UA vs LH in transatlantic business class
Oct 30, 2004, 7:59 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
UA vs LH in transatlantic business class
Sorry if this has been beaten to death, but I have been unable to find this on any search.
First, there are new winter C class fares available. $1319 IAD to most anyplace in Europe(maybe she said$1399, and I misunderstood) . 21 day advance purchase, 10 day min stay, UA/LH metal only. Got the offer in an email. Cannot find it on the website.
The choice from IAD is old seat LH 747, or "middle age" seat UA 777 or 767.
Considering amenities (food, wine, seats, entertainment system, FA attitude, and reading light)and upgrade possibilities, which is the preferred airline.
We have flown UA in transatlantic C at least a dozen times, and find it very nice. Never come close to an UG, even though C is usually full.
Have never flown in LH in C. Realize they do not UG.
First, there are new winter C class fares available. $1319 IAD to most anyplace in Europe(maybe she said$1399, and I misunderstood) . 21 day advance purchase, 10 day min stay, UA/LH metal only. Got the offer in an email. Cannot find it on the website.
The choice from IAD is old seat LH 747, or "middle age" seat UA 777 or 767.
Considering amenities (food, wine, seats, entertainment system, FA attitude, and reading light)and upgrade possibilities, which is the preferred airline.
We have flown UA in transatlantic C at least a dozen times, and find it very nice. Never come close to an UG, even though C is usually full.
Have never flown in LH in C. Realize they do not UG.
Oct 30, 2004, 9:54 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,637
LH old C seats are awful - 48" pitch, less recline. If the choice is between that and UA C+, run, do not walk, to UA.
I prefer food on UA, service is generally OK on both, often great on UA, IFE is similar; I don't drink a lot, so I can't really comment on the booze. Boarding is a zoo on LH, forget cabin or status, just run for it like everybody else.
Haven't been on LH new C yet.
I prefer food on UA, service is generally OK on both, often great on UA, IFE is similar; I don't drink a lot, so I can't really comment on the booze. Boarding is a zoo on LH, forget cabin or status, just run for it like everybody else.
Haven't been on LH new C yet.
Oct 30, 2004, 11:36 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: JRS
Programs: LH SEN for Life
Posts: 741
Mostly I fly LH or OS but recently took an UA "C". It was very nice. Wine better than LH. Food good. Service better.
Also if you don't travel with your own Bose noise canceling headphones, UA provides their version. Not as good but much better than nothing.
I have not yet flown "New LH C". So comments are all about old C.
Shofar
Also if you don't travel with your own Bose noise canceling headphones, UA provides their version. Not as good but much better than nothing.
I have not yet flown "New LH C". So comments are all about old C.
Shofar
Oct 31, 2004, 7:01 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,461
I find UA's C seat over-rated. Nonetheless it is still better than the old LH C seat. LH offer a sightly more consistent and reliable service package, but my recent UA flights have offered surprisingly good service from the 'type' crew that have entered FT lore for offering the opposite. Not much to call in terms of catering, wine and IFE. I would go with UA.
However, if you can get the new LH C seat, then the decision is easy.
However, if you can get the new LH C seat, then the decision is easy.
Oct 31, 2004, 9:35 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SUV
Programs: UA *G MM
Posts: 7,018
Originally Posted by 1kBill
Boarding is a zoo on LH, forget cabin or status, just run for it like everybody else.
Food is a LOT better than UA. Not even comparable. Wine is better as well.
For a daylight flight I would pick LH. For overnight the better recline on UA might aid sleeping.
Last edited by gnaget; Oct 31, 2004 at 9:38 am
Jan 21, 2005, 10:57 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: ATL
Programs: UA 3.6 MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,582
I am taking LH 417 in F Class in July. Its good news that boarding is not chaos as described in other threads.
So does this mean that LH F Class passengers can camp out at the NW club? Is there a club available somewhere near the gate? I know I can get into UA RCC and F&C International Departure Club, but it would be a real hassle to get to the B Concource since UA's clubs are on C&D.
Does LH ever depart from C concurse? How long before boarding should I be there for F Class boarding?
Thanks!
So does this mean that LH F Class passengers can camp out at the NW club? Is there a club available somewhere near the gate? I know I can get into UA RCC and F&C International Departure Club, but it would be a real hassle to get to the B Concource since UA's clubs are on C&D.
Does LH ever depart from C concurse? How long before boarding should I be there for F Class boarding?
