July 26, 2010

Geez United, you’re gonna make me rethink my years-long effort to try to avoid flying with you. As I detailed after my great booking experience, someone must have blown a circuit at United’s customer service department and left a vastly improved flight experience in their wake.

I’m sitting in the Denver airport (happily using the internet for free on my Palm Pre via Mobile Hotspot), supremely impressed with my United flight experience thus far. As usual, I overbooked myself this morning with things to get done before my flight, and thus ended up leaving the house about 40 minutes later than I intended. However, time waits for no man; there was absolutely no way I was going to possibly make it to the airport 45 minutes before my flight. Luckily I had checked into my flight ahead of time, including paying for my bag (which, although I completely disagree with, at least had an 8% discount for paying online).

I pulled into the airport a full 20 minutes before my flight was scheduled to leave. I walked up to the check-in counter, fully expecting to be turned away. However, the United lady simply smiled at me when I told her I had previously checked in and simply needed to check a bag, asked me which bag was mine, and printed out the luggage tag! She promptly printed boarding passes for my flight and next connection, then wished me safe travels.

Astounded that she didn’t so much as mention the time, I took off towards the security-theatre section, which went off without a hitch. I walked up to the gate where the smiling United personnel greeted me by name and welcomed me on board. I climbed on, shocked at what I just experienced. United Airlines, you’ve climbed another notch in my book, and I very well may have to start strongly considering you as a valued travel partner. Thanks!

Life

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