United Airlines
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2008-07-16T23:30:54Z
Mlaroche
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/* Passenger */ The idea of bringing back the 737s into service needs a citation
{{Infobox Airline
|airline= United Airlines
|logo = United Airlines.svg
|logo_size = 250
|IATA = UA
|ICAO = UAL
|callsign = UNITED
|parent = [[UAL Corporation]]
|founded = 1926 (as Boeing Air Transport)
|headquarters = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
|key_people = [[Glenn F. Tilton]] ([[CEO]])<br>Jake Brace ([[CFO]])
|hubs =
<div>
*[[O'Hare International Airport]] (Chicago)
*[[Denver International Airport]]
*[[Washington Dulles International Airport]]
*[[San Francisco International Airport]]
*[[Los Angeles International Airport]]
</div>
<div>
|| frequent_flyer = [[#Mileage Plus|Mileage Plus]]
|lounge = [[Red Carpet Club]]
|alliance = [[Star Alliance]]
|fleet_size = 455 (+42 deferred orders)
|destinations = 210
|ticket_stock = 016
|company_slogan = It's Time to Fly
|website = http://www.united.com/
}}
'''United Air Lines, Inc.''', trading as '''United Airlines''', is a [[major carrier|major airline]] of the [[United States]].<ref>[http://av-info.faa.gov/detail.asp?DSGN_CODE=UALA&OPER_FAR=121&OPER_NAME=UNITED+AIR+LINES+INC Federal Aviation Administration{{ndash}} Airline Certificate Information{{ndash}} Detail View<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It is a subsidiary of [[UAL Corporation]] with corporate offices in [[Chicago]] at [[77 West Wacker Drive]], and its operations base in nearby [[Elk Grove Village, Illinois|Elk Grove Township]]. United's largest [[airline hub|hub]] is [[O'Hare International Airport]], where it has 650 daily departures. United also has hubs in [[Denver International Airport]], [[Washington Dulles International Airport]], [[San Francisco International Airport]], and [[Los Angeles International Airport]]. Its largest maintenance hub is the Maintenance Operations Center at [[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 <ref>[http://www.united.com/press/detail/0,6862,57187-1,00.html United Airlines press release] January 9, 2007</ref> and operates 460 [[aircraft]].
On [[February 1]], [[2006]], United emerged from [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11]] [[bankruptcy]] protection under which it had operated since [[December 9]], [[2002]], the largest and longest airline bankruptcy case in the history of the industry.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-03-10-ual-bankruptcy-fees_x.htm USATODAY.com{{ndash}} United's bankruptcy tab: $335 million-plus in fees<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In February 2008, [[UAL Corporation]] and [[Continental Airlines]] Inc. began advanced stages of merger negotiations and were expected to announce their decision in the immediate aftermath of a definitive merger agreement between rival [[Delta Airlines]] and [[Northwest Airlines]].<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-fri_airlinesfeb15,0,3837947.story United stands ready to merge{{ndash}} chicagotribune.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The timing of the events was notable because Northwest's [[golden shares]] in Continental (that gave Northwest veto authority against any merger involving Continental) could be redeemed, freeing Continental to pursue a marriage with United. On [[April 27]], [[2008]], Continental broke off merger negotiations with United and stated it was going to stand alone.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/business/28air.html Continental Abandons Merger Talks With United - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Despite ending merger talks, Continental is reportedly in discussion with United about a possible switch from the [[SkyTeam]] Alliance to United's [[Star Alliance]].<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aFsFbEvzBcOw&refer=news Bloomberg.com: U.S<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5780959.html</ref>
On [[April 27]], [[2008]] it was reported that [[UAL Corporation]] and [[US Airways Group|US Airways Group, Inc.]] were in the advanced stages of merger negotiations as well. Sources stated that a merger was expected to be announced within two weeks of the report.<ref>[http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/economy/report-united-airways-advanced-talks-merge/ Report: United, US Airways in 'Advanced Talks' to Merge - FOXBusiness.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> United pilots vociferously rejected the proposal and vowed to fight it.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSWBT00889820080430 UAL pilots leader pans possible merger with US Air | Reuters<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Star Alliance co-founder [[Lufthansa Airlines]] CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber threw his support behind a marriage of partner carriers United and US Airways.<ref>[http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=12718 ATW: Lufthansa's Mayrhuber sees value in United-US Airways merger but not investment<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
On [[June 4]], [[2008]], United announced it would close its [[Ted (airline)|Ted]] unit.<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087</ref> The ex-Ted Airbus aircraft will be reconfigured and returned to [[Mainline (flight)|mainline]] configuration; to compensate the removal of United's [[Boeing 737]]s that are set to be retired, reducing the mainline fleet from 460 to 360 aircraft and furthering the airline's goal of cutting domestic capacity by 15 percent.<ref>http://www.united.com/press/detail/0,6862,59390,00.html</ref><ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121262649119247029.html?mod=googlenews_wsj</ref>
==History==
===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]]. It was founded in [[Boise, Idaho]]. 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 [[railfroad]] mail hub of [[Pasco, Washington]] on [[April 6]], [[1926]] and returned the following day with 200 pounds of mail<ref>History of Flight in the US [http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/flying/seventy_five_years.htm Seventy-Five Years United]</ref>. April 6 is regarded in the United Airlines company history as both its own birthday<ref>United Airlines Website, United History[http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,2281,00.html Era 1: 1910-1925]</ref> 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.
[[Image:ua.b767-300er.n649ua.arp.jpg|thumb|right|[[Boeing 767-300ER]]]]
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{{ndash}} 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]]<ref>[http://www.thearticlewriter.com/OriginalEight.htm The Original Eight: Genesis of the Modern Day Flight Attendant]</ref>.
