United Airlines: Updates for Business Travelers
I just received my monthly newsletter from United and thought I'd share some excerpts regarding the airline's latest updates, including:
- United #1 on-time performance in December
- Leather seats in domestic United First
- Denver network advantage
- New international service
- Seasonal service returns to Anchorage
- Customer check in at Paddington Station
For the fifth time in 2009, United claimed the top spot in the monthly industry Arrival (A :14) rankings among the five major domestic network carriers. This was achieved despite the highest December load factor ever of 83% and an East Coast blizzard that left Washington Dulles with its highest snowfall in nearly 100 years on Dec. 19. Through focusing on the basics, as measured by U.S. Department of Transportation rankings, United is regaining industry-leading reliability.
Domestic United First® Seat UpgradesSteady progress continues on improving the condition of domestic cabins. Last fall United announced it would begin installing new cushions and leather seat covers on all domestic United First® seats to build on the tremendous success of the all-leather former Ted A320s. Those planes saw a 20-point jump in customer satisfaction scores. New cushions and covers now have been installed on about half our domestic aircraft as part of the comprehensive Cabin Cleanliness, Condition and Workability program.
Leading the Way in DenverIn 2009, 50 million customers passed through Denver. With 41 percent of the total capacity at the Denver International Airport, United continues to be the largest carrier in Denver with almost three times more flights, seats and cities than any other carrier. Internationally, United resumed nonstop service between Denver and London Heathrow in 2009.
New International Service
March 28 — Brussels, BelgiumApril 18 — Bahrain (via Kuwait)
May 2 — Accra, Ghana and Lagos, NigeriaUnited will inaugurate its first-ever service to Africa this spring with one daily, same-plane service from Washington to Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria. The airline will also extend the existing daily Washington-Kuwait flight to include Bahrain, and will offer a new nonstop flight between Chicago and Brussels, Belgium. Introduction of all of the new services is subject to government approval.
London: Check in at Paddington StationNew customer self-service check-in units are now available at Paddington Railway Station in London – the first train station in the United Kingdom to offer these state-of-the-art facilities. Located near the platforms used by Heathrow Express, the new units have easy-to-use touch screens and will make traveling to and from the airport more convenient and efficient for United customers by allowing them to view flight information and print their ticket before arriving at the airport.
Seasonal Anchorage Service begins in MayNew seasonal nonstop service to Anchorage begins May 22 with once-weekly Saturday flights to/from Chicago. Between June 9 -- Aug. 30, this service will increase to daily roundtrip flights linking Anchorage with Chicago, Denver and San Francisco. A second roundtrip flight will operate between Chicago and Anchorage on Saturdays. Between Sept. 4 — Sept. 25, service returns to Saturday-only roundtrip service between Anchorage and Chicago.