United Airlines: Get it Together

Four flights in five weeks, and very little kudos for United Airlines from me.

What happened to the days of those nice, fun-things-to-do packets that came on every flight? Well, Airlines are far from it and moving even further away.

I was dismayed to realize that the service United Airlines offers to it's commercial clients was very minimal. Having continually been fed up with a lack of meal service, no entertainment and even no beverage service on flights, United Airlines takes first place for the epitome of poor assistance. I'm not talking about the stewards, attendants and pilots, no. Their personal interaction with customers was quite exceptional. What needs change, however, is the decision-makers of the corporation.

Here are the points of interest you will want to know when flying United:

1. Inconsistencies in bag charges. Flying to my first destination on my trip, my bag was 6 pounds over the 50 lb. limit, not a problem to the receptionists of the first check-in. However, on my return flight, I was unexpectedly charged with a supposed 15 dollar flat rate charged for all FIRST BAGS which was under the weight limit, the attendant told me my second would cost 10, thank goodness it was small enough to pass as a carry-on. I have never in my many years of flying ever had to pay for bags as a flat rate. And only once or twice have I been threatened to pay the overweight charge. This attendant told me the charge would be 100 dollars for 3 pounds over the limit. It used to be 25 dollars.

2. Very little food service. Flying over a lunch or breakfast time? Don't expect to be fed. All four of my flights, ranging from 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 and a half hours, contained no food service. I was content to receive a beverage, but airlines used to serve full meals over any meal period. I do not know if this has changed altogether, or if it is a solely United issue. Nevertheless, the flight made me cramped and unhappy having not received so much as a snack.

3. Get cold on airplanes? Deal with it. United no longer seems to carry blankets for fliers. I was told on my first three flights that they had either run out, or had none on board. Finally, on my fourth flight to my return destination, they were able to scrounge up the last blanket on board for me. Bring your own blanket.

4. Entertainment? Or not... One out of four of my flights graciously provided fliers with a headset to listen to their limited choices of music. I did not even bother. Make sure to bring a gripping book or personal mp3 or DVD Player on board.

5. Leg space, or lack there of. For a company that boasts generous leg space for fliers, I sure was disappointed. I'm over six feet tall, and leg space will most likely always be an issue. But United: to brag about leg space when you give none? Please be more honest with your customers. I gladly took your exit row just to gain the extra 2 inches.

6. Sky-high prices. A domestic flight that costs more than one to Central America and back? You bet. A flight from a regional airport, then to three big cities, finally returning to the original departure location now costs nearly 2,200 dollars. I'm only glad my company covered that expense.

Overall, I was shocked by the lack of amenities for customers who chose to fly United, a choice I will never make again.