Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

latimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

431–440 of 464 posts

Re: United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

#431

Post by nojvek »

arkadiytehgraet wrote: post #356
zippergz wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a paid United Club membership. Those lounges are already pretty full a lot of the time, and one of the biggest reasons I (and many of the other members I know) pay for it is exactly the situation you describe. When something goes wrong with a flight, it's well worth the cost of the membership to have helpful agents, minimal lines, and a nice place to relax. It's not about the free mediocre food. Having a place…

It is truly funny to see how instead of solving the root cause (airline shitty attitude to customers) you treat the symptoms (paying for the consequences of shitty attitude) thus making the root cause not only not going away, but make it actually worse since you are encouraging the airline to screw you.

United - You get what you pay for!

Re: United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

#432

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

pascalxus wrote: post #339
anovikov wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Due to airlines' razor thin margins, this is simply impossible. That simple. Every single traditional airline will go bankrupt if it stopped overbooking. Unfortunately it is the greed and stupidity of us consumers that drove this market into the ground. We shouldn't blame airlines. Think about this next time when you pick 'order by price' in skyscanner...

The problem is they have a monopoly now that there's only 1 or 2 airlines to choose from at each airport. If we had more than 3 or 4 choices, then we could pick alternative airlines and United would cease to exist. Too late for that now. Get ready for more harsh treatment in the future and lots of increases in fare prices, higher than inflation.

If we had three or four choices and one of them ceased to exist... It wouldn't take long to end up with a duopoly.

Some people believe this may have already occurred.

Re: United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

#433

Post by dagenleg »

zippergz wrote: post #415
dagenleg wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I too do enjoy paying the bribe just to get an acceptable service! Oh, it's just like when visiting a poor post-Soviet country. I am so glad that United officially incorporated this wonderful custom. No longer do I need to decide on the bribe amount on a per-case basis, I can now just pay once!

It's market segmentation. Most of the traveling public is cheapskates who will buy the lowest fare they see, no matter the consequences. This is an option for those who aren't purely driven by budget to pay for a better experience. I guarantee you that if United increased fares to hire enough staff to provide the same level of service you get in the lounge (with almost no line to talk to someone even in event of a ma…

It feels to me like you are trying really hard to justify to yourself and to everyone else paying $500 for the membership.

Re: United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

#434

Post by shimon_e »

landryraccoon wrote: post #311
086421357909764 wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's sad to see that you've had this experience, but the Prime Minister specifically, that was a policy enforcement for a policy that was put in place with the previous administration. So sadly, it's not as new an issue as people think, it's been an issue for over 6 years.

Do you have a source for this? When did the previous administration put this policy in place? I am skeptical that this was happening under the previous administration.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_System_for_Travel_A...

Re: United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

#435

Post by shimon_e »

indemnity wrote: post #407
davidf18 wrote: post #358

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A 24/365 Apple Store is a signal about how cool and new technologically vibrant NYC is ...we need it and use it 24/365. Repairs as well as purchases 24/365. Number of Apple Stores in Manhattan = 7 (incl. one 24/365) Number of Apple Stores in NYC 5 Boroughs = 10 Number of stores Paris (incl. La Defense) = 4 Number of stores London = 5 Number of stores Berlin = 1 Jazz/Blues/all kinds of music, a city open 24/7 full of…

Have you been to any Asian cities in the last two decades? NYC has its perks, but the subway systems of Tokyo, Shanghai, and Seoul make the MTA look pretty shabby. These cities are also 24/7, to a greater extent than any Western city, I would argue.

Shanghai is not 24/7. They have night time curfew.

Re: United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

#436

Post by shimon_e »

handelaar wrote: post #353
x1798DE wrote: post #345

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand the hate for overbooking flights. Most of the time, I don't care at all about the system where flights are overbooked, because most of the time I don't get bumped. When they do overbook a flight and I've blocked out more time than I need for travel, I can make a few hundred dollars (not bad even in vouchers since I usually tend to fly the same route with the same airlines frequently enough) for the…

Ryanair never overbooks, and United can only dream of its profitability.

They also don't have connections. Or aircraft with different numbers of seats.

Re: United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

#437

Post by mirimir »

sangnoir wrote: post #186
mirimir wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe not, but with cops it's stupid. And it can get you dead, if things go very wrong. Extreme politeness is the best course, in my experience.

"Pick up that can".

    | [Cop:] May I see your license and registration?
    | Ah certainly...
    | [Cop:] What you're doing?
    | Chewin' chocolate
    | [Cop:] Where did ya get it?
    | Doggy dropped it
    | [Cop:] ...carry on
Butthole Surfers - Chewing George Lucas' chocolate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VES_srfHmQE

Re: United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

#438

Post by dkersten »

shimon_e wrote: post #435
indemnity wrote: post #407

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you been to any Asian cities in the last two decades? NYC has its perks, but the subway systems of Tokyo, Shanghai, and Seoul make the MTA look pretty shabby. These cities are also 24/7, to a greater extent than any Western city, I would argue.

Shanghai is not 24/7. They have night time curfew.

That doesn't mean Shanghai is less popular, since the 24/7-ness is limited because of the curfew, not due to lack of popularity.

Re: United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

#439

Post by dkersten »

btowngar wrote: post #341
davidf18 wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

NYC has a 24/365 hour Apple Store which reflects the vibrancy of the city 24/365. Need I say more? Europe is very beautiful. But for the creative energy and vibrancy NYC is the place to be.

Yes, I really do think you need to say more. I'm certainly not convinced by the appeal of a 24/365 Apple Store...

Its a negative to me because it highlights the consumerist attitude that seems to be prevalent in many parts of the US. The places that I personally felt where most culturally vibrant and interesting were typically the ones that are the least consumerist.

But thats just me! Everyone has their own preferences.

Re: United removes first-class passenger to make room for 'higher-priority' traveler

#440

Post by 4ad »

shimon_e wrote: post #434
landryraccoon wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have a source for this? When did the previous administration put this policy in place? I am skeptical that this was happening under the previous administration.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_System_for_Travel_A...

He was travelling on a diplomatic passport, that doesn't apply to him.
Post reply on HN