United Airlines

United Airlines

File:United Airlines.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign UA UAL UNITED
Founded	1926 (as Boeing Air Transport)
Hubs	O'Hare International Airport Denver International Airport Washington Dulles International Airport San Francisco International Airport Los Angeles International Airport
Focus cities	Narita International Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Mileage Plus
Alliance	Star Alliance
Fleet size	460
Destinations	210
Parent company	UAL Corporation
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Key people	Glenn Tilton (CEO) Jake Brace (CFO)
Website	http://www.united.com/

United Airlines, also known as United Air Lines, Inc. (note that 'Air Lines' is two words) is a major airline of the United States. It is a subsidiary of UAL Corporation with corporate offices in Chicago, Illinois at 77 West Wacker Drive, and its operations base in nearby Elk Grove Township. United's largest hub is O'Hare International Airport, where it has 650 daily departures. Its largest maintenance hub is San Francisco International Airport.

As of July 31, 2006, United is the world's second-largest airline by revenue-passenger-miles (behind American Airlines), third-largest by total operating revenues (behind Air France-KLM and American Airlines), and fourth-largest by total passengers transported (behind American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines). United has 56,000 employees and operates 460 aircraft.

On February 1, 2006, United emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection under which it had operated since December 9, 2002, the largest and longest airline bankruptcy case in history.

History

Early beginnings

UAL traces its claim to be the oldest commercial airline in the United States to the Varney Airlines air mail service of Walter Varney, who also founded Continental Airlines. Varney's chief pilot, Leon D. "Lee" Cuddeback, flew the first Contract Air Mail flight in a Swallow biplane from Varney's headquarters in Boise, Idaho to the railroad mail hub of Pasco, Washington on April 6, 1926 and returned the following day with 200 pounds of mail. April 6 is regarded in the United Airlines company history as both its own birthday and the date on which "true" airline service—operating on fixed routes and fixed schedules—began in the United States. Varney Airlines' original 1925 hangar served as a portion of the terminal building for the Boise Airport until 2003, when the structure was replaced.

In 1927, airplane pioneer William Boeing founded his own airline, Boeing Air Transport, and began buying other airmail carriers, including Varney's. Within four years, Boeing's holdings grew to include airlines, airplane and parts manufacturing companies, and several airports. In 1929, the company changed its name to United Aircraft - Transport Corp. In 1930, as the capacity of airplanes proved sufficient to carry not only mail but also passengers, Boeing Air Transport hired a registered nurse, Ellen Church, to assist passengers. United claims Church as the first airline stewardess.

Following the Air Mail Scandal of 1930, the Air Mail Act of 1934 banned the common ownership of manufacturers and airlines. United Aircraft-Transport's President Philip G. Johnson was forced to resign and moved to Trans-Canada Airlines, the future Air Canada. William Boeing's company was broken into three: a parts supplier (the future United Technologies), an aircraft manufacturer (the Boeing Airplane Company), and an airline group—United Air Lines. The airline company's new president, hired to make a fresh start as airmail contracts were re-awarded in 1934, was William A. Patterson, who remained as president of United Airlines until 1963.

Expansion into a national carrier

An early United 727, on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

United's early route system, formed by connecting air mail routes, operated north-and-south along the West Coast, and east-to-west along a transcontinental route from San Francisco to the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states via Denver, Colorado. The early interconnections made at San Francisco and Denver during this era became the basis of major United hubs in these cities, and still exist today.

During World War II United-trained ground crews modified airplanes for use as bombers, and transported mail, material, and passengers in the war effort. Post-war United benefited from both the wartime development of new airplane technologies (like the pressurized cabin which permitted planes to fly above the weather) and a boom in customer demand for air travel. This was also the period in which Pan American Airways established a Tokyo hub and revived its Pacific route system that would later be acquired by United.

On November 1, 1955, United Airlines Flight 629, which was flying from Stapleton Airport in Denver to Portland, Oregon, was bombed, killing everyone on board. The bomb was planted by a man named Jack Graham who placed the bomb in his mother's luggage with the intent of collecting on her life insurance policy. Graham was executed a year after the explosion. This incident led to the screening of all passenger luggage before boarding (one of many safety changes to be implemented on-going throughout the history of air travel).

The company merged with Capital Airlines on June 1, 1961, making it the world's largest commercial airline and giving it a route network covering the entire United States.

