How bad is United Airlines

[375Fox]

Be advised with Delta, they will switch seats at the gate. I had an economy bulkhead seat I purchased through Gracy Travel EIGHT MONTHS ahead and I got to the gate and they stuck me many rows back in a window seat. Sixteen hours of being cramped told me never again on Delta. Others have had the same experience. One Qatar flight, I had an economy bulkhead window seat and it was fine. UA's 787 to Joberg, the exit door has a large protrusion at the window seat which cuts the side to side legroom in half. All that being said, check https://www.seatguru.com/ to at least insure you get what fits.

Maybe I’m wrong, but this is one of my frustrations with Gracy. Twice I was put in the aisle seat next to bathroom on flight to Johannesburg. The second time I specifically said to ensure I do not get that seat. I’m not sure if it’s the airline or lack of attention to detail. It’s never happened to me booking my own flights or using a different travel agency.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Maybe I’m wrong, but this is one of my frustrations with Gracy. Twice I was put in the aisle seat next to bathroom on flight to Johannesburg. The second time I specifically said to ensure I do not get that seat. I’m not sure if it’s the airline or lack of attention to detail. It’s never happened to me booking my own flights or using a different travel agency.

This was a Delta whoop-de-doo, had nothing to do with Gracy. There was a husband and wife that wanted to sit together and I got bumped at the last minute before boarding. When purchasing a ticket, the fine print pretty much guarantees you nothing but an available seat.

 

[Osama Mahdi]

I just read on other site hunter complaining about the "be loved " Delta airline, they lost his boots and his rife.
What can be worst?
He wrote: this is not the first time they ruined his hunting.
United Airlines customer service is not satisfactory but you may have a great trip or very bad on any airline

 

[singleshot]

I just got back from South Africa on United and I was very happy with everything. Now my credit card got me two United Lounge passes which help with the layovers.

 

[mdwest]

When checking flights out of DFW earlier this week, United was the cheapest option.. Qatar was about $1800 a seat for cattle class.. American was anywhere from $1800 to $2200... Delta was well north of $2000 (cant remember exactly).. United and KLM were both in the $1400 range...

KLM is out for me.. Bows and KLM are a non starter and we plan on taking the bows back to SA in 2024.. and Im having to do a little thinking on United.. even though tickets are significantly cheaper, and I'll be paying for 3-4x tickets, I'd be looking at a DFW to Chicago to Newark to Joberg route.. and I hate flying on US carriers (all of them suck frankly)..

 

[Bearkat]

The only thing bad is Newark tsa , you will be treated like a criminal. Our flight was a little late leaving but was good. Coming back was the problem. Give your self 3 hours between connecting coming back from Newark.

Exactly. I hope to never go through Newark again for that reason and the food in airport is horrible.

 

[Scott CWO]

I have a few air force fixed wing (inferior to rotor heads) pilot buddies that are now commercial airline drivers. It's pretty typical across the industry. Part of it is pilot shortage, part is supply chain still not catching up after covid.

I'm in aviation distribution and lead times for bolts (BOLTS!!!!) are sometimes 26 months for engine depots. They have so many engines torn apart and awaiting parts and they're cannibalizing engines to assemble other ones.

When i fly international, i try to take direct flights at all costs.

Exactly! Oh but wait, we can just shut down the economy and then just open it back up easily, right?! Damn COVID lockdowns!!

 

[Stormy Kromer]

I flew with them in March. Sioux Falls to Chicago to Newark to J'Berg. Sioux Falls was terrific. O'Hare was OK and Newark was Newark. I didn't like spending time there. TSA on the return to Newark was the rudest I've seen, but that may be common in all airports.

Next trip I'm going to look at options from Atlanta. One reason would be I'd like to bring my suppressor and there's no way I'm bringing it through the states of Illinois and New Jersey. That's nothing to do with the airlines, it just happens to be where they fly into and suppressors are illegal in those states. I was satisfied with United back there in row 53.

 

[wesheltonj]

When checking flights out of DFW earlier this week, United was the cheapest option.. Qatar was about $1800 a seat for cattle class.. American was anywhere from $1800 to $2200... Delta was well north of $2000 (cant remember exactly).. United and KLM were both in the $1400 range...

