UA thinks 787 give competitive advantage
#62
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LAX
#63
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I thought the story was that the first 787s the airline would take delivery of were from a CO order, where the 36J configuration was a given. (That story always seemed a little holey to me -- couldn't they change the order if they really wanted to invest in an international F product?)
CO ordered the 787 to service routes that would support a C/J product that were not profitable with an extended range 777 due to its fuel efficiency.
I would rather have two cabin service on UA metal between IAH and AKL, and between EWR/IAD and BLR than to change planes in SYD or FRA to get to either, and use non-UA metal.
F in a 3rd cabin will persist on UA between ORD/LHR, SFO/NRT, etc. Don't expect it to small cities, especially the ones CO elites mention when boasting that CO has more international destination.
#64
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#65
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That is not so certain! Lots of smoke, no mirrors Good job mostly on the Airbus side.
O, I love it. Airbus, Schmairbus. It's nothing more than an overrated bus with more people, wrong, many more people in your compartment and what for? Who in what's name would get exited about that? When the 747 started at least it was a "jumbo" with two aisles, compared to all the other single aisle planes. But this one is just an added headache plane. Can't understand the excitement?
O, I love it. Airbus, Schmairbus. It's nothing more than an overrated bus with more people, wrong, many more people in your compartment and what for? Who in what's name would get exited about that? When the 747 started at least it was a "jumbo" with two aisles, compared to all the other single aisle planes. But this one is just an added headache plane. Can't understand the excitement?
Last edited by iluv2fly; Oct 8, 2011 at 10:47 pm Reason: merge
#66
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Indeed, this does not look "a cut above" to me:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Lufth...841/1993657/L/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Lufth...841/1993657/L/
#67
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UACO have also added some 739s to their order for 2012. Not to the extent of UA, but CO has been in a continual fleet renewal for quite some time. Seems like a better plan than AA. Seems like AA will be in the same place in 15-20 years (if they make it) where their entire fleet needs renewal at the same time.
It will be interesting. UACO seems committed to offering a mixed fleet (given that they are still doing 777 conversions). Also, the 787 is allowing PMCO to get rid of some 762s which were also two class birds. I do hope we see some 3-class 787s delivered after these first 6 so that UA can open more routes to Asia. Would like to see SFO-TPE, LAX-HKG, and SFO-MNL open up.
It will be interesting. UACO seems committed to offering a mixed fleet (given that they are still doing 777 conversions). Also, the 787 is allowing PMCO to get rid of some 762s which were also two class birds. I do hope we see some 3-class 787s delivered after these first 6 so that UA can open more routes to Asia. Would like to see SFO-TPE, LAX-HKG, and SFO-MNL open up.
#68
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Do you think that those routes cannot operate with only a C/Y mix? Other than HKG where there probably is some demand I'm not so sure there is really demand for a full F product to TPE or MNL, for example.
#69
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I thought the story was that the first 787s the airline would take delivery of were from a CO order, where the 36J configuration was a given. (That story always seemed a little holey to me -- couldn't they change the order if they really wanted to invest in an international F product?)
#70
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I doubt more than a very small handful of operators will ever put a First Class cabin on the 787-8/9 - the economic case for doing so is rather poor. International First Class demand just isn't what it used to be, especially given the cost belt-tightening at multinationals and the improvement of the modern Business Class product to a point where the step-up to F has little extrinsic value.
Heck, look at the A380 - the bird can easily accommodate a sizable F section, but most operators are putting LESS F seats into the 380 than is used on predecessor longhaul flagships.
Heck, look at the A380 - the bird can easily accommodate a sizable F section, but most operators are putting LESS F seats into the 380 than is used on predecessor longhaul flagships.
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I hope to fly on one someday. Took this at ABQ a few weeks ago. They were apparently testing the 787 there due to the high altitude.
#74
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UA puts more F/C seats than they will generally sell so there are some upgrades, it seems CO configured planes probably have less seats than they can probably sell hence NO upgrades... so all of us 1Ks with our systemwides, they are basically just glorified CR1s unless you go offseason or on a wednesday, lol
#75
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Historically PMUA operated all those markets with F. In addition, I suspect that whatever corporate contracts they have would affect those decisions.