In 1968 the company reorganized, creating UAL Corporation, with United Airlines as a wholly owned subsidiary.

United Airlines has the distinction of being the only commercial airline to have operated Executive One, the designation given to a civilian flight which the U.S. President is aboard. On December 23, 1973, then President Richard Nixon flew as a passenger aboard a United DC-10 flight from Washington Dulles to Los Angeles. It was explained by his staff that this was done in order to conserve fuel by not having to fly the usual Boeing 707 Air Force aircraft.. This however turned out not to be the case as 'Air Force One' flew behind in case of an emergency.

Deregulation

United had begun to seek overseas routes in the 1960s, but the Transpacific Route Case (1969) denied them this expansion. It did not gain an overseas route until 1983, when they began flights to Tokyo from Portland and Seattle. By the end of 1985, United had flights to 13 Pacific destinations, many of which were with route contracts purchased from the ailing Pan Am.

Economic turmoil, labor unrest, and the pressures of the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act greatly affected the company, which incurred losses and saw a greatly increased turnover in its senior management through the 1970s and early 1980s.

In May 1981, one week after rival American Airlines launched AAdvantage, the first frequent flyer program, United launched its Mileage Plus. The Wall Street Journal mistakenly reported United's program to be the first.

In 1982, United became the launch customer for the Boeing 767, taking its first delivery of 767-200s on August 19.

Strike of 1985

On May 17, 1985 United's pilots went on a 29-day strike claiming the CEO, Richard Ferris, was trying to "break the unions." They used management's proposed "B-scale" pilot pay rates as proof. American Airlines already had a B-scale for its pilots. Ferris insisted United had to have pilot costs no higher than American's, so he offered United pilots a "word-for-word" contract to match American's, or the same bottom line numbers. The United ALPA-MEC rejected that offer because it meant they would not get their deferred pay raise. The only choice left, to achieve parity with American's pilot costs, was to begin a B-scale for United's new-hire pilots.

Ferris wanted that B-scale to merge in the captain's ranks, which was more generous than American's B-scale, which never merged at all. In the final hours before the strike, nearly all issues had been resolved, except for the time length of the B-scale. It appeared that would be resolved too as negotiations continued. ALPA negotiators delivered a new counter-proposal at 12:20 A.M. in an effort to avoid the strike. However, MEC Chairman Roger Hall, who was hosting a national teleconference with F. Lee Bailey, declared the strike was on at 12:01 A.M., on May 17, without consulting the negotiators, who believed they were about to agree on all contract terms with United's management negotiators. This struggle cost the airline USD $1 billion, and provoked a long period of labor unrest and financial deterioration that culminated in bankruptcy nearly 20 years later.

Mr. Ferris changed United's parent company's name from UAL Corporation to Allegis in February, 1987 but the name change was short lived mainly due to the difficulty of pronouncing the name in the Pacific Rim. Following Ferris' termination by the board, Allegis divested its non-airline properties in 1987 and reverted to the name UAL Corp. in May, 1988 That helped clear the path for the United Pilots to do an ESOP takeover of United, which eventually did happen in 1994.

Record-setting flight

In 1988, using a 747SP-21 purchased from Pan Am, United flew a 2-stop around-the-world flight to raise money for the Friendship Foundation, to which the plane was 'loaned'. The flight made a very short-lived record; within a month, a Gulfstream IV business jet had broken Friendship One's record.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

The fall of Pan Am offered new opportunities for United. In 1991 the company expanded dramatically, purchasing the routes to London Heathrow Airport, the Asia-Pacific routes and eleven Boeing 747SP-21s from Pan Am. In direct negotiations with the UK government, United also obtained rights to fly to Heathrow from Chicago--the only Heathrow rights provided to a US carrier subsequent to the Bermuda II Treaty. However, the aftermath of the Gulf War and increased competition from low-cost carriers led to losses of USD $332M in 1991 and USD$ 957M in 1992.

File:OKC 2.jpg

A Shuttle by United Boeing 737 aircraft at the gate at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport.

In 1994, United's pilots, machinists, bag handlers and non-contract employees agreed to acquire 55% of company stock in exchange for 15% to 25% salary concessions. The flight attendants were not included in the deal, and at the beginning some wore buttons saying "we just work here." The Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) made United the largest employee-owned corporation in the world. United used the opportunity to create a low-cost subsidiary, Shuttle by United, in an attempt to compete with low-cost carriers.