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===
[[Image:Boeing 727 (MSI).JPG|thumb|left|An early United [[Boeing 727|727]], on display at the [[Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)|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 of the United States|West Coast]], and east-to-west along a transcontinental route from [[San Francisco]] via [[Denver, Colorado]] to [[Chicago]] in the [[Midwest]] and on to [[Washington, DC]]. The early interconnections during this era became the basis of major United [[Airline hub|hubs]] in these cities, and still exist today.
On the night of [[October 11]], [[1933]], a United [[Boeing 247]] exploded in mid-air and crashed near [[Chesterton, Indiana]], killing all seven aboard. Investigation revealed that the explosion was caused by a [[nitroglycerin]] bomb placed in the baggage hold. The [[United Airlines Chesterton Crash]] is believed to be the first proven case of air [[sabotage]] in commercial aviation history. No suspects or motives were ever found.
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 [[Cabin pressurization|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, Colorado|Denver]] to [[Portland, Oregon]], was bombed, killing everyone on board. The bomb was planted by a man named [[Jack Gilbert Graham|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. <ref>[http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/mass/jack_graham/index.html Sabotage: The downing of Flight 629{{ndash}} The Crime Library{{ndash}} The Crime library<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
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.<ref>[http://openweb.tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/1973-12/1973-12-27-CBS-8.html President / Commercial Airline Flight CBS News broadcast from the Vanderbilt Television News Archive<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. 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, Oregon|Portland]] and [[Seattle]]. In 1985, United agreed to purchase Pan American World Airways' entire Pacific Division, Boeing 747SPs, and L-1011-500s for $750 million. By the end of 1986, United operated flights to 13 Pacific destinations, most of which were purchased from the ailing [[Pan American World Airways]].
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.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
In 1982, United became the launch customer for the [[Boeing 767]], taking its first delivery of 767-200s on August 19.
===Strike of 1985===
[[Image:737-522.jpg|thumb|left|[[Boeing 737-500]].]]
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.<ref>"Pilot Labor History-1985" ''[[Strike thwarted attempt to break pilots' union|ALPA]]''. [http://cf.alpa.org/internet/safetytimeline/Labor1980s.htm]</ref> [[American Airlines]] already had a non-merging B-scale for its pilots.<ref>"ALPA-MEC letter 6-7-85" ''[[Letter to all UAL pilots, explaining details of the last minute negotiations]]''</ref> 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. The only choice left, to achieve parity with American's pilot costs, was to begin a B-scale for United's new-hire pilots.<ref>"Hard Landing" ''[[1995, by Thomas Petzinger, Chapter 10]]''</ref>
Ferris wanted that B-scale to merge in the [[Pilot in command|captain's ranks]], which was more generous than American's B-scale, that never merged at all. But, the ALPA MEC insisted they merge in the new pilot's sixth-year with the airline. In the final hours before the strike, nearly all issues had been resolved, except for the time length of the B-scale.<ref>"ALPA-MEC letter 5-17-85" ''[[Letter to all UAL pilots, explaining the remaining issues when the strike was called]]''</ref> 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]] from the Odeum (a convention center in the Chicago suburbs) with F. Lee Bailey, declared the strike was on at 12:01 A.M., on May 17, without further consulting the negotiators, some of whom believed they could find agreement on all contract terms, if the negotiations were allowed to continue. Moments before the ALPA announced strike deadline, they began a "countdown of the final 30 seconds from Chicago" (the Odeum teleconference). Doing that made it impossible to extend the strike deadline, so that the final issues could be resolved without a strike. <ref>"UAL letter, 5-21-85" ''[[Letter to all UAL pilots, explaining the remaining issues when the strike was called]]''</ref><ref>"Airline Pilot Magazine, July 1985" ''[[Standing United, pages 8-15]]''</ref>
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.{{Or|date=June 2008}}{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
Mr. Ferris changed United's parent company's name from UAL Corporation to Allegis in February, 1987 but the name change was short lived. <ref name="AgainUAL"> "[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5D9103EF934A15756C0A96E948260 United's Parent Is Again UAL]." ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> <ref>"United Once More." ''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]''. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964764-2,00.html 2]</ref> Following Ferris' termination by the board, Allegis divested its non-airline properties in 1987 and reverted to the name UAL Corp. in May, 1988 <ref name="AgainUAL"/> That helped clear the path for the United Pilots to do an [[ESOP]] takeover of United, which eventually did happen in 1994.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
===Record-setting flight===
In 1988, using a 747SP-21 purchased from [[Pan American World Airways]], 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 for fastest flight around the globe; within a month, a [[Gulfstream IV]] business jet had broken [[Friendship One]]'s record <ref>[http://www.747sp.com/NewsDetail.asp?id=13 United Airlines Friendship One Sets Short-Lived World Record-Setting Flight]</ref>
===Employee Stock Ownership Plan===
The decline of [[Pan American World Airways]] continued to offer new opportunities for United. In 1991 the company expanded dramatically, purchasing Pan Am's routes to [[London Heathrow Airport]]. 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. In 1992, United purchased now-defunct Pan Am's Latin American and Caribbean routes and Miami gates, but United allowed months to elapse between Pan Am's demise and its launch of service. During this time, American Airlines nearly doubled in size in Miami and Latin America, and as a result, United never saw much success in the region.
[[Image:OKC 2.jpg|right|thumb|A Shuttle by United [[Boeing 737-500]] 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 voted to not participate 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 carrier]]s.
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 [[Stephen Wolf|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-owned company as legal counsel after the ESOP was formed. <ref>''USA Today'', "Workers took pay cut while others got rich," July 12, 1995</ref> 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.
It was around this period (in 1993) that United introduced its grey and blue color scheme. It had been criticized that the color scheme blended with the darkness during nighttime operations.<ref>[http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/col/smith/2003/05/09/askthepilot40/index.html?pn=2 Ask the pilot{{ndash}} Salon.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
[[Image:United Airlines aircraft taking off at Schiphol Airport.jpg|thumb|United Airlines [[Boeing 777]] [[Take off|taking off]] at [[Schiphol]], near [[Amsterdam]], in the 1993-2004 livery.]]
