United Airlines to Hawaii - The Skies Aren't So Friendly Anymore

Pathetic isn’t it! Great article and reminder of Rule 240, we should all keep that in mind. We fly Shanghai-Chicago all the time and are now, sadly, looking at going through Tokyo or Hong Kong just to AVOID United Airlines. The service is so dismal, the attendants so rude (Heaven FORBID you travel with small children!!), it is worth a stopover. 9 hours from Chicago to Maui with no food? Are you kidding? Terrible.

you get what u pay for…

When did we become such a “whinie” society? Have you seen the poverty in the streets of Bangkok, the violence in Tibet, or the absolute colapse of soul in regions of Africa? We may see two legacy carriers fall soon. Then watch the banks shake…!

You don’t like it…go else where. There are many other airlines out there…oh and by the way in case you have been hiding under a rock or in a cave with Osama…they all have cut back on their services too, so don’t get all excited. United is just like American who is just like Delta who is just like everyone else in the airline industry…cutting back on service. I feel sorry for those flight attendants. Having to work long hours with no pay and no pension while their CEO sits around waiting for a merger so he can walk out of there with TONS of $$$$! Yes..it used to be the “Friendly Skies”…but when you have CEO’s taking everything from the front line employees and fleecing their golden parachutes would YOU be a happy person???? Most likely not!!!

It seems we’ve heard from at least one United flight attendant here! Folks, I for one, don’t care what other airlines do. The airlines that will survive are the ones that can make the difference with their customers, like serving a hot meal on a 9 hour flight. Why not? Why serve one on a 5 hour international flight but not on a 5-9 hour flight to Hawaii from Chicago or the west coast?

Why do the flight attendants on United have to be so miserable? I’ve also flown American and US Air and they have all the same issues, yet their flight attendants are at least pleasant. Ten years ago the flight attendants on United’s Chicago to Hawaii flight used to have so much aloha spirit. They have a quizzes for bottles of champagne and really kept the flight fun. No more.

We just flew United to London via Philadelphia and almost everything about the United experience was dismal (we had one LOVELY ticket agent help us – she was British).

There were hot meals – at least one a flight – and water and cups were put out near the restrooms, but the attendants were seemingly put out and upset with few exceptions. One even scowled and snapped at me when I handed her two lunch boxesto throw away – trying to make her job easier! I agree that we are lucky indeed to be traveling and these woes are nothing like those of third-world countries and the impoverished, but I also know that when I travel and take my children with them, they are learning by example: to treat people with respect, to enjoy work, to know other cultures and people as part of our world, and to be a good citizen on the Earth who might one day help those less fortunate. So travel IS important, and when we’re all stuck in a tin box in the stratosphere together, manners and politeness go a long way. United doesn’t seem to have either in good supply.

After all the dust settles with mergers and consolidations the flying public will have some real reasons to whine. Higher fares, bad customer service routes eliminated altogether. if you don’t like United take your business to someone else. As the Legacy carriers disappear so will your choices. Then it will be ” Welcome to the friendly skies of corporate greed”

The only airlines that will survive are the ones that can squeeze another $5.00 to $10.00 from the flying public every other week. The airline that can choke another penny from its employees might also make it. I will do what ever it takes to preserve my pension and salary.

Stop crying. You get paid for going to paradise. I’ve flown to Maui from LAX on United many times. We ‘ve had delays, lost baggage, rude employees, etc, etc. The way look at it, is that I’m fortunate to be able to go there.

Stay home and write articles about Chicago if you don’t like it.

Jim,

Yes, I get paid to got to Hawaii in that my writing earns me my income, but what I’m writing about here are not just my issues. These are issues that I’ve heard many times from others both on the plane and in email.

Why can United serve meals from the mainland to Canada, Mexico and Europe but not Hawaii which is just as far is not farther? Why can’t they at least offer hot meals for sale?

