United Airlines delivers best ever November on-time performance

by Scott Carmichael on

As much as we love to whine about the airlines, we do still like to give credit where it is due. Such is the case with United Airlines.

In November, United managed to close the month with its best ever on-time performance since the Department Of Transport started asking airlines to report on their results in 1987.

For the month of November, United Airlines achieved a 91% on-time record. On November 26th they even managed to have 96% of their flights depart on time.

This really is an amazing accomplishment, and one that can all be traced back to United Airlines Employees. In January, United started a cash incentive program rewarding all their employees when the airline ranked first among its network peers. A first place is worth $100, and a second place is worth $65. The program is clearly working, because United Airlines employees have already earned $725 each, for a total payout of $28.5 million.

The airline is dealing with a bit of an image problem, so good news like this will probably go down quite well at their Chicago headquarters. Plus, as a United Airlines regular myself, I’d like to thank them for doing their best to get us in the air on time.
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Mother accidentally smothers baby while breastfeeding on plane

by Scott Carmichael on

In what can only be described as one of the most tragic in-flight accidents I’ve ever head of, a 29 year old mother woke up to discover that she had smothered her four week old baby.

The mother had been breastfeeding the infant when she fell asleep. When she woke up, cabin crew were alerted by her screams in the business class cabin, and a doctor on board the plane was unable to resuscitate the smothered infant.

The United Airlines plane was bound for Kuwait, but made an emergency landing in London where medical staff were also unable to revive the baby.

This really is an absolutely horrible accident, made even more tragic by the fact that it nobody around her noticed anything.

United plans for new image overhaul

by Katie Hammel on

After coming in last among large airlines in customer satisfaction surveys for two out of the last three years, United Airlines has been overhauling its operations in an effort to increase on-time performance and win back customers. Now the airline is working on the physical appearance of its planes and crew.

Every single one of the airplanes in United’s fleet will be getting a make-over. The grey with black and red stripes interiors (knows within the company as the “tequila sunrise” scheme) will be replaced with blue leather. The 1980’s-era overhead bins will be updated as well. The airline also announced that fashion designer Cynthia Rowley will be creating more stylish, updated crew uniforms.

With a reputation for poor customer service, delays, cancellations, broken guitars, safety violations, and lost luggage, can United really overhaul its image with a few aesthetic updates? Probably not, but airline officials hopes they can continue to address the issues that have led to its poor satisfaction survey rankings and eventually turn things around. Apparently, they just want the airline to look good while they do it.

United Airlines offers a free “try before you buy” Wi-Fi session on all p.s. flights

by Scott Carmichael on

Passengers on the United Airlines p.s. premium transcontinental service can enjoy one free Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi session. The promotion is done as a “try before you buy”, which is a great way to get introduced to the joy of inflight Internet access.

To get the free session, all you need to do is create a new Gogo Inflight account. After that, you can surf the web for the entire duration of the flight. Since these flights are some of the longest domestic flights available, you’ll be saving $12.95 with this freebie.

Wi-Fi access is offered on all United Airlines p.s. flights. These premium transcontinental flights operate between New York JFK and Los Angeles / San Francisco. Seats on p.s. flights all offer an AC power port, making it easier to stay online for the entire flight.

Drunk pilot arrested in London

by Tom Johansmeyer on

After (another) pilot was found drunk in London this week, the issue of pilot inebriation has become a frequent discussion topic. Since 1997, 11 commercial pilots, on average, have tested positive for alcohol every year. According to FAA regulations, pilots can’t fly with a blood alcohol content of above 0.04 percent (it’s 0.02 percent in Great Britain). Last year, 13 pilots tested positive, making 2008 slightly above average.

The FAA conducts more than 10,000 random alcohol tests every year, says spokeswoman Laura Brown. This is approximately 10% of the total, as there are around 100,000 commercial pilots in the United States.

The latest culprit, Erwin Washington of United Airlines, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Monday, when he was suspected of being drunk in the cockpit — members of his crew reported him to the authorities. Washington could lose his license as a result. Two other U.S. pilots have been arrested in England on charges involving alcohol in a little more than a year.

Though an intoxicated pilot is obviously a danger to the passengers, the National Transportation Safety Board says that no airline in the United States has crashed because the pilot was drunk.

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