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Boeing, United Airlines Announce Order for 100 737 MAX 10s and 4 777 300ERs

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Boeing, United Airlines Announce Order for 100 737 MAX 10s and 4 777 300ERs

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Old Jun 20, 2017, 1:16 pm
  #31  
 
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Originally Posted by spin88
United continues with this order to get the cheapest
This is curious in the context of comparing the UA 737 MAX 10 order with the DL A321, as Delta is continuing to order the 'ceo' (current engine) model of the 321 while the UA order is for a new variant with more advanced engine technology.

Conventional wisdom would suggest the prior generation product would cost less to acquire than a next-gen model, considering that the MAX 10 is designed to compete with the 321neo.

Originally Posted by drewguy
Right... I guess my point is more that the -10 is more capable than -900ER...
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 1:22 pm
  #32  
 
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Originally Posted by jeedk
DL operates 165 737s and has another 51 on order for a potential grand total of 216.

But I'm sure you'll know to schedule your flights to perfectly avoid something that constitutes 23.7% of DL's mainline narrowbody fleet.
The reality check is that Delta still flies 757 and a few 767s domestically (I get them all the time @sfo) and has 21 A321s already (which blow away anything UA is flying domestically in comfort) and had another 121 coming. All of these planes are more comfortable than anything United is flying.

Yes, Delta has 79 737-900ERs, and another 51 on order, but this is a fraction of what United has, and are old orders.

And while United is going with seats on the 772/77W that are .6" narrower per person than a 737, Delta is staying 3-3-3 on the 777, and is getting a fleet of Airbus with wider seats.

In a few years, on nearly every flight (the remaining 763/764, and the few airbus A319/320 with what we can all agree are the worst seats of any airline, being the exception) you will get a seat that gives you either 19.4" of width per person (the 772/77w) or 19.8"-20" per person (the 787, 737, and few remaining 757s) on United.

On delta you will get a wider seat: 21.1"-21.3" per seat (the A320/321s/763/777), 20.8in per seat (the A332/333/33neo), or 20.3" (the A350) on about 4/5 of Delta's fleet than what UA is offering.

The unmistakable truth is that Delta is very intentionally going with aircraft that are going to be more comfortable for passengers, and its part of a fleet strategy. People who can select what airline to fly will be able to take that extra about 1" per seat of width, and the better experience into account when comparing Delta to United.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 20, 2017 at 5:00 pm Reason: Quote updated to reflect Moderator edit
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 1:24 pm
  #33  
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Originally Posted by oopl
Transcons on a 737? I hope they install comfortable seats.
Nothing new. Lots of 737 flying transcons or routes with similar length (west coast to Hawaii) today. And not just UA.
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 2:13 pm
  #34  
 
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Originally Posted by spin88
The reality check is that Delta still flies 757 and a few 767s domestically (I get them all the time @sfo) and has 21 A321s already (which blow away anything UA is flying domestically in comfort) and had another 121 coming. All of these planes are more comfortable than anything United is flying.

Yes, Delta has 79 737-900ERs, and another 51 on order, but this is a fraction of what United has, and are old orders.

And while United is going with seats on the 772/77W that are .6" narrower per person than a 737, Delta is staying 3-3-3 on the 777, and is getting a fleet of Airbus with wider seats.

In a few years, on nearly every flight (the remaining 763/764, and the few airbus A319/320 with what we can all agree are the worst seats of any airline, being the exception) you will get a seat that gives you either 19.4" of width per person (the 772/77w) or 19.8"-20" per person (the 787, 737, and few remaining 757s) on United.

On delta you will get a wider seat: 21.1"-21.3" per seat (the A320/321s/763/777), 20.8in per seat (the A332/333/33neo), or 20.3" (the A350) on about 4/5 of Delta's fleet than what UA is offering.

The unmistakable truth is that Delta is very intentionally going with aircraft that are going to be more comfortable for passengers, and its part of a fleet strategy. People who can select what airline to fly will be able to take that extra about 1" per seat of width, and the better experience into account when comparing Delta to United.
Impressive numbers, but the relevance of this to a discussion about a United order is what, exactly?

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 20, 2017 at 5:04 pm Reason: Unneeded comment removed
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 3:20 pm
  #35  
 
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Originally Posted by spin88
The reality check is that Delta still flies 757 and a few 767s domestically (I get them all the time @sfo) and has 21 A321s already (which blow away anything UA is flying domestically in comfort) and had another 121 coming. All of these planes are more comfortable than anything United is flying.

