the TV screens at the front of the cabin, had a very snotty air stewardess who told me it wasn't her problem I was allergic to cheese and refused to even try to find me some crisps or nuts or something I could eat for the 12 hour flight.

The first time was great, upgraded to premium economy, good food, lots of free drinks and the service was fab.

I flew with them to Chicago a couple of years back. They were alright - typical long haul economy flight really... not memorable but not bad.

Where are you flying to?

United has started charging for food on it's international flights to/from Washington in economy.

UA are begining to charge on board for food and drinks, they have been in chapter 11 for a few years now, so are looking a ways of maxising profitability from flights.

ahhhh channel 9... Great to listen to the ATC transmissions....if they turn it on!!

Ah - channel 9 is great... though not so great when, like us, they say something about an engine fault and then switch it off!

That aside, we flew from Heathrow to San Francisco, then to LA, then to Las Vegas, Chicago and back to Heathrow with United and they were all really good flights, no delys etc (in fact the internal flights were all early). We'd use them again for sure.

We flew to San Francisco with them last year and never again. The whole experience was pretty dreadful. Really long queues at check-in (they wouldn't allow anyone to use the online check-in), we had to pay for drinks (on a long haul), the stewards didn't give a *** about anything - just generally awful. The staff's attitude both on the flight and at the airport was grim - disinterested, tire, overworked - all the signs of a airline struggling.

They are one of my least favourite airlines. All you are likely to get for free on most routes is a soft drink. They are terrible to reach by phone if you need to change anything. In flight wntertainment is old and ususally up the front of the plane rathe than seat back. That said, H has been upgraded by them before and says premium or business (whatever is one up from cattle class) has much better legroom.