UA-NYC

Getting past whether one likes or dislikes the livery, and trying to speak objectively here (not easy of course)...

As someone who's "in the business" so to speak, I find it hilarious that the "Brand Marketing Managing Director" for the company can talk about it as a "new identity", "new branding", "visual representation of the new United", etc.

I'm sorry, there's just nothing new about it, it is literally just a combination of an existing livery and (no joke) an MS Word-created fontstyle (not custom, as originally announced) for a different logo on said livery.

It was done to save $, that was clearly the #1 goal - that's their choice, fine. But it's not a "new identity".

reinballe

Did you by "interim" mean to say that it eventually will be replaced in the long term (where long term obviously imply after the merger is completed)?

Xyzzy

Precisely.

For the bvious-impared, this says it all:
Before you go saying it's a boneheaded move, read that again and think about it. Every customer will see something familiar in the way the new company presents itself.

jlemon

Yes. I think the current livery incorporating the CO paint scheme with the globe and United name will be around for quite some time.

However, at some point (and this could be quite a few years from now), I also think there will be a new livery introduced. Simply my opinion, of course....

It's interesting to note the number of times that DL has changed their livery in the recent past. And it's also interesting to note how long the current AA livery has been around.

reinballe

Ok. So you are saying that airlines change liveries once in a while. I think we can agree on that one.

I just don't think there is anything "interim" about the new livery.

tanlines

If the definition of "interim" includes "for the next 10 years," then yes,
I agree with you.... it's an interim measure.

channa

Of course they're going to say that. Do you really think they're going to come out and say this is a short-term deal?

They'll have to have an excuse when they change it up -- some sort of modernization or reinvention or whatever. I'm sure they'll think of something and send a Rah! Rah! note to the troops, much like this COmmunication.

channa

Either something familiar or something COnflicting.

How would the Golden Arches look with the words "Burger King" underneath them? Familiar? Or conflicting?

That, too, would be a boneheaded move.

tanlines

As others here have pointed out, the selected "hybrid" livery retains elements of both merger partners, and was likely reasoned to be the fastest (and probably least expensive) way to re-brand 700+ aircraft in the shortest period of time.

As far as how long it's going to be around, odds are high that it will be used at least until the new wide-body aircraft enter the fleet, older models get put out to pasture, and the overall composition of the fleet going forward is finalized.

hjensen79

2/13 - in CPH saw a newly painted plane with United on the side and the blue globe


2/26 - Was just at SFO earlier and saw a 747 painted with the new logo parked away from the terminals.

Xyzzy

If McDonalds and Burger King were merging and retaining the name Burger King, that would n:rolleyest be as crazy an idea as you seem to think it is.

joshwex90

It's not and it is. It's not new creations, but it forms a new identity.

What's the McDonald's with the Taco Bell? Or is that related to your post below (see comment there)

Agreed

Yes, airlines do change liveries, some more often than others; others "refresh" every so often. That has no connection to whether or not they will change the livery soon, and use this as an interim. I think many on this board hoped this would be interim, and at the beginning, I was one of them. But I didn't think therefore they would do that. It's just not justified in the cost

Why wouldn't they say that? That doesn't make them look bad; say this is a short term look as they plan rolling out their new livery. Nothing wrong with that (if that were the case)

While I see the analogy here, as much as people have come attached the tulip, the tulip did not have nearly the recognition that the golden arches have. That's recognized by virtually every single one of the 6 billion+ people in the world in every corner of every country. That's one of the most, if not the most, globally recognized icon. It doesn't even compare to the tulip; heck, it's not even in the same league!

PforPlatinum

I saw UA A320 (or 319) with new livery at MCO.
I believe it was a flight to ORD.

CO777DAL

I was on a Q400 yesterday and it was clearly a sticker. It even had a wringle in it from an air bubble or something. I reached and felt it and you can clearly see the edge like a sticker. I was surprised. I was under the impression all the aircraft were going to be painted??? From the gate you can not tell.

jwright

I still think pulling the plug on the United Connection software was a bigger deal than giving up the tulip.