United made substantial use of its employee-ownership in its marketing communications, with slogans such as "the employee-owners of United invite you to come fly the friendly skies," "we don't just work here," and "thank you for calling United Airlines; please hold and one of our owner-representatives will be with you shortly."

The financial outcomes of the ESOP were decidedly uneven for different players. As part of ESOP agreement, United CEO Wolf resigned and took a consulting job with Lazard Freres, the very investment company he had hired to advise United's board during the ESOP buyout process. Stewart Oran, the key legal advisor to the pilots' union, received a $5.5 million package to join the management of the new employee-owed company as legal counsel after the ESOP was formed. United's unions, having larger voice in running the company, later successfully bargained for significant pay increases, but the effect was only short-term. The rank and file employees were locked in to their stock, which got wiped out in the eventual bankruptcy.

United Airlines Boeing 777 taking off at Schiphol, Amsterdam, in the 1993-2004 livery.

Turn of the century developments

In 1997, United founded the Star Alliance with Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS and Thai Airways. That same year, United opened a major hub at Los Angeles International Airport.

United was a launch customer of the Boeing 777 and had significant input on its design. It was also the first airline to introduce the twin-jet in commercial service.

In 1998, Delta Air Lines and United, introduced a marketing partnership that included a reciprocal redemption agreement between SkyMiles and Mileage Plus programs and shared lounges. This scheme allowed members of either frequent flier program to earn miles on both carriers and utilize both carriers' lounges. Delta and United attempted to form an even cozier codeshare relationship, but this was deal was effectively killed by ALPA. The marketing partnership ended in divorce in 2003, but paved the way for a future alliance with US Airways.

In May 2000, United announced plans to acquire competitor US Airways in a complex deal valued at $11.6 billion. The offer drew immediate scorn from consumer groups and employees of both airlines. By the following year, regulatory sentiment was against the deal, and United withdrew the offer just before the Department of Justice barred the merger on antitrust grounds in July. The two airlines subsequently formed an amicable partnership that led to US Airways' entrance into the Star Alliance.

United Airlines Boeing 777-200 taking off, in current colors

May 2000 also saw a bitter contract dispute between United and its pilots' union. Planning for the busy summer season, United had counted on its pilots flying overtime. However, the pilots could not be forced to work overtime, and most pilots refused to fly the extra hours. Although United knew they would have to cancel numerous flights if this were to happen, they did not hire new pilots to make up for the potential shortage. Over the summer, United had to cancel a large portion of its schedule at its major hubs. Eventually, CEO Jim Goodwin and the rest of the management had to get the pilots back in the cockpits and quickly offered the pilots a 48% increase over four years with up to 28% upfront.

September 11

As part of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, two United Airlines planes were hijacked by al-Qaeda operatives working under the direction of Osama bin Laden, a Boeing 767-222 (Flight 175) that crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, and a Boeing 757-222 (Flight 93) that crashed in rural Pennsylvania. The latter was suspected to have been directed towards either the White House or the United States Capitol building.

Bankruptcy and reorganization

United, with a strong presence on the West coast, benefited from the dot-com boom, which boosted traffic (especially premium traffic) to its San Francisco hub. This increase was only temporary and when the 'bubble' finally burst United was in a worse position than before because it had failed to keep costs under control. Coupled with a battered network (after the dot-com bust), the September 11 attacks, and to a significant extent, skyrocketing oil prices, the company lost $2.14 billion in 2001 on revenues of $16.14 billion. In the same year United applied for a $1.5 billion loan guarantee from the federal Air Transportation Stabilization Board established in the wake of the September 11 attacks. When the mechanics union failed to approve the loan guarantee (while all other unions approved the loan guarantee), the application was rejected in late 2002, the company was forced to seek debtor-in-possession financing from commercial sources to cover the expected future losses.

Unable to secure additional capital, UAL Corporation filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December. The ESOP was terminated, although by then its shares had become virtually worthless. Blame for the bankruptcy has fallen on the events of September 11, which triggered financial crisis in all the major North American airlines. However, the rise of low-cost carriers, labor disputes, and problems within the management structure of the company also contributed significantly.

