757-200 vs A319 in First Class
Apr 17, 2013, 8:57 am
#1
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757-200 vs A319 in First Class
I currently have two award seats booked for this summer from BRU-ORD-DCA in Business. Domestic First on the ORD-DCA leg. I've never flown UA premium cabin before.
The ORD-DCA leg was originally scheduled as an A-320 as were most of the flights to DC around that time of day. Flight schedules changed recently shifting the times by a 5-10 minutes for each flight and in the process lots of the scheduled aircraft types changed. My flight went to an A-319 (from 12 to 8 F seats). A flight to IAD 15 minutes later changed from 320 to a 757-200 and it currently shows the version 4 seatmap with flatbed seats.
So is that flight likely to stay with that configuration? Is that cabin significantly better for the two hour flight? If so can I switch easily without a fee for just that segment? There are two award seats for it as a standalone flight but the BRU-ORD flight has no availability, so I'd be worried of losing my current seats on that. Alternatively can I request a SDC to the other flight assuming the aircraft type is the flatbed one?
Thanks!
The ORD-DCA leg was originally scheduled as an A-320 as were most of the flights to DC around that time of day. Flight schedules changed recently shifting the times by a 5-10 minutes for each flight and in the process lots of the scheduled aircraft types changed. My flight went to an A-319 (from 12 to 8 F seats). A flight to IAD 15 minutes later changed from 320 to a 757-200 and it currently shows the version 4 seatmap with flatbed seats.
So is that flight likely to stay with that configuration? Is that cabin significantly better for the two hour flight? If so can I switch easily without a fee for just that segment? There are two award seats for it as a standalone flight but the BRU-ORD flight has no availability, so I'd be worried of losing my current seats on that. Alternatively can I request a SDC to the other flight assuming the aircraft type is the flatbed one?
Thanks!
Apr 17, 2013, 9:06 am
#2
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terpfan,
is the 757 going into dca or iad? ive been on a few pmco 757s going into iad that continue on manchester or dublin but never been on a flatbed to dca, there again ive cut way back on ua domestic in the last 2.5 months as long as you have a seat assignment on the now changed to a 319 reservation you should be ok, i prefer the version 4 757s but thats just me, in the case where i was on a downgraded 320 to a 319 i was told always book a seat in rows 1 or 2 so that if the flight does get downgraded to a 319 the chances of keeping the seat upfront are better
is the 757 going into dca or iad? ive been on a few pmco 757s going into iad that continue on manchester or dublin but never been on a flatbed to dca, there again ive cut way back on ua domestic in the last 2.5 months as long as you have a seat assignment on the now changed to a 319 reservation you should be ok, i prefer the version 4 757s but thats just me, in the case where i was on a downgraded 320 to a 319 i was told always book a seat in rows 1 or 2 so that if the flight does get downgraded to a 319 the chances of keeping the seat upfront are better
Apr 17, 2013, 9:08 am
#3
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It's highly likely that the aircraft will change (repeatedly) between now and then. I would wait until closer to the departure date and then look at what is scheduled. There's no real difference between a domestically-configured 752 and A319/320, but the internationally-configured 752 is obviously significantly better.
Flat-bed 752 is going to IAD according to the OP.
terpfan,
is the 757 going into dca or iad? ive been on a few pmco 757s going into iad that continue on manchester or dublin but never been on a flatbed to dca, there again ive cut way back on ua domestic in the last 2.5 months as long as you have a seat assignment on the now changed to a 319 reservation you should be ok, i prefer the version 4 757s but thats just me, in the case where i was on a downgraded 320 to a 319 i was told always book a seat in rows 1 or 2 so that if the flight does get downgraded to a 319 the chances of keeping the seat upfront are better
is the 757 going into dca or iad? ive been on a few pmco 757s going into iad that continue on manchester or dublin but never been on a flatbed to dca, there again ive cut way back on ua domestic in the last 2.5 months as long as you have a seat assignment on the now changed to a 319 reservation you should be ok, i prefer the version 4 757s but thats just me, in the case where i was on a downgraded 320 to a 319 i was told always book a seat in rows 1 or 2 so that if the flight does get downgraded to a 319 the chances of keeping the seat upfront are better
Apr 17, 2013, 9:28 am
#4
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Considering it is a 2 hour flight I would use whichever airport is more convenient for where you are trying to go. I would not trade 2 hours in an intl config 752 landing at IAD when there is an option that will get you to DCA, if your final destination in the district or just outside to the N/S/E.
