Airline industry consultant Scott Hamilton looks under the covers at the bankrupcty of United Airlines.
What does this mean for the consumer?
Don’t book United further than one month ahead. After the first of the year, don’t book more than a couple of weeks ahead. Do not pay for any ticket with cash, check or debit cards. Use only credit cards. If United ceases operations, this is the only way to get a refund. United has to escrow money received through credit card sales (the aforementioned restricted cash) to cover just such a possibility.
I flew United earlier this week to Seattle. Everything appeared quite normal — including the usual packed seating, sold-out flights and semi-surly flight attendants. No comments by the flight attendants or the captain about the bankruptcy.