Comments on: Answering a few reader questions….

By: Smooth Rob

Smooth Rob — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:12:57 +0000

Ah ok, thanks pal.

By: lucky

lucky — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:30:39 +0000

“Skykit” is a bit of a misleading name, since it’s not really a “kit,” but rather it’s a “form” with a code which you can redeem on united.com/appreciateion for the compensation of your choice (such as miles, e-certificates, % off certificates, etc).

By: Smooth Rob

Smooth Rob — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:07:57 +0000

So, what exactly is contained within a Skykit ?

By: attassape

attassape — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:21:57 +0000

I am here at a forum newcomer. Until I read and deal with the forum.
Let’s learn!

By: lucky

lucky — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:01:31 +0000

Thanks for the kind words, Smooth Rob. A skykit is basically United’s form of onboard compensation. If something doesn’t work onboard (your reading light, audio, entertainment, a meal is miscatered, etc.), you should get one from an FA. If you don’t, you can always ask for one. In turn you’ll get compensated based on the severity of the problem, status, and cabin of service.

By: Smooth Rob

Smooth Rob — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:56:35 +0000

Lucky, great blog you have running here. Can you tell us in more detail what exactly is a “Skykit” ?

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:24:59 +0000

You can also get a skykit if you are flying in a premium cabin, have ordered a special meal and the meal is not boarded.

By: lucky

lucky — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:23:30 +0000

number5858, that’s a very good point. At lower redemption levels Marriott isn’t that good, but when you have a lot of points it can be extremely rewarding!

Also, I just found out about their buy one get one free vouchers, which is another great benefit.

By: lucky

lucky — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:10:42 +0000

Thanks hobo13!

Actually I use a bit of a different strategy, because as you mention IM can be strange at times. Heck, I recently got a bump on a flight that showed as L9 the night before!

I usually ask either at check-in or in the RCC about how full a flight is. If they say “it’s very full” I ask if they might need volunteers, and if they say they don’t think so but might, I ask them to add me to the list just in case. If they say they aren’t I’ll assume they won’t need volunteers and just go on my merry way.

By: hobo13

hobo13 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:05:31 +0000

Nice post Lucky –

Here’s a question for you — do you get yourself added to the list for every single flight, or only when you see the loads look favorable? I must say that sometimes I feel a little weird about asking for a bump when I know the load is Y9! But with the way UA’s IM works these days, I’ve seen stranger things!