Are they really that bad?

>>1124754
The only luggage I've truly had lost was a set of golf clubs, lost by United. Unless the price on a flight is significantly lower, I'll avoid United when I can.

>>1124754
I hate them and all other North American airlines for international flights.

I've been flying domestic and they're a lot better than many of the other alternatives though.

>have an international flight with United later this year
Should I be worried?

File: lagwagon.png (184KB, 421x434px) Image search: [Google]

184KB, 421x434px

>not booking your flight with a credit card that includes travel insurance

>>1124822
>I hate them and all other North American airlines for international flights.

I've noticed this. Why do Americans screw us over?

International flights? They were the cheapest option for me to fly from Germany to New York.

However, everything at United seemed to be from the times when America was great once: Planes 30 years old and the whole cabin crew was white and in their early fifties. They probably were hot 30 years ago.
Also, the entertainment system did not work. The pilot literally tried to reboot, you could watch the booting on every screen. Still didn't solve the problem, so no movies.

There was one younger flight attendant, maybe 29. Male, longer hair and overweight.
That guy constantly came back to my seat to hit on the German tourist fräulein next to me, he tried to impress her by repeatedly saying how he was from New York, and that Uber was the new thing everyone was now doing instead of taxis, since she had never heard of that before. Seemed annoying but like a good guy.

Overall, United felt like a good first impression of America.

>>1124892
No.

The differences between airlines are HUGELY over-rated. Other than some few shit lovcal airlines in the third world, the basic experience is going to be tolerable, and very similar -- sit in this more-or-less uncomfortable seat for a few hours in a pressurized metal tube and watch movies while being offered mediocre food.

Better airlines make a bit more effort to disguise all that, but in the end, it's all the same. Just bring your movies or a book or some sleeping pills, and ride it out.

>>1124754
>Are they really that bad?
No. I live in a United hub city and used to fly a lot (domestic and international) for business, so I've used them a LOT. They are thoroughly mediocre, but no worse than any other big US (or, frankly, most big European airlines--both were outclassed by Asian and Gulf carriers decades ago) in any meaningful way.

They're ok for domestic flights

>>1125471
>>1125485
With all the mergers and bankruptcies over the past fifteen years, The three remaining major carriers have had a race to the bottoms in terms of cost cutting to become efficient. Unless your metropolitan area is serviced by on of the two solvent budget carriers, Jetblue and Southwest, you are stuck with one major carrier and it's airline alliance. Prices have risen and the standard of service has fallen. So while all are bad, no one airline is substantially wore than another. They don't have to improve.

>>1125485
Singapore Airlines is wonderful. I use them exclusively (for personal pleasure trips) to fly into Europe and Asia. Thankfully, they have direct flights to great sex tourism centers.

>>1125530
>Singapore Airlines is wonderful. I use them exclusively (for personal pleasure trips) to fly into Europe and Asia.
Never flown them to Europe, but have been on a great number of their SFO-Asia long hauls. Access to Singapore lounges is one of the better among the meagre perks of status with United.

>>1125589
SA JFK-FRA

This is the best flight over the Atlantic ocean. Singapore Airlines Economy Class is superior to most business classes.

>>1124754
United Airlines has:
1. Sold my ticket to someone else leaving me stranded in San Diego
2. Broken one of my laptops
3. Made an emergency landing because of a mechanical issue
They are pretty shit but not really much worse than any of the other major American carriers.

>>1125485
>both were outclassed by Asian and Gulf carriers decades ago

Free alcohol, 2 free bags, and young pretty helpful stewardesses. Its really not that hard to not suck

>>1125629
1 -- All airlines overbook.

2 -- All airlines break shit in baggage. Don't check your laptop.

3 -- All airlines experience mechanical problems from time to time. If it's a problem that requires them to land, they land. Which is fine with me.

>>1125593
>This is the best flight over the Atlantic ocean. Singapore Airlines Economy Class is superior to most business classes.
I believe it. But living in San Francisco, I prefer the Swiss nonstop between SFO and Zurich on the rare occasions I have to go to continental Europe. Several hours shorter, don't have to go to JFK or Frankfurt.

>>1125957
Zurich has world class tier brothels, great choice. And Swiss Air is a part of Star Alliance. I will look into this, thanks anon.

>>1124754
THE WORST

>>1125961
any particular brothels you'd recommend in Zurich?

>>1124981
DELETE THIS

>>1125996
Club Globe.

>>1125653
>Free alcohol, 2 free bags, and young pretty helpful stewardesses. Its really not that hard to not suck
This is something I don't agree. While those are nice things, I think leg space is much more important in a long flight. Airline meals are just supposed to be there to make sure no one goes crazy over hunger and stewardesses are residues of vintage porn.

I agree with the luggage thing though. Best thing is buying a connected flight and claiming your 2nd luggage from a low cost airline because the most significant airlines' policy applies.

>>1126046
The annoying American airlines do try to skimp on the leg space, but I've found so far that its a little bit, but not enough to be bigger than the other issues

I fucking hate them. Their website is shitty and clunky. Their customer service is tedious.

>>1124754
I travel full time for work now and United consistently receives delays far more for me than Southwest does.