===Turn-of-the-century developments===
In 1997, United co-founded the ''[[Star Alliance]]'' with [[Air Canada]], [[Lufthansa]], [[Scandinavian Airlines System|SAS]] and [[Thai Airways International|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.<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CWU/is_2003_July_29/ai_105988602 Delta Air Lines and United Airlines to end marketing relationship | Airline Industry Information | Find Articles at BNET.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This scheme allowed members of either frequent flier program to earn miles on both carriers and utilize both carriers' lounges.<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CWU/is_2003_July_29/ai_105988602 Delta Air Lines and United Airlines to end marketing relationship | Airline Industry Information | Find Articles at BNET.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Delta and United attempted to form an even cozier codeshare relationship, but this was deal was effectively killed by ALPA.<ref>[http://www.frequentflier.com/ffc-0905.htm FrequentFlier.com{{ndash}} News & Analysis<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 [[United States Department of Justice|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.
[[Image:united.b777-200.n772ua.arp.jpg|thumb|left|United Airlines [[Boeing 777-200]] landing]]
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 attacks]], two United Airlines planes were hijacked by terrorists affiliated with [[al-Qaeda]]. One aircraft was a [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-222]] ([[United Airlines Flight 175|Flight 175]]) that crashed into the South Tower of the [[World Trade Center]] in [[New York City]], and the other was a [[Boeing 757|Boeing 757-222]] ([[United Airlines Flight 93|Flight 93]]) that crashed in rural Pennsylvania. The latter was suspected to have been directed towards the [[United States Capitol]] building according to the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]]. Only United and [[American Airlines]] were significantly affected on September 11, 2001.
===Bankruptcy and reorganization===<!-- This section is linked from [[Delta Air Lines]] -->
[[Image:UAL320.jpg|thumb|right|[[Airbus A320]]]]
United, with a strong presence on the West coast, benefited from the [[Dot-com company|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.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} 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 IAM (a union comprised of ground service workers and mechanics) failed to approve the loan guarantee (while all other unions approved the loan guarantee), the application was rejected in late 2002 and the company was forced to seek [[Debtor in possession|debtor-in-possession]] financing from commercial sources to cover the expected future losses. United tried several times to obtain the government loans, even enlisting several congressmen and senators for help. The Government rejected the application due to poor money management by its corporate officers.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
Unable to secure additional capital, UAL Corporation filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|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 America]]n airlines. However, the rise of [[low-cost carrier]]s, labor disputes, and problems within the management structure of the company also contributed significantly.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
United continued operations during its bankruptcy, but was forced to cut its costs drastically. Tens of thousands of workers were [[furlough]]ed, and all city ticket offices in the US closed. The airline canceled several existing and planned routes, and eliminated its entire [[Latin America]]n gateway and flight crew base at [[Miami International Airport]] after [[March 1]], [[2004]]. In 2003, United abandoned its maintenance hubs in Oakland and Indianapolis, even though maintenance was less expensive in Indianapolis, and transferred work to its San Francisco Maintenance Operations Center. Furthermore, they reduced their [[mainline (flight)|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 (airline)|Ted]], to compete with other low-cost airlines. In 2004 it launched its luxury [[United p.s.|"p.s."]] (for "premium service") service on re-configured 757s from [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|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 [[Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome|SARS]] epidemic in 2003 depressed traffic on United's extensive Pacific network. The soaring cost of jet fuel ate away remaining profits United made. United implemented several fare hikes on overseas routes, citing rising fuel costs, in 2004 and 2005. 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.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/2005/04/20/05ceoland.html CEO Compensation{{ndash}} Forbes.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
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.{{Fact}}
===Beyond Chapter 11===
[[Image:UA744.jpg|thumb|left|[[Boeing 747-400]] at San Francisco.]]
On [[December 9]], [[2004]], the airline made history when UA869 (747-400) landed at [[Ho Chi Minh City]] (Saigon), [[Vietnam]]. The scheduled flight from [[San Francisco]] via [[Hong Kong]] ([[San Francisco International Airport|SFO]]-[[Hong Kong International Airport|HKG]]-[[Tan Son Nhat International Airport|SGN]]) was the first by a U.S. airline since the end of the [[Vietnam War]], when [[Pan American World Airways|Pan Am]] halted service shortly before the [[fall of Saigon]] in 1975.
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.
On [[August 4]], [[2006]], United Airlines formally ended free meals served in the economy cabin on domestic flights. The change came after scaling back the amenity over several years since 2001, until it was finally eliminated when the airline cut it from United's [[United p.s.|"p.s."]] flights.
