wouldn't people cashing their miles in in such a frenzy reduce the amount of tickets they can sell and make them more likely to go bankrupt? I guess I will ask him for clarification when I try getting my questions in to him during the live chat http://dontgothere.org/peter-greenberg-live-chat-here

Posted By David on November 11, 2008, 4:03 PM

This guy doesn't know what he's talking about! Oil just fell to under $60/BBL even with OPEC production cuts. Jet fuel is trading lower than the same time last year. Even with bad hedges (which are only noncash losses) the carriers are going to make profits in 2009. UAL owns almost all its fleet, and so has much more collateral available if it needs liquidity (which should be decreased significantly with the big drop in oil) than the other big carriers. That doesn't means its in big shape, but I haven't seen it on any analysts bankruptcy list. Frankly, it's USAirways people should worry about, given their recent $900MM+ liquidity infusion. (Although the drop in fuel will help AAA too.)

Are you sure this isn't another old story? Otherwise Greenberg is just ignorant.

Posted By WRW on November 11, 2008, 4:44 PM

Mr greenberg, you are not (including myself) a managent airline business, you do not know the ecomomics of running an airline. suggestion: deletion

Posted By flyerconnet on November 12, 2008, 2:11 AM

Having been a travel agent 30 years - I find most of what Peter Greenberg says to be incorrect. I always find what he says on The Today Show to be off base!

Posted By Ruth Ann on November 12, 2008, 10:55 AM

Mr. Greenburg has no business sense. No business will suddenly go out of business, especially a large international firm like United, without first selling off some of the assets (fundamental or none core). United still has plenty of valuable asset to help it get through the tough time if selling become necessary. BTW, why such a negative comments from Mr. Greenburg about United? Did the airline refuse to give him a free upgrade to First Class?

Posted By hwydave on November 12, 2008, 2:21 PM

Did it a couple of weeks ago. Business class to Florence. :)

Posted By Cindy on November 13, 2008, 12:32 PM

Dear Mr. Greenberg;

Your comments and recommendations have no basis or foundation. Airlines in repositioning because they are, once again, healthy.

Posted By John Shumacher on November 13, 2008, 12:43 PM

If Mr. Greenberg is so off base here, then that makes me suspect of other things on Budget Travel. Perhaps he is buds with the BT execs (Im thinking yes). And if so, shame on BT for allowing the airing of such inflammatory comments. Wishing a crisis on a company is NOT what should be published here. Thanks Cindy for clarifying what really caused Mr. Greenberg's sour grapes!

Posted By Geoff on November 13, 2008, 1:14 PM

Budget Travel has no business relationship with Peter Greenberg. He is an Emmy-award winning journalist for NBC News who has published two informative books on travel.

Greenberg has interviewed our staff people for his TV and radio shows.

His view was posted on our blog for discussion. Like all the views posted on our blog from people with various opinions, we are not taking positions on various issues. We're inviting readers to weigh in with their own comments. Our thanks to readers who have contributed to the discussion.

Posted By Blog Editor on November 13, 2008, 1:22 PM

I tend to agree with your write in comments in general. I have owned/and operated an agency for 26 years and find with all large airlines, opinions change with the persons that you happen to talk to when you need help. But as for United going bottoms-up - there is no visible signs to suggest such. To start tales with no more evidence than that given is reprehensible. JReid

Posted By J Reid on November 13, 2008, 1:48 PM

I've flown literally around the world, both military and commercially for almost 25 years. I've seen Mr. Greenberg's supposedly "expert" comments on TV, and flipped through a couple of his books.
Frankly, how this guy got to be a "travel expert" is beyond me. Nearly everything he's stated in the past has been inaccurate or just wrong.
I have no doubt that United will recover-or worst case will merge with another airline.
You ain't gonna lose your miles, yeesh.

Posted By jim on November 13, 2008, 2:29 PM

Having a disastrous experience to and from Europe on United in October I agree with Greenberg. United should be out of business. They delayed a flight to Frankfurt 5 hours to change a engine thruster instead of bringing in another plane and 2 0f three flight were delayed.

Posted By Larry Ehemann on November 13, 2008, 4:24 PM

These points run counter to Mr Greenberg's conjecture: Mileage Plus is the most - only - profitable part of UAUA. Graham Atkinson, long in the upper echelons of UA (last as Senior Executive Vice President for Customer Service), has been made "President" of Mileage Plus, which has always been headed by a Vice President or Director in the past. He has the charge to make it its own stand alone entity, so that it can be put on the market or stay as an independent firm that contracts with UA and other airlines. UAUA's and MP's fortunes may not be one.

Posted By Camino Cielo on November 13, 2008, 5:31 PM

Typical of these stories, this guy has failed to do his homework. As a 1K flyer on United, I suffered through their last bankruptcy and emerged with all my miles intact.

Bankruptcy is different from insolvency. Obviously if they become insolvent the miles are worthless, but he's suggesting bankruptcy. As to how worthy of an airline, that's a different matter.

Posted By JLG on November 13, 2008, 5:39 PM

Mr Greenberg, You just validated what everyone here at my airport have been buzzing about. United is going out of business as of the 1st quarter 2009. Management at my airport has already been notified of the pending release of gate space and ticket counter vacancy.
Like the article said, if you don't believe it and want to save your miles, put them in a frame.

Posted By Dominic on November 13, 2008, 5:50 PM

Just a couple of questions to some of your comments...Larry, when you complain of a delay to
resolve a mechanical problem, my question to you is
wouldn't you rather be safe than sorry? Secondly, to just get another plane is not that simple. Do you have a spare car in your garage when the first one breaks down??? To Dominic...has the thought of
another airline merger ever crossed your mind? Perhaps that's the reason for the release of ticket counter/gate space. Once the merger between Delta and Northwest is complete, it will be pretty close to impossible for a stand alone airline to survive.

Finally, I do agree with most of you on your thoughts of Mr. Greenburg, for the most part this man does not know what he's talking
about. Having been in the industry for 15 years,
I have to say, I find him quite entertaining. Most of the advice he gives was outdated years ago. So do yourself a favor, don't come to the airport threatening or demanding things from the airlines just because Mr. Greenburg has told you that you are entitled to them, because most of the time, he is wrong!

Posted By Mel on November 18, 2008, 2:03 PM

Had my problems with United last summer. I tried to redeem Mileage+ for an open jaw Denver-Heathrow (surface) Arlanda (Stockholm)-O'Hare-Denver on line but it wouldn't work. I had to call them and some guy with an Indian accent kept saying the nonstop DEN-LHR I wanted was "not available". Horsefeathers. I finally bought the fare, for $1200, and got on the flight fine. Some kind soul at SAS got the seat I wanted coming back (UA code share) when UA's seat selection didn't work. I couldn't check in on line from Stockholm and the self-service Kiosk at Arlanda never heard of me. Checked in fine at the counter but the seat had vanished and I got stuck with a terrible one over the wing; I could hardly see anything for the 9-hr. flight. At least wine was free; United had the nerve to charge for it, on an overseas flight (the meal, which was good, was free).

Posted By Roger Williams on December 12, 2008, 3:01 PM