United Airlines to US anyone used them recently?

Bri1

Anyone used them in recent past?

Looking to book some flights to Los Angeles US with United as they are coming in as the cheapest, one stop/change on way out, non stop return, how are they compared to other carriers, comfort, service food, freebies, reliability etc.

Wondering also if baggage with United goes through on to connecting flight in US without having to reclaim & check back in on the change over?

Caz3121

Flew with them last month and was not a great experience. We were travelling back from IAD in business class, had checked in online and turned up at the airport to find flight was cancelled. They eventually put us on the next flight but this in turn meant we had missed our domestic connection and had to sort that out at Heathrow. (we noticed quite a few flights delayed and cancelled that same night but not sure if that was an exception or a one-off)

Having flown AirNew Zealand to LA previously I would recommend giving them a look

NZ have on demand IFE (can pause/rewind films etc) UA (certainly on our flight) have IFE where they control the start times of the movies and no option to do otherwise

re baggage, irrespective of airline, you need to collect your baggage at the first point of entry into US and clear customs. UA may give you a boarding card for the onward flight but you will see your bag at the transit point and need to drop it back off again

photome

Caz3121 wrote: »

Flew with them last month and was not a great experience. We were travelling back from IAD in business class, had checked in online and turned up at the airport to find flight was cancelled. They eventually put us on the next flight but this in turn meant we had missed our domestic connection and had to sort that out at Heathrow. (we noticed quite a few flights delayed and cancelled that same night but not sure if that was an exception or a one-off)

Having flown AirNew Zealand to LA previously I would recommend giving them a look

NZ have on demand IFE (can pause/rewind films etc) UA (certainly on our flight) have IFE where they control the start times of the movies and no option to do otherwise

re baggage, irrespective of airline, you need to collect your baggage at the first point of entry into US and clear customs. UA may give you a boarding card for the onward flight but you will see your bag at the transit point and need to drop it back off again

Havent flown United airways but have had hassle with cancelled/delayed flights with Delta and KLM and horeendously uncomfortable flights with BA and Virgin

My point is, they are all metal tubes, uncomfortable, and a way to get from A to B.

IMO use the cheapest if moneysaving is important.

Caz answered your other question re baggage

bagand96

Economy travel is economy travel, I.e. it's much of a muchness and there's not much to choose between the airlines. The US airlines charge for alcohol, whereas it tends to be free on European ones.

Depending on the price difference i'd consider a direct flight, or a connection in Europe due to the US baggage rules.

Alan_Bowen

United are cheap for a reason. They do fly direct to LA from Heathrow but they probably charge more. You need to be aware that you get one free suitcase on International routes but pay dearly for any more. On the flight to the US you get free meals, the second one is barely visible but alcohol is chargable, on arrival you must go through immigration, collect your bags, go through customs and then re check them. On the way back your bags go straight through.

They usually offer flights via Washington or Chicago, neither are great arrival points, in Chicago you usually have to transfer terminals which wasn't great either but be aware on all internal United flights there are no free meals drinks or entertainment, everything is on a paid for basis, hence the benefit, if you can of flying direct.

As others have said Air New Zealand is probably the best, BA is fine with free drinks all the way, Virgin has great entertainment but very poor food and disinterested staff, nothing like the adverts in my opinion, but generally a direct flight on any airline would be better than a transfer which makes an 11 hour journey last 14 or more hours. You pays your money and takes your pick. US Air is also ususlly cheap but the onward flight is even longer to the West Coast

Doshwaster

bagand96 wrote: »

Economy travel is economy travel, I.e. it's much of a muchness and there's not much to choose between the airlines. The US airlines charge for alcohol, whereas it tends to be free on European ones.

American Airlines have reintroduced free wine and beer (but not spirits) on most international routes: http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/intl_beer-wine.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=beerandwine

MiraculousM

i went on united to san fran and it was the most uncomfortable flight i have ever been on.. less leg room than a ryanair flight!

Bri1

Have looked at Air New Zealand & are booking them for next year, but we are looking to go this month on a late whim & United one stop going out total travel 14Hrs 40mins & direct back is the cheapest by around £220 upwards each & there are three of us going this time, compared to Direct both ways on Air New Zealand, BA & Virgin, just didn't want to go if United are horrendous

Doshwaster

Bri1 wrote: »

Anyone used them in recent past?

Looking to book some flights to Los Angeles US with United as they are coming in as the cheapest, one stop/change on way out, non stop return, how are they compared to other carriers, comfort, service food, freebies, reliability etc.

Don't forget that if the flight out involves a change then the second leg will be on United's domestic service - which is even worse than their international one as you have to pay for food and entertainment will be limited to the inflight magazine. Doing the east coast to LA on the equivalent of Easyjet is a rough way to fly. Plus you have the hassle of sorting out your own baggage on the connection.

When flying to the west coast I'd gladly pay more to fly direct, preferably on a non-US carrier.

vixarooni

I'm flying to America on my own in October, landing in charlotte then to Colorado. I'm glad i read this, i may invest in a tablet to keep me amused from charlotte to denver!

I found that lastminute.com were cheaper than US direct.

jpsartre

MiraculousM wrote: »

i went on united to san fran and it was the most uncomfortable flight i have ever been on.. less leg room than a ryanair flight!

Don't know if you just meant to exaggerate a bit but that last bit is verifyably untrue.