United Hires Former White House Press Chief in Bid to Revamp Image

United wants to escape from a reputation for poor service, as well as a series of high-profile incidents

United Airlines said Thursday it had tapped former White House press chief Josh Earnest to head its communications team, part of the effort to improve the fortunes of a carrier damaged by everything from growth plans to the death of a dog in an overhead bin.

Mr. Earnest, a former press secretary under President Barack Obama, has been hired as a senior vice president at parent United Continental Holdings Inc. to oversee communications for a carrier that is become a touchstone for the fortunes of the broader U.S. airline industry.

...