jedison
Jun 15, 06, 4:30 pm
Just finished a business trip to Vietnam on UA. Since I was able to book business class, I decided to try out first by upgrading with miles. Might be my only chance in a while to fly first class. Usually I'm struggling to get an upgrade to business. Upgrades in both directions confirmed as soon as I requested them, about a week or so before departure. I've never had that happen with business class upgrades before. As a general observation I can say that UA employees in general were MUCH nicer to me on this trip than on previous trips in economy or business It was almost like being on SQ.
Arrived at SFO by BART, which arrives right in the terminal. You don't even need to go up or down any stairs. As long as you can get to a BART station, it's definitely the best way to get there. I parked my car at Fruitvale BART for $5/day. The first class checkin had a significant line (sheesh) so I used Easy Chicken. It worked as usual, including a scan of my passport, but I had to speak to a United person to get my boarding pass. Turns out because I need a Visa to enter Vietnam they want to check that before letting me onboard the plane. Luckily I didn't have to go wait in line for that. I asked the guy directing passengers into the computer/human line and he went and got my boardin pass for me. Perhaps he did it because I have a first class ticket?
No fast track line at SFO so I had to go through security just like everybody else. Wasn't too bad, though. Once through I made my way to the first class lounge. It was OK, but not really any nicer than many international business class lounges I have been in. Food and liquor about the same. Perhaps the seats were a bit nicer and the place was less crowded.
I waited for last call and made my way to the plane. As I approached my seat the flight attendant said "there you are, Mr. jedison, we were wondering if you were going to make it". The use of my name and general friendliness continued throughout the flight. My seat was nice, but I have to say I was a bit let down. It was a decent size chair, with a two level shelf in front (one for your feet when in bed mode) and shelf/locker off to the side (rather like the ones upstairs on a 747). The screen pulled out from the front of the suite, and was rather small, perhaps 6". There is also a place to insert movie tapes, provided by the flight attendants. The seat is really no better than BA business class, except there is a bit more personal space because nobody is sitting next to you facing the opposite direction. The seat is not more comfortable or spacious than Kenya Airways business class, although the amenities and food are much better. I was in seat 2A, which felt quite private. The people at the very front and in the middle seats in 4 and 5 would have somebody right next to them. The amenity kit was pretty lame, a fold-up affair the pales in comparison to the offerings of BA business and Virgin UC, and even worse than KQ business.
The first class section was full, but certainly didn't feel crowded. Soon we took off and I settled in, very comfortable. FAs came around with warm nuts and drinks, followed by dinner. I had the filet, which was quite good. The wine selection left much to be desired, however. Seems like several $20-$30 bottles that I would drink at home. Again, no better than BA business and likely much worst than first on other carriers. To be fair, though, the wine on KQ and ET business is swill, so maybe that puts UA in the middle. Do they ever have the wines listed on the menu?
Slept reasonably well and had medicore eggs before landing in HK. Went to the HK first lounge, which looked to be about identical to the business lounge except less crowded. Had a shower and got the same amenity kit as in the LHR Arrivals lounge. A couple of hours later we boarded a different 747 for the flight to SGN. Economy was quite full and business and first almost empty. I was the only passenger in first. I had a peek at the manifest and saw that there were three UGSs onboard, and two millions. Out of 9 or so premium passengers that seems like a lot. Anyway, flight and arrival uneventful.
Arriving at SGN airport for my return flight I was surprised to see an Easy Chicken machine. Since there was nobody at the first class checkin I didn't use it. In fact, there were only two first class passengers for the HK leg so a line would be surprising. Made my way to the lounge, which is shared by all business and first class passengers departing on international flights. Lounge was fine, with internet terminals and some food selections, but nothing special. Better than a lot of domestic RCCs I've been to, though.
At HK I decided to check out the SQ lounge. It's a long schlep back to the main part of the terminal (I think you can only use the train inbound if you are an arriving passenger, and they are separated from departing passengers). The SQ lounge seemed a little classier than UA, but was quite small. Wine selection was better and the dimsum on offer (am) was actually quite good. I had a shower there and the shower was nothing to write home about. Supplies provided but no amenity kit. The best showers I've seen are the Molton Brown Spa at Heathrow and the new China Airlines lounge at TPE. Love those multiple shower heads.
The trip back to the gate was much quicker thanks to the train. Boarded fairly early and settled into 4J. Although I had somebody across the aisle from me the seat still felt pretty private. Had the filet again, and the wine selection was fine but underwhelming. Once again they didn't have any of the choices I wanted from the menu. What's the point of printing wines on the menu when they never have them? The flight attendants on this leg were very chatty and quite nice. I guess they have more time on their hands than the ones in economy, who really have an assembly line type operation to run, feeding hundreds of people.
Watched some movies, napped, and arrived without incident. Three 747s and a 777 arrived almost at once at SFO but the immigration line didn't get too bad. Took a while for my bag to arrive. I was interested in checking out the arrivals louge for UA, but it's at terminal 3 rather than the international terminal. Doesn't make much sense to me . . . I skipped it and headed home instead.
