United Airlines Personnel At Chicago O'Hare Disrespect U.S. Combat Disabled Veteran

United Airlines

233 South Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

Phone number (800) 864-8331

Website: united.com

Prices: $$$$

My wife and I have been flying United and Star Alliance airlines faithfully for years, both internationally (41 countries so far) and domestically. I also use my United Mileage Plus credit card for most purchases, totaling a great deal in the past few years.

Having accumulated over 100,000 miles, we decided to visit my wife's family in Italy. Redeeming the miles was relatively painless and so was the trip UNTIL WE GOT TO CHICAGO O'HARE ... United Airlines hometown for cryin' out loud!

O'Hare has some of the rudest employees of any airport I have traveled through and that totals quite a few. I love Chicago, but I hate O'Hare! 

I had two United Club passes that we needed to use before they expired, but by the time we landed, we had just an hour and a half before boarding because the plane was delayed departing Portland because ground crew hit the plane with a vehicle, then there was an ill passenger that needed emergency attention upon arrival. 

Upon arrival in Chicago, we found out that the Terminal C (where we landed and were departing from) United Club was closed for renovations, so we went to United's Polaris Lounge immediately next to our gate, assuming they would accept oir passes due to the closure of the Terminal C club. The woman who met us at the door was extremely rude, quickly ushering us out the door because we were just lowly "economy" international pax, not "business or first class". She told me we would have to walk 15 minutes (30 minutes total roundtrip) to the United Club in Terminal B, basically shooing us away. I told her that I am a disabled veteran (it was 11/12, the day after Veteran's Day) and that it was difficult for me to walk that far, particularly with such a short connection thanks mostly to United 's incompetence, but she could obviously care less.

We ended up making the 30 minute walk, leaving us just 20 minutes in the club (a huge waste of $100 worth of club passes) before having to make the return trip to catch our flight to Brussels. I then asked the gate agent about possible upgrades to Economy Plus or Business, but he looked at me like I had a dick growing out of my forehead, laughing as he said "absolutely not!"

Sitting in row 43 (of 46), two of the three dinner options (cream chicken and vegetarian) were gone by the time the flight attendant got to us, leaving only the pasta option which contained tomatoes. My wife is allergic to tomatoes, so I asked what our options were. The flight attendant gave my wife the tray with a small (disgusting) salad, a bread roll, and a cup of ice cream, saying "I guess you'll have to eat that". I told her that was unacceptable, asking how she could expect my wife to go without dinner. Feeling guilty, Anel (that was her name) said that she would give my wife her meal and eat the pasta herself, a very kind gesture. Anel arrived about 30 minutes later with a beautiful pork chop from First Class, so my wife finally had something to eat thanks to her kindness.

I am cancelling my Mileage Plus card, along with the $95 annual fee, as soon as I get home. United Airlines had better train their Chicago employees on customer service skills, particularly considering it is their home city. Some compassion toward disabled passengers, particularly those who sacrificed 20+ years of their lives to protect your freedom, might also be in order.

CombatCritic Gives United Airlines 2 Bombs Out Of 10 ... 1 Extra Bomb For Anel's Compassion ... More Bombs Are Better!

Two Bombs Equates To

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Read Chris S.'s review of United Airlines on Yelp

Title: United Airlines Personnel At Chicago O'Hare Disrespect U.S. Combat Disabled Veteran

Key Words: United Airlines, United, airlines, airline, airplane, commercial, Chicago O'Hare, Chicago, O'Hare, airport, veteran, disrespect, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, business, review, Yelp

Translation for Civilians: Tango-Uniform = "Tits Up" 

Copyright 2017/2018 - 3rd Wave Media Group, LLC and CombatCritic - All Rights Reserved

Chicago O'Hare Airport - Wild Goose Chase, Premature Closing Left This Weary Traveler Unimpressed

United Club

O'Hare International Airport - Concourse F

Chicago, IL 60666

Web: United.com

My experiences with United Airlines are hit-and-miss, occasionally brilliant, but more often than not disappointing.