I would also call and request to be waitlisted for BRU->IAD direct, unless you really want/need the stop in ORD for some reason (such as to get to DCA).
I would also call and request to be waitlisted for BRU->IAD direct, unless you really want/need the stop in ORD for some reason (such as to get to DCA).
Apr 17, 2013, 9:31 am
#5
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Ditto. Besides, you will have just come off an international flight and will have seen all the movies on offer anyway!
I would keep my eyes open for flights on Brussels Airlines.
I would keep my eyes open for flights on Brussels Airlines.
Apr 17, 2013, 9:41 am
#6
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Agree with ddrost1 on both accounts. I take DCA over IAD any day (especially when coming home and I don't want to take the endless and expensive cab from IAD).
As for the 752 lie-flat, it's certainly nice to have the lie-flat bed, but in terms of pure service, the quality won't be much different on the 752 vs. the a320/738/739 for a flight as short as ORD - DCA (which on a good day is only 1.25). If it was the normal 763 / 777, that would change my thinking somewhat but for a 752 not worth it if DCA is a better airport for you.
As a general aside, I'm intrigued that they're flying a 752 international ORD - IAD, haven't looked at the schedule recently but wonder if this is a switch from the 763 and occasional 777 that usually goes ORD - IAD / IAD - ORD once a day.
As for the 752 lie-flat, it's certainly nice to have the lie-flat bed, but in terms of pure service, the quality won't be much different on the 752 vs. the a320/738/739 for a flight as short as ORD - DCA (which on a good day is only 1.25). If it was the normal 763 / 777, that would change my thinking somewhat but for a 752 not worth it if DCA is a better airport for you.
As a general aside, I'm intrigued that they're flying a 752 international ORD - IAD, haven't looked at the schedule recently but wonder if this is a switch from the 763 and occasional 777 that usually goes ORD - IAD / IAD - ORD once a day.
Apr 17, 2013, 9:43 am
#7
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Agree with ddrost1 on both accounts. I take DCA over IAD any day (especially when coming home and I don't want to take the endless and expensive cab from IAD).
As for the 752 lie-flat, it's certainly nice to have the lie-flat bed, but in terms of pure service, the quality won't be much different on the 752 vs. the a320/738/739 for a flight as short as ORD - DCA (which on a good day is only 1.25). If it was the normal 763 / 777, that would change my thinking somewhat but for a 752 not worth it if DCA is a better airport for you.
As a general aside, I'm intrigued that they're flying a 752 international ORD - IAD, haven't looked at the schedule recently but wonder if this is a switch from the 763 and occasional 777 that usually goes ORD - IAD / IAD - ORD once a day.
As for the 752 lie-flat, it's certainly nice to have the lie-flat bed, but in terms of pure service, the quality won't be much different on the 752 vs. the a320/738/739 for a flight as short as ORD - DCA (which on a good day is only 1.25). If it was the normal 763 / 777, that would change my thinking somewhat but for a 752 not worth it if DCA is a better airport for you.
As a general aside, I'm intrigued that they're flying a 752 international ORD - IAD, haven't looked at the schedule recently but wonder if this is a switch from the 763 and occasional 777 that usually goes ORD - IAD / IAD - ORD once a day.
Apr 17, 2013, 10:05 am
#8
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Considering it is a 2 hour flight I would use whichever airport is more convenient for where you are trying to go. I would not trade 2 hours in an intl config 752 landing at IAD when there is an option that will get you to DCA, if your final destination in the district or just outside to the N/S/E.