KLM is out for me.. Bows and KLM are a non starter and we plan on taking the bows back to SA in 2024.. and Im having to do a little thinking on United.. even though tickets are significantly cheaper, and I'll be paying for 3-4x tickets, I'd be looking at a DFW to Chicago to Newark to Joberg route.. and I hate flying on US carriers (all of them suck frankly)..

There is no way I would ever transfer at o’Hare Airport with a firearm. I have never arrived there from an international flight that was not late arriving and having to take a different flight home. Sometimes having to spend a night there that I was not planning on.

And no way would I ever fly cattle class long haul United again.

 

[Labman]

I live in Southeast PA and I'm looking at the United flight out of EWR. Can anyone who started their journey to Africa at EWR enlighten me as to the check in procedure for traveling with guns? I used to take the SAA flight out of JFK and they had an unusual but not difficult. procedure with the Port Authority police and TSA.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I live in Southeast PA and I'm looking at the United flight out of EWR. Can anyone who started their journey to Africa at EWR enlighten me as to the check in procedure for traveling with guns? I used to take the SAA flight out of JFK and they had an unusual but not difficult. procedure with the Port Authority police and TSA.

When you are dropped off at the terminal, go directly to the kiosk where a United employee is standing in front of a computer screen. They'll obtain your bag tags and boarding passes, drop off your checked bags at the conveyor, several feet away (no need to stand in line) then they'll escort you and your firearms case to the oversize baggage room.Wait outside until they give the all clear or if they need keys (no keys last two years), then head for security, a short walk away. Depending on who's at TSA-pre, they may require shoes and belt removal.

 

[deewayne2003]

Honestly I group United in with all USA based carriers- avoid if at all possible!

We have little if any consumer protection laws in the USA for airlines and until our transportation secretary is replaced nothing will change.

 

[mdwest]

Honestly I group United in with all USA based carriers- avoid if at all possible!

We have little if any consumer protection laws in the USA for airlines and until our transportation secretary is replaced by nothing will change.

Thank you, Secretary Bootyjuice....

 

[JimP]

I flew with them in March. Sioux Falls to Chicago to Newark to J'Berg. Sioux Falls was terrific. O'Hare was OK and Newark was Newark. I didn't like spending time there. TSA on the return to Newark was the rudest I've seen, but that may be common in all airports.

Was it TSA or US Customs. On both of my return flights I never dealt with TSA when I transferred to my domestic flight home, just US Customs. Once I was done with them I just dropped my rifle and bag off at a check in right next to US Customs and was off to my last flight.

 

[Flewis]

I cannot even tell you how bad tsa in Newark was . They don’t follow the law or tsa guidelines. At the end we were taken outside of security with our and had to walk to our terminal and recheck in. We were tsa precheck and were pulled out of line to be rechecked. 3 hours.

 

[Dinsdale]

I live in Southeast PA and I'm looking at the United flight out of EWR. Can anyone who started their journey to Africa at EWR enlighten me as to the check in procedure for traveling with guns? I used to take the SAA flight out of JFK and they had an unusual but not difficult. procedure with the Port Authority police and TSA.

I miss that SAA flight out of JFK. Direct and as inexpensive as it could get. In 2016 I paid 800 bucks round trip to J’berg off season.

I think you’d be fine at Newark as most of the issues seem to be connecting on to other flights with TSA and time frame.

After a couple of United flights with guns (but not to Africa) they would be a last resort for me; just incompetent from top to bottom. Not a huge fan of Newark airport, but it’s easier for me to go to JFK, so I’m biased there. The newish gun policy on arrival is terrific also for terminal #4;waiting there with guncase and all luggage and right to customs. 15 minutes later I’m on Airtrain to parking lot.

So last few trips have been Emirates out of JFK; rates are comparable for late season as any other carrier. Totally impressed with just everything. I have been going to Harare; but I’d be fine to book J’berg. Does require layover in Dubai, and I have stayed at the hotel in the terminal; but next time I’m going to do a long layover and Dubai Police will hold guns. Want to spend a day to check out city.