United's current management have called for consolidation in the industry. ''[[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.<ref name="wsj_20061213_co_ua_fl_yx">"[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116597376254248407.html UAL, Continental Discuss Merger As AirTran Presses Bid for Midwest]." Carey, S.; Trottman, M.; Berman, D. K. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. [[December 13]], [[2006]].</ref><ref name="nyt_20061212">"[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/12/business/12cnd-air.html?hp&ex=1165986000&en=ac06dd7e47ab6102&ei=5094&partner=homepage United and Continental Discussing Possible Merger]." Sorkin, A. R. and Bailey, J. ''[[The New York Times]]''. [[December 12]], [[2006]]</ref> On [[April 04]], [[2007]], United and British carrier [[Bmi (airline)|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.<ref>[http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2007/04/unitedbmi_pact_.html United-bmi pact would 'effectively merge their trans-Atlantic operations'{{ndash}} Today In the Sky{{ndash}} USATODAY.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/bmi-united-airlines-reportedly-form/story.aspx?guid=%7B8096611D-B050-46CA-B8F4-2506CCEF9A8A%7D Bmi, United Airlines reportedly to form transatlantic alliance{{ndash}} MarketWatch<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The merged operations would begin in March 2008, if approved. On May 3, 2007 United acquired an equity stake in its longtime partner [[Aloha Airlines]] <ref>[http://starbulletin.com/2007/05/04/news/story01.html United Airlines Takes Minority Stake in Aloha Airlines]now in bankruptcy (Star Bulletin: May 4, 2007)</ref>. On [[June 14]], 2007, CFO Jake Brace said his company is still looking to tie the knot with a suitable merger partner.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-06-14-united-merger-talk_N.htm United Airlines Seeking Merger] (USA Today: June 14, 2007)</ref>
On [[June 19]], [[2008]], United Airlines announced an extensive partnership with [[Continental Airlines]]. This partnership will include [[codeshare]] and [[frequent flyer]] agreements. Also, [[Continental Airlines]] has decided to leave the [[SkyTeam]] in an effort to join the [[Star Alliance]] to streamline the new agreements with United. However, before any partnerships can go into effect, Continental must receive regulatory approval, and until any approval has been given, it will be business-as-usual.<ref>[http://www.united.com/press/detail/0,6862,59599,00.html United and Continental To Form Extensive Partnership/Continental To Leave SkyTeam For Star Alliance] (Official Press Release: June 19, 2008)</ref>
==Recent news==
On July 13, 2007, a [[federal judge]] ruled that the 9/11 damages lawsuit against United and American airlines would begin in September.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN1241057320070712 First 9/11 damages trials to begin in Sept-judge | Markets | Bonds News | Reuters<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
As of September 2007, United's largest owner was [[Bank of America]], and [[Fidelity Investments]] became the second largest owner by acquiring an 11 percent stake in the company.<ref>[http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_6852760 Fidelity parent triples stake in United{{ndash}} The Denver Post<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
On September 25, 2007 United received permission from the FAA for non-stop service from SFO to Guangzhou, China starting in April of 2008. Its application to fly between [[Los Angeles]] and [[Shanghai]] in 2009 was denied. Due to the impact of higher fuel costs it was announced on April 14th, 2008 that this route would be delayed for one year.
United has been investigating significant potential changes to its corporate structure. The initiatives under consideration include:<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri_united_1019oct19,0,6673281.story United Chief Chases Change ], [[Chicago Tribune]], October 19, 2007</ref>
* Divesting of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul operations at [[San Francisco International Airport|SFO]].
* Spinning off the cargo division.
* Spinning off the Mileage Plus frequent flier program.
On November 14, 2007, [[Pardus Capital Management LP]], a hedge fund that owns 7 million shares of [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]] and 5.6 million shares of United, called for the two carriers to merge. This action sent shares of both airlines up. However, the two airlines quickly denied official talks of any merger.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2007/11/12/daily33.html Hedge fund calls for Delta-United merger{{ndash}} South Florida Business Journal:<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <ref>http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/delta/stories/2007/11/14/delta_1115.html</ref>
<ref>[http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/delta-consider-merger-after-pressure/story.aspx?guid=%7B38DA59AB-6D7C-40CE-AF17-E67FCF71DE9D%7D Delta Air, at heart of airline merger buzz, denies United talks{{ndash}} MarketWatch<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
On February 19, 2008, [[Westin Hotels|Westin Hotels & Resorts]] announced a refreshed partnership with United where Westin will provide products from their Heavenly Bed line on p.s. routes later this year.
In May 2008, the [[American Customer Satisfaction Index]] scored United Airlines last among United States based airlines in customer sanctification a 21% decrease since the study began in 1994 and a 11% decrease over the previous year.<ref name="ACSI">{{cite news|url=http://www.theacsi.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=147&Itemid=155&i=Airlines|title=Airline Industry Scores|publisher=American Customer Satisfaction Index|accessdate=2008-05-15}}</ref>
On [[June 12]], [[2008]], United announced it would charge $15 for the first checked bag, becoming the second United States airline to do so, the first being [[American Airlines]].<ref>http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/442508</ref> The charges, while not affecting every United flight, were created in an effort to offset high fuel prices.
On [[June 28]], [[2008]], United announced the cessation of several international routes including [[Nagoya]] and [[Mexico City]].<ref>http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_9712548</ref><ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aEO7DMhTk8t0&refer=japan</ref><ref>http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011406885</ref>
===Merger discussions with Continental and US Airways===
On [[April 28]],[[2008]], United and [[US Airways]] reportedly were in advanced merger talks following the announcement that the board of [[Continental Airlines]], another prospective merger partner, had voted not to pursue a merger with United.<ref>'http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24352806/'</ref>
Although airline sources claim <ref>'http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-04-28-united-us-air_N.htm'</ref> that no hubs would be closed, East coast operations in Philadelphia and Washington, hubs for US Airways and United respectively, are in close proximity.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
In May 2008 United called off the merger discussions.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} Subsequent to the failed merger attempts, and with fuel prices soaring, United, Continental and US Airways, as well as most other carriers announced sweeping reductions in flights and aircraft groundings.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} United announced the grounding of its entire 737 fleet of 96 aircraft beginning in September 2008, in addition to six of its 30 747s.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
On [[June 19]], [[2008]], [[CEOs]] of both United Airlines and [[Continental Airlines]] signed a pact which could eventually lead to a merger between the two airlines. The alliance is an agreement to link international networks and share technology and passenger perks. This agreement is basically a "virtual merger" that will include all the benefits of a merger without the actual costs and restructuring involved. The alliance will take effect in about a year after [[Delta Air Lines]] and [[Northwest Airlines]] complete their merger, as that will release Continental from the [[SkyTeam]] contract and allow for the required nine months notice. Additionally, Continental has declared that they will join the [[Star Alliance]], once Delta and Northwest merge. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri-united-alliance-uaua-caljun20,0,3619794.story | title="United, Continental join forces" | author=Johnsson, Julie | publisher=Chicago Tribune | date=2008-06-20 | accessdate=2008-06-20}}</ref>
==Destinations==
United Airlines operates 3,300 flights a day to 210 destinations in 30 countries.
