United Airlines to require minimum stays

It's so simple people.
Stop flying.
Driving is much more convienient only for those trips that entail anything else but business.
Today one can drive anywhere except overseas.

How does making me spend a couple of days at my destination save them money? I still will fly back to my origin. It just costs me more for a trip that is longer than I wanted/needed.

I agree with Don Dool, make people pay for that steamer trunk of a suitcase or three that they are traveling with.

I guess I can now add United to my "don't fly with" list which included US Airways and American.

I used to fly two maybe three times a year, just to visit friends. Now, I'll either drive, which will be cheaper for two people and the dog or I won't go at all. I'm inclined to not go at all. My husband is an owner/operator truck driver so our profits have been cut by more than half.

as usual the airlines are looking at their profit. do you hear anyone of them saying
what can we do for the customer? how can we make their trip better? how can
we give better service? heck no. PROFIT PROFIT PROFIT.
well keep your profit. a whole number of us don't have to travel and won't.

Who do these fools think they are? We buy the tickets and they tells us how long we have to stay somewhere. What happened to our freedom here in the United States? I travel on business a several times a year and because of family health issue I don't like to be gone overnight. I have been able to do that until this crap comes along. They don't like people like me because they are not getting anything because I don't check any bags on these one day trips. United, you have never been my favorite: Now you are my "only if I am forced to use you" carrier.

I just flew United for the first time in years and the last time as far as I'm concerned. With the new Open skies agreement I am hoping a European carrier is eventually able to open domestic routes because they treat their customers so much better. I have never been on an airline where the crew was as rude as the United staff. I had the misfortune of having an aisle seat on a transatlantic flight where the attendants repeatedly ran into me as they went down the aisles, both with carts and without, never once apologizing (and by the way I do fit in my seat). I was traveling with 27 other people and many of us were treated rudely by staff. I thought it was possibly a bad staff on our domestic leg but then the transatlantic was even worse. These people are miserable. I haven't been on a single flight in years that wasn't completely full. How are theses people unable to make a profit? Sounds like poor management to me. All of these surcharges read as a dishonest misrepresentation of the cost if flying. Why not just raise fares instead of sticking it to the unexpecting public at their moment if departure. We are driving 10 hours to Disneyworld this Summer instead of flying as we normally would. We have opted out of our annual convention in August, not because we can't afford it, but because flying is becoming so miserable. We are also planning our annual ski trip around Southwest's routes so that we can bring our equipment. If British Air, Air France and Lufthansa can be profitable why is it impossible for American carriers?

The Unfriendly skies do it again...I'd rather walk that fly with them.

Gee, let's see, how many other ways will they come up with to screw us??? AA has always been the most expensive airline in my experience, now UA is right up there with them. I'm in Upstate NY, my son in Houston. That's a 24 hour drive! Not practical when I want to visit him for a weekend. This system has always been bad - it's only getting worse. Can't this country fix anything anymore???!!!

I fail to understand how companies buying up their coach tickets, paying for them, costs them money. This is so stupid. How can these idiots attempt to dictate how long I stay somewhere!!!!!!!! What I really want to say, I cannot, because this is supposed to be a polite place.

It has finally dawned on the American public,
Corporate America only cares about the bottom line. Who created this mentality? Of course, WE did!
Personal service, and just being polite to a guest (yes travelers are guests) have gone out the window for MONEY,PROFIT,StOCK DIVIDEND. If American Companies want to stay that way when few, look at who owns AMERICAN Companies, they need to learn about service and customer satisfaction.
On the same token don't expect service and politeness from someone who's entire carrier has been sold out to the Stock Market. Employees need to be compensated at a living wage. We too often expect everything we want from someone who is being treated and payed comparatively like the y should be glad they "Sold their soul to the Company Store"

Boo-Hoo, some airline FatCat won't get his 2mil Xmas bonus. I only fly when I have to, and only on the bosses dime.

"At the end of the day, it's all about improving our profit as we combat these record high fuel prices."

i just don't want to hear about them boo-hooing in the news that they are losing money. They want to raise prices, fine. want to tack on fees for things that used to have no fees, fine. just don't be suprised when people don't fly as much, or at least don't expect me to feel sorry for you.

I haven't flown on United for a couple of years, and won't in the forseeable future. Why spend all these extra fees on United, when I can fly Southwest and not get nickel and dimed to death?

Dave Miedema
Berwyn IL

No problem. Simple, I will never in my life time fly on United again. They have simpy forgotten who the customner is. Too bad, but there are many options. Unfortunane that propriety and editing prevent expression of my real feelings. Just let it be said that I offer a half victory sign to United.

My daughter is in college in fla. We like to visit periodically through the year. I have made it a point not to fly United for a number of years, They have always been the highest priced, for the worst service.

I guess when you get so large and the execs get paid far more than they are worth. You fall in the usual trap of screw the customer I need more money.