Why is United penalizing every passenger who flies to Hawaii since almost no one travels with just one checked back to Hawaii, much less returning from Hawaii?

Why do so many of the flight attendants have to be so unpleasant? – Not all, but a large number of them.

Why does United (and other airlines) make the customer remember to cite Rule 240 instead of just providing the service?

When people are paying $1000 or more for a round trip ticket to Hawaii, it’s hardly a whine when they complain about poor service.

It’s amusing to me how many airline employees are replying to this thread. I seem to have touched a nerve.

I guess you have a point. By the way, I’m not a flight attendant. Just a guy who loves Maui and would swim there if I could.

I’m a fan of your articles. Just giving you a hard time.

Jim,

Actually I thought you were just a traveler, but I’m pretty sure we’ve heard some comments from several United or other airline employees above. I appreciate you taking the time to express your opinion, seriously.

John,
Nice article. Just some background on airline employees. I’m a pilot with 10 years at major airline. I lost 30% of my pay. After my pay cut, the company chiefs got million dollar bonus and the company posted huge profits. I quit and went back to the military. Now, I make more and I have a better quality of life. And the Air Force still has a pension plan! I’m not mad at customers,just managers(crooks). However, do you really think $99 tickets is realistic with gas at $115 barrel? You can’t even fill your car for that amount of money. You GET what you pay for.

Jim # 2:

I can see by your email address that your’re a different Jim that the other Jim. Thanks for your kind words.

Above all else I agree with you about pay. The airline execs all have made out like bandits while the pilots, flight attendants, ground crew and customer service folks have all taken terrible pay cuts. That is simply criminal in my opinion.

As for fares I also agree. It was a fare war that recently caused Aloha Airlines to shut down. Interisland fares of $19, $29 and $39 meant no profit for anyone. The bad guy (go!) won and the good guy (Aloha) lost.

I would gladly pay a reasonable price for better service and good food on long flights. People have said you get what you pay for. I disagree. Right now, we’re not getting what we pay for.

Nice article bruddah!!! And a little more background regarding airline employees. I can understand their plight; especially those that work for any airline. Can you believe that airfares have not really gone up in the last few years. Furthermore, airline employees have taken gross pay cuts over the last few years also and are really having a hard time making a go of it. With anywhere from 20-36 percent paycuts, how does anyone expect them to keep up with inflation.
The point I’m trying to make is that if fares don’t rise, airlines must cut some service somewhere in order to provide air transportation to any destination. It’s just that they still must be able to maintain load factors and a route structure providing air service between different points of the globe. It’s an expectation and if they have to cut on board services to be able to provide that service, by all means do so.
No one should be taking a stab at airlines and their employees. If anything, everyone should be going after the cut-throats who manage the oil companies who have driven the price of everything up. How can they make $40 billion and laugh all the way to the bank while we suffer at their mercy. Hopefully, someone will come up with an alternative to oil whereby these few rich who keep getting richer will realize that they don’t have any income anymore and must subjugate themselves like the rest of us.
As far as airline employees go, they are not trying to disservice you or any other customer. Realize that airline management is probably coercing them into performing tasks they would not otherwise do. I don’t think they want to disservice customers by not providing meals on lenghty flights and so forth. They probably react to customers the way they do because they are in actuality “ashamed” of their company’s policies and would rather not provoke any form of reaction from the customer they must serve.
The industry has taken a difficult turn and I’d bet that we will be seeing the likes in other service industries in the near future.
This is just the beginning and when the tough
get going, it’s because it tough for them to do otherwise.

We flew to Hawaii this past February, and the lack of meals on flights from Seattle to Honolulu is ridiculous! United has cut back so far on their service we could not believe it. Despite this, all was fine until the return trip from Honolulu to San Francisco. We sat in the Honolulu airport for over an hour, while we waited for our seat assignments. It seems United had overbooked due to a cancelled flight from Kona to San Francisco and we were forced to board the plane at the last minute, sitting several rows apart. The last leg of our trip was from San Francisco to Toronto, and it was fine. BUT the aggravation caused by what should have been seamless service is enough for my husband and I to not fly United again, to say nothing of not providing food to passengers. We plan to take many more trips to our beloved Hawaii, but not with United Airlines. Aloha!

