United Rebrands Premium Cabins, Upgrades Food, Entertainment, Amenities
Feb 17, 2012, 10:23 am
#17
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Agreed, but some how they need to work First into the E- product brand. Because we wouldn't want to demean any customer: everybody is first class.
Conscious beings don't care for new speak and in addition there is a practical issue. Some employers will pay for business class, but few will pay for first class. I've had problems trying to book first class cabins with 38 inch pitch on long hauls, and no problems booking more expensive business class cabins with lie flat pitch.
That said, if the soft product in pmua business class is improved (and there have been consistent reports that BF is better) then this is excellent news. I think under SMI/J, the soft pmua business class was better than LH and NH, so this bodes well.
That said, if the soft product in pmua business class is improved (and there have been consistent reports that BF is better) then this is excellent news. I think under SMI/J, the soft pmua business class was better than LH and NH, so this bodes well.
Last edited by mre5765; Feb 17, 2012 at 10:44 am
Feb 17, 2012, 10:24 am
#18
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I'm thinking "PremierEconomy" for E+. That way they can lure in some comparison shoppers who are looking at the premium economy products that are actually a significant improvement, like on Virgin, NZ, and BA.
Feb 17, 2012, 10:27 am
#19
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I don't care what they call them. If they choose to be stupid about how they name their cabins, that's fine with me. At the end of the day, I know that Global First is First Class, BusinessFirst is Business Class, etc. I don't care.
I am interested to see what F will be like. I'm flying EWR-BRU on March 4, in Global First. Very excited for that
I am interested to see what F will be like. I'm flying EWR-BRU on March 4, in Global First. Very excited for that
Feb 17, 2012, 10:32 am
#20
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Hmmm. I'm flying a TATL r/t in C the second week of March, outbound on PMCO metal, inbound on PMUA metal. What will I see/experience that's different? The press release says:
Does this mean F is changing on March 3 with C to follow? Are both changing but only in certain ways but not others? 
What a confusing press release!
That said, these changes all sound good in theory... Let's see how the play out in practice.
United Global First, United BusinessFirstBeginning [sic] March 3 on long-haul international flights and many flights within Asia and the Pacific, first-class customers on three-cabin aircraft will experience United Global First, with a higher level of privacy and comfort, a flat-bed seat, priority airport services and more-personal attention.
...
Beginning in the second quarter, United will upgrade the long-haul first-class experience with new amenities, including:
...
United also will extend Continental's award-winning BusinessFirst product to United, offering an elevated business-class service with new amenities that include:
...
...
Beginning in the second quarter, United will upgrade the long-haul first-class experience with new amenities, including:
...
United also will extend Continental's award-winning BusinessFirst product to United, offering an elevated business-class service with new amenities that include:
...
What a confusing press release!
That said, these changes all sound good in theory... Let's see how the play out in practice.
Feb 17, 2012, 10:33 am
#21
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Conscious beings don't care for new speak and in addition there is a practical issue. Some employers will pay for business class, but few will pay for first class. I've had problems trying to book first class cabins with 38 inch pitch on long hauls, and no problems booking more expensive business class cabins with lie flat pitch.
Corporate booking policies are generally driven by fare classes, not marketing labels. If you run into problems buying a J-class ticket because the cabin is marketed as 'BusinessFirst,' you have the worst and most ineffective travel policy ever.
Feb 17, 2012, 10:34 am
#22
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The new North American inflight dining changes were announced Feb. 10 and are discussed in another post here in this Consolidated forum.
Here is the link. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ounced-ua.html
Here is the link. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ounced-ua.html
Feb 17, 2012, 10:39 am
#23
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Except they're now not just North American; they're for Central America, Northern South America (everything north of the Amazon?), and some Asia & Pacific Islands (ahem, GUM) flights. That last part sounds like the old CO Mike footprint -- including the new CO Mike services HKG-SGN/SIN/NRT.
Feb 17, 2012, 10:39 am
#24
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Feb 17, 2012, 10:45 am
#25
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Shall we start a pool on how long it takes UA to regress to branding its cabins as "First," "Business," and "Economy?" 
For English-speaking folks, it's not a huge deal, but in most markets where GF and BF make an appearance, there is a language barrier. Some poor soul at Narita or Beijing is going to be totally lost and confused during boarding time. And what a dirty trick UA HQ is playing on its Asian colleagues...asking them to pronounce a word with two "Ls."
Of course, UA can now supplement its egregious claim of being the "World's Leading Airline" with another: "the only airline in the world with two First Class cabins!"
Very smart of them to lump in the North/Central American Premium Cabin service DOWNGRADES with the long-haul upgrades in the same release.
For English-speaking folks, it's not a huge deal, but in most markets where GF and BF make an appearance, there is a language barrier. Some poor soul at Narita or Beijing is going to be totally lost and confused during boarding time. And what a dirty trick UA HQ is playing on its Asian colleagues...asking them to pronounce a word with two "Ls."
Of course, UA can now supplement its egregious claim of being the "World's Leading Airline" with another: "the only airline in the world with two First Class cabins!"
Very smart of them to lump in the North/Central American Premium Cabin service DOWNGRADES with the long-haul upgrades in the same release.
Feb 17, 2012, 10:49 am
#26
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In two class cabins where F has a decidedly domestic pitch, the fare class is usually something like F or A, even on United. Thanks for your input, I will file it in a strong metal container to keep it handy.
Feb 17, 2012, 10:51 am
#27
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Shall we start a pool on how long it takes UA to regress to branding its cabins First, Business, and Economy?
For English-speaking folks, it's not a huge deal, but in most markets where GF and BF makes an appearance, there is a language barrier. Some poor soul at Narita or Beijing is going to be totally lost and confused during boarding time. And what a dirty trick UA HQ is playing on it's Asian colleagues...asking them to pronounce a word with two "Ls."
For English-speaking folks, it's not a huge deal, but in most markets where GF and BF makes an appearance, there is a language barrier. Some poor soul at Narita or Beijing is going to be totally lost and confused during boarding time. And what a dirty trick UA HQ is playing on it's Asian colleagues...asking them to pronounce a word with two "Ls."
This isn't the first insult to Asian and Asian-bound passengers. It's not like Asia is where the bulk of economic growth is to be found...
Feb 17, 2012, 10:51 am
#28
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Feb 17, 2012, 11:00 am
#29
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On non-resort international routes, the premium cabin on narrow body aircraft (aka domestic F) is often sold as C/J, rather than F/A, to facilitate corporate purchases.
Feb 17, 2012, 11:01 am
#30
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Shall we start a pool on how long it takes UA to regress to branding its cabins as "First," "Business," and "Economy?"
For English-speaking folks, it's not a huge deal, but in most markets where GF and BF make an appearance, there is a language barrier. Some poor soul at Narita or Beijing is going to be totally lost and confused during boarding time. And what a dirty trick UA HQ is playing on its Asian colleagues...asking them to pronounce a word with two "Ls."
For English-speaking folks, it's not a huge deal, but in most markets where GF and BF make an appearance, there is a language barrier. Some poor soul at Narita or Beijing is going to be totally lost and confused during boarding time. And what a dirty trick UA HQ is playing on its Asian colleagues...asking them to pronounce a word with two "Ls."
I'm not a big fan of the branding, but I am eager to see what the new entertainment offerings will be and the improved meal choices. Int'l C meals have been disgusting for the better part of the last 2-3 years, and the Int'l F meals have been going downhill for a while too.
I'm curious to know what UA means by "more-personal attention" being offered. Does that mean they're staffing more F/As inflight?