United continued operations during its bankruptcy, but was forced to cut its costs drastically. Tens of thousands of workers were furloughed, and all city ticket offices in the US closed. The airline canceled several existing and planned routes, and eliminated its entire Latin American gateway and flight crew base at Miami International Airport after March 1, 2004. In 2003, United abandoned its maintenance hubs in Oakland and Indianapolis, and transferred work to its San Francisco Maintenance Operations Center. Furthermore, they reduced their mainline fleet from 557 (before 9/11) to 460 aircraft.

At the same time, the airline continued to invest in new projects. On November 12, 2003, it launched a new low-cost carrier, Ted, to compete with other low-cost airlines. In 2004 it launched its luxury "p.s." (for "premium service") service on re-configured 757s from JFK Airport in New York City to Los Angeles and San Francisco. The service was targeted to business customers and high-end leisure customers in the coast-to-coast market.

Financial pressure on the airline was heavy. The SARS epidemic in 2003 depressed traffic on United's extensive Pacific network. The soaring cost of jet fuel ate away remaining profits. United made, withdrew, and followed several fare hikes on overseas routes, citing rising fuel costs, in 2004 and 2005. Indeed, two days after its triumphant first flight to Vietnam, United announced that it would cut U.S. flight capacity by 14% after the holidays and add more international flights, which were more profitable.

United took advantage of its Chapter 11 status to negotiate hard-to-cut costs with employees, suppliers, and contractors, including cancellation of feeder contracts with United Express Atlantic Coast Airlines (which became Independence Air) and Air Wisconsin (which became a US Airways Express carrier).

Most controversial of all, however, was the 2005 cancellation of its pension plan, the largest such default in U.S. corporate history. It renegotiated its contracts with the pilots' and mechanics' unions for lower pay; however, the Association of Flight Attendants resisted until the bankruptcy court ruled in United's favor. Criticism was also leveled at the CEO, Glenn Tilton, for demanding pay cuts from employees while receiving the highest salary of any major U.S. airline CEO. Although Tilton's salary was the highest in the industry, his pay mix did not include the level of stock options and bonuses granted to his counterparts.

Originally slated to exit bankruptcy protection after 2½ years in the third quarter of 2005, United requested yet another extension in light of record-high fuel prices. On August 26, 2005, the bankruptcy court extended the airline's exclusive right to file a reorganization plan to November 1, although it also stated firmly this extension would be the last. United announced at the same time it had raised $3 billion in exit financing and filed its Plan of Reorganization, as announced, on September 7, 2005.

The bankruptcy court approved the restructuring plan on January 20, 2006, clearing the way for United to exit bankruptcy on February 1, 2006, and finally return to normal operations. Its emergence as a smaller, much more efficient carrier has in turn put additional pressure on its competitors to reduce costs and capacity.

Beyond Chapter 11

On December 9, 2004, the airline made history when UA869 (747-400) landed at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The scheduled flight from San Francisco via Hong Kong was the first by a U.S. airline since the end of the Vietnam War, when Pan Am halted service shortly before the fall of Saigon.

On July 16, 2006, United Airlines announced that it would be moving its headquarters from suburban Elk Grove Village to the Chicago Loop. The Top 350 Executives were moved in the first half of 2007 to 77 West Wacker Drive. The Elk Grove Village campus was renamed an Operations Center.

The Wall Street Journal revealed on December 12, 2006 that Continental Airlines was in merger discussions with United. A deal was not "certain or imminent," with the talks being in a preliminary state.

On April 04, 2007, United and British carrier bmi announced that they would 'effectively merge their trans-Atlantic operations', which would involve strengthening their alliance to a level far more intimate than its current code-share alliance. The merged operations would begin in March 2008, if approved.

Destinations

United Airlines operates 3,600 flights a day to 210 destinations in 30 countries from hubs in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Further information: United Airlines destinations

Further information: Previous United Airlines destinations

Route network

United's logo as seen at United hub Denver International Airport.

United operates an extensive domestic route network concentrated in the Midwestern and Western United States. United is also prominent in transcontinental, transatlantic, and transpacific service. It is by far the leading US carrier to Hawaii and largest to Asia and Australia, flying 26,152,441,000 transpacific revenue passenger miles in 2006 or 306 weekly departures; from July 2005-June 2006, United carried 3.5 million passengers to/from the Hawaiian Islands.

United is the only US carrier which operates its own aircraft from the US mainland to Australia (Hawaiian Airlines flies from Honolulu to Sydney and Continental Micronesia, a wholly owned subsidary of Continental Airlines maintains a route from Guam to Cairns). United Airlines is the only US carrier to serve Vietnam and Kuwait.

