United's Financial Problems

[partyanimal 0]

United announced yesterday that it's unable or unwilling to continue funding their employees pension plan. United is in bankruptcy and was also recently turned down for bailout money.

 

It seems as if their could be scenarios where we'd lose our FF miles.

 

The 60K supersaver program is a joke for most us. Even for 100K miles flights don't seem available for when I want to travel.

[Emil 0]

I thought I read a few days ago where they had secured a loan and all of the major US airlines are in financial trouble. When they first announced they were in financial trouble they said their frequent flyer miles program was one of the few divisions making money. They sell those miles to many different companies for around 1.4 cents per mile. I have only tried twice to redeem for a free trip to LOS and had no trouble, with the last being last week for a mid August departure.

 

Emil

[kingfisher 12]

try the http://www.flyertalk.com website - lots of info on UAL problems being discussed there.

[OnMyWay 0]

I've booked 2 free trips to BKK and used my FF miles on united. They put me on Thai airlines for those flights and it was great.

 

Last month I flew to Manila, again on FF miles and they put me on Singapore. It was a great airline and the new airbus A340 is superb.

 

No problems booking my free FF trips on United.

 

Just my 2 baht worth,

 

Mark

 

66 days and wheels up!

[too_mutt 10]

Speaking of Singapore Air, does anyone know if they are using the 747 for their LAX and SFO West coast departures these days. I know they have plans to integrate the A340, but I am not sure on exactly which route.

[PenName 1]

SoCalGuy - Right now, Singapore Air is running two flights a day out of Los Angeles; one is a 747 (the afternoon departure with a long overnight layover in Singapore before arriving BKK late morning), and the other is their A340 that's been outfitted with "Executive Economy," which leaves LAX late evening and gets to BKK late morning after a short layover in Singapore. As far as I know, the A340-500 is being utilized in the U.S. right now (by Singapore Air) on only two routes: LAX - SIN, and EWR - SIN, with the Newark route currently being the longest non-stop flight in the world at a little over 18 hours.

 

Generally a great airline, though, and one of the primary reasons for my membership in the UA / Star Alliance Frequent Flyer Program. I'll be on one of those A340's in 92 days.

 

P.

 

(A fellow So. Cal., by the way)

[too_mutt 10]

PenName,

 

Thanks for the info!

 

So, it sounds like you be routed LAX-Singapore-BKK on the A340-500 journey in 92 days. Or, does this require a stop in Tapei for fuel?

 

I had such a great experience on Singapore Air my last trip, I am tempted to take the same routing as you indicate. Although, I must admit the LAX-Narita-BKK route makes for a nice break a little over mid-way of the total journey.

[PenName 1]

SoCalGuy -

 

If it's the A340, then it's non-stop to SIN, then the hop to BKK. I've done the trip on other airlines through NRT, but for me, after having been on a flight that long (to get to NRT), it always just wipes me out (mentally, more than anything else) to know that after a layover, I've got to climb into another plane for a remaining six hour or so flight, and then (most likely) to arrive at 10.30 in the eveniing or later. I can understand others who prefer to get out of the confining environment of a fuselage to walk around a bit to break up the trip, but for me, once I'm on a plane, the difference between ten or so hours and fourteen is marginal, and then I just have a (relatively) short hop into BKK from Taipei, Singapore or Hong Kong.

 

Specific to Singapore Air and their outfitted A340's, there's also the issue of "Executive Economy Class," which includes 2-3-2 seating, slightly wider seats with better recline, 37" pitch, individual outlets for laptop usage / charge, and personal inflight entertainment screens that offer 300 options (if you include the music offerings). It's more expensive than their 747 hauls that include a fueling stop, but only by a couple of hundred dollars or so. The creature comforts make the longer haul more than bearable as well.

 

And yes, come 25 October, I will be on my way on a Singapore Air A340. I may be wrapping a project on the east coast, however, so I may be on the longer, long haul of 18 hours from Newark. Either way though, it's then four weeks in LOS and getting caught up on more things than is fair to have done without.

 

If you enjoy Singapore Air anyway (as it sounds you do), consider giving the LAX - SIN non-stop a try on your next trip.

 

P.

[too_mutt 10]

PenName,

 

I have been checking on the best way to get a ticket on SQ19, the non-stop flight from LAX to Singapore. The SIA website does not offer the purchase of a connecting flight ticket from San Diego to LAX as part of the itinerary, and does not have the lowest price. But, when I search Orbitz or Travelocity I cannot get an e-ticket for the flight. I called the Singapore 800 number and asked if they would match the rates on Orbitz or Travelocity, and I was told they would not. I am wondering how you ended up purchasing your ticket? Thanks for the help.

 

Regards

[Tahoe_Bill 0]

For what it’s worth they "may to be on the right track":

 

http://www.united.com/press/detail/0,6862,52246,00.html

 

Additionally, I’ve flown to LOS twice in the last two years using FF miles @60,000/trip. On the down side recently they seem to be a somewhat higher priced on most of their routes.

[PenName 1]

SoCalGuy-

 

I was fortunate in that I didn't need a connecting flight to EWR since I will be wrapping a project in that area and can fly our of Newark without a connection. The fare of $1,208 for the non-stop to SIN and connection to Bangkok was all available and able to be booked on the SQ website. If you need to connect from San Diego, you may have to deal with the logistics of one of the online sites you mentioned (you might give bt-store.com a look, too -- their fares tend to be pretty good (comparatively speaking) and it's fairly user friendly), or book through a travel agent who can put a complete itinerary together for you.

