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United Airlines to Debut New Commercials During the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
As America tunes into the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, United will debut five commercials that capture the spirit of how relaxing and rewarding international travel is when flying in United's new first and business class cabins.
United's new commercials celebrate the ongoing rollout of its new international service that provides customers with flat-bed seats in first and business class, on-demand entertainment and gourmet cuisine. The ads are the latest addition to United's "It's Time to Fly" campaign that makes distinct emotional connections between United and business travelers - specifically those in international first and business class.
Created by artists from around the world, including South Africa and India, each of the six spots paints a picture of optimism and exploration using unique artistic forms such as shed bird feathers, colored sand and plastic modeling clay on glass. Custom scores of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue were performed by members of the L.A. Philharmonic Symphony and in one of the ads, Grammy award-winning American jazz legend, Herbie Hancock, and the classical world-renowned Chinese concert pianist, Lang Lang, who is performing live during the opening ceremonies, played a piano duet. The voiceover tag line is read by Robert Redford.
"Unveiling new ads during the Summer Olympics provides us with a high-profile, worldwide stage to effectively showcase the comforts of our new international first and business class service," said Dennis Cary, senior vice president - Marketing. "As we roll out our new international premium travel experience, now is the optimal time to demonstrate to the global traveler that we understand how vastly important a truly lie-flat bed in both first and business class is to feeling relaxed and rewarded."
The following 60-second and 30-second spots will air on NBC nationally and locally in Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. United's "Sea Orchestra" commercial will debut nationally and locally during the Opening Ceremonies:
-- "Sea Orchestra" (60 seconds)
-- "Heart" (60-seconds)
-- "Two Worlds" (60 seconds)
-- Moondust (60 seconds and 30 second)
-- Butterfly (30 seconds)
United's new commercials are the first spots that have been created by its new ad agency, BD'M, whose two founding partners -- Bob Barrie and Stuart D'Rozario -- were instrumental in the creation of the "It's Time to Fly" campaign in 2005. The campaign has earned the Gold Effie Award for marketing effectiveness and was nominated for an Emmy Award.
As an Official Airline Sponsor of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, United has been flying America's team for 28 years. As America tunes into the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, United will debut five commercials that capture the spirit of how relaxing and r... more -
there are m'fuckn tickts on the plane!
True story! Ticks were found on a plane!
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United, US Airways join in bag fees
United Airlines and US Airways have joined American Airlines in charging passengers to check bags on certain flights.
Citing higher fuel prices, United Airlines said Thursday it will begin charging domestic passengers $15 each way for one checked bag.
The Chicago, Illinois-based airline said the fee to check a second bag will be $25 each way. The fee to check three or more bags, overweight bags or "items that require special handling" will increase from $100 to $125 or from $200 to $250, depending on the item, United said in a statement.
The $15 charge will apply to customers who purchase a ticket on or after Friday for travel within the United States, and who buy on or after August 18 a ticket to or from Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The $15 service fee will not apply to customers flying in United First or United Business or who have premier status with United or Star Alliance airline network, the carrier said.
For itineraries that include international flights (except Canada), checking a first and second bag will continue to be free, United said. The cost to check more than two bags or items that are overweight or require special handling varies by destination.
US Airways, meanwhile, said it will begin charging passengers $15 for their first checked bag for travel on or after July 9. The airline said it also has recently started charging passengers $25 for second checked bags. The new policy applies to flights in the United States as well as flights to and from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Some airlines have been adding fees to once-free benefits, such as snacks. Despite this cost-cutting, airlines are finding it harder to survive as they get squeezed by soaring fuel costs.
"With record-breaking fuel prices, we must pursue new revenue opportunities while continuing to offer competitive fares, by tailoring our products and services around what our customers value most and are willing to pay for," said John Tague, United's executive vice president and chief operating officer.
United said it estimates that the $15 fee will apply to one out of three customers, and the potential revenue from baggage handling service fees, including those for checking a first and second bag, will be approximately $275 million a year.
The move comes a month after American Airlines announced a $15 service charge for the first checked bag.
Delta, Continental and Northwest told CNN they are not charging for passengers' first checked bags. However, a spokesman for Northwest said the airline is well aware of changes in the industry.
"We are always keeping an eye on what our competitors are doing," the spokesman said. United Airlines and US Airways have joined American Airlines in charging passengers to check bags on certain flights. ... more -
United cuts jobs, discount TED
UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, the world's second-largest carrier, will shut its low-fare Ted airline, ground 70 planes and cut as many as 1,100 jobs to help counter record fuel costs.
United's second round of cutbacks in two months follows a 76 percent surge in jet fuel prices in the past year that will add $3 billion to its spending for fuel. AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, the world's biggest carrier, and Delta Air Lines Inc. also are paring their domestic seating capacity.
``These are very aggressive domestic capacity and cost cuts,'' Calyon Securities analyst Ray Neidl in New York said in an interview. ``If oil stays at $130 or $120 a barrel, I expect you'll see additional big cuts announced by airlines as we move through the year. Basically, you need over 20 percent of capacity taken out of the domestic market.''
United's reductions will take place this year and next, adding to the 30 planes taken out of service and 500 management job cuts announced in April. Chicago-based United said today in a statement that it's scaling back international flights, which have been profitable. United's main jet fleet has 460 planes.
Airlines' efforts to cover fuel costs with fare increases and new baggage-check fees have fallen short, leading JPMorgan Chase & Co. analyst Jamie Baker to estimate that the U.S. industry's losses will top $7.2 billion this year.
Worst 2008 Performer
UAL gained 42 cents, or 4.9 percent, to $8.95 at 10:26 a.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. The company has tumbled 76 percent this year, making it the worst performer among 14 carriers in the Bloomberg U.S. Airlines Index.
``United's move is a necessity in the face of high fuel costs and should significantly improve the company's pricing power and lower costs,'' said Douglas Runte, managing director at RBS Greenwich Capital in Greenwich, Connecticut. UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, the world's second-largest carrier, will shut its low-fare Ted airline, ground 70 planes and cu... more -
United Airlines to cut 1,100 jobs
United Airlines will be cutting over 1,100 jobs, and grounding over 94 flights. The primary reason is the high price of gasoline, which peaked at $135 a barrel last week. The carrier will cut mainline domestic capacity by 17 to 18 percent in 2009, while also scaling back international capacity by 4 to 5 percent. They will also charge $15 for a passengers first checked bag. United Airlines will be cutting over 1,100 jobs, and grounding over 94 flights. The primary reason is the high price of gasoline, whic... more
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FAA to United Airlines: "You're GROUNDED!!"
"United said that during a regular review of maintenance records it had discovered tests on a fire suppression system had not been thorough enough.
The airline cancelled 31 of its 84 daily 777 flights on Wednesday and expects more cancellations on Thursday."
Passengers were booked for flights on other airlines due to the forced grounding. "United said that during a regular review of maintenance records it had discovered tests on a fire suppression system had not bee... more -
Plane parts falling off in mid-flight mistaken for UFO's
The United Airlines Rep put us at ease with the statement: "The landing gear door is not necessary to land the plane," Awesome, thanks for that The United Airlines Rep put us at ease with the statement: "The landing gear door is not necessary to land the plane," Aweso... more
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