UA vs US First Class
Mar 18, 2012, 3:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
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UA vs US First Class
I am looking to use MP miles for 2 roundtrip tickets in 1st class between SFO and PHL. On the days of travel, there are no saver awards on UA (25K each way) but there are US award seats at the saver award level.
For two people roundtrip, it is the difference between 100K and 200K miles. I have heard disparaging remarks about US but would it really be worth it to spend double the miles just to get on UA?
For two people roundtrip, it is the difference between 100K and 200K miles. I have heard disparaging remarks about US but would it really be worth it to spend double the miles just to get on UA?
Mar 18, 2012, 3:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 98
Certainly don't think it is worth double. But I wouldn't use one mile for USAirways domestic FC, ever. This was concluded on a flight a few years ago when a gentlemen next to me in First requested a soda during boarding and the flight attendant responded "no, you will never finish it in time". I know there are good experiences on that airline, but seems much too much a crap shoot to spend any decent amount of miles on.
Mar 18, 2012, 3:47 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Summit County UT
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Have only been in US F once, when I needed a last-minute one way PHL-ORD, and it wasn't a bad price compared to the economy options out there. I got PDB and pretty friendly service throughout the flight. Interior was a bit tired and worn, but no worse than a UA 752. Would definitely fly it again for a saver award price
Mar 18, 2012, 3:56 pm
#4
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No inflight entertainment, but if you have on flight wifi then you're set.
Meal, dessert, and pretty attentive FAs made my 1 experience ok.
Meal, dessert, and pretty attentive FAs made my 1 experience ok.
Mar 18, 2012, 4:47 pm
#5
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I know a lot of folks travel with a laptop or dvd player or something like but I generally don't and always find it amazing that US flies 5 hour transcons with zero inflight entertainment....especially since nearly all of the competition (including a LCC like JetBlue) has some form of onboard video...weird...also, SFO-PHL should have meal service (if it isn't a red eye) but otherwise your flight has to be at least 3.5 hours before you get a meal in F which is kinda stingy in my book.
Mar 18, 2012, 4:54 pm
#6
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The US customer experience is steadily improving if you ask me. I have had something like 14 US segments in the past 12 months and been very satisfied... especially during an irrops / cancel a few months ago when US bent over backwards to help me get on my way in a manner CO or UA never would.
I am booking more US than UA these days owing to the chaos at the latter.
Mar 18, 2012, 9:29 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central CT
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Book the US flight, keep the 100K miles for a C fare to Europe (worth at least $3K).
Wifi? What's that?
Last edited by iluv2fly; Mar 18, 2012 at 10:06 pm Reason: merge
Mar 19, 2012, 9:20 am
#9
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Mar 19, 2012, 9:25 am
#10
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US has significantly improved its F product in the past year. Considering the current state of affairs at UA, how could US possibly be worse? Take the US flight, save your miles and enjoy the wifi.
Mar 19, 2012, 9:28 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2008
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WiFi is not free in F, it is also only available on A321's so check the equipment. The food and beverage has had a major upgrade for the last two years; better food and wine. Also they moved to real plates and glassware. Having said that all of legacy's F is about the same. Save the miles fly who's cheapest.
Mar 19, 2012, 10:01 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Despite my underwhelming experiences with US F I would never spend double miles to fly UA F. The products are similar enough that you should just book the cheaper one.
Mar 19, 2012, 10:42 am
#13
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For a long haul flight like SFO-PHL, you will be fine going with US. They have upgraded their meals in domestic F, so the food will be on par with or slightly better than UA.
I find service usually quite good on US in F and for some reason (just the culture I think) they always seem much more generous with the booze than UA.
True, no in flight entertainment, but if you are flying in an A321, there will be internet available, plus pillows and blankets!
As others have pointed out, the only area where US really falls short is their stingy criteria for which flights qualify for meal service (more than 3.5 hours).
I find service usually quite good on US in F and for some reason (just the culture I think) they always seem much more generous with the booze than UA.
True, no in flight entertainment, but if you are flying in an A321, there will be internet available, plus pillows and blankets!
As others have pointed out, the only area where US really falls short is their stingy criteria for which flights qualify for meal service (more than 3.5 hours).
Mar 19, 2012, 11:04 am
#14
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WiFi is not free in F, it is also only available on A321's so check the equipment. The food and beverage has had a major upgrade for the last two years; better food and wine. Also they moved to real plates and glassware. Having said that all of legacy's F is about the same. Save the miles fly who's cheapest.
Mar 19, 2012, 11:09 am
#15
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I have only flown US F on short flights DCA-BOS, PHL-BOS, and BOS-CLT. The FA's were nice, and I prefer their snack basket options to UA, but a transcon w/o IFE, or chanel 9; ugh.