wr_schwab
Dec 30, 04, 8:39 pm
Just before Christmas I completed my first trip on UA in almost 15 years, during that time I have flown US exclusively when departing from the US. Unfortunately this time US didn’t fly to where I wanted to go so I ended up on UA.
I flew JFK->NRT->SIN->NRT->JFK. All UA flights were on a 772 in the 777XP configuration. I cannot compare the UA 777 to the US 767 since I’ve never flown on the 767 Internationally.
The plane:
US 333
Y 2x4x2 33”-34” pitch 17” width
C 2x2x2 60” pitch 19.5 width
C - Row1 2x2x2 94” pitch 19.5 width
UA 772XP
Y 2x5x2 31” pitch 18.0” width
Y+ 2x5x2 34”-36” pitch 18.0” width
C 2x3x2 55” pitch 20.5” width
F 1x2x1 70” pitch 21.5” width
The overhead bins:
I know this is a bit subjective, but I prefer the US 333 overhead bins to the UA 772 bins.
On US’s 333 the bins are more rectangular and I can fit my rollerboard into the bin wheels first. This has the distinct advantage to being able to leave more overhead space for my seatmate.
The UA 772 bins are curved to match the shape of the airframe, even in the center section. Although this makes the plane appear a little bigger on the inside, it does so by sacrificing usable overhead space. My rollerboard would only fit in the 772 lengthwise and did not have enough room for a second rollerboard by my seatmate. The rollerboard is just big enough that when put in wheels first, you can only more the bin halfway into the closed position.
My rollerboard does conform to the UA’s size restriction for carry on luggage.
The Seat:
Having done many transatlantics on US I have had the chance to sit all over the Envoy cabin, including the legendary row 1. In my opinion, the row 1 seat on the US 333 can only be compared to what is available in UA F. I am excluding the row 1 seat from this comparison with UA.
US 333
Fully electronic seat controls. Presets available to several standard positions.
Headrest reasonable comfortable when in “stowed” position
Tray table in arm.
In flight entertainment display in center console.
Satellite phone handset part of IFE controller
UA 772
Fully manual seat controls.
Headrest uncomfortable when in “stowed” position. Produces a noticeable lump directly beneath my shoulders.
Tray table in arm..
In flight entertainment display in center console.
Satellite phone handset located in center armrest.
Although I could adjust the seat faster manually on UA then I can with US’s electronic controls, I did not have the level of precision as I do on US. Furthermore since everything is manual if you had the center seat you could have to do some minor contortioning to avoid accidentally kicking one or both of your seatmates.
I preferred the UA tray table to the US tray table for one reason; the hinge sits slightly above the top of the chair allowing it to lay flat. On US the hinge sits slightly below the top of the seat and the tray table then sits at a slight incline.
It seemed that the US seat had slightly more recline then the UA seat.
IFE:
US 333
P@ssport Entertainment System on 8.8” screen
Full audio & video on demand
Noise reduction headsets
Headsets use dual prongs for audio.
UA 772
Personal TV system, best guess 4” screen
Video & audio is on a loop. FA’s need to manually restart the tapes once they finish.
Channel 9, when turned on. (Lets you hear ATC)
Noise reduction headsets
Headsets use single prong for audio.
With the exception of Channel 9, the IFE system on the US 333 is vastly superior to what is on the UA 772, larger screen, AVOD system, what else could you ask for?
Inflight Service:
UA appears to take meal orders by status. US appears to work front to back.
Both carriers did not use any type of trolley for the meal services.
Both carriers did use a trolley for the desert part of the meal. US’s trolley looked more professional. Everything was already out and prepared for the passenger. On UA’s trolley you got to see them taking the plastic lids, in the aisle after you made your request, of the desert plates before giving the passenger the desert.
I don’t ever remember seeing a drink trolley in US Envoy everything came from the galley, but did see one that looked like a typical trolley but with glassware in UA C.
On US it seemed like the FAs never stopped going through the cabin and were always around checking to see if anyone needed something. On UA they sort of seemed to retreat to the galley between meal services and might do a walk through every couple of hours or so.
Misc Stuff (unless otherwise noted applies to UA transpacific segment or US transatlantic segment only):
On both the transpac segments on UA and the transatlantic segments on US both carriers served nuts before the appetizer. UA heated the nuts.
US gave each passenger a small bottle of water and replaced it once it was drunk. UA would give each passenger a small glass of water and refill it once an hour or so.
I think the glasses that US uses are larger then the glasses UA uses.
US serves Coke products, UA serves Pepsi products. I personally prefer the Coke products. (UA transpac and intra-asia)
Both carriers offer three entries for the main meal and had a tablecloth. (UA transpac and intra-asia)
UA had two choices for the pre-landing meal (heated dish and a cold dish). The last time I was in Envoy US only gave us one choice.
UA used a tablecloth for the pre-landing meal. The last time I was in Envoy US only did not use a tablecloth for the pre-landing meal.
Both carriers offer a “snacking station” between meals.
UA gave an amenity kit that includes the following: socks, earplugs, breath mints, toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, moisturizing lotion, & eyeshades. Everything was in a zippered pouch.
The last time I was in US Envoy amenities were distributed from a basket and you could select what you needed. (I understand the amenity kit has returned but I have not seen the current kit in order to comment on it.)
If you are a tea drinker, US gave me a choice of teas and I could let everything seep at my seat. UA brews a pitcher full of tea and pours you a cup. I prefer the US method because the UA method resulted in bitter tea on 3 of the 4 flights.