You asked: How many people fly to Hawaii and only take one checked bag?
Well, I have been to Hawaii 12 times and I have NEVER taken more than one checked bag and my carryon. Even then, I seldom use everything that I do take. this upcoming trip in September, I am taking my smallest suitcase and my carryon.
We stay in condos that have washers and dryers so things can be washed.
In fact one of the ladies in our group is ONLy taking her duffle as her carryon and not even checking a bag.

My theory:
Take less clothes because you do not need so many. I wear a ppair of capris over and back. I take 2 pr of shorts and about 3, maybe 4 tops, 3 sets of undies, 2 swimsuits, a cover up, beach shoes and my meds, camera and toiletries. Nothing else. If our place doesn’t have laundry facilities, there are always laundromats and it is interesting to visit with others doing the same thing.

Hey, John! Candy from Maui here. I’m surprised in all of these comments that no one has mentioned Hawaiian Airlines, which still offers great service to and from the mainland and Hawaii–IF you’re lucky enough to be flying out of one of their western gateways. Living in the islands, Hawaiian has long been my first choice for flights to the mainland. Service is friendly, seats are comfortable, great on-time record, they still serve hot meals, the movies and headsets actually work, AND you have the option to rent a personal dvd player that is loaded with a selection of movies, tv shows, etc. Not much help if you’re coming from the East Coast, but West of the Rockies? Book Hawaiian. As you know, John, I don’t work for them, promote them, or have any other connection to Hawaiian Air except that I’m a long-time satisfied customer. Aloha to you, John!

John – I’ve been reading your articles for years and finally moved to Maui after 13 visits in 5 years. I’m in agreement with you 100% about the services provided by United. I wasn’t happy to hear about the 1 bag either – heck – I wasn’t happy when they reduced the weight from 70 pounds down to 50.

BTW – I went to Honolulu this week and noticed that the budget hotels had lowered prices as much as $15-25 a room. I was able to book an ocean front room on Waikiki (next to the Hyatt) for $78 a night. The hotel showed some wear – but I was fine. The economy is effecting the entire travel industry – not just the airlines. While the budget hotels had to lower prices to attract business – the 4-5 star hotels maintained or increased rates. It appears that Hawaii will no longer be affordable for many.

Mahalo for your articles!

Jim

I just flew United to Kona for a vacation with my family. We had a short stay because of the limited window of our miles. On our return trip (a red-eye at 10 pm) our son had a tantrum upon boarding. I was finally able to get him in his seat and he was still crying and kicking as I tried to calm him. As folks were still boarding, a person from the ground crew got my attention and said in a very serious tone: “if you can’t calm your kid, I am going to ask you to deplane”. I was in shock…I could not believe how rude this guy was. The flight crew did nothing and the guy did not explain why we would have to deplane. My son was not a risk to anyone and he was starting to calm down. I am just curious about the rules and how they are applied in these cases. I would be the first to admit my son was being a brat but he was tired and a bit scared. Also, that is my last flight on United…any advice on who I would need to email or write to complain (or am I wasting my time).

Thanks.

Chuck in Sunnyvale

Don’t feel sorry for you at all!!! You are so unhappy and spoiled with the days of the past…I wish you well!!!

I have not even began my trip and had United screw up my itenary. I had paid a premium for a flight that would get my into Hawaii at 12:45PM. Well, A month later, I got a notice that they had changed my itenary to a flight the arrives 8 hours later. No explanation as to why. The flight they changes me to books for about $200/person less, but would not even refund me the difference. So, I ended up cancelling my flight with them and booking with antother airlines. I now get in 4 hours later than planned but for $100 less.