In 1988, the bilateral treaty with Japan was amended to allow additional routes between the two countries. United's application to fly from Chicago to Tokyo, a significant gap in its routes previously, was approved. United may have been astute in its application by only requesting this one route while other competitors, most notably American Airlines, asked for many routes and advocated that it be granted the entire new allowance of routes.

United operates a low-cost leisure brand called Ted. The name is taken from the last three letters of its parent United. Ted serves leisure destinations within the United States and Mexico with 240+ daily flights utilizing 57 aircraft. Ted was created to compete with other low-cost airlines like Frontier and Southwest Airlines. After unsuccesful attempts by other U.S. airlines such as Delta with its "Song Airlines" to create a low-fare subsidary, Ted is the only "airline-within-an-airline" left in the U.S.

United is focusing on its international presence, notably in the People's Republic of China (with nonstop flights to Beijing and Shanghai from its hubs in Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.). The airline also hopes to begin flying to Guangzhou from San Francisco in the near future. These routes offer a higher proportion of premium fare passengers while being relatively insulated from the cutthroat competition in the domestic market, especially from low-cost carriers. United competes vigorously with discount carriers on about 70 percent of its domestic market. United has also focused more on Latin America, a region from which it had largely retreated in the last decade, and added new destinations and frequencies to Mexico and the Caribbean and will continue to do so into the next decade.

Fleet

As of June 2007, United operates 460 aircraft with average fleet age of 12 years .

United Airlines Fleet

Aircraft	Total	Passengers (First/Business/Economy)	Primary Routes
Airbus A319-100	55	120 (8/112)	Domestic/Canada, Mexico/Caribbean
Airbus A320-200	97	138 (12/126) 156 (0/156) (Ted)	Domestic/Canada, Mexico/Caribbean
Boeing 737-300	64	120 (8/112) 128 (8/120)	Domestic/Canada
Boeing 737-500	30	104 (8/96) 110 (8/102)	Domestic/Canada
Boeing 747-400	30	347 (14/73/260)	Transatlantic and Transpacific
Boeing 757-200	97	110 (12/26/72) p.s. 182 (24/158)	3-class JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO 2-class Domestic/Canada and Hawai'i
Boeing 767-300ER	35	193 (10/32/151) 244 (34/210)	3-class Transatlantic and Latin America 2-class Domestic and Hawai'i
Boeing 777-200 Boeing 777-200ER	20 32	253 (10/45/198) 258 (12/49/197) 348 (36/312)	3-class Transatlantic and Transpacific 2-class Domestic and Hawai'i

^{Business Class available on select three class configurations.}

United was the launch customer for a number of aircraft types, including the Douglas DC-10 (with American Airlines) and several Boeing aircraft: the 727 (with Eastern Air Lines), the 737-200, the 767, and the 777. Although not a launch customer, jet aircraft operated by United has included the Lockheed L-1011, Douglas (later McDonnell Douglas) DC-8, and Sud (later Aerospatiale) Caravelle. In 1965, United placed an order for 6 BAC/Sud (now BAe and Aerospatiale) Concordes but the order was later canceled.

United is one of only two passenger airlines in the United States to operate the Boeing 747, currently the largest commercial passenger transport in service, with the other being Northwest Airlines. There are several cargo airlines in the United States operating 747s.

Cabin

File:N775UA.jpg

United's current livery, introduced in 2004, is seen here on Boeing 777-200

United offers three different classes of travel: UnitedFirst, UnitedBusiness, and UnitedEconomy/UnitedEconomy Plus. United is the only U.S. airline that offers three-class service on all long-haul international services. International UnitedBusiness and UnitedFirst all offer access to the Red Carpet Club. Features of the lounges include refreshments, alcohol products for purchase, Wi-Fi Internet access and other business services. Passengers also get the privilege of using Star Alliance member lounges. United offers its Premium Service (p.s.) product on its New York-Los Angeles and New York-San Francisco routes. The product is offered on Boeing 757-200 aircraft and offers three classes of travel: UnitedFirst, UnitedBusiness, and UnitedEconomy Plus.

United offers in-flight entertainment on all mainline aircraft, with music programming supplied by XM Satellite Radio. In mid-2007, United will feature docking capability for Apple Inc.'s iPod portable music and video player. This will allow the device's battery to be charged, but will also allow integration with United's In-flight Entertainment (IFE) system. This will also enable the IFE system to play music, television shows, or movies stored on the iPod, as well as function as a control system.

