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Economy
Anger Mounts Against United Airlines Over Extra Fee to Use Overhead Bins
2016-12-08
[Free Beacon] United Airlines is drawing ire from customers over its recent decision to impose an extra fee on passengers who purchase its lowest-tier ticket to use the plane's overhead bins.

The Chicago-based airline announced last month it was introducing a "basic economy" fare in 2017 that would restrict customers to one small carry-on item that must be placed under the seat, rather than in the overhead cabins. The ticket will also automatically assign passengers a seat on the day of departure, which could separate flyers on the same reservation

United Airlines, one of the world's largest carriers, is the first major U.S. airline to charge passengers to store carry-ons. The company is hoping the move will push frequent flyers toward purchasing a more expensive economy ticket, Reuters reported.
Posted by:Besoeker

#16  Just remember folks, United breaks guitars....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo
Posted by: Classer   2016-12-08 17:10  

#15  Agree with Zebulon, United international flights aren't too bad.

Flying west - Cathay Pacific or Korean Air are about the best. Going east, Virgin Atlantic is better (really miss the old Lufthansa, though).

Won't fly any of the middle-eastern airways, other than El-Al.

UA Domestic services absolutely s*ck, unless you have the Business/First Class upgrade. Then they're mostly tolerable, but not super great.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2016-12-08 17:04  

#14  I've been flying to India twice a year for 10 years now. First on Continental (may they RIP) then United. I have very few complaints. Before that I flew that trip on AA for a number of years. I'll take United over AA any day. At least for that particular trip.
Posted by: Zebulon Spawn of the Sith6155   2016-12-08 16:36  

#13   but M. Murcek's comment was just seared, I say seared into my memory.

Flew pretty much every week for 14 years...that was no steamer trunk, that was her purse...the steamer trunk was the one with wheels (or was that her lap-top).
Posted by: AlanC   2016-12-08 16:29  

#12  Prefer to fly Alaska, AA is second choice. United and SW tied for last.

UA, AA too many Airbus jets for me.
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2016-12-08 14:55  

#11  I have flown Alaska Airlines for many years. They give all Alaska residents 2 free checked bags. Inside the state they give 3 because people from the bush bring lots of groceries back home. No BS of overhead storage issues, but M. Murcek's comment was just seared, I say seared into my memory.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2016-12-08 14:02  

#10  Flew on United from Louisville KY to Chicago IL for a CIO conference. About over Springfield IL we turned around, back to L-ville to refuel. Keynote speaker at conference: United CIO, topic: increasing the positive seat mile survey responses. Little correlation between Operations and Management strategies.
Posted by: Skidmark   2016-12-08 13:45  

#9  Spent a long time at O'Hare a couple of times waiting on United problems. (But at least they didn't break my guitar (search Dave Carroll United breaks guitars (link tool not working for me) - it was at my daughter's.)
Posted by: Glenmore   2016-12-08 13:00  

#8  Following the banking model.
Less real estate, fewer tellers, shorter hours, reduced services, no interest, withdrawal penalties and increased account fees to use my money.
Posted by: Skidmark   2016-12-08 11:36  

#7  Never liked flying United much. I'm a Southwest customer. Two free checked bags with reasonable fairs, friendly staff and few if any fuckups.

Can't beat it.
Posted by: DarthVader   2016-12-08 11:17  

#6  They are getting discount tickets, so they get discount conditions. Capitalism means you get to choose what you will, and won't, pay for. The angry people aren't doing it right.
Posted by: trailing wife   2016-12-08 11:02  

#5  If you have never wanted to see some fat, 4 foot tall woman trying to lift a steamer trunk into the overhead storage die on the spot of a hear attack, you must not fly much. Whatever they want to charge, triple it...

Snark of the day, though we'd prefer not to have the visual...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2016-12-08 10:04  

#4  It reminds me of the pre-Embargo time when you'd go to car dealerships and the price listing had a 'tack on' price of extras that nearly went the length of the door.

Then the embargo hit, not only did Americans discover the fuel economy of the Japanese cars and their quality, but the price tag was short, very short. Things the American companies charged extra for came standard. The Japanese said when you put them on everything, the unit price drops dramatically.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2016-12-08 09:35  

#3  Still not making a profit off the extra-fuel cost tax you put on the ticket then and never removed?

Delta Airlines (DAL) profits graph:

Sept. 30, 2016 12.01%
June 30, 2016 14.80%
March 31, 2016 10.23%
Dec. 31, 2015 10.31%
Sept. 30, 2015 11.84%
June 30, 2015 13.87%
March 31, 2015 7.95%
Dec. 31, 2014 -7.38%
Sept. 30, 2014 3.19%
June 30, 2014 7.54%
March 31, 2014 2.39%
Dec. 31, 2013 93.42%
Sept. 30, 2013 13.05%
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-12-08 08:11  

#2  The price of fuel has dropped since the near 150 dollar a barrel period. Still not making a profit off the extra-fuel cost tax you put on the ticket then and never removed? Maybe you should seek other venues of capitalism.

It's a market that's ripe for someone to copy the original Southwest model (which the suits have now destroyed and made it just another airline). It'll be like what small Japanese cars did to the American Big Three when the Oil Embargo hit in the 70s.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2016-12-08 08:04  

#1  Dear United - May I call you 'United'? Thank you so much - anyways, United...can you say, 'tone deaf'?

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2016-12-08 07:48  

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