UA Purchases 15 Additional Airbus A319/320 Aircraft
United Airlines (NYSE: UAL - news) announced today that it is purchasing 15 new Airbus aircraft, seven A319s and eight A320s, scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2003. These aircraft will replace the airline's aging Boeing 727-200 aircraft, which are scheduled to be retired by year-end 2003. This order is consistent with United's plans for slow domestic capacity growth. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010227/cgtu071.html
Location: Chicago, IL and Hong Kong - United 1K Since 2000
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I wonder if United factored in the new A319/A320/A321 that the merger will bring into their fleet?
*HighFlyah*
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I can't vouch for the accuracy, but I was told UA will be getting rid of a lot of US's Boeing fleet because they have Rolls engines and UA's are Pratt's (or vice versa, I can't remember). They will be keeping the Airbus'. At least that is what I overheard.
I sure hope that UA increases the number of First Class seats in these aircraft.It is often that I cannot get full fare F seats, admittedly at short notice, in the Airbuses.When I look at the ratio of F and J to Coach class seats in the widebodies ,I wonder where the logic is in providing so few seats up front.
Its not just that they only fly distances ( eg A319 does sfo to hartford or the 320 ord -lax )Still ,I'm not sure if I would want to swap them for the dreaded First in a 757.
Ozflier
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meFIRST couldn't be happier. I often choose the A320/319 over the old boeing's (esp the 727) on mid range flight.
I love airbuses, it's a lot more high tech and quiter. Notice how the engines on airbuses, A340 included make a nice peacful hum vs the roar on boeing planes?
Ughhh... I've had the unpleasant experience of flying LAX-MCO (Orlando) in an A320 for 8 round trips so far this year.
I say "ughh" because there is generally NO possibility of upgrading on these planes. With only 12 First seats (compare that to a 757 with something like 24 or 28 F seats), I almost never got the upgrade (and I'm a PremEx).
In terms of Economy cabin comfort, it's fine, but no appreciable improvement over a 757 in my opinion.
US's 757's will go to AA if that little side deal in fact goes down. In the long run the loss of the 30-some 757's will be filled with the A-321's US has just begun to take delivery of. auh2o is correct - US's 757's don't have the same engines as UA's.
BTW, United flyers should hope they take a long time to reconfigure US's Airbus. Their 319's have 12 FC seats, the 320's have 16, and the 321's have 26 FC seats. UA's 319's and 320's have fewer.
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In terms of Economy cabin comfort, it's fine, but no appreciable improvement over a 757 in my opinion.
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Actually, aren't the economy seats wider on the A319-321? I seem to recall they're 18" vs the 17" on the 757...
I agree with Boysmap. I am a 1K and I don't always get upgraded on A3XX's. I change flights a lot at the last minute and when there are only 8 or 12 F seats the chances for that last minute upgrade can be slim. So lets hope they reconfigure the ones on order.
Originally posted by meFIRST: I love airbuses, it's a lot more high tech and quiter. Notice how the engines on airbuses, A340 included make a nice peacful hum vs the roar on boeing planes?
I flew on a A319 last night for the first time in a long time and was surprised at how much more quiet it was than the 737 of which I had just gotten off.
On the 737, I ended up turning on the subtitles on my movie because I had trouble hearing it, on the 319 I had to turn the audio down because it was too loud!
Maybe I'll have to start looking to fly on more airbuses.
The seats ARE more comfortable in the A320's Y section, and the pitch seems to be greater in the Premium area than in Boeing planes. I'd happily take the Airbus if the alternative is 737 or 757.
