Clark X.'s Profile
Date
But this incidence really put them over the top for me. Here's how it went down:
On May 12th, my flight from San Francisco to Tokyo was delayed by an hour - this, combined with the fact that Swine flu hysteria is crazy in Japan, caused me to miss my connection to Beijing. I arrived in Beijing 3 hours late and missed a meeting, and was forced to stay there overnight. I emailed this complaint to United, and, 5 days later received this email:
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"Thank you for contacting us about the problems that resulted from the delay of flight 837 from San Francisco to Tokyo on May 12, 2009.
I am so sorry to hear that you missed a very important meeting and that you had to stay overnight in Beijing. We recognize how important it is to you to get to your destination on time and we never want to disrupt our guests' travel plans. We do our best to minimize delays and cancellations given the various factors that can impact our schedule, such as equipment repairs, inclement weather or air traffic control issues. We aim to achieve the highest level of on-time performance with safety as our primary concern. I am sorry that you experienced a time when we were unable to make our on-time goals. We hope you will give us a chance to welcome you onboard again soon.
Permit me to simply say I am sorry you didn't receive better service. I offer the attached certificate in hopes that you use it and give us the opportunity to regain your confidence and support. We look forward to serving you."
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It was PERSONALIZED, and made me feel very good. I was very impressed with the professionalism of the airline. Best of all, I received a voucher for $350.
So I will fly with United for the rest of my life. Not kidding.
Listed in: The Airline List
1 Previous Review:
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5/21/2009
I've only this past year become a loyal member of United Airlines (having enrolled in Mileage Plus), and I'm a bit surprised at these less-than kind reviews.
I personally have received excellent service, both from phone booking, emails, and online bookings. To give you an example, I recently booked a vacation but did not enter the promotion code. I realized this about a week after I booked, and i emailed a vacation agent. She promptly replied that she was looking into this matter personally, and, after 2 days, informed me that the refund would be given to me, despite it being MY fault that i forgot to apply it! I was very very pleasantly surprised at how helpful they were, and I will definitely book another vacation with United.
In terms of their flights, come'on people...all the airlines suck. The seats are 17'' wide...basically zero pitch. But you do what you can to get by. I personally have found their economy plus to be very spacious, and I like Everybody Hates Chris, even though it's always the same episode.
I recently splurged and upgraded a flight (for $631) to Business (the new international business), from San Francisco (SFO), to Tokyo (NRT). I was very impressed with the new configurations. I got a forward facing seat, and the beds really did lie completely flat! This was far better than any other business class I've ever been in, whose seats only lie down maybe 140 degrees. The 15'' screen had a selection of over 20 (awful) movies, but it was the most relaxing flight I had ever been on. Only drawback is that the food was GOD-awful...if this is what Chef Trotter's inspired vision is creating nowadays, I will never go back to his restaurant again. (See my review of Charlie Trotter's). More likely, he didn't care about this particularly assignment
United ticket prices are also often very cheap - the flight I upgraded only cost me some $800 (pre-upgrade), as opposed to $1200+ charged by other airlines. The trick is to wait for the sales.
I'm almost about to make premier, so we'll see how they treat an elite member. But from what I have so far, this place is a solid 4.5 stars. So we'll round up.
The first time I was on a plane, it was with Air Canada. Back then, I was about 4, and flew with the U.M. program. I got a little pouch to put my passport in. I was led around everywhere (including at connecting airports) by stewardesses, and I got to ride around airports in golf carts. I loved it! And before 9/11, I was allowed to actually go see the pilot's cabin!!! What a treat for a little kid. I've loved flying ever since I was young, and I believe I owe that to Air Canada.
The service I've gotten has always been first rate. So, alright, I know that the check-in lines are super super long, but...deal with it, that's how it is for most people. Once you get on the plane, everyone is massively nice to you.
Air Canada also is fully stocked with amenities. Touch screen TVs, games (including multi-player trivia! which was fun), and other stuff keeps you busy on a long-haul flight.
I try to fly AC as often as I can, and every time I do, I feel like I'm 4 again.
Listed in: The Airline List
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 646-4866
Korean Air
Category:
Airlines
Neighborhood: Westchester / LAX
But...that has a price. I've heard that Korean Air has a bad safety record, but never experienced it. I HAVE experienced TERRIBLE service at check-in and during the flight.
I remember once being explicit told that I would have a middle seat (LAX to INC). I saw him smirk and give the people behind me aisle seats. I was very very angry, but I couldn't do anything because the check-in people spoke almost no English.
Thank God ICN is a really really nice airport. But I don't think I will ever fly Korean Air again.