My verdict: The grass is not greener on the other side. There are a couple of nice things about UA’s Int C service, i.e. second table cloth for pre-landing meal, but overall I believe US has superior International service and product then UA does.
I flew JFK->NRT->SIN->NRT->JFK. All UA flights were on a 772 in the 777XP configuration. I cannot compare the UA 777 to the US 767 since I’ve never flown on the 767 Internationally.
The plane:
US 333
Y 2x4x2 33”-34” pitch 17” width
C 2x2x2 60” pitch 19.5 width
C - Row1 2x2x2 94” pitch 19.5 width
UA 772XP
Y 2x5x2 31” pitch 18.0” width
Y+ 2x5x2 34”-36” pitch 18.0” width
C 2x3x2 55” pitch 20.5” width
F 1x2x1 70” pitch 21.5” width
The overhead bins:
I know this is a bit subjective, but I prefer the US 333 overhead bins to the UA 772 bins.
On US’s 333 the bins are more rectangular and I can fit my rollerboard into the bin wheels first. This has the distinct advantage to being able to leave more overhead space for my seatmate.
The UA 772 bins are curved to match the shape of the airframe, even in the center section. Although this makes the plane appear a little bigger on the inside, it does so by sacrificing usable overhead space. My rollerboard would only fit in the 772 lengthwise and did not have enough room for a second rollerboard by my seatmate. The rollerboard is just big enough that when put in wheels first, you can only more the bin halfway into the closed position.
My rollerboard does conform to the UA’s size restriction for carry on luggage.
The Seat:
Having done many transatlantics on US I have had the chance to sit all over the Envoy cabin, including the legendary row 1. In my opinion, the row 1 seat on the US 333 can only be compared to what is available in UA F. I am excluding the row 1 seat from this comparison with UA.
US 333
Fully electronic seat controls. Presets available to several standard positions.
Headrest reasonable comfortable when in “stowed” position
Tray table in arm.
In flight entertainment display in center console.
Satellite phone handset part of IFE controller
UA 772
Fully manual seat controls.
Headrest uncomfortable when in “stowed” position. Produces a noticeable lump directly beneath my shoulders.
Tray table in arm..
In flight entertainment display in center console.
Satellite phone handset located in center armrest.
Although I could adjust the seat faster manually on UA then I can with US’s electronic controls, I did not have the level of precision as I do on US. Furthermore since everything is manual if you had the center seat you could have to do some minor contortioning to avoid accidentally kicking one or both of your seatmates.
I preferred the UA tray table to the US tray table for one reason; the hinge sits slightly above the top of the chair allowing it to lay flat. On US the hinge sits slightly below the top of the seat and the tray table then sits at a slight incline.
It seemed that the US seat had slightly more recline then the UA seat.
IFE:
US 333
P@ssport Entertainment System on 8.8” screen
Full audio & video on demand
Noise reduction headsets
Headsets use dual prongs for audio.
UA 772
Personal TV system, best guess 4” screen
Video & audio is on a loop. FA’s need to manually restart the tapes once they finish.
Channel 9, when turned on. (Lets you hear ATC)
Noise reduction headsets
Headsets use single prong for audio.
With the exception of Channel 9, the IFE system on the US 333 is vastly superior to what is on the UA 772, larger screen, AVOD system, what else could you ask for?
Inflight Service:
UA appears to take meal orders by status. US appears to work front to back.
Both carriers did not use any type of trolley for the meal services.
Both carriers did use a trolley for the desert part of the meal. US’s trolley looked more professional. Everything was already out and prepared for the passenger. On UA’s trolley you got to see them taking the plastic lids, in the aisle after you made your request, of the desert plates before giving the passenger the desert.
I don’t ever remember seeing a drink trolley in US Envoy everything came from the galley, but did see one that looked like a typical trolley but with glassware in UA C.
On US it seemed like the FAs never stopped going through the cabin and were always around checking to see if anyone needed something. On UA they sort of seemed to retreat to the galley between meal services and might do a walk through every couple of hours or so.
Misc Stuff (unless otherwise noted applies to UA transpacific segment or US transatlantic segment only):
On both the transpac segments on UA and the transatlantic segments on US both carriers served nuts before the appetizer. UA heated the nuts.
US gave each passenger a small bottle of water and replaced it once it was drunk. UA would give each passenger a small glass of water and refill it once an hour or so.
I think the glasses that US uses are larger then the glasses UA uses.
US serves Coke products, UA serves Pepsi products. I personally prefer the Coke products. (UA transpac and intra-asia)
Both carriers offer three entries for the main meal and had a tablecloth. (UA transpac and intra-asia)
UA had two choices for the pre-landing meal (heated dish and a cold dish). The last time I was in Envoy US only gave us one choice.
UA used a tablecloth for the pre-landing meal. The last time I was in Envoy US only did not use a tablecloth for the pre-landing meal.
Both carriers offer a “snacking station” between meals.
UA gave an amenity kit that includes the following: socks, earplugs, breath mints, toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, moisturizing lotion, & eyeshades. Everything was in a zippered pouch.
The last time I was in US Envoy amenities were distributed from a basket and you could select what you needed. (I understand the amenity kit has returned but I have not seen the current kit in order to comment on it.)
If you are a tea drinker, US gave me a choice of teas and I could let everything seep at my seat. UA brews a pitcher full of tea and pours you a cup. I prefer the US method because the UA method resulted in bitter tea on 3 of the 4 flights.
My verdict: The grass is not greener on the other side. There are a couple of nice things about UA’s Int C service, i.e. second table cloth for pre-landing meal, but overall I believe US has superior International service and product then UA does.