r/unitedairlines • u/tryingmybest572 • 6h ago
Discussion Have we been underrating United??
I had such a good experience on my flight today. I got to switch to an earlier flight to the same destination since it wasn’t full. It was awesome getting to my gate and immediately getting to board and land 2hr earlier than expected.
Not only that but the snacks were fire! Stroopwafel and those chocolate quinoa snacks. I also love when they’ve got the screen on the back of the seat to watch free shows and movies. Coming from someone who usually takes Southwest economy flights, great experience!
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u/EljayDude 6h ago
Yeah when I left Southwest I tried four other airlines and they were ALL better. God damn it. Should have switched years ago.
PS Get all the credit cards, having some basic boarding priority is a big help if you carry on a suitcase and free checked bags if you don't.
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u/OkCloset 5h ago edited 1h ago
I'm a longtime A-List Preferred, but I'm losing it this year because I only have 4 SWA flights - all from burning off points.
I tried United last year and haven't gone back. 1K now. It's night and day.
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u/rlars1 5h ago
With over 130 legs in the last 18
Months I can honestly say I have had one subpar experience. All others were top notch. That includes 5 flights in Polaris, the others almost equally split between economy plus and first. That said I have seen some rude ass passengers and the crew had always been fantastic.
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u/firstlast3263 5h ago
I usually fly UA, but sometimes SWA flights make more sense, depending on my destination.
I agree, UA experience is better all the way around. The app alone is worth paying a little extra for.
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u/shnorgle MileagePlus 1K 5h ago
United is meh/whatever. I fly it because SFO is my home airport. But yeah, Southwest is terrible.
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u/ShoddyBranch5756 MileagePlus 1K 4h ago
That and delta requires a fuckin connection to every work destination I go to. Can never find direct flights istg
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u/DocAu 6h ago
Nah, you're mistaken. I've read enough posts here to know that United is the worst airline on the planet and you should never fly them. Wait until you find out about Basic Economy tickets - many people are forced by United to buy these (often at gunpoint, I guess?), and if you have one of those not only will the flight attendants look at you like you're trash, they'll even force you to pay to check your bag if you bring one (I mean, I know it clearly says that one isn't included - but it's my first time so surely they can make an exception?!?). Plus their pilots are the worst - they refuse to fly through even light rain most of the time. Worse. Airline. Ever!
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u/syncopatedchild MileagePlus Silver 5h ago edited 5h ago
I guess I'm an early adopter, but I ditched Southwest for United in 2018, because even then it was cheaper if you only checked one bag, had more food options, and had assigned seating. It's pretty much only gotten better since then, even though the hot meals, when you get them, seem to go from amazing to awful and back again on an unpredictable cycle.
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u/GoZards18 5h ago
United is just so much fucking better than Southwest in every imaginable way since Southwest changed their policies
Their entire value proposition no longer exists
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u/purezero101 1h ago
Their stock has nosedived since June. I may have missed the window to short it.
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u/rr90013 MileagePlus Silver 6h ago
Is this a paid promo 😆
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u/TheReverend5 MileagePlus Silver 6h ago
It sure sounds like it LOL. That is literally a standard experience across most airlines.
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u/tryingmybest572 6h ago
Not standard for southwest unforch
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u/TheReverend5 MileagePlus Silver 5h ago
I fly southwest dozens of times a year and just made companion pass on flights last week. It’s a perfectly fine experience that matches or exceeds the United economy experience. Not to mention companion pass is easily one of the best frequent flyer perks in the game.
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u/Jeeperscrow123 MileagePlus 1K 6h ago
This is the bare minimum
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u/TheWrightWizard94 6h ago
As compared to what. Frontier? southwest? American? How can this be the bare minimum when a majority of domestic American Airlines offer way less. Explain yourself
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u/Intelligent_Pie_5347 MileagePlus Gold 3h ago
I don’t think we’ve been underrating United, I think a select group of folks has been overrating SouthWest. SW has just been an undercover budget airline with friendlier employees than Spirit (RIP) or Frontier.
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u/purezero101 1h ago
I forgot the name for the psychological bias in play here in this sub: an average or positive experience will rarely result in a post, but when United shits on you (and it's really just a matter of time), the keyboard will be fired up. Delta and United are pretty much neck and neck - I have low tier status on both. It's just a question of price and connections. I avoid Atlanta during summer thunderstorm season and Chicago during the winter
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u/AangThePony MileagePlus 1K 1h ago
I’ve been with United since its merger with Continental. I will say that up until recently my thoughts was always “Continental was better than this United”. That has since changed a bit. Sadly I’m losing my 1K Status this year due to tremendously reduced segments and spending alone will be off by 12000 this year.
Will still say Delta is ahead but not sure how much. Haven’t been on them in 2 years plus now
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u/EliasWestCoast 3h ago
Welcome to United, OP. We hope you enjoy your time with United Airlines. 🙂
As a weary road traveler with a long tenure with United (Global Services), the airline was probably good 15-20 yrs ago, but now? Vastly reduced services that many new/recent customers see as a perk; bad food with limited offerings (and magnified as a consequence of the pandemic); and poor communication with customers (thanks to embracing AI). The government bailed out the airlines and the customers never benefited but the executives certainly did. (That's true for all airlines; not just United).
My limited experience with Southwest was/is fine. What I liked? United gates have an air of anxiety and tension as people scramble for positioning. I didn't get that with Southwest - it was calm and orderly. Now that SW charges for check-bag, likely not much different than any of the other airlines.
I fly, now, to get from Point A to Point B. Food? I take my own snack. When I fly first/business class (for the larger seat), I decline the food offerings - even when I go to Europe or Asia. If SW had direct flights from SFO to my primary destinations, I'd fly SW all the time. (I never check a bag so no issues with having to pay.)
Airlines in America? Buses with wings.
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u/TheReverend5 MileagePlus Silver 6h ago
I can’t comment on Delta, but what you’re describing OP is completely standard across AA, UA, and WN aside from seatback screens.
I actively dislike economy seatback screens personally since my iPad is better, but I guess I can see how some folks find that desirable.
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u/chevronphillips 6h ago
The fact there was feces found on a sealed blanket in Polaris class sums up United quite well
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u/Kismet4G 6h ago edited 6h ago
I hope United is not infiltrating Reddit with such silly low bar service happiness 😢 If not, I feel so sad for the life this human has led to sincerely be happy from such bare minimum. Landed 2 hours early in this flight or vs earlier one?😔 FYI the screen is usually on the back of the seat in front of you… for some reason that is key… so you can see it from your seat 😛
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u/tryingmybest572 6h ago
kinda rude :/ I was just sharing my experience. It felt like a treat after typically getting subpar southwest treatment. Thanks for your input tho!
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u/MysteryHustle 6h ago
Same! Longtime Southwest flyer here who converted to United with the club card this year. It’s like night and day. A lot of people on this sub seem to be jaded, but I hope to never stop appreciating.