How is it possible for United to not have any decent flights????

[EsmeraldaX]

Hey all,

ETA : I would be leaving Manchester or Boston on May 18 and heading to Orlando...

First, I'll say that I am only flying United because my SO and I were given free ticket vouchers. We need to book airfare by mid March when the vouchers would expire. We're planning to go tomorrow because that is the only time that my SO & I AND my brother & SIL can all get to the airport and United insists all 4 of us be there to sign the free tix over.

So I just popped on to United's site thinking I'd choose my flights now and be ready when we get there.

We were looking for a flight that left Boston or Manchester NH in the afternoon, and one that returned to MA in the evening.

For some reason, the only flights it is bringing up are morning flights. The only afternoon one I saw leaves MA at 2:45 PM and does not arrive at MCO until 10 pm ??

Does anyone know if this can possibly be right?

I'm used to Flying on Jet Blue and American. I've never had a problem getting decent flights on either of them. I'll lose 2 FULL days to travel if this is the case...

 

[CarolA]

There may be more flights, but they may be sold out. I would say that the afternoon flight you saw has you going someplace like CHicago and spending a few hours.

I would call United. They code share with USAir and they might be able to find you something there!

 

[pumpkinboy]

United just doesn't fly north-south on the east coast. It leaves that to Delta, American, USAir and now JetBlue and AirTran. They have hubs at Dulles and O'Hare, but unless they are going to book you on a USAir flight, you likely won't get good flights to Florida from New England.

Now if you were flying West, that might be a different story. Denver might be nice, or you might go to Los Angeles or San Diego on your free flight?

 

[EsmeraldaX]

United just doesn't fly north-south on the east coast. It leaves that to Delta, American, USAir and now JetBlue and AirTran. They have hubs at Dulles and O'Hare, but unless they are going to book you on a USAir flight, you likely won't get good flights to Florida from New England.

Now if you were flying West, that might be a different story. Denver might be nice, or you might go to Los Angeles or San Diego on your free flight?

Thanks. Nope, we have to use them for WDW. We already booked our hotel. We thought about going to DCA but we have APs for WDW.

I think I may have found a flight though, it will have some layovers. I was just on the wrong page on United's site I think.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We were looking for a flight that left Boston or Manchester NH in the afternoon, and one that returned to MA in the evening.

For some reason, the only flights it is bringing up are morning flights. The only afternoon one I saw leaves MA at 2:45 PM and does not arrive at MCO until 10 pm ??

Does anyone know if this can possibly be right?

You didn't say when you're traveling or what your destination is (although I assume your destination is Orlando).

Not all airlines provide convenient service between all cities -- not even huge airlines like United.

For north-south flights on the East Coast, United relies heavily on connections through Washington-Dulles (which may involve flights on partner airlines flying under the name United Express) and on codeshares with US Airways (which usually involve connections in US Airways' hub cities). A codeshare means that you have a flight number on one airline, but you're actually on a scheduled flight operated by a different airline.

A connection will usually add at least 2 hours to your travel time. And it can add far more if there's a long period of ground time at the connecting airport, or the connecting city is way out of way (or both).

Consider the extra time on the plane to be time to relax and read a book. And consider the ground time in the connecting airport to be time to eat a meal (because, with rare exceptions, airlines no longer server free meals in domestic coach).

I avoid connections when possible -- not because of the extra travel time, but because of the real possibility that if the first flight is delayed, the second flight may depart without me. But sometimes a connection is the best (or only) way to go.

In your case, the alternative is to throw away your free tickets, find an airline with nonstop service, and pay what they're asking.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Thanks. Nope, we have to use them for WDW. We already booked our hotel. We thought about going to DCA but we have APs for WDW.

I think I may have found a flight though, it will have some layovers. I was just on the wrong page on United's site I think.

Thanks everyone.

Glad it worked out for you! Just to be nosy, what is the final itinerary (which cities do you change in), and how long will it take you?

 

[gw_lit]

Many airlines limit the number of seats available on each flight for free travel by voucher or frequent flyer miles. Depending on how far out you're trying to book, that may be the problem you're having... no "free" seats available.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Glad it worked out for you! Just to be nosy, what is the final itinerary (which cities do you change in), and how long will it take you?

Well, if we can get the flight I hope for with the vouchers, we'd leave Manchester at 12:05 and land in Orlando at 4:45 with a stop in DC. 4hrs. 40 minutes.

The return flight leaves at 6:30 pm from Orlando, stops in DC and takes 4 hrs. 46 minutes.

 

[threeboysmom]

Just a heads up. Usually, United will not let you use ticket vouchers towards flights by US Air. I have run into that twice with them. They will only let me book flights with United Express (Ted) or United. Very frustrating. I am actually leaving tomorrow a.m. for a quick weekend trip, and the only flight I could book has a 3-hour layover in Dulles. All the other flights (with good times) were US AIR and not able to apply voucher towards... Hope you have better luck with them than I have...

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

They will only let me book flights with United Express (Ted) or United. Very frustrating.

I'm going to interject just a little bit, and say that Ted is NOT United Express. Ted is sort of like "United Light". Ted serves mostly popular vacation destinations, and runs as a "low fare" airline.

United Express is actually a series of partner airlines that fly regional service from United hubs to smaller destinations, that either can't accomodate large jets, or don't have enough traffic to merit flying large jets to them. Most United Express planes are in the 50 seat range. Additionally, a lot of flights flying under the name "United Express" are actually contracted out by United, and are actually operated by either Air Wisconsin, Mesa Air Group, or Skywest Airlines. (clear as mud?)

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I'm going to interject just a little bit, and say that Ted is NOT United Express. Ted is sort of like "United Light". Ted serves mostly popular vacation destinations, and runs as a "low fare" airline.

United Express is actually a series of partner airlines that fly regional service from United hubs to smaller destinations, that either can't accomodate large jets, or don't have enough traffic to merit flying large jets to them. Most United Express planes are in the 50 seat range. Additionally, a lot of flights flying under the name "United Express" are actually contracted out by United, and are actually operated by either Air Wisconsin, Mesa Air Group, or Skywest Airlines. (clear as mud?)

Good explanation!

EsmeraldaX's Manchester to Washington-Dulles flight is operated by Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation (AWAC) in a 50-seat Canadair jet (painted in "United Express" livery), and EsmeraldaX's Washington-Dulles to Orlando flight is operated by [URL="http://www.airwis.com/]Ted, a part of United[/URL] in a 164-to-179-seat Airbus A-320. Ted is essentially United with no first class section.