All in all a pleasant journey, as one would expect in first class. I have to say that I'm a bit underwhelmed by their first class product, though. I think that business class on several other airlines is as good. Business class is a large notch below many competitors. Is United planning on fixing this? I fly them because I also fly domestic a lot and United is a decent choice flying around the western US and covers a lot of Asia. Perhaps American isn't much better.
Arrived at SFO by BART, which arrives right in the terminal. You don't even need to go up or down any stairs. As long as you can get to a BART station, it's definitely the best way to get there. I parked my car at Fruitvale BART for $5/day. The first class checkin had a significant line (sheesh) so I used Easy Chicken. It worked as usual, including a scan of my passport, but I had to speak to a United person to get my boarding pass. Turns out because I need a Visa to enter Vietnam they want to check that before letting me onboard the plane. Luckily I didn't have to go wait in line for that. I asked the guy directing passengers into the computer/human line and he went and got my boardin pass for me. Perhaps he did it because I have a first class ticket?
No fast track line at SFO so I had to go through security just like everybody else. Wasn't too bad, though. Once through I made my way to the first class lounge. It was OK, but not really any nicer than many international business class lounges I have been in. Food and liquor about the same. Perhaps the seats were a bit nicer and the place was less crowded.
I waited for last call and made my way to the plane. As I approached my seat the flight attendant said "there you are, Mr. jedison, we were wondering if you were going to make it". The use of my name and general friendliness continued throughout the flight. My seat was nice, but I have to say I was a bit let down. It was a decent size chair, with a two level shelf in front (one for your feet when in bed mode) and shelf/locker off to the side (rather like the ones upstairs on a 747). The screen pulled out from the front of the suite, and was rather small, perhaps 6". There is also a place to insert movie tapes, provided by the flight attendants. The seat is really no better than BA business class, except there is a bit more personal space because nobody is sitting next to you facing the opposite direction. The seat is not more comfortable or spacious than Kenya Airways business class, although the amenities and food are much better. I was in seat 2A, which felt quite private. The people at the very front and in the middle seats in 4 and 5 would have somebody right next to them. The amenity kit was pretty lame, a fold-up affair the pales in comparison to the offerings of BA business and Virgin UC, and even worse than KQ business.
The first class section was full, but certainly didn't feel crowded. Soon we took off and I settled in, very comfortable. FAs came around with warm nuts and drinks, followed by dinner. I had the filet, which was quite good. The wine selection left much to be desired, however. Seems like several $20-$30 bottles that I would drink at home. Again, no better than BA business and likely much worst than first on other carriers. To be fair, though, the wine on KQ and ET business is swill, so maybe that puts UA in the middle. Do they ever have the wines listed on the menu?
Slept reasonably well and had medicore eggs before landing in HK. Went to the HK first lounge, which looked to be about identical to the business lounge except less crowded. Had a shower and got the same amenity kit as in the LHR Arrivals lounge. A couple of hours later we boarded a different 747 for the flight to SGN. Economy was quite full and business and first almost empty. I was the only passenger in first. I had a peek at the manifest and saw that there were three UGSs onboard, and two millions. Out of 9 or so premium passengers that seems like a lot. Anyway, flight and arrival uneventful.
Arriving at SGN airport for my return flight I was surprised to see an Easy Chicken machine. Since there was nobody at the first class checkin I didn't use it. In fact, there were only two first class passengers for the HK leg so a line would be surprising. Made my way to the lounge, which is shared by all business and first class passengers departing on international flights. Lounge was fine, with internet terminals and some food selections, but nothing special. Better than a lot of domestic RCCs I've been to, though.
At HK I decided to check out the SQ lounge. It's a long schlep back to the main part of the terminal (I think you can only use the train inbound if you are an arriving passenger, and they are separated from departing passengers). The SQ lounge seemed a little classier than UA, but was quite small. Wine selection was better and the dimsum on offer (am) was actually quite good. I had a shower there and the shower was nothing to write home about. Supplies provided but no amenity kit. The best showers I've seen are the Molton Brown Spa at Heathrow and the new China Airlines lounge at TPE. Love those multiple shower heads.
The trip back to the gate was much quicker thanks to the train. Boarded fairly early and settled into 4J. Although I had somebody across the aisle from me the seat still felt pretty private. Had the filet again, and the wine selection was fine but underwhelming. Once again they didn't have any of the choices I wanted from the menu. What's the point of printing wines on the menu when they never have them? The flight attendants on this leg were very chatty and quite nice. I guess they have more time on their hands than the ones in economy, who really have an assembly line type operation to run, feeding hundreds of people.
Watched some movies, napped, and arrived without incident. Three 747s and a 777 arrived almost at once at SFO but the immigration line didn't get too bad. Took a while for my bag to arrive. I was interested in checking out the arrivals louge for UA, but it's at terminal 3 rather than the international terminal. Doesn't make much sense to me . . . I skipped it and headed home instead.
All in all a pleasant journey, as one would expect in first class. I have to say that I'm a bit underwhelmed by their first class product, though. I think that business class on several other airlines is as good. Business class is a large notch below many competitors. Is United planning on fixing this? I fly them because I also fly domestic a lot and United is a decent choice flying around the western US and covers a lot of Asia. Perhaps American isn't much better.