The service has seen a steady decline over the past few years and you are very correct in pointing o

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I'll post my full flight review in the coming days, but I feel compelled to dedicate car rental centers new york city a post on the less than international car rental centers new york city first class service I received and observed in United Global First last week.
It's no secret that United is remarkably inconsistent when it comes to in-flight service and I think it's most evident when flying internationally. Last year, I had a terrific experience in United car rental centers new york city BusinessFirst from Los Angeles to Sydney with attentive and professional flight attendants who were sincere in their desire to provide exceptional service. My return from Sydney was the exact opposite with indifferent, stoic flight attendants who seemed car rental centers new york city to treat service as a chore.
I was optimistic for my San Francisco-Tokyo Narita-San Francisco flights in Global First knowing that in the past, flights to/from Japan were a particular quality control focus. While the crew I had (the same on both flights) wasn't stoic or indifferent, the service car rental centers new york city they provided wasn t what you'd expect for international first class. car rental centers new york city I know, I know… not really a shocker for a U.S. airline when compared to foreign carriers. But here are a few unique observations from my flights.
On the ground, car rental centers new york city the reaction by two Global First passengers arriving in the gate room in Tokyo and being told to queue in the already huge 75+ passenger Group 1 boarding lane was priceless. They were visibly shocked there wasn't priority given over business class (or even coach passengers with elite status).
When a passenger couldn't immediately find storage space for his carry-on (a problem car rental centers new york city on the 747-400), car rental centers new york city a flight attendant who wasn't working in First told him he'd have to put it in business class and to "write to the company to complain" without offering assistance. Fortunately, the purser was more proactive and found space for him in first class.
car rental centers new york city In many cases, the menu, amenity kit and slippers are presented to you after you're seated in first class. On both of my flights, the menus were nicely displayed on the console, though the amenity car rental centers new york city kits and slippers were stored away in the seat compartments. Not a huge deal, but there's just something about the presentation of them personally that adds a touch of class.
United introduced turndown service in Global First? Absolutely no mention of it was made on the outbound. And on the return, I overhead the lead flight attendant say, " What are we… a hotel?! " when telling another passenger about it after he found the seat cover in his compartment. She even went on to say that flight attendants love to take them to their crew bunks for use. Sigh.
Now I should mention that the flight attendants were each friendly in their own way (particularly when I reappeared on their return flight the next day), but service elements and overall cabin management on my flights certainly weren't worth what a normally priced Global car rental centers new york city First ticket would run.
I was hoping for a stellar experience, but I drew the short stick on these United flights. I know there are flight attendants at United who pride themselves on delivering exceptional service. It's just a shame that the amount who don't or won't step up will prevent United from ever being on par with their global counterparts.
Tags: 747 , 747-400 , airline service , Boeing , business class , businessfirst , first class , flight attendants , flight review , global first , international first class , narita , purser , san francisco , tokyo , trip report , turndown service , united , united airlines
Had the same type of service in UA F from SFO to SYD. No room for limited car rental centers new york city carry ons. Flight attendants rude to F pax. I asked for some water to take an ibuprofen and got the third degree as to what I was going to take. She proclaimed, If you are taking Ambien, I need to know. Funny the guy two rows behind me on the other side of the aircraft raised car rental centers new york city his hand to let her know. They are a sad old bunch of entitled flight attendants that need to be made redundant.
I flown UA first for the first time last year. Super excited about it, though I set realistic expectation (it s not like BA F). Let s just say i m not super excited about it anymore, and I don t think it s worth the difference (in $ or miles) for the premium cabin.
I d disagree that UA Global First isn t worth the extra miles. Note: just as long as they are saver miles. The seats, while not the new Asiana suite or Singapore s are very, very good the entertainment system is excellent. I flew Asiana, car rental centers new york city Thai, United 1st class 3 months ago United s food was 2nd best of the bunch. I get the service will not compare to the foreign airlines, but still worth taking if the option is available.
@BOShappyflyer @Barry: I definitely agree it isn t worth it to outright pay more $ than business. While the seat is better, it s not by multiple $1000s so. One perk Global First does have is occasional better award availability car rental centers new york city for a single seat than business.
