United Airlines

[MadAboutDisney]

Hi Guys,

We are travelling with United Airlines on 11th December and wondered if anyone else has travelled to WDW this way.

I've noticed that most people fly with BA or Virgin so I was wondering what the staff are like, what the food is like and things to keep the kids entertained are like.

We chose to fly with United with a changeover in Washington DC as it was saving us a fair bit of money. We also thought we'd make the most of the free stopovers and opted to stay in DC for 3 nights on the way back.

I just want to get a heads up on what to expect from United.

Many thanks and kind regards

Paula-Jane (PJ)

 

[KayleeUK]

Hi Paula-Jane

We did this in 2002 We found our flight with United very good indeed. There were seatback TV's on both flights (Lon - Washington and Washington to Orlando), I am sure there were films and TV programmes to keep the kids entertained.

Here is a LINK to United's website about entertainment and meals. We found food, snacks and drinks plentiful on the way out only one problem on the way back they didn't have my vegetarian meal and offered me a couple of banana's instead LOL

 

[MadAboutDisney]

Hi Kaylee,

Thanks for the info. Just one question thoughregarding the meals.

Are we supposed to choose a meal before we arrive at the airport or are we given a menu on board and asked to choose from that?

As we are not leaving until 11th december we haven't received our tickets yet so don't know if the info will be included with them?

Thanks for your help

Kind regards

Paula-Jane

 

[KayleeUK]

If you are choosing a special meal ie, vegetarian, medical or childrens menu you will need to let them know that before. Otherwise on the plane they dish out the meals and sometimes ask if you want chicken or meat I think

 

[MadAboutDisney]

Thanks Kaylee.

Sorry to be a pain but I will have my 2 children (6.5 and 4.5) with me so do I need to pre-order their meals or will they know I have children because of the booking.

Also, how does the seating work, will it be allocated before we arrive or if we get there a tad early will be able to sit where we want. I think my travel agent phoned them and requested that we be sat together but even if we are sat window side two in front and two behind it wou'dn't matter, in fcat I think this would be far better because the kids will each have a window seat then.

Kind regards

Paula-Jane (PJ)

 

[KayleeUK]

We ordered my meal when we booked the flights. I don't know about the kids ones (haven't got any ) So not sure if they do this automatically or not. Here is a link to the United Page with Telephone Numbers on, to be safe give it a call.

When we checked in we were lucky and got Exit seats, again give them a quick call and I am sure they will be able to help.

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi PJ,

Don't know for United, but for Virgin when you want a kids meal you have to prebook it. I've never understood why they don't work it out by the fact that they know how many children's tickets are sold (but I guess not all children will want a kid's meal, maybe)

I would prebook to be on the safe side

Karen

 

[Nordicpollan]

We travelled with United this Sept. during the hurricane season!
We booked with them at the last moment when First Choice couldn't guarantee our villa would have a roof!!

We did the Washington stop too and our time slots where very tight, but United were absolutly brilliant, they radioed ahead to make sure the connecting plane knew we where on our way and to wait as long as poss if needed( it wasn't )

We has the added delay of waiting for DS2 wheelchair and was still able to do the connection.

We rang United the day before we travelled and they aranged a childs meal at no extra cost for us.

You have the TV screens in the seat backs with a good choice of films. The whole flight is not like a BA or Virgin direct flight which is very Disney based as it a commuter flight, and the leg room in economy is a little tight (We did get upgraded on the way back to give DS2 more space and if we could afford it would do this if we go again)
The staff on all the flights were really great, could not fault them at all, we have flown with lots of airlines and United are great.(American Airways are ore all time favs)

Would use them again


Karen

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

We have flown with United once Orlando and once to California - and we have booked with them again for next April to Orlando.

We leave from Glasgow, so for Orlando, we have a 3 leg journey, we went via Chicago last year. The US connection can be a bit rushed and hectic - especially when you have young kids (ours were almost 5 and almost 6 last year). Immigration can be quite a long wait!!

The flight itself is great, the staff are very good, and you can prebook your kids meal - what about your seats, have you pre-booked them? If you're luck enough you may get the Economy Plus seats, which have a little extra legroom. All drinks were free last year, including alcoholic ones.

The United website will tell you which films will be shown Are you booked with United Vacations or the airline direct?

United Ailrlines

Have fun!!!

 

[jjpenguin]

We try to fly with United if we can - collecting those frequent flyer points!. The price is pretty good and the service is fine. Also drinks are free, including wine with meals and liqueur afterwards and the seatback TV's are great.

Only one drawback, you fly via washington DULLes and it's an awful airport.

I think you can book your seats online with united, check the website.

have a great trip!

 

[wilki32]

A quick question, do you pick your bags up at Washington and take them to the connecting flight or do you just go through immigration?

Anthony

 

[Nordicpollan]

WE had to collect our bags at Washington after we had been through Immigration then handed it over again at the flight connection desk.

We did have pangs about this but everything arrived in Orlando with us!!!!!!

We had a long wait in the Immigration Hall at Dullas even though we were the only flight at that time. so our bags had been off of the belt for a long time
IT all worked well as we had no wait when we arrived as a domestic flight in Orlando.

Karen

 

[wilki32]

Now I'm worried, we have an hour and 10 mins from arrival to catching our connecting flight!!!

Anthony

 

[Nordicpollan]

We had the same amount of time. I think going through Immigration took so long was because it was lunch time and they had sent every one off for lunch.

The luggage claim is right outside of immigration and the the desk to send your bags off to the connection flight is right opposite.

Ds2 is in a wheelchair so we were last off of the plane so we were at the back of the queue, and we made the connection with no probs. No time to look around Dullas but from reports that was no big deal

I'm sure you will fine (just make sure the green form is filled in properly brfore you step up the desk)


Karen

 

[wilki32]

Thanks Karen, this is the only part of the holiday that I'm getting stressed about but then again if we miss that flight I suppose we get the next!
Roll on Saturday

Anthony

 

[Philth]

What are American Airlines like?