Airline Reviews , Who's flown United?

[Cynthiagayle01]

My sister and I normally use Southwest to get to Orlando. However, Southwest discontinued its service in Jackson, MS. Now we are looking at flying United Airlines out of our hometown. Our layover will be in Houston at IAH. Anyone flown United before and has some reviews or tips? Anyone been to IAH before?

We are a little nervous because we have never had to do a layover before. Is a hour and thirty minutes a good layover time there? United will grab our bags for the next leg of our journey right?

Thanks.

 

[kamik86]

My sister and I normally use Southwest to get to Orlando. However, Southwest discontinued its service in Jackson, MS. Now we are looking at flying United Airlines out of our hometown. Our layover will be in Houston at IAH. Anyone flown United before and has some reviews or tips? Anyone been to IAH before?

We are a little nervous because we have never had to do a layover before. Is a hour and thirty minutes a good layover time there? United will grab our bags for the next leg of our journey right?

Thanks.

I've only flown united once and it was such a short flight that I can't really give much info. However the layover time should be good. an hour and 1/2 is actually about the perfect lay over time in my opinion. Generally flights start boarding 30 min before they leave so that means if everything is on time you have 1 hour from landing to when you have to be at the gate. Enough time to use the rest room, get a quick snack and get over to the next gate without feeling like you have to run, even if the gate is far away.

And yes your correct you will not see your checked luggage during your connection, they move it for you.

 

[lurkernj]

Southwest and United are the two I always fly. On United you get to pick your seat, but you can't make any changes for free like on Southwest, so be sure you are comfortable with your times and price since you are committed to it once booked. United is a bit more formal than Southwest, I've not experienced the jokes/laid back atmosphere that is on Southwest. United will transfer your bags for you. An hour and a half is a decent layover, you should be fine unless the first leg is delayed more than a few minutes.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You will get drinks for free on United but the snacks will cost you. United is an okay airline. Keep in mind they have various types of planes so you could end up on a very small turbo prop plane. It had been along time since I flew on United but this past Jan we took a flight and I forgot just how small the turbo props are. And with turbo props there are no overhead bins so a carry on bigger than a personal item will have to be checked at the end of the jet way and reclaimed at the jet way. So that can factor into to a connection time

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You will get drinks for free on United but the snacks will cost you. United is an okay airline. Keep in mind they have various types of planes so you could end up on a very small turbo prop plane. It had been along time since I flew on United but this past Jan we took a flight and I forgot just how small the turbo props are. And with turbo props there are no overhead bins so a carry on bigger than a personal item will have to be checked at the end of the jet way and reclaimed at the jet way. So that can factor into to a connection time

I'm a 1K on United, so have flown them quite a bit. I have never flown a turboprop (propeller) plane with them. You may be on a regional jet, but it's very unlikely you'll fly a turboprop, especially IAH-MCO. You can check your plane type on your reservation.

All airlines will transfer your bag if you have a connection. An hour and a half is plenty of time for a connection at IAH. No need to worry, all legacy airlines are pretty similar.

 

[DebbieB]

I know they fly a Dash8 prop from Newark to Pittsburgh.

 

[winterman]

I have a United credit card and have flown United several times in the last few years. I like the cc perks. I have always been pleased with the service. There are no nonstop flights between PWM and MCO so I always have a layover. Last November my early morning flight to ORD was delayed by a mechanical issue. As soon as it was discovered we had to get off the plane. When we got back into the terminal the agents told us exactly what was going on and said they would be booking alternative fights for anyone who had a connection. They started with the shortest connections and got everybody rebooked. If we could make the original connection, our seats were still there. But, if we missed it, we had seats on the second flight. While we were waiting, we got frequent text updates. We finally arrived in ORD about 2 hours late and were met at the gate by an agent with our new boarding passes. Obviously, I was not happy about the delay but things were handled well.

 

[charmed59]

If your hometown airport is small there is a chance you will be flying a small plane on your leg into Houston. United contracts with smaller airlines to fly to their smaller airports. My experience with United and these less used routes is they tend to cancel them for reasons that have little to do with weather. For instance, my daughter was stuck in Chicago when they cancelled her flight due to "air traffic control delays." Some of the other airlines tend to run that last flight of the night even if its late because they need to get the planes back in place anyway. United contractors don't seem to have that motivation.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If your hometown airport is small there is a chance you will be flying a small plane on your leg into Houston. United contracts with smaller airlines to fly to their smaller airports. My experience with United and these less used routes is they tend to cancel them for reasons that have little to do with weather......