>>1124754
> Is United really that bad

Yes. I fly them often on business trips for only two reasons: I live in SF (their Asia hub) and it's the only full-service US carrier that lets me transfer my credit card points to miles. Going into detail will make my blood boil so I'll green-text:

> Had to cancel a meeting after my flight cancelled because muh mechanical issues
> Shit service from surly hags
> Shit seats when compared to Singapore, Cathay, Emirates, Qatar, Lufthansa, or Virgin Atlantic
> A friend lost his bag with them. It never returned.
> Still flies old planes that feel like they'll fall apart mid-flight (767s and 747s come to mind)

You're way better off with Singapore, Qatar, or Virgin m8.

>>1124754
they'll break your guitar

Hijacking this thread for a bit. But anyone flown Air Canada? Will be on their new dreamliner plane for international flight. How are they since it's our first with them.

>>1126421

I've flown AC a lot; like most Canadians, I used to bitch about the "people's airline", but having flown in the US often in the last year, usually on United, I now realize AC is pretty good.

United seemed to have a lot of delays for mechanical/technical reasons. That doesn't seem to happen often with AC. Part of the issue may be that some US carriers have sourced out their maintenance to cheap Asian countries. I think AC still does onshore maint.

Just flew back from London to Vancouver on a brand new 787 on AC yesterday. Lovely aircraft. The flight was only about 65% full, so was able to commandeer a three-seat centre section and lie down. The flight staff have always been pretty nice if you talk with them and there is never any BS about costing more to move your seat if they are empty (except if you want to move to business/first/ obviously).

I think you'll have a good flight.

>>1126421
Air Canada tends to be much better than the US domestic airlines. I've had good experiences with them so far. I'm actually flying on business class on their new dreamliner next month (Vancouver - Seoul), so I'm pretty excited. Although, I read some pretty bad reviews about the dreamliner's economy class seats, so that's something you should look out for.

>>1126421

Flying out tomorrow morning from New York to Calgary. E90, which is a smaller plane but it's nice because it's only two seats in each row, so I'm good with my girlfriend. I've used them 3 or 4 times before and never really had an issue. The only delays I ever had were to de-ice the wings in Edmonton.

>>1126477

I'll keep an eye out on the economy seating, I've heard mixed things, but going by my previous flights. Shouldn't be worse.

>>1126421
>>1126439
I'll try to tie these topics together but Air Canada isn't pretty Canadian, as in pretty mediocre, nothing exceptionally bad or good. Compared with United, I think they have a slightly newer fleet. This probably plays into the whole airline merger thing where they cannot afford to upgrade their fleets consistently and with the economy how it is now, it's unlikely they will invest in a huge overhaul any time soon. That's probably not so good news for budget airlines that get hand me downs from larger ones but that's besides the point.

As for the Dreamliner, it's a good plane except for the battery issue that was reported to sometimes burst into flames. But that was easily fixed and I don't think it's an issue any more. More people can fit on the plane, but I actually don't know how that affects entering and exiting times.

I've flown on both and, out of the two times I took Air Canada, I was delayed and possibly stranded due to the huge delay. I've had somewhat similar experiences with United as well so it's not really a strike against them. It's just something that happens, unfortunately.

I personally try not to complain about the aircrafts themselves rather than the service and actual process of flying because those can be improved more immediately. Leg space, while important, isn't as important as arriving at my final destination with relative ease.

w-wait.. So it's not like this?

https://youtu.be/0XYtGYrQeV4

>zero legroom airline

fuck em

tbqh if you do not have status with any of the US airlines, you are treated as cattle 50% of the time.

I am top tier with american and 2nd from top on Delta and it's nice, but I mostly like it because I can get the economy plus seats (Extra legroom for free)

If I didn't have status I'd do a EU airline, mostly since they seem to be better overall, and they are bound to that sweet EU 261 regulation even if you depart from the USA.

>>1127484
This sums it up. If you have loyalty status, then flying domestic is tolerable. Otherwise, fly a discount airline to a hub and then fly EU/Asian flag carrier to your overseas destination.

>>1125915
A rare sensible comment in this thread.

I've been flying internationally regularly for ten years. United are no better or worse than the others, really.

>some people are so spoiled that they get angry if they aren't super comfy as they travel thousands of miles across the world in a matter of hours
>imagine these snowflakes on a tea clipper from London to Hong Kong

If it's domestic, it's only a couple of hours. If it's international, you get free booze so get hammered and stop crying, you babies.

For thousands of years even the richest and most powerful of humans could only dream of flying through the air like the birds. Now the average moron complains about the age of the person who brings them liquor while they sit in a chair in the fucking sky.

>>1127854
keep in mind the main demographic of domestic air traffic are spoiled boomers with union jobs or upper class federally protected types of positions making 70k dollars a year with a bachelor's degree in business, who complain that kids today are lazy and expect to much by wanting more than min wage with an engineering degree

these boomers are insufferable faggots. of course they complain about being uncomfortable for 2 hours. they see themselves as captains of the american dream.

All I want to do when I fly is pop sleeping pills until I reach my destination. The worst thing I worry about is them losing my luggage, which US Airways did when I flew out to basic training, which scared the shit out of me. As long as I can pass out, and grab my bag when I land, I'm fine.

>>1127846
this, it makes me laugh when all these fags who fly business class using their accumulated miles or free tickets complain about little details and think they deserve to be treated like kings.