{{see|United Airlines destinations}}
===Route network===
[[Image:UnitedDenver.jpg|thumb|right|United's logo as seen at United hub [[Denver International Airport]].]]
United operates an extensive domestic route network concentrated in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] and [[Western United States]]. United is also prominent in [[Transcontinental flight|transcontinental]], [[Atlantic Ocean|transatlantic]], and [[Pacific Ocean|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 September 2006-August 2007, United carried 3.3 million passengers to/from the Hawaiian Islands.
United is the only US carrier which operates its own aircraft from the US [[Continental United States|mainland]] to [[Australia]]. ([[Hawaiian Airlines]] flies from [[Honolulu]] to [[Sydney]] and [[Continental Micronesia]], a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Continental Airlines]], maintains a route from [[Guam]] to [[Cairns, Queensland|Cairns]]). United Airlines is the only US carrier to serve [[Vietnam]] (via [[Hong Kong]]) and [[Kuwait]] (until November 7, 2008, when Delta will also start service.).
In 1988, the bilateral (though not reciprocal) 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 operates a low-cost leisure brand called [[Ted (airline)|Ted]], which is based out of [[Denver]], Colorado. The name is taken from the last three letters of its parent Uni''ted''. 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 Airlines|Frontier]] and [[Southwest Airlines]]. After unsuccessful attempts by other U.S. airlines such as Delta with its [[Song (airline)|Song]] airline and even United itself with its formerly defunct [[Shuttle by United]] to create a low-fare subsidiary, Ted is the only "airline-within-an-airline" left in the U.S. United has announced the discontinuation of their Ted product beginning in the fall of 2008.
United is focusing on its international presence, notably in the [[People's Republic of China]], with nonstop flights to [[Beijing]], [[Shanghai]], [[Guangzhou]] (beginning June 2009), and [[Hong Kong]] from its hubs in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. In September 2007 United was granted a route from San Francisco to Guangzhou. <ref>[http://www.united.com/speech/detail/0,6862,53282,00.html united.com{{ndash}} Speech detail<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> These routes offer a higher proportion of premium fare passengers while being relatively insulated from the [[cut-throat 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.
== Fleet ==
=== Passenger ===
As of April 2008, United operates 455 aircraft with average fleet age of 13.7 years. <ref>[http://ir.united.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=83680&p=irol-homeProfile#fleet United Airlines{{ndash}} Company information<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
<center>
{| class="toccolours sortable" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|+ '''United Airlines Fleet'''
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
!Aircraft
!Total
!Passengers <br> <small>(First/Business/Economy)</small>
!Routes
!Notes
|-
|[[Airbus A320|Airbus A319-100]]
|55
|120 (8/112)
|''Domestic, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean''
|
|-
|[[Airbus A320|Airbus A320-200]]
|42 <br> 55
|138 (12/126) <br> '''Ted''' 156 (156)
|''Domestic, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean''
|'''Ted''' aircraft will be merged back into mainline service after 737's are grounded
|-
|[[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-300]]
|64
|120 (8/112) <br> 128 (8/120)
|''Domestic, Canada''
|Expected to exit service by 2008-2009 and to be brought back into service late 2009-2010 {{fact}}
|-
|[[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-500]]
|25
|104 (8/96) <br> 110 (8/102)
|''Domestic, Canada''
|Expected to exit service by 2008-2009 and to be brought back into service late 2009-2010 {{fact}}
|-
|[[Boeing 747-400]]
|28 <br><br>
2
|347 (14/73/260) <br> <small>'''New configuration'''</small> <br> 374 (12/52/310)
|''Intercontinental''
|Exit from service: 6 in 2008-2009
|-
|[[Boeing 757|Boeing 757-200]]
|13 <br> 84
|[[United p.s.|p.s.]] 110 (12/26/72) <br> 182 (24/158)
|[[United p.s.|p.s.]] LAX-JFK and SFO-JFK <br>2-class ''domestic, Canada, Hawaii, Caribbean''<br>
|
|-
|[[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-300ER]]
|17 <br>14 <br><br>
4
|193 (10/32/151) <br> 244 (34/210) <br> <small>'''New configuration'''</small> <br> 183 (6/26/151) <br>
|3-class ''transatlantic, Latin America''<br>2-class ''domestic, Hawaii''
|
|-
|[[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-200]]
|6 <br> 13 <br> <br>
|348 (36/312) <br> 258 (12/49/197) <br> <small>'''New configuration'''</small> <br> 268 (8/40/220)
|''Domestic, transatlantic, Hawaii''
|
|-
|[[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-200ER]]
|17 <br> 16 <br> <br> <br>
|253 (10/45/198) <br> 258 (12/49/197) <br> <small>'''New configuration'''</small> <br> 268 (8/40/220) <br> 269 (8/40/221)
|''Intercontinental''
|
|-
|}
<sup>Business class available on select three class configurations.</sup>
</center>
=== Retired ===
{{Unreferencedsection|date=May 2008}}
<center>
{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|+ '''United Airlines Retired fleet'''
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
!Aircraft
!Year Retired
!Replacement
!Notes
|-
|[[Lockheed L-1011 TriStar]]
|1989
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]]
|Bought from [[Pan American World Airways|Pan Am]]; Sold to [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]]
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8]]
|1992
|[[Boeing 757#200|Boeing 757-200]]
|Largest DC-8 operator in the world
|-
|[[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-100]]
|1993
|[[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-200]]
|Launch customer
|-
|[[Boeing 747SP]]
|1995
|[[Boeing 747-400]]
|Bought from Pan Am
|-
|[[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-100]]
|1999
|[[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-200]]
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]]
|2001
|[[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-200]]
|Launch customer along with [[American Airlines|American]]
|-
|[[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-200]]
|2001
|[[Boeing 747-400]]
|
|-
|[[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-200]]
|2001
|[[Airbus A320|Airbus A320 family]]
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]]
|2001
|
|
|-
|[[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-200]]
|2005
|[[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-300]]
|Launch customer
|-
|[[Boeing 40A]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Boeing 80|Boeing 80A]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Boeing 247]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Boeing 377]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Boeing 720]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Beechcraft 1900]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Convair 340]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-3]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-6]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-7]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Ford Tri-Motor]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Sud Aviation Caravelle]]
|
|Boeing 737-200
|
|-
|[[British Aircraft Swallow]]
|
|
|Air Mail
|-
|[[Vickers Viscount]]
|
|
|
|-
|[[Curtiss JN-4|Curtiss JN-4D (Jenny)]]
|
|
|
|-
|}
</center>
United was the launch customer for a number of aircraft types, including the [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]] and several Boeing aircraft: the [[Boeing 727]] the [[Boeing 737#737-200| Boeing 737-200]], the [[Boeing 767]], and the [[Boeing 777]]. Although not a launch customer, jet aircraft operated by United has included the Lockheed L-1011 (received in the Pan Am Pacific Route purchase, later traded with [[Delta Air Lines]] for the DC-10 aircraft Delta received in their merger with [[Western Airlines]]), 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 747-400]], with the other being [[Northwest Airlines]]. There are several cargo airlines in the United States operating 747s.