Yes, Delta has 79 737-900ERs, and another 51 on order, but this is a fraction of what United has, and are old orders.
I think that narrowbody comfort is highly subjective. Personally, I find the Delta A321s to be impractical with tiny bins, tight pitch, and horrible lavs. There might be less-than-a-penny's worth of additional width, but I personally don't find it noticeable.

Aircraft are a significant long-term investment and an airline will order the product that works best for them. The economics and performance are not consistent from airline to airline and it is ignorant to try and make blanket comparisons.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 20, 2017 at 5:03 pm Reason: response to deleted comment removed
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 3:24 pm
  #36  
 
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
I think that will depend on the seats they choose. The A321 is the same long thin metal tube, and buying the slightly wider fuselage does not guaranteed UA will put in wider seats - to the contrary, they are likely to test and certify the same 17" wide seats that go into the 737/787/773 for any A321 order.
So no chance for the Zodiac Polaris seat on these?
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 3:26 pm
  #37  
 
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Originally Posted by spin88
The reality check is that Delta still flies 757 and a few 767s domestically (I get them all the time @sfo) and has 21 A321s already (which blow away anything UA is flying domestically in comfort) and had another 121 coming. All of these planes are more comfortable than anything United is flying.

Yes, Delta has 79 737-900ERs, and another 51 on order, but this is a fraction of what United has, and are old orders.

And while United is going with seats on the 772/77W that are .6" narrower per person than a 737, Delta is staying 3-3-3 on the 777, and is getting a fleet of Airbus with wider seats.

In a few years, on nearly every flight (the remaining 763/764, and the few airbus A319/320 with what we can all agree are the worst seats of any airline, being the exception) you will get a seat that gives you either 19.4" of width per person (the 772/77w) or 19.8"-20" per person (the 787, 737, and few remaining 757s) on United.

On delta you will get a wider seat: 21.1"-21.3" per seat (the A320/321s/763/777), 20.8in per seat (the A332/333/33neo), or 20.3" (the A350) on about 4/5 of Delta's fleet than what UA is offering.

The unmistakable truth is that Delta is very intentionally going with aircraft that are going to be more comfortable for passengers, and its part of a fleet strategy. People who can select what airline to fly will be able to take that extra about 1" per seat of width, and the better experience into account when comparing Delta to United.
The reality check is that the only F seat more pathetic than DL's new 199 seat config 757 is their 739 product. Absolutely the worst cabins and seats in N America. They are both worse than anything in UA's inventory. I would rather sit in Spirit's big front seat than a DL 739 up front. I also had the pleasure recently of traveling in one of the domestic 76's out of SFO you speak so highly of. The condition of it looked like it had been shot down and captured from the Soviets.
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 3:31 pm
  #38  
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Originally Posted by fly18725
Aircraft are a significant long-term investment and an airline will order the product that works best for them.
They will order the product that they believe works best for them. Not every purchase decision proves to be correct over time. Some are even reversed before delivery, e.g. 2016 UA 737-700 order that was converted about six months later to other types (FT thread).
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 3:47 pm
  #39  
 
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Originally Posted by notquiteaff
They will order the product that they believe works best for them. Not every purchase decision proves to be correct over time. Some are even reversed before delivery, e.g. 2016 UA 737-700 order that was converted about six months later to other types (FT thread).
Sometimes, it can be commercially advantageous to not take delivery of an airplane. There are complicated contracts and negotiations and it is tough to draw conclusions based on headlines.
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 4:16 pm
  #40  
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Originally Posted by fly18725
Sometimes, it can be commercially advantageous to not take delivery of an airplane. There are complicated contracts and negotiations and it is tough to draw conclusions based on headlines.
I think it's wrong to assume that airlines never make mistakes when choosing aircraft types or configurations. That is not really any different than any other business decision made by enterprises (or individuals), just perhaps more costly.

In the context of this thread, I don't know if UA's decision to buy narrower Boeing jets over slightly wider Airbus aircraft will proven to be wrong. I have flown on the 737 in coach often enough that I know that I can "survive" a transcon without permanent bodily harm, and that my body isn't particularly fond of the slightly wider Airbus narrow-bodies either if I spend 5 hrs in a coach seat. I have trip on a AS 737 to Hawaii coming up, with one direction likely in coach.

