Airline complaint site threatened by United Airlines

If you fly long enough, you will experience an airline flight that is far from perfect, so bad that you not only want to complain to the airline, but to also share your experience with the world. While all airlines get complaints, few airlines have had as many complaints as United Airlines. Years before their merger with Continental, a merger which many believe led to a significant drop in the quality and consistency of the customer experience, United was one of the leading airlines for complaints. In fact, there were so many complaints that since 1997, the web site Untied.com (untied as in shoelaces) has exclusively featured complaints about United.

The site is unusual in that it has been up for over 15 years, and has kept a laser-like focus on the problems at United. The site has been supported almost entirely by the efforts of its creator Jeremy Cooperstock, an engineering professor at McGill University in Montreal, who also has his own story to tell about how United Airlines has treated him. However, the unique resource that Jeremy has created is at risk of being destroyed.

Lawsuits against Untied.com
Two recent lawsuits allege, among other things, that the site violates the airline's copyright and trademarks because it looks like the United Airlines website. The airline claims that it isn't trying to stop airline complaints from being publicized, but rather that they are trying to protect the airline' customers because they may confuse Coopperstock's site with the airline's site. Jeremy has a different interpretation, that the airline's suit is without merit, and that their goal goal is to put a strain on his time and money and to encourage him to shut down the site.

How to Help Untied.com
Jeremy has started a legal defense fund for his site at http://www.untied.com/SLAPP. AirSafe.com encourages you to donate what you can to help Jeremy keep his site alive. You can also help by visiting untied.com and sharing any complaints you may have about United, or their merger partner Continental.

Todd Curtis Interviewed about his new airline complaint book

subscribe.airsafe.comDr. Todd Curtis of AirSafe.com was recently interviewed on the nationally syndicated radio talk show Rudy Maxa's World about his latest book, AirSafe.com Airline Complaint Guide. Rudy and Todd talked about a number of subjects, including the most common kinds of complaints seen by AirSafe.com and when a passenger should not complain.

This latest book is the first of a series of books that will be published by the end of 2012, with the next book covering child travel issues.

Todd Curtis interview on 13 October 2012

Listen to the interview

How to get this book
To get this newest AirSafe.com title, simply join the AirSafe.com mailing list at subscribe.airsafe.com. If you are a mailing list member, look for the book link in your latest email, or contact AirSafe.com for a copy.

Introducing AirSafe.com's Wedding Week

June is a very popular month for weddings, and for most it is a happy occasion. If you have to fly to get to that wedding, things may go wrong and spoil an otherwise joyful occasion.

Today, AirSafe.com introduces what we hope will become an annual affair, Wedding Week on FlightsGoneBad.com. This site features complaints submitted to the AirSafe.com Complaint system complain.airsafe.com. Every day until the end of June will bring a new complaint about how a wedding, a wedding anniversary, or a honeymoon was ruined by an air travel issue.

The first complaint, United Partner Airline Issue Ruins Wedding Night is from a new bride who spent Christmas Eve (which was also the night of her wedding) keeping her children from being stranded in a strange airport.

Tune in every day until June 30th for another tale of high stress, missing bags, unexpected charges, and other wedding-related surprises.

Revised AirSafe.com Baggage and Security Guide Published

A revised and greatly expanded version of one of AirSafe.com's most popular downloads, the AirSafe.com Baggage and Security Guide, has just been released. Bringing together some of the most popular content from the AirSafe.com network of web sites, podcasts, and published articles, this book provides airline passengers with advice on how to deal with many common problems they may face when it comes to dealing with baggage problems, airport security issues, fear of flying, and travel with children.

Multiple versions available
The original download was available only as a PDF file. The revised version is available as a PDF as well, but also in MOBI format (used on Kindles), and EPUB format (used with iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Nook). If you want to use different formats on different devices, please feel to download different versions of this book at http://www.airsafenews.com/p/downloads.html. You can put different formats on different devices so you can try them out to find out what works best for you.

Download MOBI
Download EPUB
Download PDF

Since 1996, AirSafe.com has provided the public with insights and advice about a wide range of airline topics on its web sites, blogs, podcasts, and downloadable documents, and many of the most popular topics are included in this ebook.
This ebook puts a lot of useful information in one convenient place. Combining information from the AirSafe.com network of web sites, this book covers the following areas:

• Things you should not bring on board
  
• Advice for checked and carry-on baggage
  
• Dealing with lost or delayed luggage
  
• Travel with children or pets
  
• Security and identification requirements
  
• Advice for special travel situations
  
• How to complain about your treatment
  
• Fear of flying information and solutions

Getting the ebook version of this Guide

Get a Kindle reader for your computer or smartphone
If you don’t have a Kindle, but want to download and use the Kindle version of the AirSafe.com Baggage and Security Guide, please visit AirSafe-Media.com to find out that describes how to read Kindle books without buying a Kindle.

New crash videos and more stories of questionable airline customer service

Latest Crashes from Plane-Crash-Videos.net
The two most recent crash videos are both from 2009. The first is of a very closeup view of a float plane that crashed just after takeoff from a lake in Anchorage, AK. The photographer had to duck, and was barely missed by the plane.

The second features a landing that appears to be a normal landing of a Piper Aztec on Saint Barthélemy island in the Caribbean. Things don't end well as the aircraft goes beyond the runway and ends up partially in the water.

Featured Complaints from FlightsGoneBad.com
Since the site's launch earlier this week, several other noteworthy airline complaints were added.

One woman on a flight from San Antonio who exhibited flu-like symptoms was very stressed out by her experience, which included medical treatment in the terminal, a late arrival, and uncompensated costs from missing a connection. Also interesting was the current guidance that the Centers for Disease Control has given to passengers and airlines about the threat from the H1N1 virus (swine flu).

A passenger on a flight from Mexico to the US was quite upset by the lack of compensation for costs associated with a late flight. That same passenger would likely be more upset if he knew just how little US airlines are required to provide as a result of flight delays.

AirSafe.com Lauches Airline Complaint Blog FlightsGoneBad.com

Have you ever felt like complaining about your airline service or security screening experience, but weren't sure it was worth it? Or maybe you thought your experience was the worst thing possible? The new site FlightsGoneBad.com that features complaints from the AirSafe.com Complaint System and other news and information about passenger service and airport security issues.

The AirSafe.com Complaint System has been up and running for several years, and is a constant source of insights and surprises. This site will serve as an ongoing educational resource for passengers, security personnel, and other air travel professionals by including advice for further action and links to appropriate resources for resolving customer service issues and other kinds of complaints.

Have a Complaint? - Share it with Us
If you have an airline complaint that you would like to share with the world, please visit AirSafe.com's Online Complaint Form where your complaint (edited for content and without personal identifying information) will be reviewed and either published here or forwarded to the appropriate organization.