United is the only major US airline to not have any current orders placed with any aircraft manufacturer. They do have 42 [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A319/A320]] aircraft on deferred delivery due to the economic recession after 9/11. United has stated it would rather wait until the next generation of narrowbody aircraft arrive as they will be able to replace their A320, A319, B737-300/500, and B757-200 fleets at the same time, so it is unknown if the current A320 orders will be fulfilled. United is a possible candidate to order the [[Boeing 787]], [[Boeing 747-8]], [[Airbus A380]] and possibly the [[Boeing 777|777-300ER]]. United will phase out 15 to 20 old narrow bodies in 2008 due to fuel efficiency. United had decided to suspend the winglet progam because of higher fuel costs.
On [[April 2]], [[2008]] United Airlines temporarily withdrew its entire fleet of 52 [[Boeing 777]] aircraft until functional testing of the fire suppression system could be completed. The move was the latest in a series of temporary groundings by U.S. airlines in late March 2008 following a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) review of compliance with airworthiness directives. <ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=ablrLeU_GsrI&refer=canada United Air Grounds 777 Fleet for Fire-Safety Checks]</ref>
==Cabin==
[[Image:N775UA.jpg|thumb|right|United's current livery, introduced in 2004, on a Boeing 777-200.]]
United offers in-flight entertainment on all mainline aircraft, with music programming supplied by [[XM Satellite Radio]]. The also feature the unique "From the Flightdeck" audio program on channel nine, which is a live broadcast of air traffic control communication. United Airlines shows TV episodes from selected [[NBC]] shows.
===UnitedFirst===
*'''UnitedFirst Suite''' is offered on [[Boeing 747-400]] and international-configured [[Boeing 777-200]] aircraft, which 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 International First Class Lounge or United Red Carpet Club. Passengers are given priority boarding and priority baggage handling. On board, passengers enjoy beverages before the flight, and a five course meal on linen-dressed tray tables. Each seat has a small personal video screen featuring nine channels of video (seven movie and two short-feature channels). Passengers can also view a selection of films using a compact tape player inbuilt to their seats. Passengers have access to personal satellite phones, laptop power ports, [[Active noise control|noise-canceling]] headsets, pillows and blankets. On [[Boeing 767-300]] aircraft, UnitedFirst consists of a cradle seat offering 64 inches of pitch, although most other features and services remain the same.
*'''New UnitedFirst Suite''' is offered on select internationally configured [[Boeing 767-300]] and [[Boeing 747-400]] aircraft, and will soon be rolled out throughout United's fleet of internationally configured Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-300 and Boeing 777-200 aircraft, coinciding with the introduction of the new business class. Offering a 6 foot-6 inch lie-flat bed, it will be an updated version of the current First Suite.
*'''Domestic UnitedFirst''' is offered on domestically configured [[Boeing 767-300]] and [[Boeing 777-200]] aircraft as well as all narrow-body aircraft, except p.s. [[Boeing 757-200]] aircraft, which offer a better product. Domestic UnitedFirst includes a cradle seat similar to the international UnitedBusiness seat, but without the personal reading lamps or personal entertainment units. The seats have a 38 inch pitch, and passengers receive priority boarding and baggage handling, pre-departure beverages, free meals and separate check-in desks.
*'''UnitedFirst p.s.''' is offered on all SFO/LAX-JFK routes, and has twelve slanted-flat, leather-trimmed seats, with a 68-inch pitch, along with individual portable digital media players offering a wide selection of movies, TV shows, music and games through noise-reducing headsets. Passengers receive 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 all internationally configured [[Boeing 747-400]], [[Boeing 767-300]], and [[Boeing 777-200]] aircraft. These cradle seats consist of a 55 inch pitch and 150 degree recline, as well as laptop power ports (usable with EmPower adapters). In-flight service includes pre-departure beverages, table linens and three course meals designed by chef Charlie Trotter. Passengers are also treated to priority boarding, baggage handling and access to the Red Carpet Club on day of departure. Each seat includes an individual entertainment system offering nine channels of video (seven movie and two short-feature channels), and noise-reducing headsets. UnitedBusiness is in the process of being upgraded. See below for more details on the New UnitedBusiness.