Yes, just like every other legacy airline, UA uses regional jets for many routes. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

The rest of your post is not based in fact. No airline cancels flights for no good reason. They are in the business to make money, not lose it.

 

[lesliekatya]

I don't think that you get one free checked bag per passenger on United like you do Southwest. So add that to the total price. Otherwise United is just your average airline.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Just beware, United has one really really uncomfortable plane. And, it's a new one too. It is easy to avoid it, if you see 38 rows, it's probably the bad one. And, I mean REALLY bad. I think its an A320. Seat pocket does not even fit a water bottle. I almost had a panic attack I was so squished (and I never had one before). And I am average sized, and only 5'5" tall.

But I was on a nonstop, LAX to Newark NJ; on a shorter flight, it would have been less awful.

I usually use SW to Florida, but sometimes get stuck with United to the west coast, because United has a Hub in Newark.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes, just like every other legacy airline, UA uses regional jets for many routes. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

The rest of your post is not based in fact. No airline cancels flights for no good reason. They are in the business to make money, not lose it.

I have to disagree on airlines cancelling flights for no good reason. We had just that sort of thing happen last month. A week before our trip I discovered that Frontier up and canceled our return flight with no notice to us. I found this out when I went to purchase my seats assignments. Well Frontier told me they decided they were no longer flying from Atlanta to Cleveland anymore on Tues. So we had no flight home.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I don't think that you get one free checked bag per passenger on United like you do Southwest. So add that to the total price. Otherwise United is just your average airline.

I get three free checked bags up to 70 pounds each on UA due to status. If you have a Chase branded United Visa, you also get a free checked bag and priority boarding (group 2) if you purchase your ticket with the card. This is the same for many airlines; you get bonuses for having their branded card.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have to disagree on airlines cancelling flights for no good reason. We had just that sort of thing happen last month. A week before our trip I discovered that Frontier up and canceled our return flight with no notice to us. I found this out when I went to purchase my seats assignments. Well Frontier told me they decided they were no longer flying from Atlanta to Cleveland anymore on Tues. So we had no flight home.

I'm confused. It seems like canceling your flight because they no longer fly the route is canceling for a very good reason! I personally would not fly Frontier.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Just beware, United has one really really uncomfortable plane. And, it's a new one too. It is easy to avoid it, if you see 38 rows, it's probably the bad one. And, I mean REALLY bad. I think its an A320. Seat pocket does not even fit a water bottle. I almost had a panic attack I was so squished (and I never had one before). And I am average sized, and only 5'5" tall.

But I was on a nonstop, LAX to Newark NJ; on a shorter flight, it would have been less awful.

I usually use SW to Florida, but sometimes get stuck with United to the west coast, because United has a Hub in Newark.

Sounds like you were on a plane with the new slimline seats. I agree that they are terrible. Unfortunately, many airlines, including Southwest, are putting these in their planes. Get used to them

 

[MillauFr]

If I had the choice and the price was similar I would choose Delta over United. Delta has a much better ontime rate than United or Southwest. Their service is generally ranked higher than United as well.

 

[dis_guy]

We almost always connect through IAH without any problems. 1.5 h should be enough but you might have to hustle to your next gate if it is a bit of a hike or you're delayed at all. We usually have a 757-200 to MCO but we have also had 737-800 or -900s as well.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Sounds like you were on a plane with the new slimline seats. I agree that they are terrible. Unfortunately, many airlines, including Southwest, are putting these in their planes. Get used to them

Yes, it was a slim fit plane. I never got this plane on SW, not yet anyway. Got it a second time on United, on one leg of a last minute west coast trip, and paid more to sit towards the front where it is somewhat less uncomfortable (also had a tight 40 minute connection to worry about). I am used to coach, completely, this slim fit plane is just extremely bad. I try to use Jet Blue and Virgin America to the west coast, great planes.

 

[DebbieB]

Sounds like you were on a plane with the new slimline seats. I agree that they are terrible. Unfortunately, many airlines, including Southwest, are putting these in their planes. Get used to them

I just read Jet Blue is going to squeeze 15 more seats on their planes.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I just read Jet Blue is going to squeeze 15 more seats on their planes.

Yes, they are:

http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2014/11...fits-of-new-airline-seats-despite-less-pitch/

I actively try to avoid chosing flights where the planes have these seats. They really are terrible.