Listed in: The Airline List
El Segundo, CA 90245
(800) 233-2742
Cathay Pacific
Category:
Airlines
Neighborhood: El Segundo
My flight, LAX to Hong Kong, was only about 30% full, so each person took up an entire row and was able to sleep. They also offered a wide selection of on demand movies and games (which are played by touchscreen)
In any case, I don't remember any service. I mean, ANY service. They didn't bother to roll out the beverage cart because everyone was sleeping (it was a red-eye). So that kind of sucked.
On average, just for the 3 seats per person, I give it 4 stars. A pretty good Hong Kong based airline.
Listed in: The Airline List
4 stars for that alone.
Other stuff is all the same. Standard fare through and through. I usually have no use for Continental as it hubs in Dallas-Ft. Worth. I don't go there very often...
A solid carrier - it's got a small fleet, and flies to fewer destinations daily.
Listed in: The Airline List
I don't like how Delta has its biggest hub in Atlanta - I mean, what does a person do in Atlanta? I flew Delta to Honolulu, and it was pretty good. I sat in an exit row (not in front of), so my seat had extra pitch.
A big plus is that this airline has what seems to be extra baggage space, because I never have to rush on board to stow my luggage like the other airlines.
I was really hungry though, not happy about that.
Listed in: The Airline List
No matter how bad their food is, no matter how I despise vegetarianism and vegetarian cuisine, I will always love the Lithuanian Coffee Cake!! It's SO good. Someone should buy me some of that cake for my birthday, hint hint.
The rest of the stuff served here is bad. The coffee tastes like blood, and it's THE costliest in New Haven! I have proof: http://www.yaledailyne...
Yep yep. So 3 stars.
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
(860) 292-2000
Hartford-Bradley International Airport
Category:
Airports
Your everyday, average, small airport. No restaurants except a Burger King. I'm really surprised, however, by the presence of a BROOKS BROTHERS inside the terminal...I wonder who ever makes purchases from there.
Anyway, flying out of here isn't very painful, and tickets are usually pretty cheap since no one usually flies out of here. 2 terminals, one small, one smaller.
CT Limo services this area - good service.
Listed in: The Airport List
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 242-2042
American Airlines
Categories:
Airlines,
Airports
Neighborhood: Westchester / LAX
The seats were very large - I was seated in the front row - (1B), and had EXCESSIVE leg room, a luxury almost unheard of in modern airlines. I basically took my bag, put it in front of me to prop up my feet.
The stewardess called us each by name, which I don't believe is something that other airlines do for a mere 4 hour, domestic flight. She was very chatty and tremendously helpful, coming around every 30 minutes or so to check up on me.
The dining and drinking options aboard that flight was plentiful. There was actually a wine list (of like 4 selections, but hey, it's still a wine list). Champagne before departure, sparkling water before arrival, and the most delicious airline meal I've ever had! Apparently the meal (a chicken roll up) was handmade by my stewardess just an hour before the flight left. I was so pleased that it was not supplied by some microwave company. That meal was finished with a strawberry sundae, and, 45 minutes later, with a warm cookie and a glass of milk. It was really a lot of fun...
But 4 stars because I've flown American economy too...and it's the same as every other airline. Grumpy stewardesses, little or no food, tiny seats, no pitch, no entertainment...I guess you get what you pay for?
I don't fly American anymore because I'm now enrolled in United Mileage Plus, and American isn't part of Star Alliance, but, nice job. A great airline.
Listed in: The Airline List
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"Lux et Veritas!"
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108 Useful, 66 Funny, and 76 Cool
New Haven, CT
Yelping SinceApril 2009
Things I LoveTraveling, Planes, Haute Cuisine, not-so-haute cuisine, reading, writing, Yale.
Find Me InNew Haven, Los Angeles
My HometownMonterey Park, CA
When I'm Not Yelping...Going somewhere that I can Yelp later
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI get around.
My Second Favorite Website The Last Great Book I ReadJohn Hershey's Hiroshima
My First ConcertThe Los Angeles Philharmonia
My Favorite MovieNo Reservations, Forget Paris
My Last Meal On EarthThe Ortolan Bunting
Most Recent DiscoveryI love napping
Current CrushTaylor Swift
I ordered the prix fixe menu, while my dining companion ordered the onion soup au gratin. Came out to be $30, I would think it's a bit pricey for a regular restaurant in New Haven, but it really wasn't bad.
My first course was a chure - a Latin/Spanish chowder made with shellfish,shrimp and corn. It was really rather good! The shellfish were definitely fresh - also one of the mussels had a bit of sand in them...and the chowder itself was flavored very well. A+ for the soup.
The second course was also definitely tasty. The skirt steak with lobster reduction, served on a pilaf of rice cooked with plantains. The rice surprised me - I'll definitely be on the lookout for food flavored with plantains now - the sweetness was just right and counteracted the savory reduction. The meat was tender - but very small, couldn't have been more than 4 oz. But I suppose it was lunch.
They finished with a raspberry sorbet that was really nothing special. The cookie was good though.
All in all, food was good, just a little pricey for the class.