The painful inconsistency of airline call center agents

I’ve briefly touched on this subject in previous posts, but having just freshly ended another call with the United Airlines “elite” 1K Desk, I feel compelled to make a unique post about the matter. My experiences have ranged from incredible – clone this agent – to – why did I bother calling. The tried &…

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Hilton HHonors – United Airlines promo offering up to 5,000 bonus miles

I received a new Hilton HHonors promotion in my email tonight: It does not appear targeted, though you do have to select United Airlines as your Double Dip partner. Basically, for every two-night or more stay from October 1 to December 11, 2011, you earn 1,000 bonus award miles in Mileage Plus up to a…

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Social media outreach success: Hilton HHonors promo failure resolved via Twitter

Back in August I posted about a targeted offer I received in the mail offering instant Hilton HHonors Gold status and the opportunity to earn bonus points and airline miles after completing five stays. The mailer included a new Gold card and account number with additional verbiage, “If you’re already a HHonors member, please contact…

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Mileage Run Opportunity: $85.10 nets 3,024 United EQMs SEA-SFO-ORD-DSM

United Airlines has a fare out there this afternoon in the Seattle to Des Moines market that nets 3,024 elite qualifying miles. I could not immediately find a zero-night trip or even a one-night stay, so this one is one-way. I found this at 4:00pm PDT, so as always… ACT FAST! Here are the details:…

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Vintage Airline Seat Map: Continental Airlines DC-10-30 (South Pacific)

I previously posted a Continental Airlines “Pub Version†of the Douglas DC-10-10 from the 1980s, and the one appearing below was their long-haul DC-10-30 from the same time period. It’s reported in the Continental Wiki (sourced from a book written by a former Continental manager) that President Jimmy Carter approved Continental to begin flying from…

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Mileage Run Opportunity: $200.80 nets 5,768 Delta MQMs SFO-ATL-EWR-ATL-SFO

Delta Air Lines has a fare out there this morning in the San Francisco to Newark market that nets 5,768 Medallion qualifying miles. Here are the details. Act quick… these shots at another carrier’s market generally don’t last the day. [Edited at 2:04pm PDT: As expected… this fare has been pulled. Hope you got in…

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United Airlines 2011 Family Day event at San Francisco Airport

It was rumored this year that management might have a change of heart in allowing outsiders into the United Airlines Family Day event at San Francisco Airport on October 9, 2011. Fortunately, a few champions opened up some spots to we uber enthusiasts and I luckily got an invite. I went last year and had…

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Quick poll: Which United Airlines ad appeals to you more?

Advertising is an art and I always take a critical eye given my minor in marketing in college and additionally earned a Master’s in Marketing Communications. It’s impossible to create a campaign that everyone equally finds effective and appealing, but that’s just the way people are. I recently posted a disagreement over on Matthew’s blog…

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Amenity Kit Review: Thai Airways Royal First Class (Summer 2011)

I wish U.S. airlines invested in upgrading their amenity kits to compete with many of the foreign carrier ones I’ve scored in my Amenity Kit Reviews series. Here’s another great one featuring Thai Airways’ Royal First Class offering. For a better description of each category, and the 7-point scale for scoring, please review my introductory…

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United optimistic, pilots union not; American fears recession; mileage runners; ridiculous lawsuit; hotels rejoice; DOT changes and Australia’s woes

In other airline, hotel and travel industry news this week… United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek claims he doesn’t see any signs of an “imminent recession” when looking at advance bookings. A combination of capacity discipline and fare increases has kept the carrier in the black. Smisek remarked, “We’re not seeing it in our bookings [or]…

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