United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - UA897 IAD-PEK business/first - seats/service/entertainment/etc

Hi guys,
Could anyone let me know if the business first class in this three cabin flight from IAD-PEK offers lie-flat seats? i know the global first class has that. By checking on seatguru, it's showing a different aircraft.
Thank you!

Hi guys,
Could anyone let me know if the business first class in this three cabin flight from IAD-PEK offers lie-flat seats? i know the global first class has that. By checking on seatguru, it's showing a different aircraft.
Thank you!
Yes, they are lie flat.
Dave

last minute equipment changes due happen on this route. I've had two changes in the past few weeks.

Thanks a lot guys!

Could anyone let me know if the business first class in this three cabin flight from IAD-PEK offers lie-flat seats?

last minute equipment changes due happen on this route. I've had two changes in the past few weeks.

Changes can happen on ALL routes :mad:

Best place to check (though only a week or two out) is UAcargo.com (http://UnitedCargo.com)

Not the same flight, but on my way back from Shanghai the flight to SFO was CANCELLED :eek: :mad: :td: resulting in Air China to Osaka, where the 777 started out with old config, next day went to new, and the day before the flight back to old. These changes were reflected in changes to seatmaps on .bomb as well as changes on UA Cargo site.

The way to tell what it is currently is to look at seatmap on .bomb and if it's 3-3-3 seating in coach it's lie flat Biz, and barcoloungers if it's 2-5-2 in coach.

EmailKid

Is there a cost for AVOD?

Is there a cost for AVOD?

No

No - and it's the better sUA IPTE system.

No - and it's the better sUA IPTE system.

Hardly.

No - and it's the better sUA IPTE system.

You've got to be kidding.

Thanks for the info!

Hardly.You've got to be kidding.

What's your beef?

The sUA IPTE AVOD shows where you are in a movie, has more usable ff/rew, lets you resume where you left off, doesn't require multiple titles to handle all the languages, and generally the interface is more modern and less clunky compared to the sCO LFBF AVOD.

What's your beef?

The sUA IPTE AVOD shows where you are in a movie, has more usable ff/rew, lets you resume where you left off, doesn't require multiple titles to handle all the languages, and generally the interface is more modern and less clunky compared to the sCO LFBF AVOD.

My Bad - I read this as you were claiming the sCO interface was better, when it clearly is not. :o

BTW, what is the status of AVOD in Y? At one point a selection of movies was available free, with $10 to get the full range. But I think that was changed so the full selection was free to all Y pax. Still true?

BTW, what is the status of AVOD in Y? At one point a selection of movies was available free, with $10 to get the full range. But I think that was changed so the full selection was free to all Y pax. Still true?

Yes - that abomination didn't last long.

What's your beef?

The sUA IPTE AVOD shows where you are in a movie, has more usable ff/rew, lets you resume where you left off, doesn't require multiple titles to handle all the languages, and generally the interface is more modern and less clunky compared to the sCO LFBF AVOD.

+1. Lets not forget we are all allowed our opinions but I for one will take UA's system over the CO one every day. What a pain w CO not being able to ff/rew & especially save a movie (easily)

UA's system is years newer since it took them so long to go with AVOD

Yes - that abomination didn't last long.

I have no complaints about free, but of all the upcharges that UA has, $10 for a wider selection of movies seemed fairly reasonable (and I recall the "base" selection was still decent--10 or so movies, several of recent vintage).

Of course, this all depends on you not getting an old plane with the barcaloungers subbed in. UA loves to do this on IAD-PEK.

No - and it's the better sUA IPTE system.

It is the sUA IPTE system, on a sUA aircraft.

Of course, this all depends on you not getting an old plane with the barcaloungers subbed in. UA loves to do this on IAD-PEK.

I thought the only planes left for conversion were XC models, which will become either XD or Hawaii/domestic configuration. The XCs don't have the range for IAD-PEK.

I have no complaints about free, but of all the upcharges that UA has, $10 for a wider selection of movies seemed fairly reasonable (and I recall the "base" selection was still decent--10 or so movies, several of recent vintage).

No....when they first introduced the $10 fee for extra movies, it was a joke.
Before AVOD, they had 9 channels for one direction and the other 9 for return.
When they first introduced the $10 fee, they only offered you the extra 9
channels which would show you for free when you take the flight with opposite direction. The AVOD program was not as variety as it is now.

I thought the only planes left for conversion were XC models, which will become either XD or Hawaii/domestic configuration. The XCs don't have the range for IAD-PEK.
I hope you're right, I got a barcalounger plane as recently as January though so this is a new development if true.

UA's system is years newer since it took them so long to go with AVOD

Actually United's IPTE was launched before CO's diamond seats.

UA started a trial program on the first batch of IPTE 777s to gauge whether Y passengers were willing to purchase premium content. Remember that the 777 was the first aircraft to offer AVOD in economy class for United. The trail ended and the company decided not to continue with it given the low take rate. This predated the CO legal merger.

Maybe taking this flight in November and didnt see any recent trip reports. Does anyone know what UA's hard/soft service is like on this flight? I would ideally like to try an international carrier (*A since using UA miles) but that may not work due to availability. Thanks as always FT!

Maybe taking this flight in November and didnt see any recent trip reports. Does anyone know what UA's hard/soft service is like on this flight? I would ideally like to try an international carrier (*A since using UA miles) but that may not work due to availability. Thanks as always FT!

Hard product is quite standard with AVOD lie-flat and E+ and the content of the AVOD is quite good. But soft product is just a shame.

Hard product is quite standard with AVOD lie-flat and E+ and the content of the AVOD is quite good. But soft product is just a shame.

Thanks Ben I should have mentioned I would be in Biz class- which I think is their Bizfirst product no?

Maybe taking this flight in November and didnt see any recent trip reports. Does anyone know what UA's hard/soft service is like on this flight? I would ideally like to try an international carrier (*A since using UA miles) but that may not work due to availability. Thanks as always FT!
Last time I took IAD-PEK the service was unbelievably bad. One of the worst UA flights I have ever had.

If your final destination is not PEK, I recommend taking a connection in NRT. I've only had good experiences on IAD-NRT, whether it's UA or NH.

I thought the only planes left for conversion were XC models, which will become either XD or Hawaii/domestic configuration. The XCs don't have the range for IAD-PEK.

There's one XI plane still floating around, N791UA. That is the only unconverted plane that has the range for IAD-PEK. Through from flightaware, it seems to be bouncing around between NRT-HNL, and HNL-mainland long hauls lately. It seems like UA is making an effort to keep it away from the intl long hauls aside from HNL-NRT.

There's one XI plane still floating around, N791UA. That is the only unconverted plane that has the range for IAD-PEK. Through from flightaware, it seems to be bouncing around between NRT-HNL, and HNL-mainland long hauls lately. It seems like UA is making an effort to keep it away from the intl long hauls aside from HNL-NRT.

Indeed, going back to Christmas it has not gone to PEK, and only 2-3 flights to PVG. Looks like until mid-March it was still in rotation included the middle east, south America, and Narita (from ORD and SEA).

I would put the risk as extremely low that you'd see this one on IAD-PEK.