Why United CEO Scott Kirby Constantly Flies American, Despite His Trash Talking - American

Why United CEO Scott Kirby Constantly Flies American, Despite His Trash Talking

Ben Schlappig — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 23:53:47 +0000

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby used to be the president of American Airlines, before essentially being told that he wouldn’t be picked as the next CEO. At that point he moved to United, where it seems like one of his top priorities has been to do everything possible to destroy American… despite then also saying…

Continue reading: Why United CEO Scott Kirby Constantly Flies American, Despite His Trash Talking

Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.

Scooter — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 03:52:31 +0000

Kirby got a United on the up and up after Muñoz cleaned up Smisek’s mess. I give Kirby credit for how he played COVID; he got that spot on. Bastian took over a well-run show and has done a great Tim Cook (change nothing and get shareholder value). The product (mileage redemptions, status perks, flight quality and amenities, etc.) is not much different across the legacy carriers. TLDR: be a free agent and fly everyone.

Timtamtrak — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 02:44:14 +0000

I can’t speak for the government but the two companies I have worked for most recently prohibit the purchase of basic economy fares.

MoJoe — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 23:37:41 +0000

The "petty theory" makes sense. Kirby denies seat revenue (especially if flying First Class) to American and gets to troll his old employer at the same time. It would be hilarious if Kirby passed out status-match-on-United vouchers to fellow AA First Class passengers as well.

rebel — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 18:16:45 +0000

Kirby has outperformed every airline CEO over the last decade. Bastian inherited a great airline from Richard Anderson & Hauenstein. UA was a relative mess when Kirby showed up around the same time. Nice try though.

rebel — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:38:13 +0000

LTD says, "it is worth posting some data that confirms that UA is indeed shrinking its domestic network this summer" Temporarily just like United said they would in March because of rising fuel prices. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/21/united-airlines-to-cut-more-flights-as-it-eyes-elevated-oil-pric.html Nice try though. 100 new narrow body aircraft & 36 new gates at IAH & IAD in 2026 & 7 JFK-LAX/SFO transcons in 2027. US domestic mainline market share (passengers) 2016/2025  DL: 16.4%/17.8%, +9%  AA: 17.2%/17.3%, +1%  SW:18.2%/16.9%, -7%  UA: 13.0%/16.6%, +28% Fleet size 2016/2025:   UA: 737/1,066 +329/45%  AA: 930/1,013 +83/9%  DL: 832/989 +157/19% UA: 1,128 aircraft, (236 WB), 180 WB/475 NB on order (15.2 average fleet age)  AA: 1,030 aircraft, (137 WB), 19 WB/270 NB on order (14.3 average fleet age)  DL: 987 aircraft, (179 WB), 85 WB/266 NB on order (14.8 average fleet age)

Ricky — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:08:34 +0000

Ok @ClownDancer, but I thought most USA corporate travel policies (and government travel policies) dictate buying the cheapest fares, at least domestically? Which now in many airlines in the USA, these basic economy fares do not accrue miles, etc. Unless Tim knows more about government travel since he implies that employees are not forced to purchase basic economy.

Tim Dunn — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:24:17 +0000

you conveniently ignored that other airline CEOs including Scott Kirby said that the fuel cost increases were expected to be $10 billion for all of 2026. multiple industry execs said they would recover anywhere from 40% to all of the increases in fuel costs, depending on how far out from Feb 28 they are looking at. Fuel costs have fallen dramatically, airline profits are expected to be very strong for the 2nd quarter and even stronger in the 3rd quarter and beyond. DL stock has gained 90% over the past year, leading US airlines. foreign airlines, including those in which DL has equity, are seeing substantial increases values as well. And DL is still expected to be the US' most profitable and the world's highest cap and highest market cap airline. DL has achieved under Bastian what no other US airline and esp. anything Kirby has touched has done.

Tim Dunn — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:19:07 +0000

nobody has doubted anywhere in these remarks that Kirby isn't entitled to these perks. The point is simply that there is no other airline CEO that trash talks a competiton = and the competition in general - to anywhere near the degree that Kirby does and then uses travel benefits on those airlines. you have to ask why that is -and the idea that he is taking a seat away that AA could sell is ridiculous given that AA has a domestic network far larger than UA's. IT is precisely because AA has what UA wants - including to be able to dominate ORD like AA does at CLT, DCA and DFW and DL does at ATL, DTW, MSP and SLC but UA does nowhere that Kirby trash talks the competition so much. UA's growth strategy isn't working. and, it is actually Kirby that got fired from AA. It is no surprise that you and others conflate and confuse facts because you don't like the real facts that real credible industry observers cite.

Tim Dunn — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:13:40 +0000

before this article starts collecting dust in Ben's attic, it is worth posting some data that confirms that UA is indeed shrinking its domestic network this summer, in complete contrast to the rah-rah growth message that some here have said. Aeroroutes - a great resource - says During the 74-day peak summer season, between 26JUN26 and 07SEP26, the airline in average reduces 6.9% flights for entire domestic service, 4.8% capacity reductions. These reductions include FAA flight caps but cuts are still being done at hubs such as IAH and DEN as well as LAX which are not under FAA flight caps. As much as some want to believe otherwise, UA's growth is stalled - right now because of higher fuel costs but also because of FAA restrictions. Kirby wants the domestic system in the hub cities that AA and DL have where they both have hubs (except for DCA) which are better suited for growth and sustainably large operations.