LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Hotel Promos
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • World of Hyatt
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
  •  
LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Hotel Promos
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • World of Hyatt
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
  •  
LoyaltyLobby
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

What’s Happening with United Airlines?

by John Ollila
August 14, 2012
Reading Time: 2 mins read

The U.S. Department of Transportation just released their August Air Travel Consumer Report for the month of June, 2012. I have been following these reports to see if United has had any improvement when it comes to delays & complaints. The United’s numbers on the latest report are downright ugly compared to other legacies in the United States.

You can access the August Air Travel Consumer Report here.

Flights Arriving on Time

DOT Report Flights Arriving on Time
DOT Report Flights Arriving on Time

Compared to the first quarter of 2012 when United’s flights arrived on time 80.9% the June figure of 70.1% is bad. It is also the dead last compared to major legacies and regional carriers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Flight Cancellations

DOT Report Cancellations
DOT Report Cancellations

United was third as of percentage of operations cancelled at 1.6%. In June United canceled total number of 727 flights. This number doesn’t include cancellations by United Express carriers.

Mishandled Bags

DOT Report Mishandled Baggage
DOT Report Mishandled Baggage

United has, again, the highest number of mishandled bags at 4.9 per 1000 enplanements. Compared to June 2011 the number is 15.6% higher.

Denied Boardings

Airlines maximize their revenue by overbooking their flights. There is no incentive neither for full fare/flexible ticket holders nor restricted ones to actually cancel their travel arrangements even if they are not making their flight(s).

In a case of overbooking, airlines tend to try finding volunteers first by offering them future travel credits and confirmed space on later flights. If there are no volunteers, the airlines then start involuntarily deny passengers.

DOT Report Denied Boardings
DOT Report Denied Boardings

Compared to April to June 2011 to 2012 period United’s number of involuntarily denied boarding compared to number of passengers enplaned, has more than doubled from 0.93 to 2.11 per 10000 passengers.

United is dead last on legacy carriers on this measurement as well. Your likelihood of getting involuntarily bumped on Delta is about one sixth compared to United.

Consumer Complaints

Filing a complaint with the DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division is normally the last resort if the carrier has not resolved the issue using other communication channels.

DOT Report Complaints June 2012
DOT Report Complaints June 2012

The number of complaints that United has received is more than double per 100000 enplanements to compared to second last which is US Airways. For comparison, Southwest had more enplanements than United but only received 19 complaints compared to United’s 585.

Compared to June 2011 the number of consumer complaints that DOT received in June 2012 is 169% higher when adjusted for number of enplanements.

Of all the 1353 complaints that the DOT received against the airlines operating in the United States (excluding foreign) ones, United’s share of 585 complaints represents 43%.

Conclusion

Obviously the operational merger with United Airlines and Continental Airlines has not gone as expected. The DOT operational and complaint figures doesn’t paint a very rosy picture of the current state of the airline.

I have flown more than a million mile with United and Continental combined and went through the difficult bankruptcy time as a United frequent flier member in the early 2000’s. It is sad to see that merger hasn’t worked anywhere near as expected from the consumer’s point of view. These DOT statistics are just horrific.

Previous Post

Why I Prefer Booking Airline Tickets Using Online Travel Agencies Like Expedia?

Next Post

You Can Now Write a Review about InterContinental Hotels on Their Website

Related Articles

Airfare of the Day [Business Class] STAR ALLIANCE Madrid to San Francisco from 1,569€

Airfare of the Day [Business Class] STAR ALLIANCE Madrid to San Francisco from 1,569€

Freddo Zabaleta
May 17, 2022

Today’s Airfare of the Day goes to the Star Alliance partners UA/LH/LX/AC and their midweek 2nd level business class excursion...

United Airlines Buy Miles 100% Mystery Bonus Through April 30, 2022

United Airlines Buy Miles 100% Mystery Bonus Through April 30, 2022

John Ollila
April 11, 2022

United Airlines has launched a new sale to buy MileagePlus miles at a 100% bonus until April 30, 2022. United...

Airfare of the Day [Business Class] STAR ALLIANCE Los Angeles to Tel Aviv from $2,371

Airfare of the Day [Business Class] STAR ALLIANCE Los Angeles to Tel Aviv from $2,371

Freddo Zabaleta
April 8, 2022

Today’s Airfare of the Day goes to the Star Alliance partners UA/LH/LX/AC and their business class advance purchase fares for...

Upgrade Your Travel IQ

Make the most of your travel with our free and daily newsletter with the latest hotel and airline news and promotions.

We do not sell or share email addresses.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending

Easy Thailand Pass Entry Experience on May 13, 2022
Travel News

Easy Thailand Pass Entry Experience on May 13, 2022

May 15, 2022
Hilton Go Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plans
Hilton Honors

Hilton Go Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plans

July 25, 2021
Japan Lifts Coronavirus State Of Emergency In Six Prefectures Outside Tokyo Region
Travel News

Japan Begins Tourism Trial In May For Fully Vaccinated From United States, Australia, Thailand & Singapore

May 17, 2022
Singapore Airlines Spontaneous Escapes June 1 – 30, 2022 (Book By May 31)
Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines Spontaneous Escapes June 1 – 30, 2022 (Book By May 31)

May 17, 2022
Thailand Contemplates Scrapping “Thailand Pass” Entirely
Travel News

Thailand Contemplates Scrapping “Thailand Pass” Entirely

May 5, 2022

Top Categories

  • IHG Rewards Club
  • Hilton Honors
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Accor ALL
  • Airfare Of The Day
  • Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG)
  • Hyatt – World of Hyatt
  • American Airlines – AAdvantage
  • Travel News
  • United Airlines – Mileage Plus
ADVERTISEMENT

All Categories

In Case You Missed It

Choice Privileges July 4th Bonus Points Package For Stays June 30 – July 5, 2022 (Book By May 31)

Choice Privileges July 4th Bonus Points Package For Stays June 30 – July 5, 2022 (Book By May 31)

May 17, 2022
Hyatt Removes Russia Hotels Effective May 12, 2022

Hyatt Removes Russia Hotels Effective May 12, 2022

May 14, 2022
Entry/Exit Passport Stamps Are Still Available, Even As Some Countries Officially Did Away With Them

Entry/Exit Passport Stamps Are Still Available, Even As Some Countries Officially Did Away With Them

May 14, 2022
Thailand Pass Application Success For May 2022 Arrivals

Thailand Pass Application Success For May 2022 Arrivals

May 11, 2022
Finnair Plus Buy Points 30% Off & 30% Bonus Through May 31, 2022

Finnair Plus Buy Points 30% Off & 30% Bonus Through May 31, 2022

May 17, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Since 2011, we have been helping millions of visitors like you untangle travel loyalty programs for free upgrades, flights and hotel nights.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram

Site Navigation

  • About LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Airfares
  • Contact Us

Hotel Promotions

  • Accor
  • Hilton
  • IHG Rewards
  • Marriott
  • World of Hyatt

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Our free daily newsletter sends you the latest information on hotel and airline programs.

We do not share or sell email addresses.

Site & Contents ©2011-2022 LoyaltyLobby.com
Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

  • News
  • Hotel Promotions
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • World of Hyatt
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
No Result
View All Result

© 2011–2021 LoyaltyLobby.com - Site & Contents