Would it not be better if they actually earned the money they are paid, and the loyalty of those who bleed to pay their fees.
Not all fliers are rich and not all golfers or hunters are rich either.
But it appears if you are not wealthy. These past times will eventually be beyond the reach of the commoners. /
Did we not learn anything from 9/11 --so sad

Companies are in business to make a profit, particularly for their stockholders. However, there is something that will help maintain customer loyalty and, thus, ensure profitability, and that is customer service. Historically, those companies that have shown a desire to provide exceptional customer service are the ones that are most profitable. And, although they give it lip service, most airlines don't think about it. They only think about what they can take away and/or charge their captive audiences (snacks, meals, headphones, magazines, and now luggage). The one exception is Southwest. Isn't it interesting that Southwest is the ONLY airline that has been profitable every year of its existence and it's the only one that still thinks of the customer first. They are "hitting the nail right on the head" with their commercials about all those extra charges. Although I have nothing against someone making as much money as they can (legitimately), I think the airlines' boards should consider reducing their senior executives salaries to a more reasonable level to help improve their "bottomline". Of course, we know this will never happen.

With the attitude of Uniteds' management toward customers no wonder they are fighting to survive. If I want to fly some where in the morning and return that evening, doesn't the company still make money? Or is it the $15 charge for my bag? Now with the $15 first bag charge everyone will start carring on more luggage, then the luggage compartment wiil open more often in flight, the luggage will hit people on the head and causing more law suits. Great thinking United management.

That certainly is a good point.
They make a profit either way, so where is the justification? Other than more rules, more control and more dictatorship. Or are they really attempting to steer the public towards more controlled flight patterns to measure the opportunities to make even greater profits. Herd us all up and treat us like cattle.

As far as I'm concerned flying is out. I just can't afford it and the terrible service, endless added costs, and restrictions are just not worth the effort. I have decided I will stay close to home for the next year or so and take short car trips to visit family within 150 miles. Otherwise, travel is completely out of the question. The airlines do have to deal with fuel prices just as we all do but if they want people to fly there must be some understanding that service and less hassle will be required for most people who travel for pleasure. The only people I know who are flying now are the ones required to do it for business and even they are not happy to be stuck with all the new charges and restrictions.

I am a 1K member with United but, I still think this is ridiculous! I only fly on business so it doesn't affect me as much. However, most people can barely afford to fly at all nowadays and forcing those into a minimum stay is total B.S. I left AA years ago and United is next! If United wants to save money, how about reducing the CEO's bonus and his stock options?! I will see the day when United goes down like the Titanic; they brought it upon themselves...

Luckily, I don't have the need to fly that often. When I do, I definatley consider the greed of the company. Yes, I know that airlines are not at current all that profitable as an industry. The public companies are required by law to make a profit, so I don't buy that they are not profiting at all, but my knowledge there is limited, so I could be wrong.

Of course, the lack of profits does not mean that the CEO's and other officers are not making a personal bundle off the backs of those who have to actually work for a living. So, as with most large corporations who whine about the numbers, the leaders always seem to do pretty well for themselves.

Did anyone else notice that this latest price increase not only has some weird, psuedo-fascist notion of controlling how long we stay at a certain place, but the hammer is being dropped on economy passengers? Economy passengers are the most likely people to have had a very difficult time coming up with the money to fly in the first place out of a very tight budget or are people who might be flying once in their lives for things like family funerals, etc. How come the same fair increases and restrictions are not being placed on first class and business class passengers? I guess first class, since it already pays a premium, is too good to share the burden with "those people" who have to fly economy. Perhaps business class is not penalized because it is not considered practical. Too bad - either the rules fit everyone or nobody.

Lastly, I do agree with the poster that says to ask more money for more luggage weight to some degree (although extra bags do cost more already, albiet not by weight). But to add to that the suggestion that obese people be charged more because they weigh more is a disgusting notion at best. Shame on you for suggesting that. (No, I am not obese myself.) Perhaps ones IQ or personal moral ethic should dictate the cost of flight. (Sarcasm, in case you didn't get that).

Bottom line, the greed monster is always fed by the poorest among us. Of course, if fuel were more reasonably priced, and if airlines were investing in alternative fuels, like the guy that owns Virgin Airlines, Richard Whatshisname, some solutions would be closer at hand.

In the meantime, perhaps people should personally boycott the greediest of corporations and use cheaper or different alternatives, whenever possible.

boy no wounder the country is going to hell in a hand basket you have the big companys doing all of this so they still get there bonuses and there profits i'm along with every body else drive to were you have to go. but the bad thing about that is gas is so much next they will want to charge us to drive our cars. maybe the government will make us pay $15 to $75 dollars a person to go down the road or $100.00 a month to drive that what it is coming to. heres what we can do go to a different country citizens then come by and we can work here and not pay taxes that will give us more money

Thats great United! You provide no blankets. You provide no pillows. You provide no food. You charge for actually having luggage. You raised ticket prices (ok), but now are MANDATING MY travel arangements. Guess thats why Exec Jet, et all, are NOT doing so bad with business! Who, actually, is the CUSTOMER you are trying to attract?! Lets see, yes, I'd like to make my choice between...United, who nickels and dimes me, for everything, OR some OTHER mode of transportation, that doesn't. What's next, charging me for the "privledge" of even looking at your website, to look at travel arrangments!? You should have this figured out, WE the customer, DO have options, YOU exist ONLY because of US! Give me ONE reason, as to WHY I should "choose" your airline, for my travel needs! So much, for the "great" commercials from the past ..."we know why you fly"! HAHA! See ya United! You will go the way of TWA, Eastern, etc. BTW, YOU need ME, more than I need YOU! Duh! Thats how any business works! See Ya!