United Airlines

This is the airline that caused complete and mortal destruction of my suitcase on a business trip, denied responsibility for their actions, refused to reimburse me for almost a year for lost items (which, embarrassingly enough were mostly strewn across the baggage carousel. Yeah, thanks, old dude for handing me my deodorant. And you, lady who stole my sock while I was trying to grab all of my underwear and other unmentionables? Well, I'm sure Karma reaped her sweet reward), and then had the audacity to *finally* send me a check in a crumpled envelope with a footprint on it (the check, actually, not the envelope). So why two stars instead of one? Most of my flights have been uneventful this past year, and the most recent one actually arrived early, and beat out the fog delay. I'd probably like them better if I got elite status. Maybe next year...

The vacation was great except forthe airlines. People at the counter are RUDE. No more United airlines for us. American Airlines is my choice.

1 star for answering the phone Try to use miles for upgrades and it never happens. United will ask you to purchase a ticket, then you can request to be placed on the upgrade waiting list. They will let you know if it cleared anytime between the time you purchase the ticket and up to 24 hours prior to departure. When you are trying to plan a nice vacation, this system leaves a lot to the "luck of the draw". As we understand it, as of Jan 2010, upgrades are granted by status which is how many miles you actually fly. Buying a full economy ticket in order to upgrade with miles is a thing of the past. Any ticket is upgradeable, simply pay the co pay portion at the desk when checking in for your flight. Acquiring miles by making purchases is no help in trying to upgrade. We have been loyal frequent flyers for many years, but this new system seems to make very few awards available for the common person to redeem miles for flights or upgrades. We have found that other airlines p... Read more

Rudest staff I have ever encountered. Spent a night sleeping in an airport because their online check-in system was down, and the shuttle bus to the airport was delayed. I arrived at the airport almost an hour before my flight was scheduled to leave. The woman at the check-in counter told me that I was too late (when I booked my ticket it said 40 minutes). I said, I still had over 40 minutes until my flight. She told me that I was required to be there an hour and a half before (said that nowhere when I booked the ticket. It's a smaller airport and there are never any lines). I argued with her for a while, then she said my plane was already boarding (true, but I'd been arguing with her for a good 20 minutes). Finally, she told me that the plane was totally booked and that I should have checked in online. I had already told her that the system wasn't working, but she reiterated that I should have done it. Fantastic. So, they overbook flights and then make up a bunch of BS to delay passen... Read more

Stunningly inept and worthless travel rewards program. I don't know where to begin, so let's just say that this airline deserves whatever fate it gets. They don't know how to treat frequent-fliers at all.

You have got to be kidding me. Imagine being on a 16-hour flight with the meanest flight attendants in the business. Terrible.

horrible!  nasty flight attendants, inept baggage handlers,....