 

[mdwest]

There is no way I would ever transfer at o’Hare Airport with a firearm. I have never arrived there from an international flight that was not late arriving and having to take a different flight home. Sometimes having to spend a night there that I was not planning on.

And no way would I ever fly cattle class long haul United again.

FWIW I ended up in complete agreement with you..

I thought about it for a few days.. thought how nice it would be to save about $1200 between the 3 seats I needed to buy, etc..

The told myself "what the hell are you thinking??? its UNITED... they SUCK..."

I bought tickets on Qatar last week instead

While I paid a few bucks more.. thats a small price to pay for the comfort and the far fewer hassles I know I'll experience flying with Qatar vs United..

 

[Doug3006]

Exactly. I hope to never go through Newark again for that reason and the food in airport is horrible.

Back in June, I traveled through Newark both coming and going. I had no issues at all. The United Airlines supervisor who escorted us through the building on our way back, was particularly helpful. She got us from the building we checked in at to the building where TSA is located ( now that’s a bit of a hassle) and TSA did their thing quickly.

 

[Franco]

I have made 5 trips to and from Africa in the last 5 years, each time with firearms and ammo; I can tell you I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly.

My choice for travel agent - PWP 210-686-0766 Patrick and/or his mom Tricia

I have flown Delta, Lufthansa, QATAR, Emirates - I am a retired American Airlines 777 Captain and my choice is Emirates. I should add I fly First Class because I'm too old not too.

Travel within Africa is a crap shoot - you don't know what you're going to get or how it will turn out. The biggest problem you will encounter is a universal lack of knowledge or understanding of the rules. Sadly that can apply to the US side as well.

The major problem is ammo - the regulation states: 5kg of AMMO per person, the ammo must be in a locked container in original packaging OR suitable containers designed specifically to hold individual rounds - no loose ammo. The 5kg applies to the gross weight of the AMMO.

I just returned from 2 months in Africa and I can tell you those people over there have no understanding of that rule. Their interpretation is the gross weight of the box and the ammo.
I had one agent remove the ammo from the pelican case, weigh the case, then the ammo - and tell me the case could go but not the ammo because the ammo would put the total over 5kg. A Supervisor remedied the situation.

She was not the only one. I had to charter a flight from Harare to Lusaka because my rifles were 2 kg over - they would not accept as overweight or adjust for combined weight of bags. Would not allow me to place one of the rifles in another hard-sided locked case. And then there was the ammo. The ammo weight by itself was 4kg - but when it was placed in the pelican case it weighed more than 5kg - so it couldn't go.

It did not take long for me to realize, arguing with this woman would be futile and about as fruitful and pleasurable as teaching a pig to sing.

The handling agent called and arranged a charter from Lusaka for the next day. A flight from Harare would have taken longer because of prior authorization requirements into Zambia. More crap you have to deal with.

I have found transiting JoBerg to be a pain in the ass. You have to pull bags and clear firearms - making connections challenging and possibly forcing an overnight.

The local police are typically cool - I've never had an issue. The only delay I've experienced was for a supervisor to come across the airport so he could have his picture taken with my rifles.

In most countries they will count your ammo. Some have limits on how much is allowed in. Usually you have to list the amount on your entry paperwork. They will check on the way out to see what you have left.

TSA - Outbound from the US - piece of cake. Without fail, the longest clearance process anywhere has been every time coming back through SFO. I don't know why, but these guys act like it's the first time they've had to clear a firearm. Quite possibly that may be the answer because just when you're about to ask them to call someone who knows WTF he's doing - the guy who knows WTF to do shows up and says, "Sorry for the delay, you're good to go".

 

[C.W. Richter]

Rated 20th in safety out of 300. While I don't like Newark, NJ for a variety of reasons, the EWR airport was recently re-done. 'took a flight to AK and the entire process took 25 min (I was ASTOUNDED-was there 3 hrs early, so got some food and worked online for 2.5 hrs waiting at the gate!) I always made it home on UA, and that rates. I've got to think that the food/drink/entertainment are prob better on other airlines to RSA (I've only taken them, not UA,) but it's not most important. Never problems w/ guns at any of the airports mentioned.