It's really sad how bad it is now. I was supposed to be in Boston by now but won't be til 6 hours later. Same experience at other places too in the past. Done with them and will focus on other airline for flights.

I was 6 hours delayed on United earlier this year. They all have operational issues. Be careful what you wish for.

PM sent with my rapid rewards number so you can transfer your points.

I will take the free drink coupons and other perks that are starting.

Heard they were passing out hand written boarding passes tonight

Lol

Hate to break it to you but, you're not necessarily going to find it any better anywhere else.

Last month, I flew to Tampa (Southwest), Tallahassee (American) and Denver (United).

They all had problems but there are strategies you can use to help yourself.

• Fly in a day early
• Don't take the last flight of the day
• Try to take the first flight in the morning
• Don't fly through Chicago on a summer afternoon

Good Luck!

tamc93 said:

---

I will take the free drink coupons and other perks that are starting.

---

Can you transfer miles to others? Asking for a frie…me…

They all suck. On United, you can pay 2-3x what SW costs, and have the same crappy service and experience.

I said the same about United this past February when we went to Mexico. They are all bad now it seems. I have to go through the cespool of Denver and it never fails I am delayed or cancelled.

When I went to Thailand and Phillipines this summer, a friend of mine took United to save a few dollars and we just met at the hotel we were staying at once we arrived. On the return trip, he got delayed 18 hours with them for no reasons given. It was an absolute nightmare from what he said.

United is way cheaper than SWA out of Denver right now. DA to Cancun on Copa: $267
DA to Cancun on SWA: $491

It's been this way for months too. SWA used to have the deals and now it's a total scam.

Flying has turned into a complete crapshoot no matter the carrier. All the same.

I've gotten to the point where I just take the 530-6am flight for anything domestic.

JustPanda said:

---

United is way cheaper than SWA out of Denver right now. DA to Cancun on Copa: $267
DA to Cancun on SWA: $491

It's been this way for months too. SWA used to have the deals and now it's a total scam.

---

guess it depends. I checked a few hours back and it was the opposite

JustPanda said:

---

United is way cheaper than SWA out of Denver right now. DA to Cancun on Copa: $267
DA to Cancun on SWA: $491

It's been this way for months too. SWA used to have the deals and now it's a total scam.

---

all depends on what perks you have with what airline. There are deals to be had, but lots of factors. If you are traveling with kids, the baggage fees add up, so SW can be cheaper even when the airfare is higher. I don't have status on united anymore, so baggage fees suck. Also have a companion pass for SW, so that makes a huge difference.

All the airlines suck, unfortunately.

Umm a United CC gets you free bags. We have 3 kids.

I have a united CC too. I booked flights on points a while back. They wouldn't waive baggage fees bc I didn't book via my united CC. I complained enough that they eventually relented, but I haven't flown united since. And that CC us getting phased out.

Why would they if you didn't use the card that provides the benefit? You book on points and use the United CC for the fees/taxes. United tells you during booking that you must use the card for the benefit and must by the card holder or on the card holders reservation to get the benefit… they even show you the baggage allowance. Seems logical on their end. I probs would've said sorry but you didn't follow the rules.

Never thought I'd stand up for an airline

I can certainly understand them restricting it to those that book with the card but it certainly isn't uniform. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card doesn't. And you get bags for you and like 8 others.

It's always funny when people get so upset and feel slighted when they caused their own problem.

Yeah, I don't think that's true unless the card gives you status with Delta that gives you free checked bags.

ChoppinDs40 said:

---

Heard they were passing out hand written boarding passes tonight

Lol

---

Should have broken out the old plastic boarding cards they used to distribute at the gate!

Damn you just brought me back.

JustPanda said:

---

Why would they if you didn't use the card that provides the benefit? You book on points and use the United CC for the fees/taxes. United tells you during booking that you must use the card for the benefit and must by the card holder or on the card holders reservation to get the benefit… they even show you the baggage allowance. Seems logical on their end. I probs would've said sorry but you didn't follow the rules.

Never thought I'd stand up for an airline

---

It was a change they made during covid. It was not always like that.

Captain Winky said:

---

Yeah, I don't think that's true unless the card gives you status with Delta that gives you free checked bags.

---

well you might not think it, but it's true. Just look it up if you don't believe me.

So it's been that way for almost 3 years…

Flew United from Houston to San Francisco and back. Every flight was on time and arrived early or on time. Anecdotal, I know.

Yes. This is a stupid argument, but...I didn't fly united during covid, when they made the change. I finally flew them again last year, hence "awhile back," as I mentioned. But I guess you win internet points for being smarter than me, since I wasn't aware of a policy change that happened.

Yeah it doesn't matter anymore. We flew up to Seattle last month. Flew there on American and home on United. The American flight there was delayed 1.5 because the arriving flight was way late. The United flight got cancelled while we were on our trip. The rebook had a layover in San Francisco where they proceeded to lose one of our bags when changing planes.

They all suck right now.

We'll just continue flying SWA because its usually free or very, very cheap for us because my wife works there

Not smarter and not a stupid argument. Your failure to read the disclaimers provided before purchase isn't United responsibility to correct. You made the mistake, not them. Hold yourself accountable.

We flew primarily SWA all before and after COVID because of the companion pass. We didn't start flying mostly United until after SWA jacked up their rewards travel rates through the roof.

United makes the steps to avoid baggage fees very very clear when booking along w the specific verbiage detailing what/who qualifies and doesn't. It's even provided in the confirmation email.

They all suck. Good luck.

JustPanda said:

---

Not smarter and not a stupid argument. Your failure to read the disclaimers provided before purchase isn't United responsibility to correct. You made the mistake, not them. Hold yourself accountable.

We flew primarily SWA all before and after COVID because of the companion pass. We didn't start flying mostly United until after SWA jacked up their rewards travel rates through the roof.

United makes the steps to avoid baggage fees very very clear when booking along w the specific verbiage detailing what/who qualifies and doesn't. It's even provided in the confirmation email.

---

Go spend time with those 3 kids dude.

SWA tix are pricier for me than AA or UA outta JAX

+ I have free bags with both AA & UA

Sea Speed said:

---

JustPanda said:

---

Not smarter and not a stupid argument. Your failure to read the disclaimers provided before purchase isn't United responsibility to correct. You made the mistake, not them. Hold yourself accountable.

We flew primarily SWA all before and after COVID because of the companion pass. We didn't start flying mostly United until after SWA jacked up their rewards travel rates through the roof.

United makes the steps to avoid baggage fees very very clear when booking along w the specific verbiage detailing what/who qualifies and doesn't. It's even provided in the confirmation email.

---

Go spend time with those 3 kids dude.

---

He's rather be superior on the internet. Despite clear evidence that CCs often get you free bags even if you don't use them as I already showed. But in this case he's thinks he's right and you had better say so!!!!!!

It's surprising to me how frequently people on here have issues. I fly SWA mostly, with a few United flights sprinkled in. And I rarely have issues.

After the miserable Christmas meltdown, things have been surprisingly smooth for me.

I will note that I almost always try to be on the first flight out. That helps limit issues from arising or building up throughout the day.

Depends on flying out of where though.

BUR - LAS was a lock

Out of HOU is a different story.

+1 on SWA usually being higher than flying UAL