After being told by the agent at the United luggage transfer desk in Terminal 5 that my connecting flight would leave from "Terminal 1, Concourse C", I made the mistake of believing him, finding out once there that it was actually leaving from Terminal 2, Concourse F, a 30-minute walk away. By the time I finally found my gate, I was not a happy camper, so I decided to waste one of my two United Club passes I get each year on their Chicago O'Hare (Concourse F) facility. 

With two hours before my departure just a few gates away, I asked the woman at reception what time they closed and was told "10pm, giving me a little less than two hours before I had to board my plane. Tired after nearly 20 hours of travel and 30 minutes of unnecessary walking, I decided to use my last pass and what a mistake that was!

What little food there was available (olives, hummus, pita chips, cheese cubes and Skittles) was mostly depleted at 8:15 when I arrived. An hour after I arrived and 45 minutes before their scheduled closing they started putting food and alcohol away as I was told "last call" by the bartender. Seeing little reason to stick around during the commotion and chaos of employees eagerly preparing to flea work, I decided to leave.

I asked the women at the front desk why the employees were shutting everything down well before closing time and with several customers still in the club, but was told "they want to go home". I said, "yes, but you told me they were open until 10pm and it is only 9:15". One of the women said, "you can make a complaint on the website if you aren't happy".

The only reason they get two stars is because of the free booze (well drinks, bottled beer, and wine), the place was clean, and the employees relatively friendly (a rarity in Chicago O'Hare).

CombatCritic Gives United Club (O'Hare - Concourse F) 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

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TripAdvisor - "Top Contributor" 

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Zomato - "#2 Ranked Foodie"



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Title: Wild Goose Chase, Premature Closing Left This Weary Traveler Unimpressed

Key Words: United Airlines, United, airlines, airline, fly, airplane, United Club, club, Chicago, O'Hare, airport, terminal, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, food, definitive, review, guide

Bella Vista, AR: Chicago-Style Pizza ... NOT!

Gusano's

19 Cunningham Corner

Bella Vista, AR 72714

Phone: (479) 876-6969

Website: gusanospizza.com
Prices: $$$$

Having lived in Chicago, and Naples, Italy, I am a bit spoiled and know good pizza when I shove it in my pie hole. I only had a beer and a calzone, so my experience was limited, but the "Chicago-style pizza" I saw looked nothing like any deep dish pizza I have ever had in Chicago and their prices are kinda high (see below).

A very noisy place, our waitress pounced on us for an order before we even had a chance to look at the menu or the mini 20-page flip chart with specials, happy hour deals, drinks, and appetizers listed. $1 off draft beer on Thursday night, I had a Sam Adams Octoberfest which was lukewarm. A good English ale should be room temperature, a Sam Adams should not.

The Fork Is Bigger Than Their $8 Pizza!

I refuse to pay nearly $13 for a ten inch pizza, so I was going to try their Italian roast beef sandwich, a Chicago tradition, but when I asked if it came with fries the server told me "we don't have French fries, only chips". Because you cannot eat an Italian roast beef without fries, I went with my third choice, a calzone. The calzone was ten bucks and nothing special. Not big by any stretch, there was too much sauce inside along with the sausage, pepperoni and mozzarella. It also came with ranch dressing (see photo above), an Italian staple ... NOT!

Our server never did come back to see if we needed anything else despite my attempts to catch her eye so I could get a different, possibly cold, beer. If this place rates 5 stars, Yelp needs to expand their rating system to 10 for real Chicago pizza joints like Pizano's and Pizzeria Uno. No bang-for-the-buck here folks.

CombatCritic Gives Gusano's 4 Bombs Out Of 10 ... That's 2 Stars On A 5-Star Scale ... More Bombs Are Better!

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Yelp - "Elite '14/'15"

TripAdvisor - "Top Contributor" 

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Zomato - "Super Foodie"

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Gusano's

Title: Chicago-Style Pizza ... NOT!

Key Words: Gusano's, Chicago, Chicago-style, pizza, pizzeria, deep, dish, Bella Vista, AR, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, TripAdvisor

Translation: "BOHICA" - Bend Over, Here It Comes Again