Thanks!
Originally Posted by gnaget
From IAD that's certainly not true on LH 417. The plane does not have a gate and boards from the B terminal via mobile lounge. C and F class pax get a private shuttle that departs from the back of the NW club.
Food is a LOT better than UA. Not even comparable. Wine is better as well.
For a daylight flight I would pick LH. For overnight the better recline on UA might aid sleeping.
Food is a LOT better than UA. Not even comparable. Wine is better as well.
For a daylight flight I would pick LH. For overnight the better recline on UA might aid sleeping.
Jan 21, 2005, 12:23 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,194
Ive seen LH board from the gate at IAD in the C terminal.
I would take UA over LH, but I find LH a bit sterile. I find the food to be a little better on LH, but the UA C seat more comfortable.
It boils down to what airline you enjoy flying more.
I would take UA over LH, but I find LH a bit sterile. I find the food to be a little better on LH, but the UA C seat more comfortable.
It boils down to what airline you enjoy flying more.
Last edited by anc-ord772; Jan 21, 2005 at 12:27 pm
Jan 23, 2005, 9:59 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2003
Programs: BA GGL, AA EXP and former CK, DL Plat, UA Gold MM
Posts: 493
Service comparison:
UA = a nice aloof smile from an overpowered high school hall monitor suddenly put in charge of restocking the salad bar
LH = attentive and deliberate awareness like having tea at the Four Seasons
UA = a nice aloof smile from an overpowered high school hall monitor suddenly put in charge of restocking the salad bar
LH = attentive and deliberate awareness like having tea at the Four Seasons
Jan 23, 2005, 10:54 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: IAH and HAM
Programs: LH Sen, PPS, FB Platinum, Enrich Silver, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,496
Originally Posted by cyber1k
Service comparison:
UA = a nice aloof smile from an overpowered high school hall monitor suddenly put in charge of restocking the salad bar
LH = attentive and deliberate awareness like having tea at the Four Seasons
UA = a nice aloof smile from an overpowered high school hall monitor suddenly put in charge of restocking the salad bar
LH = attentive and deliberate awareness like having tea at the Four Seasons
Cheers Stefan
Jan 23, 2005, 5:07 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: FRA
Programs: LH FTL, BA Blue, UA Corpse
Posts: 1,423
Originally Posted by cyber1k
Service comparison:
UA = a nice aloof smile from an overpowered high school hall monitor suddenly put in charge of restocking the salad bar
LH = attentive and deliberate awareness like having tea at the Four Seasons
UA = a nice aloof smile from an overpowered high school hall monitor suddenly put in charge of restocking the salad bar
LH = attentive and deliberate awareness like having tea at the Four Seasons
Exactly... Did FRA-ORD, UA 941 yesterday. The seat pitch and recline are by far better, at least in C+. What I did not expect: there are no usable power outlets for laptops, only some obscure jacks. The FA had to ask and she said it could only be used with a special adapter (It is 15 V DC, obviously you can plug your computer directly w/o a transformator).
But there is channel 9 !!!
Food is slightly below LH (still plastic knives), wines are significantly below LH as is the FAs' knowledge about (the only four-two red, two white) the wines.
Both have different pros and cons. I will do my paid C flights on LH (prehaps with an u/g to F) and my u/g'ed Y flights on UA (more upgrade inventory, Y+ as backup if the u/g does not clear). Actually, I had booked 21H, but my u/g cleared on Monday. I inspected 21 HK on my flight. Indead tons of legroom, a tolerable alternative, if you got stuck in the back.
Jan 24, 2005, 6:20 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
With an F ticket, you can probably use the RCC F lounge. I have never set foot in it.
Flew IAD-FRA onUA in C, and FRA-CAI inC onLH with the new flat seats and returns two weeks ago.
The flat seats are really flat, and the sides are quite high, so both my wife and I were very confortable.
Really no comparison. Better seats, much much better wines(UA has a lousy selection of really cheap wine), and much better food on LH. I found nothing lacking in service on either. Maybe FA's are really nice to old-timers.
Flew IAD-FRA onUA in C, and FRA-CAI inC onLH with the new flat seats and returns two weeks ago.
The flat seats are really flat, and the sides are quite high, so both my wife and I were very confortable.
Really no comparison. Better seats, much much better wines(UA has a lousy selection of really cheap wine), and much better food on LH. I found nothing lacking in service on either. Maybe FA's are really nice to old-timers.