United Airlines

• Chicago O'Hare (ORD) is UA's official headquarters and a major hub for flights across the network. In addition to providing a comprehensive selection of flights to destinations throughout Canada, the United States [S], Mexico, and the Caribbean [S], United Airlines offers several daily non-stop flights to Asia [S] (Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo-Narita [S]) and Europe [S] (Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London-Heathrow, Munich, and Paris-CDG). Sao Paulo [S], Brazil is served daily as well. Star Alliance [S] partners offer United customers several additional options through codeshare operations. All mainline United flights depart from Terminal 1, where passengers can enjoy the spectacular lightshow in the famous underground tunnel that links Concourses B and C. Although some United Express flights operate from Terminal 1, most United Express passengers can expect to pass through the smaller and older Terminal 2. NOTE: Although most United Express flights actually utilize Terminal 2, all ticketing and baggage facilities are located in Terminal 1. All incoming international flights (except those from coming from pre-cleared Canadian and Caribbean cities) will arrive in Terminal 5, requiring connecting passengers to disembark here, clear passport control and Customs, present themselves to an airline rep to re-check bags and then transfer back to Terminals 1 or 2 for their re-boarding procedures.
• Denver (DEN) is UA's second largest hub. Though it is a busy waypoint for passengers traveling across the United States, virtually all flights are regional in nature. United does serve several cities in Canada, Hawaii, and Mexico from Denver [S]; there is seasonal service during the summer to London-Heathrow as well. United operates exclusively from Concourse B, by far the largest and longest concourse at the airport. United Express passengers can enjoy the brand new regional wing of the concourse, having just opened to cater specifically to the rapidly growing regional jet and turboprop operations.
• Los Angeles (LAX) is the smallest of United's five major hubs. Even so, Los Angeles is still a very common stopover for travelers flying to and from Hawaii and Australia. United offers non-stop service to London-Heathrow, Sydney and Tokyo-Narita. Melbourne is served via Sydney. United Airlines operates the majority of its flights from Terminal 7 where it is equipped with customs halls for almost-exclusive use of United passengers. Some mainline flights and some international arrivals utilize Terminal 6, while United Express flights arrive and depart from Terminal 8.
• San Francisco (SFO) is UA's major West Coast hub. Non-stop service is offered to Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London-Heathrow, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo-Narita. United operates domestic flights from Terminal 3's Boarding Area F, while international flights depart from the International Terminal's Boarding Area G. International arrivals use the International Terminal and deplane through side doors to the US CBP hall [S]. Passengers need to re-check bags if making a connection and then clear security at the terminal of departure.
• Washington Dulles [S] (IAD) is UA's key hub on the East Coast. There are a plethora of feeder flights to the eastern states and Midwest and several transcontinental flights offered; however, this hub is most notable for handling many of United's transatlantic flights (Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London-Heathrow, Munich, Paris-CDG, Rome, Geneva, and Zurich), as well as a number of flights to South America [S] (Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo) and, most recently, non-stop services to Kuwait, Tokyo, Dubai, Moscow, and Beijing. United uses the Midfield terminal. Those arriving internationally go to the main terminal in mobile lounges from either the MFT or a hardstand.
• Tokyo-Narita(NRT) is its Asian hub and the airport has international transfer facilities and domestic transfer belts.

United offers 3-class service on international and JFK-LAX/SFO flights and 2-class service on most domestic flights, including feeder flights on Canadair CRJ-700 and Embraer 170 regional jets. However, prop planes and the Canadair CRJ-200 and Embraer 145 only have economy class.

Uniquely among major US airlines, United sets apart the first few rows of economy class as Economy Plus [S], which has five extra inches of legroom. Economy Plus seating is given to ticketed economy passengers who:

1. hold elite status in the Mileage Plus program (see below);
2. subscribe to "Economy Plus Access" on an annual basis; or
3. pay an additional fee at check-in or purchase, which varies based on the duration of the flight.

Economy Plus [S] is available on most aircraft, including two-class commuter aircraft but not on one-class commuter aircraft (i.e. prop planes, CRJ-200s, and ERJ-145s).