*'''New UnitedBusiness''' is offered on select internationally configured [[Boeing 767-300]] and [[Boeing 747-400]] aircraft, and will soon be rolled out throughout United's fleet of internationally configured [[Boeing 747-400]], [[Boeing 767-300]] and [[Boeing 777-200]] aircraft. All seats are 6 foot-4 inches long and have 180 degrees of recline, creating a fully-flat bed. It will be the first U.S. airline to offer truly flat business class seats. Passengers flying this class will receive free meals, refreshments and alcoholic beverages. All seats are equipped with a personal 15-inch screen In-Flight-Entertainment (IFE) system, an adjustable headrest, lumbar support, a USB power port, an Apple iPod adapter (to play audio through), [[XM Satellite Radio]], power-ports, a reading light, noise-cancelling headphones and a large tray table.<ref>[http://www.suitedreams.united.com/ United Airlines Unveils New Business Class]</ref>
*'''UnitedBusiness p.s.''' offers twenty-six leather cradle-seats with 54 inch pitch, individual portable digital media players offering a wide selection of movies, TV shows, music and games through noise-reducing headsets, menus including [[chocolate]]s and [[Champagne (wine)|champagne]] cocktails, 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 aircraft which do not have PTVs. United Airlines' in-flight entertainment system features nine channels of entertainment, along with music channels, but will be updated in the future to audio visual on demand (AVOD). An audio program unique to United is the ''From the Flight Deck'', or Channel 9 as many aviation enthusiasts call it, where, at the captain's discretion, passengers can listen to the live communication between the flight deck and the [[air traffic controllers]]. The Boeing 747-400 features overhead monitors and projection screens to play movies during the flight. United serves free 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, free soft drinks and liquors, beer and wine. Alcoholic beverages available for $6.00 on 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.
[[Image:unitedair.jpg|thumb|left|[[Boeing 777-200]]]]
*'''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. The industry standard for non-budget carriers is approximately 32 or 33 inches of pitch, meaning United has some of the smallest mainline seats in the industry. <ref>[http://blogs.courant.com/travel_columnists_leblanc/2007/09/united-airlines.html Jeanne Leblanc | Coach Class: United Airlines' Economy Minus<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> All UnitedEconomy seats feature an adjustable headrest, except Boeing 737 family aircraft. On United flights between 3 and 5 hours in duration, 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 free except for alcoholic beverages which can be purchased for $6.00. All aircraft with UnitedEconomy feature overhead in-flight entertainment except Boeing 737 family aircraft.
*'''Economy Plus''' is similar to UnitedEconomy, but offers an additional 4-6 inches of leg room. The seats are in the forward portion of the economy cabin. Seats in this section are given to Premier Associate, Premier, Premier Executive and 1K members of Mileage Plus.<ref>[http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1314,00.html?navSource=AwardsBar&linkTitle=Award04_Economy_Plus&pos=2 United Airlines Economy Plus Information]</ref> United also offers purchased upgrades from Economy to Economy Plus at check-in on some routes, depending on availability.
==Mileage Plus==
[[Image:United mileagepluslogo.jpg|right]]
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.
Airlines who are part of the [[Star Alliance]], such as [[Air Canada]], [[Lufthansa]], [[Singapore Airlines]], and others participate in a program enabling passengers on these airlines to receive Mileage Plus credits.
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''' (3P) 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''' (2P) 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, complementary 500-mile e-upgrades and a 25% mileage bonus on flown miles. In 2005, 535,000 members of Mileage Plus qualified for Premier status.
'''Premier Executive''' (1P) members fly at least 50,000 EQM or 60 segments, and receive all Premier benefits plus a 100% mileage bonus, higher upgrade priority, access to exit row seating in advance of flight, and lounge access when traveling internationally on any Star Alliance member airline the same day. In 2005, 239,000 members of Mileage Plus qualified for Premier Executive status.
'''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 free System-wide Upgrades good for a one-class upgrade anywhere United flies, along with the ability to earn confirmed regional upgrades valid across United's North and Latin American route system. 1K passengers are also granted accommodations and meals during flight delays and irregular operations caused by weather or air traffic control. In 2005, 46,000 members of Mileage Plus qualified for 1K status.
'''Global Services''', while not officially part of the Mileage Plus program, is an invitation-only program to recognize United's most valued high-yield customers. Full invitation criteria are not made public by United; re-qualification for current UGS members could be attained by flying 50,000 full-fare miles in a calendar year, according to company letter to members.<ref>[http://conorcahill.blogspot.com/2007/01/uniteds-global-services.html Conor's Web Log of Esoterica: United's Global Services<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Benefits complement and expand upon those offered to 1K passengers, including: higher priority for upgrades and front-of-line access in premium security lines. Global Services members are able to upgrade award flights using miles, system-wide upgrades, confirmed regional upgrades and 500 mile upgrade certificates. In 2005, 18,000 members of Mileage Plus qualified for Global Services membership.
'''Million Milers''' are those Mileage Plus members who have flown one million miles or more on United Airlines during their lifetime. These customers permanently receive the benefits of Premier Executive members.
==Red Carpet Club==<!-- This section is linked from [[Red carpet (disambiguation)]] -->
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.
[[Image:408587884 358853aab7 o-1-.jpg|right|thumb|Interior of United Red Carpet Club at [[Orlando International Airport]], Florida, USA.]]