My greater concern, though, is the wide-body long-haul situation. There I am absolutely going to book away from 10-across 777s and 9-across 787s. My money, my decision. Fortunately my MM status has enabled me to broaden my carrier choice as status chasing is no longer a factor in my purchase decisions. Hopefully for UA they can find someone else who is younger/poorer or still chasing status to fill my seat
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 4:24 pm
  #41  
 
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Originally Posted by fly18725
I think that narrowbody comfort is highly subjective. Personally, I find the Delta A321s to be impractical with tiny bins, tight pitch, and horrible lavs. There might be less-than-a-penny's worth of additional width, but I personally don't find it noticeable.
A penny is 3/4" wide, so incorrect analogy; the personal space/per person on a a321 is 1" larger/person in Y, so a wider, more open feel and seats that are 1" wider in Y, and a 6" wider aisle in F are the results.

I have no idea what you are talking about with "tiny bins" and "tight pitch" and "horrible lavs" The bins are all high capacity pivot bins, the seats have the same pitch as what UA offers (Delta is 34"/31" and UA is 34"/30-31"). The first class lav is much better than those on the 737. Complaints have been about the rear lavs. Have you even flown the plane? I suspect not. Some photos are here:

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/n...-a321s.html#g7

Originally Posted by 747200f
The reality check is that the only F seat more pathetic than DL's new 199 seat config 757 is their 739 product. Absolutely the worst cabins and seats in N America. They are both worse than anything in UA's inventory. I would rather sit in Spirit's big front seat than a DL 739 up front. I also had the pleasure recently of traveling in one of the domestic 76's out of SFO you speak so highly of. The condition of it looked like it had been shot down and captured from the Soviets.
I am not a fan of the new DL 757 seats, but then I was really, really not a fan of the old NW seats they are replacing either. I'm also not a fan of the sCO F seats (too upright) and I'll take the new DL 757 seat over them anyday of the week.

Any 763 F seat is more narrow, but I'll take that trade off for the widebody.

Originally Posted by notquiteaff
They will order the product that they believe works best for them. Not every purchase decision proves to be correct over time. Some are even reversed before delivery, e.g. 2016 UA 737-700 order that was converted about six months later to other types (FT thread).
+1. I think we should all be able to agree that decisions on what planes to buy and how comfortable they are in each class is a business decision that can vary over time. They however are very revealing in how management views the future market for air-travel and what passengers will demand.
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 4:39 pm
  #42  
 
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Originally Posted by notquiteaff
I think it's wrong to assume that airlines never make mistakes when choosing aircraft types or configurations. That is not really any different than any other business decision made by enterprises (or individuals), just perhaps more costly.
It is wrong to assume that we know today that an airline is making a mistake.

Originally Posted by spin88
A penny is 3/4" wide, so incorrect analogy; the personal space/per person on a a321 is 1" larger/person in Y, so a wider, more open feel and seats that are 1" wider in Y, and a 6" wider aisle in F are the results.

I have no idea what you are talking about with "tiny bins" and "tight pitch" and "horrible lavs" The bins are all high capacity pivot bins, the seats have the same pitch as what UA offers (Delta is 34"/31" and UA is 34"/30-31"). The first class lav is much better than those on the 737. Complaints have been about the rear lavs. Have you even flown the plane? I suspect not. Some photos are here:

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/n...-a321s.html#g7
I've flown the Delta A321 and am expressing my opinion. I don't know about others, but I certainly don't understand the obsession about arguing over 1". How the space is used is much more important...

What is a fact is that I can fit my roller bag in length wise on a 737 bin, but not on Delta's A321 bin.

Another fact: aisles in the A321 are not 6" wider than the 737.
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 5:26 pm
  #43  
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Originally Posted by fly18725
It is wrong to assume that we know today that an airline is making a mistake.
Agreed. We will perhaps find out later. But it wasn't me who wrote "an airline will order the product that works best for them."
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 6:02 pm
  #44  
 
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God, I hate 737's. HATE them! At least, the way UA/CO use them. Awful first class cabins. Narrow seats on Y. Why, oh why could they not have ordered Airbus??? I shiver that the thought of cross country in a 737.
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Old Jun 20, 2017, 6:09 pm
  #45  
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Give me a 737 over UAs beat up 757s any day. If the 757s were new as well, then we'd have a different decision.

I don't know if its just me but the 757s have this horrible smell of wet old carpet as soon as you start walking to them in the jetbridge (could also just be LAX jet bridges...but I don't think so), combined with blue juice smell from the bathrooms. UGH. Nasty.
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