• 747-400s [S] are used on a few major intercontinental (mainly transpacific) routes. While first and business class on these planes is top-quality (flat beds in first class), the 777's economy class product is much better, as the 747s only have bulkhead video screens back. There is business class seating on the main deck and the upper deck: the upper deck seats are generally preferred, as the main deck seats form a ring around the galleys and upper deck access stairs, making this part of the cabin much more hectic than business class upstairs (or on the 777). However, recently, United has undergone an upgrade of its business and first class cabins with business class seats turning into "flat beds" and with Audio-Video on Demand in its top two classes. However, economy class did not change. This transformation has been completed on United's entire 747-400 fleet.
• 777-200s [S] are used on most intercontinental routes, and have flat beds in first class. Note that United's 777-200 fleet has no yet (as of April 2010) been upgraded to the new first and business class. Economy class has personal video screens at each seat. Another version is used for flights to Hawaii and has only domestic first class and economy seating. The domestic version of the 777 does not offer personal video in either class of service - projection screens and overhead monitors used.
• 767-300s [S] are used on international routes which do not warrant 777 service. These aircraft have all been updated with United's International Premium Travel Experience (IPTE) featuring fully flat beds in business. Like the 777, there is also a two-class domestic version mainly used for flights to Hawaii. The domestic version of the 767 does not offer personal video in either class of service - projection screens and overhead monitors used.
• 757s are mainly used on medium-range and transcontinental flights. Most have two classes of service. However, if you are flying from New York JFK to Los Angeles or San Francisco, the 757s used on these routes have three-class premium service [S] similar to what you would get on an international flight, with lie-flat seats (not beds) in first class and a roomy business class. This is to compete with American Airlines' nearly identical service which uses larger but older 767-200s.
• A320s [S] and A319s [S] are used on other medium-range flights, and may be swapped out for one another despite what your reservation or the timetable says. Many A320s are being reconfigured to feature leather seating in all classes.

United's frequent flyer program is called Mileage Plus [S].

Mileage Plus [S] members can earn miles when flying on any Star Alliance [S] carrier, as well as Air One (Italy), Emirates (Dubai), Island Air (Hawaii), Qatar Airways, TACA Airlines (Central America [S]) and TAM (Brazil). All paid flights on United and United Express earn full mileage, while mileage accrual on partner airlines depends on the fare paid from zero to 100% of flight mileage. In addition, miles can be earned with a variety of travel, retail, and financial partners.

Miles can be redeemed for award flights on any of the airlines listed above, subject to availability. For itineraries exclusively involving flights on United or United Express, it is also possible to pay double the mileage to bypass capacity controls.

Miles can also be redeemed for single class of service upgrades on United or United Express, subject to availability and depending on the original fare paid. Mileage upgrades are not available on partner airlines, however; United has suspended its participation in the Star Alliance [S] upgrade program indefinitely.

Mileage Plus [S] miles cannot be transferred into other programs, but can also be redeemed for hotel stays, car rentals, and some newspaper and magazine offerings.

Elite status is earned based on the number of elite qualifying miles (EQMs) or elite qualifying segments (EQSs) flown in a calendar year on United, United Express, or any other Star Alliance [S] carrier (but not the other airline partners listed above). Elite flyers are given certain priority checkin, boarding, and standby privileges, as well as bonus miles, and the ability to accrue electronic certificates which provide class of service upgrades, among other benefits.

The basic status levels are:

• Premier Associate [S] - a "gifted" status - Star Alliance [S] Silver
• Premier [S] - 25,000 EQMs or 30 EQSs - Star Alliance Silver
• Premier Executive [S] - 50,000 EQMs or 60 EQSs - Star Alliance Gold
• Premier Executive 100K [S], or simply 1K - 100,000 EQMs or 120 EQSs - Star Alliance Gold

In addition, United has created a somewhat mysterious "fifth tier" known as Global Services [S] (GS). GS status is tied to revenue, instead of miles or flight segments flown, and is obtained by invitation only. GS members have priority over even 1Ks for upgrades and standby for flights, and are provided other special perks as well. However, as United does not publish the criteria used for invitation, or a comprehensive list of benefits, only anecdotal information about the program is available.

A Million Miler [S], one who has flown 1 million miles on United aircraft, receives Premier Executive [S] status for life. Additionally, Red Carpet Club [S] for life is granted at 2 million miles. At 3 million miles the cardholder receives 1K status for life.

United's main lounge network is called the Red Carpet Club [S]. The RCCs offer light refreshments such as fruit and crackers, complimentary soft drinks and alcoholic beverages plus free WiFi. The RCCs are open to paying RCC members as well as Star Alliance [S] Gold members; Continental, United, and US Airways Star Alliance Gold members are only granted access when on a same-day international itinerary on a Star Alliance carrier, however. One-time passes are available for $50.

Ten airports also have a First International Lounge [S] open to first class passengers on international itineraries, and six have an Arrivals Suite [S] where international first and business class passengers arriving before noon can take a shower and eat breakfast. These lounges are not open to elites by virtue of their elite status, and can only be accessed by passengers in those cabins.

Text content was last edited at 07:17, on 23 November 2011 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Eco84, Bill Ellett, Stefan Ertmann and Jason J Cho, Wikitravel user(s) ColoBill4 and QualityControl3533, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel. This text content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.