I remember booking my flights on Singapore last year and the only option for my return was SQ Business Class or UA First Class. I didn t hesitate to ask for Singapore. I told the reservations agent, point blank, there s no way I ll waste my miles on United when I have any other option.
@Scottrick: Agreed. Given a choice, redeeming miles on United in a premium cabin internationally would be last on my list. This, fortunately, was a paid ticket. My exception on United is Australia I will burn miles for a biz/F ticket car rental centers new york city there.
It s F class seat with F*kg services! Dont get me started I was horrified when we got no amenity kit, no menu, no headset, and a very old attendant who can t remember a thing and came around talking our meal order three times how they rough handled my cabin bag as they tried to close the overhead compartment *ouchhh*
Just wondering if you d consider putting this blog post in a letter format and sending into United. I d love to see what sort of response you d get (if any), and what they would say in a written response.
These turkeys have been up to this for as long as I can remember. I have found that usually 1-2 in 10 are world class, the rest are, well, NOT. There are no controls in place for providing a bad product. Ergo, I (half tongue-in-cheek) tell my friends to use part of their quart size TSA bag for your favorite car rental centers new york city lubricant. Good chance you ll need it.
For what they charge you d think they would chauffeur you to the plane, give you a special lounge, pre-flight meal and enough booze to calm an Irish, maybe even a rubber ducky in your hot pre-flight bath wait, what?
@Erndog: A United management rep who knew I was going to be flying Global First asked me directly, I ll be interested to hear your feedback on the service before I flew. I ll certainly follow-up with him at the minimum.
The CEO of United really needs to take grip of his company. There is an entitlement attitude that runs throughout e company. How do they expect to reduce the rate of passengers abandoning United for other airlines if they can t provide a professional service. Not having a first class lane on an international flight is beyond shocking. How much will that decision lose? And yes, we do expect a hotel service.
I was on UA F from Frankfurt to IAD last year, and they would only allow me take one fruit selection. Nope, not even a banana and apple, car rental centers new york city EITHER car rental centers new york city a banana or apple. Complete BS. The IFE is great, and the seat is not half bad, but the service is absolutely terrible.
car rental centers new york city Surprisingly I don t feel the same way I m ok with the hard product, and I like that FAs don t bother me on UA. I wish it were more self-service for the whole flight just leave out the beverage car rental centers new york city cart and plenty of ice.
@Darren. I wouldn t worry too much about the impression foreign visitors to the US receive from UA. The memory of the queues at and the treatment by the Immigration staff will expunge all thoughts of the flight itself.
I fly United Global First about twice a year from the West Coast US to Australia [originating in Ottawa]. I don t choose United because it is good but because I am most often using miles and they have availability. I would prefer to fly Air Canada in business but they have extremely car rental centers new york city limited award availability. So if I am paying, I fly AC business; if I am using miles, I fly United First.
The service has seen a steady decline over the past few years and you are very correct in pointing out that the flight car rental centers new york city crew can make a big difference. United no longer hands out pajamas and the food selection is certainly not caviar and high end champagne. [On my most recent flight, the soup was served in the tiniest bowl you have ever seen!]
It is also quite unusual that United makes First class passengers line up with business and the frequent flyers. A nice touch in LA is that Rebecca [wonderful car rental centers new york city lady!] from the lounge escorts you to the plane. car rental centers new york city In San Fran, you have to make your own way and fight the crowds.
car rental centers new york city I m flying in March outbound through SF and return through LA and am looking forward to my trip but would certainly be more excited if it were closer car rental centers new york city in quality to first on Thai or Singapore! It is a bit confusing as to why United seems to cut corners in First as a revenue car rental centers new york city ticket in First on United from North America to Australia is quite a bit more expensive than a first class ticket on Qantas or Emirates from London to Australia.
How much does the union contract and seniority rights interfere with delivering an excellent Global First experience? I believe that on UA aircraft, the staffing is totally seniority based, and the airline has no ability to e