Thanks to Flight Memory.com and my friend Tony (see blog post), I know exactly how many fights, miles and hours have been spent in pressurised tubes of metal flying around the world. Even after many flying hours, and despite the determined efforts by some airlines to make travel as horrible as possible,  I am still wildly excited about plane travel.

On Board: 2/10  – Modern flying means being cramped

I normally avoid any seats further than the over wing emergency exits so to have been allocated a seat at the back of an oversold plane was a shock!

I had waitlisted for an upgrade to First cabin but was not successful. Nor could I snag an extra legroom room Economy Plus section or in the  757s’ very generous exit rows and despite United automatically wait-listing me for both.

My seat 40C, is the aisle seat at the very back of the plane in the seatguru map on the left! The only positive thing about the seat was that when we departed, there was one empty seat left on the plane and that was 40B!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safety: 1/10

A perfunctory safety briefing was performed by an unsmiling seemingly unhappy automaton.

I love watching approach and landing but the guy by the window in my row was a closed window man. Airlines in Australia and New Zealand insist on window shades being open for landing saying its for safety. United seemed to have no such stipulation. I find it amazing that we can fly over amazing landscapes and passengers snap their shades closed to watch movies set in the same landscapes! He would peek out his window every now and again and when he did I would edge forward and stare outside. Finally, he left the window shade for our last 45 seconds of flight. 

Takeoff- Two Hour Weather Related Delay
The doors closed two minutes after departure time but we sat at the gate while ATC gave us a “re-routing” to avoid nasty weather. After a while we pushed back, we lumbered slowly around the airport to come to a halt on the tarmac with a line of other planes. Soon there were planes everywhere all grounded because of the weather. After about two hours we finally were cleared for takeoff. As the rain started, we launched off into turbulent skies. To his credit, the captain briefed us three times while we were waiting but I think one every 15 minutes would be better -we were given a glass of water and a football show during the wait time

• Meals : 0/10
  Drink service was slow on a fully laden flight with one flight attendant serving the entire cabin by herself

  With the removal of catering for economy passengers on United, on a five hour and five-minute flight, the airline sells snack boxes, chips, candies, cookies.

  On this day by the time the cart had reached row 36, the crew ran out of food. They basically shouted “that’s right, no food left”

  Our row looked at each other, aghast.  When you consider that we were two hours late in departure and I had got to the airport two hours earlier, that is nine hours between meals. A glass of water and a glass of soda do not make up for that. Yes, I probably should have eaten at the airport or brought food on board but I was clearly tweeting and not thinking!

  Entertainment: 0/10

  The Movie was broadcast on a single screen with terrible sound quality.   The 757, being an older plane has no seat entertainment. I do not even remember the movie name due to the terrible sound.

  Landing

  When we finally landed in a stunningly smooth landing.  We got thanked for flying the friendly skies. my entire row laughed at this point. If nothing else, the last row bonded!

  Luggage return was fairly prompt but I reached the empty V Australia counter at 923pm for my 1020pm Sydney-bound flight to find it was closed.  Thankfully the supervising agent re opened it for myself and two other weather delayed passengers.

  The Verdict

  Overall Rating: 40% – one of the lowest ratings I have ever given a flight. 

  I was amazed that United took zero interest in this being my 757th flight on a 757. Contrast this with my 737th flight with Southwest and 747th flight with Qantas.

  Would I fly them again?:  I did like being on the 757 and am excited I managed to score another significant flight but United sucks. Mr Jeff Smisek you apparently are producing a great airline—hurry up!