I would also call and request to be waitlisted for BRU->IAD direct, unless you really want/need the stop in ORD for some reason (such as to get to DCA).
I would also call and request to be waitlisted for BRU->IAD direct, unless you really want/need the stop in ORD for some reason (such as to get to DCA).
I was all set to book the direct route and then availability disappeared about a week before I booked it. So I grabbed the ORD route and now there only availability on a Lufthansa flight connecting in Munich on A330 (with their old seats). I'm going to stick with my United flight and I'll call about waitlisting. The direct flight is currently listed as a 777-200 but I read somewhere that it'd be changing to a 767 in the summer which worried me a bit as far as not getting the new seats. It's also starting to fill up but nowhere near as much as the ORD flight I'm currently on is. F is down to two seats left and C is about 50% full.
I was excited when I heard that Brussels Airlines was starting this route (announcement made a few weeks after booking the flight) but for some reason the day of my flight (a Friday) doesn't have the flight listed. I'll keep an eye open for it though.
Agree with ddrost1 on both accounts. I take DCA over IAD any day (especially when coming home and I don't want to take the endless and expensive cab from IAD).
As for the 752 lie-flat, it's certainly nice to have the lie-flat bed, but in terms of pure service, the quality won't be much different on the 752 vs. the a320/738/739 for a flight as short as ORD - DCA (which on a good day is only 1.25). If it was the normal 763 / 777, that would change my thinking somewhat but for a 752 not worth it if DCA is a better airport for you.
As a general aside, I'm intrigued that they're flying a 752 international ORD - IAD, haven't looked at the schedule recently but wonder if this is a switch from the 763 and occasional 777 that usually goes ORD - IAD / IAD - ORD once a day.
As for the 752 lie-flat, it's certainly nice to have the lie-flat bed, but in terms of pure service, the quality won't be much different on the 752 vs. the a320/738/739 for a flight as short as ORD - DCA (which on a good day is only 1.25). If it was the normal 763 / 777, that would change my thinking somewhat but for a 752 not worth it if DCA is a better airport for you.
As a general aside, I'm intrigued that they're flying a 752 international ORD - IAD, haven't looked at the schedule recently but wonder if this is a switch from the 763 and occasional 777 that usually goes ORD - IAD / IAD - ORD once a day.
Apr 17, 2013, 10:08 am
#9
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That was poor english, I wasn't intending to link the 763 / 777 to the sentence before about quality of service because I would agree the quality of service between a 763 / 777 / 752 is going to be the same. My thinking would change as I mentioned if it was a 763 / 777 because I prefer the widebody and IMHO the seats on the 763 / 777 on occasion are worth it to fly into IAD instead of DCA just to switch things up, but for 2 hours not worth going to IAD.
Apr 17, 2013, 10:27 am
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The PMCO 767-400s have been converted to the flat-beds, all except for 2 on HI runs mostly. The UA 767-300s all have IPTE and there are a few 2 class 767-300s with the pmco flat beds in BF so odds are in your favor on getting a flat bed on a 767 going tatl.
Apr 17, 2013, 1:13 pm
#11
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....The ORD-DCA leg was originally scheduled as an A-320 as were most of the flights to DC around that time of day. Flight schedules changed recently shifting the times by a 5-10 minutes for each flight and in the process lots of the scheduled aircraft types changed. My flight went to an A-319 (from 12 to 8 F seats). ....
So is that flight likely to stay with that configuration? Is that cabin significantly better for the two hour flight? If so can I switch easily without a fee for just that segment? ....
So is that flight likely to stay with that configuration? Is that cabin significantly better for the two hour flight? If so can I switch easily without a fee for just that segment? ....
For a bit more discussion on this, see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-a320-etc.html (these domestic aircraft when used for north american flights the first class area is re-titled as business )