US Airways Dividend Miles - Flights to Germany, US or UA?

Need some advice on a work trip to STR next month. Since it's for work, the purchased ticket has to be in coach. But upgrading it on my own is an option. The flights on *A I am considering include transatlantic segments:

US
PHL-FRA on A333
PHL-ZRH on 767
PHL-MUC on A333
CLT-FRA on A332

UA
EWR-STR on 757-200

Of these, what are people's thoughts on comfort? How bearable is coach on these long flights? On United, I believe I can upgrade to E+ for ~$100 each way (which I'd be happy to pay). I'm less inclined to pay $300 plus miles to upgrade to envoy each way on US. How bad is coach on US? Is it possible to get bulkhead on US during booking or do I have to wait for the 24h mark?

Any other thoughts or tips are appreciated.

Need some advice on a work trip to STR next month. Since it's for work, the purchased ticket has to be in coach. But upgrading it on my own is an option. The flights on *A I am considering include transatlantic segments:

US
PHL-FRA on A333
PHL-ZRH on 767
PHL-MUC on A333
CLT-FRA on A332

UA
EWR-STR on 757-200

Of these, what are people's thoughts on comfort? How bearable is coach on these long flights? On United, I believe I can upgrade to E+ for ~$100 each way (which I'd be happy to pay). I'm less inclined to pay $300 plus miles to upgrade to envoy each way on US. How bad is coach on US? Is it possible to get bulkhead on US during booking or do I have to wait for the 24h mark?

Any other thoughts or tips are appreciated.

Have you looked at LH/LX? Don't know if business class is an option for you, but I found some sub 2500 fares for JFK-TXL via GVS on LX in J for late summer, I'm fairly sure the fare basis code said it was also valid for STG.

Even coach on LH or LX is miles ahead of any US carrier.

As i've never flown internationally on US, I can't comment on the possibility of bulkhead seats on the A330s. However, I can tell you to avoid that 767 like the plague. It's the closest airborne experience to a federal SuperMax prison.

Re: LH/LX: I'd consider those options as well.

Additionally, if you decide to go w/ the US options, I'd consider a $300 GoEnvoy upgrade to be well worth the ability to sleep. In fact, I'd be willing to pay up to $500 personally, if I had to be rested and get right to work in the morning.

Rather than re-hash everything yet again, there's a multitude of information on the US TA aircraft; these threads can all be found in the sticky at the top of the forum:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-airways-dividend-miles/1184406-us-a330-300-master-thread.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-airways-dividend-miles/1184404-us-a330-200-master-thread.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-airways-dividend-miles/1184409-us-b767-200-master-thread.html


RE the US 767: I actually found it to be a pleasant experience. It was years ago, but I used my iPod to keep myself occupied. I'd prefer that than not being able to stretch my legs out due to huge entertainment boxes under the seat in front.

RE bulkheads: I don't think they can be pre-reserved, I've never been able to. And if you sit there, be prepared to be seated next to a screeching baby for the flight.


When I flew to/fr Europe recently, the FA's were talking about the new coach seats (A330-300 both ways). But I still doubt they were as nice as those in Envoy.

The flights on *A I am considering include transatlantic segments:

US
PHL-FRA on A333
PHL-ZRH on 767
PHL-MUC on A333
CLT-FRA on A332

UA
EWR-STR on 757-200

Of these, what are people's thoughts on comfort?

<snip>

Any other thoughts or tips are appreciated.

I'd opt for the UA EWR-STR flight that actually lands at your final destination. Even more so if buying Economy Plus is OK with you $$$ wise.

While easy to do, catching a train from ZRH, FRA or MUC to Stuttgart is still time spent. I'd fly to one of these other destinations if it meant flying business class but not simply to gain a marginally better coach experience.

Your profile says you are a US Plat so you will still have lounge access in EWR on the connection even if in coach. ^

I'd opt for the UA EWR-STR flight that actually lands at your final destination. Even more so if buying Economy Plus is OK with you $$$ wise.

While easy to do, catching a train from ZRH, FRA or MUC to Stuttgart is still time spent. I'd fly to one of these other destinations if it meant flying business class but not simply to gain a marginally better coach experience.

Your profile says you are a US Plat so you will still have lounge access in EWR on the connection even if in coach. ^

I agree with this. Fly to your destination, especially since you can use the clubs on UA and get the miles (and maybe even get a tolerable seat for not much extra swag).

If, however, you do decide to do US, also true that the 767 is not much fun, even with a bulkhead seat.

I have convinced myself that Y on the 332s is not so bad, mostly because I can only do Envoy 30-40% of the time, so it has been in my self-interest to have this conviction. The middle bulkheads are to be avoided (babies, clowns who climb over you to get to and from left-corridor toilets). Since you are Platinum, you can get an aisle seat at the front on the left corridor.

I'd opt for the UA EWR-STR flight that actually lands at your final destination. Even more so if buying Economy Plus is OK with you $$$ wise.

While easy to do, catching a train from ZRH, FRA or MUC to Stuttgart is still time spent. I'd fly to one of these other destinations if it meant flying business class but not simply to gain a marginally better coach experience.

Your profile says you are a US Plat so you will still have lounge access in EWR on the connection even if in coach. ^

If you opt for a European connection, I'll just pitch in that MUC is one of my favorite airports for a connection - it's very easy and you can fly MUC-STR on LH. But my default on an international itinerary is to take the fewest number of segments possible - there's less that can go wrong.

All - thanks for all the helpful information. Based on many of the comments here, I'm booked on US RDU-PHL-MUC-STR (thanks for the advice on MUC, phlwookie). Before I did so, I called US and had them check the upgrade availability for that day to help identify the flights I could upgrade to envoy. I've upgraded the PHL-MUC flight already but haven't decided whether to upgrade the return yet (...I'll probably cave).

My biggest concern is sleeping on the way there. I'm a terrible sleeper in coach. Even my redeye last month from HNL was difficult to sleep in FC. Originally I balked at $300 plus 30k miles but then after reading some more threads here, I decided to go for it.

Thanks again

I find US wide bodies seats have very little recline in coach, much less than UA planes anyway. I suggest taking EWR-STR, I love seat 7A on B757 - window seat with unlimited leg room and still can get out of the seat without disturbing others, and usually the first person off the plane.

I love seat 7A on B757 - window seat with unlimited leg room and still can get out of the seat without disturbing others, and usually the first person off the plane.

Good one :) OP was thinking about upgrading to E+ so it means that he is not United elite. Other Star elites can't select E+ seats without paying for them.

B757 over the Atlantic? No thank you. I did it two weeks ago and never again.
I had middle seat in UA's E+(exit row). But flying in it for 8:45hrs is brutal.

As for the seats on UA 757. I'll take 6A any day over 7A. :)

All - thanks for all the helpful information. Based on many of the comments here, I'm booked on US RDU-PHL-MUC-STR (thanks for the advice on MUC, phlwookie). Before I did so, I called US and had them check the upgrade availability for that day to help identify the flights I could upgrade to envoy. I've upgraded the PHL-MUC flight already but haven't decided whether to upgrade the return yet (...I'll probably cave).

My biggest concern is sleeping on the way there. I'm a terrible sleeper in coach. Even my redeye last month from HNL was difficult to sleep in FC. Originally I balked at $300 plus 30k miles but then after reading some more threads here, I decided to go for it.

Thanks again

Re: sleeping in envoy suites, I snagged a UDU on a 332 from PHL-SJU last month, and I had no trouble falling asleep. It really ruined me as far as sleeping on planes goes!