 

Let me know how things come together for you. When are you heading over?

 

P.

[too_mutt 10]

PenName,

 

Thanks for the info! I am considering using CX also, becase the total flight hours are shorter, and I can get the whole itinerary through Orbitz (except for the e-ticket). I don't know the exact dates yet, but probably later this year, or early next year.

 

Regards

[cowboy 0]

The ff miles will only be affected if United liquadates completely. I never have problem using ff miles. DON"T USE THE WEBSITE!!!. Call the 800 number. The website uses only united flights and will almost always come back nothing available for inyternation travel to asia.

 

The 800 number will use any star alliance that can get you there and will route you however you want to go. With internation you get one stopover. So if you want to route LAx to manila with and 4 day stopover then on to bangkok for 10 days with a return to lax. No problem.

 

I used 90 k united ff miles to fly biz class on singapore last april. It was great. I had the choice of any day i wanted to leave or return. I changed my departure date 3 days before leaving no charge. yesterday I bought a sfo bkk tickect for $927. I could have flown eva in delux class on the same days for $847 but united is giving me doulbe bonus miles for the trip. So I will earn 49k miles almost enough for a free trip. And my fare classis high enough that with my exec memebership I have a shot at getting a comp upgrade on the flight.

 

[PenName 1]

SoCalGuy -

 

Well, God knows that CX is always a good choice as well. I strongly considered their JHK - HKG non-stop and connection into BKK, but the two tie-breakers were (1) they didn't increase the seat pitch on their long-haul Airbusses the way that SQ did, and (2) while there's plenty to dislike about both, I tend to hate dealing with Newark marginally less than I do dealing with JFK. Oh, and there's also that the bulk of my FF miles are with the Star Alliance instead of One World, which is the system CX is part of.

 

I'll be over for November and the first week of December. If you're going to be around, give me a heads up. I'll buy the first round and we can compare SoCal notes.

 

P.

[too_mutt 10]

PenName,

 

Sounds like a plan! I will let you know if I will be there. Thanks.

 

Regards

[BigDUSA 71]

I booked a frequent flyer trip for next February and had NO HASSLE getting the dates I wanted. When I tried booking on the web there was availability but the dates where not quite what I wanted. I had to call and it worked well.

 

17 September, I paid for the trip tonight and decided to stay an extra day. Again no hassle changing the date.

[partyanimal 0]

I've only looked at the website, gotta try the phone. Are you guys able to get flights for 60K miles or do you generally have to use 100K?

[Skate 9]

I bailed on United when this first started, what a year ago. Used my last

60/k. Booked to Chang Mai and the return with a week or so delay in BKK.

Worked great and used most of my miles.

[BigDUSA 71]

I used 60K miles for all my Asia trips except when UA was running 40K deals. BTW I wanted to extend my vacation by a few days. Called UA again no hassle changing dates and no fee involved as I didn't change the routing.

 

Less then 6 days till "wheels up" I'll be in Pattaya next week. I like the sound of that.

[Emil 0]

I've only looked at the website, gotta try the phone. Are you guys able to get flights for 60K miles or do you generally have to use 100K?

On my 2 freebies I was only charged 60K. Both times I called their 800 number and received departures dates that I was asking. Also on both trips I had one leg where I flew on Thai Air.

 

Emil

[Tahoe_Bill 0]

My results were the “same same†as Emil’s. UA/Star Alliance FF flights in 2003 and 2004 to BKK were at 60K miles each (I booked via phone with UA for both trips).

[cowboy 0]

Hey the best thing about United FF miles. On international you are allowed one stopover. that means that you can fly to manila. Stay 4 days. Go on to LOS stay 2 weeks and then return home. You don't have to route back the same way you flew in. Much better than a typical low cost ticket. You can even ask for specific airlines. I requested sinapore. I had to move my date by a day but i got it. I used 90k miles and flew business class. Sinapore BIz class is better than as United's first. Spectacular

[partyanimal 0]

PI for no extra charge! Gotta alove that!

 

I try to maximize my stay while taking minimum time off from work. Have you guys been able to fly out on a Saturday and return home on a Sunday?

 

It doesn't have to be that rigid but i don't want to for example fly out on a Monday and arrive home on a Friday.

[BigDUSA 71]

The answer to your question is a qualified yes. The longer lead time you give them for your departure date the easier it is to get the dates you want.

[Strummer 0]

Hey, remember that Star Alliance is wide open for mileage use. Flights w/in LOS are too high. 30K v 160USD for Royal Exec BKK to Phuket....I pay.....

Just for my two cents I use my miles for upgrades. Play the market as a 1k I have lots of perks so I use the different ones when the pricing is right!

 

How does one get a stop into Manila as I don't think you can use mulitple carriers and UA no longer goes to PI. Isn't Thai the only one who services the US and PI both?

 

 

I suppose I'm dating myself with that one but the FC lounge in MNL had name cards for you seating and valet service from the gate thru imm/customs and out to transportation. I'll never forget having a PI Darling waiting for me at the limo to the InteCon hotel in Makati.....