Baseline United service is deplorable. But they've become quite clever at providing better variants for people who fly them a lot. It's almost like being a party member in the old Soviet Union. You get the equivalent of your own, better-stocked stores, etc.
The private United lounges are quite nice. Tasty buffets and excellent coffee machines, at no additional cost. Lots of space and outlets to get some work done. Plus the staff at those lounges have access to all sorts of better tools to get you re-routed, improve your seat, etc.
I'm a mere MileagePlus Silver foot-soldier in their world. But the United Explorer credit card gets me a couple lounge passes a year. On occasions when weather has disrupted my intended flights, the Lounge Wizards have managed to get me astonishingly better arrangements, just because they can.
Not just for the baseline flier. My last flight out of SFO with United, I watched as the gate agent called the police on a first-class passenger for getting on the plane without first putting his standard-sized carry-on in the stupid little metal thing. I vowed to the gods in the heavens at that moment that I would never fly United ever again. I should mention here that three out of my last eight flights with United were delayed at least four hours, and we sat on the runway for most of that time.
The private United lounges are quite nice. Tasty buffets and excellent coffee machines, at no additional cost. Lots of space and outlets to get some work done. Plus the staff at those lounges have access to all sorts of better tools to get you re-routed, improve your seat, etc.
I'm a mere MileagePlus Silver foot-soldier in their world. But the United Explorer credit card gets me a couple lounge passes a year. On occasions when weather has disrupted my intended flights, the Lounge Wizards have managed to get me astonishingly better arrangements, just because they can.