UnitedFirst

• UnitedFirst Suite is offered on international Boeing 777-200s and all Boeing 747-400s, features a 78 inch pitch flat-bed seat that reclines to 180 degrees. UnitedFirst passengers check in at special desks and receive an invitation to the United First International Lounge or United Red Carpet Club. Passengers are given priority boarding and priority baggage. On board, passengers enjoy pre-takeoff beverages, table linens and lead-crystal glasses. UnitedFirst suite passengers are served a five course meal, and a personal entertainment unit featuring nine channels of video as well as an additional fourteen feature film titles. Also, passengers have access to personal phones and laptop power ports, as well noise-canceling headsets and comfy pillows and duvets. On Boeing 767-300 aircraft, UnitedFirst consists of a cradle seat offering 64 inches of pitch, although all other features (such as the entertainment) and services remain the same.

• Domestic UnitedFirst is offered on all two-class Boeing 777-200 and Boeing 767-300 aircraft as well as all narrow-body aircraft, except the p.s. Boeing 757-200s, which offer a better product. Domestic UnitedFirst includes a cradle seat similar to the international UnitedBusiness seat without the personal reading lamps, leg/foot rests, and personal entertainment units. A 38 inch pitch is offered, along with priority boarding and baggage, pre-departure beverages, complimentary meals, and separate check-in desks. For domestic travel, the Red Carpet Club is limited to members-only.

• UnitedFirst on p.s. aircraft offers twelve lie-flat, leather-trimmed seats, with a 68 inch pitch, along with an individual handheld DVD player offering ten entertainment choices through noise-reducing headsets. Passengers enjoy new menus offering full meals, chocolates, and signature champagne cocktails, as well as an invitation to Red Carpet Clubs and United First International Lounges. Seats include personal reading lights, privacy screens, laptop power ports, and personal phones.

UnitedBusiness

• UnitedBusiness is offered on most international Boeing 767-300 and on most Boeing 777-200s and all Boeing 747-400s. These cradle seats consist of a 55 inch pitch and 150 degree recline, as well personal phones and laptop power ports. In-flight service includes pre-departure beverages, table linens and lead-crystal glasses, and three course meals. Passengers are also treated to priority boarding and baggage. Each seat includes an individual entertainment system offering nine channels of movies and noise-reducing headsets.

• UnitedBusiness on p.s. aircraft offers twenty-six spacious leather cradle-seats with a 54 inch pitch, individual handheld DVD players offering ten entertainment choices through noise-reducing headsets, new menus including chocolates and champagne cocktails, as well as personal phones, reading lights, and laptop power ports.

UnitedEconomy

• UnitedEconomy International is offered on international flights. It is available on the Boeing 747-400, 767-300, and 777-200 aircraft. Seats range from 17 to 18 inches wide, and have 31 inches of pitch. All UnitedEconomy seats feature an adjustable headrest and personal television(PTV) in the seatback except for the Boeing 747-400 which does not have PTVs. United Airlines' in-flight entertainment system features nine channels of entertainment, along with audio channels. The Boeing 747-400 features overhead monitors and projector screens to play movies during the flight. United serves complimentary meals on most international flights between the US, South America, Europe, the South Pacific and Asia. Shortly after takeoff, customers are served a beverage with cocktail snacks, complimentary soft drinks and liquors, beer and wine. Alcoholic beverages are complimentary on trans-pacific and intra-Asia flights and available for $5.00 on other international flights. The main meal consists of a salad, an appetizer, a choice of hot entrées and dessert. On longer flights, United also offers a light pre-arrival meal.

• UnitedEconomy Domestic is offered on domestic flights. It is available on the Airbus A319, A320, Boeing 737-300, 737-500, 757-200, 767-300, and 777-200 aircraft. Seats range from 17 to 18 inches wide, and have between 31 and 32 inches of pitch. All UnitedEconomy seats feature an adjustable headrest. On Ted flights over 3 hours and United flights between 3 and 5 hours in length, snackboxes are available for a fee. On United flights of 5 or more hours, fresh sandwiches and salads, as well as snackbox options are also available for a fee. Beverages are complimentary except for alcoholic beverages which can be purchased for $5.00. All aircraft with UnitedEconomy feature overhead in-flight entertainment except Boeing 737 family aircraft.