===Locations===
{|
|-
|valign="top"|
* [[Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport|Atlanta]]
* [[Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport|Baltimore/Washington (BWI)]]
* [[Suvarnabhumi Airport|Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi]]
* [[Boston Logan International Airport|Boston]]
* [[Buenos Aires International Airport|Buenos Aires]]
* [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport|Chicago-O'Hare]] (4)
* [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]
* [[Denver International Airport|Denver]] (2)
* [[Frankfurt International Airport|Frankfurt]]
* [[Hong Kong International Airport|Hong Kong]]
* [[Honolulu International Airport|Honolulu]]
* [[London Heathrow International Airport|London-Heathrow]]
|valign="top"|
* [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]
* [[Melbourne Airport|Melbourne]]
* [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City]]
* [[Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]]
* [[Newark International Airport|Newark]]
* [[John F Kennedy International Airport|New York-JFK]]
* [[LaGuardia Airport|New York-LaGuardia]]
* [[John Wayne Airport|Orange County]]
* [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]]
* [[Kansai International Airport|Osaka-Kansai]]
* [[Charles de Gaulle International Airport|Paris-CDG]]
* [[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia]]
|valign="top"|
* [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix]]
* [[Portland International Airport|Portland, OR]]
* [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]]
* [[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]] (2)
* [[Guarulhos International Airport|São Paulo]]
* [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]]
* [[Tokyo Narita International Airport|Tokyo-Narita]]
* [[Washington Dulles International Airport|Washington-Dulles]] (3)
* [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington-Reagan]]
|}
==Codeshare agreements==
In addition to its [[Star Alliance]] and [[United Express]] partnerships, United [[Codeshare agreement|codeshares]] with the following airlines as of December 2007 <ref>[http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1520,00.html Codeshare agreements]</ref>:
<div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2; max-width: 700px;">
* [[Great Lakes Aviation]]
* [[Grupo Taca]]
* [[Gulfstream International Airlines]]
* [[Island Air]]
* [[Tam Airlines]]
* [[Virgin Blue]]
</div>
<br />
United also has marketing agreements with the following airlines:
<div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2; max-width: 700px;">
* [[Aeromar]]
* [[Air Dolomiti]] <small>(a subsidiary company of [[Lufthansa|Deutsche Lufthansa AG]])</small>
* [[Air One]]
* [[Aer Lingus]] <small>beginning on [[November 1]] [[2008]] </small>
* [[Emirates Airlines]]
* [[Great Lakes Airlines]]
* {{nowrap begin}}[[Gulfstream International Airlines]] <small>flights operated for [[Continental Connection]]</small> {{nowrap end}}
* {{nowrap begin}}[[Hawaiian Airlines]] <small>beginning Late summer 2008</small> {{nowrap end}}
* [[Jet Airways]] <small>beginning [[November 1]] [[2008]] </small>
* [[Qatar Airways]]
* [[TAM Linhas Aéreas]]
* [[Virgin Blue]]
</div>
==Incidents and accidents==
{{main|:Category:United Airlines flights}}
{| class="wikitable"
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|1930s
|[[United Airlines Chesterton Crash|NC13304]]
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|1940s
|[[United Airlines Flight 14|Flight 14]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 28|Flight 28]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 404|Flight 404]]
|[[United Arilines Flight 521|Flight 521]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 608|Flight 608]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 624|Flight 624]]
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|-
|1950s
|[[United Airlines Flight 129|Flight 129]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 610|Flight 610]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 615|Flight 615]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 7030|Flight 7030]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 16|Flight 16]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 409|Flight 409]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 629|Flight 629]]
|[[1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision|Flight 718]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 736|Flight 736]]
|-
|1960s
|[[1960 New York air disaster|Flight 826]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 859|Flight 859]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 297|Flight 297]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 823|Flight 823]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 389|Flight 389]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 227|Flight 227]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 266|Flight 266]]
|
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|-
|1970s
|[[United Airlines Flight 553|Flight 553]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 2860|Flight 2860]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 173|Flight 173]]
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|1980s
|[[United Airlines Flight 811|Flight 811]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 232|Flight 232]]
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|1990s
|[[United Airlines Flight 585|Flight 585]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 863|Flight 863]]
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|2000s
|[[United Airlines Flight 175|Flight 175]]
|[[United Airlines Flight 93|Flight 93]]
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|}
==In popular culture==
* Tom Hanks' character Viktor Navorski is stuck at New York's JFK airport in the United terminal in ''[[The Terminal]]'' (2004). Viktor flew into JFK on a United 747, and the woman he falls for, played by Catherine Zeta Jones, is a flight attendant for United. He is also seen trying to enter the Red Carpet Club.
* A Boeing 757 traveling from [[Newark, New Jersey]] to [[San Francisco, California]] on the morning of September 11, 2001, was the focus of 2006's ''[[United 93 (film)|United 93]]''.
==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. The current slogan and ad campaign since 2004, is "It's time to fly." 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)
* "From the ground up, rededicated to giving you the service you deserve. Come fly the friendly skies" (Late 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{{ndash}} Rising" during the mid 1990s
* "Feel United ... Be United ... Worlds United ... Stay United ... United"<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKUQpsTzkcA&feature=related YouTube - United Airlines TV CM 2000 Theme<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (the late 1990s)
* "It's important for the human race to stay United"
* "Life is a journey{{ndash}} travel it well; United"
* "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 first unveiled during [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]]. (2004{{ndash}} present)
United's theme song is [[George Gershwin|George Gershwin's]] 1924 "[[Rhapsody in Blue]]", which it licensed from Gershwin's estate for $500,000 in 1976.<ref>[http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/02pdf/01-618.pdf United Airlines "Rhapsody in Blue" Theme Song Information]</ref> "Rhapsody" would have entered the [[public domain]] in 2000, but the [[Copyright Term Extension Act|Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act]] of 1998 extended its copyright another 20 years.
==See also==
* [[United Center]]
* [[Shuttle by United]] a low-cost subsidiary of United from 1994-2001
* [[Ted (airline)|Ted]] a low-cost subsidiary of United from 2004 that replaced Shuttle by United
* [[United p.s.]] a premiere service offered by United from [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|JFK]] to [[San Francisco International Airport|SFO]] and [[LAX]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.united.com/ United Airlines]
**[http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,2578,00.html Worldwide sites]
*[http://www.flyted.com/ Ted]
*[http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com Hemispheres inflight magazine]
{{Template group
|list =
{{Star Alliance}}
{{Airlines of the United States}}
{{IATA members|northam}}
{{Air Transport Association}}
}}
[[Category:United Airlines| ]]
[[Category:Airlines of the United States]]
[[Category:IATA members]]
[[Category:Air Transport Association members]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1934]]
[[Category:Open Travel Alliance]]
[[Category:Companies based in Chicago, Illinois]]
[[Category:Companies that have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy]]
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