• UnitedEconomy Plus is similar to UnitedEconomy Domestic, but offers an additional 4-6 inches of space although cabin service is the same. Seats in this section are reserved for Premier, Premier Executive and 1K members of Mileage Plus, and Economy Plus subscribers.

Mileage Plus

File:United mileagepluslogo.jpg

Frequent flier programs started in their current form in 1981. United began one week after American Airlines started the first program. United's program is called Mileage Plus. Over the years, the program has been devalued in many ways. Initially, there was no expiration of mileage credits. This later was changed to 3 years. On January 19, 2007, United announced the latest restriction, consisting of mileage expiration in 18 months where accounts with no activity will have their miles canceled on December 31, 2007. This was portrayed as an enhancement because it would allow travelers who fly often to redeem awards easier after the accounts with little activity but with a significant amount of miles were canceled. Other new restrictions have included requiring a Saturday night stay for domestic (USA) coach awards.

Other enhancements whose benefits are clearer have included the introduction of partner airlines. Over the years, these have changed. For example, in 1987, passengers on KLM flights could receive Mileage Plus credits but this is no longer possible. Airlines who are part of the Star Alliance, such as Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and others participate in a program enabling passengers on these airlines to receive Mileage Plus credits.

Another example of true enhancements has been the domestic coach award. In 1981, it was 50,000 miles. This was reduced to 20,000 miles. Currently, it is 25,000 miles although the number of seats are limited and sometimes 50,000 miles are required when there are no seats at the 25,000 mile award level. Every now and then, United introduces Short-haul awards. These reduced mile awards are valid for round trip travel in which a one way flight is less than 7500 miles. These routes, then, only require 15,000 miles. The last time period in which this offer was available ended February 28, 2007.

Elite level membership, which has added benefits over the standard level membership, is a feature that was not initially part of the program.

Premier Associate is a new elite level created in 2006 that can be gifted by elite members as a reward for reaching certain plateaus. Privileges are much like Premier members and get access to Economy Plus seating, but does not include the 500-mile e-upgrades or the 25% mileage bonus on flown miles.

Premier members, who accumulate at least 25,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) or fly 30 segments, are offered priority boarding, free access to Economy Plus seating, upgrade privileges from any fare, complimentary 500-mile e-upgrades and a 25% mileage bonus on flown miles.

Premier Executive members fly at least 50,000 EQM or 60 segments, and receive all Premier benefits plus a 100% mileage bonus, higher upgrade priority and access to exit row seating in advance of flight.

1K (also known as Premier Executive 1K) members fly at least 100,000 EQMs or 100 segments, and receive all Premier Executive benefits plus six complimentary System-wide Upgrades good for a one-class upgrade anywhere United flies, along with the ability to earn confirmable CR-1 upgrades valid across United's North and Latin American route system.

Global Services is a by-invitation-only program to recognize United's most valued customers. Invitation criteria is not published or made public by United. Benefits vary by airport but differ little from 1K status other than: priority for upgrades, greater flexibility with ticket changes, and access to First Class lounge areas and First Class only security lines at some airports (very few). Customer service support via a dedicated Global Services line is also significantly more responsive than other customer service numbers as is internet based e-mail support.

Red Carpet Club

The Red Carpet Club is United Airlines airport lounge. It includes 40 lounges in 34 major airports around the world. Club membership is available to the public for an annual fee, and includes access to all Red Carpet Clubs along with reciprocal access to US Airways Clubs and Star Alliance Gold lounges when traveling on those carriers. Premier, Premier Executive and 1K members of Mileage Plus are offered discounted membership options. Despite the name, the carpeting in the Red Carpet Club lounges is not typically red. In SFO, for example, it's brown and blue.

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Interior of United Red Carpet Club at Orlando International Airport, Florida, USA. Note the blue carpet.

Locations

Atlanta-Hartsfield/Jackson Baltimore/Washington (BWI) Bangkok Boston Buenos Aires Chicago-O'Hare (4) Dallas/Fort Worth Denver (2) Frankfurt Hong Kong Honolulu London-Heathrow

Los Angeles Melbourne Mexico City Minneapolis/St. Paul Newark-Liberty New York-JFK New York-LaGuardia Orange County Orlando Osaka-Kansai Paris-CDG

Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, OR San Diego San Francisco (2) São Paulo Seattle\Tacoma Sydney Tokyo-Narita Washington-Dulles (3) Washington-Reagan

Codeshare agreements

In addition to its Star Alliance and United Express partnerships, United codeshares with the following airlines as of December 2006:

Aloha Airlines Grupo Taca, including Lacsa and Aviateca SNCF French Rail (United GroundLink Partner)

United also has marketing agreements with the following airlines:

Aeromar Air Dolomiti (a subsidiary company of Deutsche Lufthansa AG) Air China Aloha Airlines Austrian Airlines BWIA

Great Lakes Airlines Gulfstream International Airlines flights operated for Continental Connection Emirates Airlines Qatar Airways Shanghai Airlines Virgin Blue

Incidents and accidents

Main page: Category:United Airlines flights

1930s	NC13304
1940s	Flight 608
1950s	Flight 610	Flight 615	Flight 409	Flight 629	Flight 718
1960s	Flight 826	Flight 859	Flight 297	Flight 823	Flight 389	Flight 227	Flight 266
1970s	Flight 553	Flight 173
1980s	Flight 811	Flight 232
1990s	Flight 585	Flight 826	Flight 863
2000s	Flight 175	Flight 93

In popular culture

• United Airlines has been used in several films including: The Terminal with Tom Hanks, which takes place at New York's JFK Airport, and 1962's unfinished Something's Got to Give in which Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, and Cyd Charisse fly from Honolulu to San Francisco aboard a United jet. The airline was also the focus of 2006's United 93, which recounted the story of the 9/11 hijacking and subsequent crash in Pennsylvania.

• A United DC-8 is featured in the film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, starring Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn, and Spencer Tracy.

• United was featured prominently in a number of episodes of Hawaii Five-O.

• In Sesame Street Episodes 1090-1095 (December 23-30, 1977), the cast including Big Bird and stowaway, Snuffleupagus, traveled to Hawaii to visit Buffy St. Marie. They boarded United Flight 5 at JFK to HNL. Big Bird had a hard time getting comfortable in the plane's cabin.

• United Airlines was also on the Film Rush Hour where officer Lee Jackie Chan was onboard the flight from LAX to HKG and Officer Carter went onboard dressed as a Ramp agent for United trying to get him off to resolve the little girl's ransom. United was also featured in the sequel Rush Hour 2.

• In Sleepless in Seattle both Sam (Tom Hanks) and his son Jonah (Ross Malinger) fly from Seattle to New York on United.

• In Jerry Maguire, Jerry (Tom Cruise) flys United Airlines back from a Sports Convention.

Brand

United adopted a red, white and blue shield logo in 1936, but its use varied widely and was eventually abandoned altogether in the early 1970s. In 1974, the airline commissioned designer Saul Bass to develop a new logo. The "tulip" logo of colored stripes representing overlapping letter "U"s remains in use today with only slight modification.

The early slogan "The Main Line Airway," emphasizing its signature New York-Chicago-San Francisco route, was replaced in 1965 with "Fly the Friendly Skies." The "friendly skies" tagline was used until 1996. Other United Slogans include:

• "The Great White Way to New York" (1971-1972)
• "The Friendly Skies of your land" (also known as "Mother Country") (1972-1976)
• "You're the boss" (1976-1977), "United we fly" (1977-1978)
• "That's what friendly skies are all about" (1980)
• "You're not just flying, you're flying the Friendly Skies" (mid 1980s)
• "Come fly the airline that's uniting the world. Come fly the Friendly Skies" (late 1980s)
• "Come fly our Friendly Skies" (The early ESOP years)
• "United - Rising" during the mid 1990s
• "We Are United" following the September 11 incident.
• "Relax, Stretch Out" with the rollout of EconomyPlus
• "It's time to fly" for the animation commercials (voiced over by Robert Redford), banners, and magazine advertisements of the "It's Time to Fly" campaign.

United's theme song is George Gershwin's 1924 "Rhapsody in Blue", which it licensed from Gershwin's estate for $500,000. "Rhapsody" would have entered the public domain in 2000, but the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 extended its copyright another 20 years.

See also

• United Center

References

United Advertisement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VywUQz-DtHs

External links

Official

• United Airlines
  • Worldwide sites
• Ted
• Star Alliance

History

• A Chicago Tribune Special Report: United's rhapsody of blues
• Super70s.com: United Airlines

Fleet information

• United Airlines Fleet Age
• United Airlines Seating Charts on SeatGuru.com
• Past Fleet