View Poll Results: How do you feel about the new RECARO seats UA is installing?
Voters: 491. You may not vote on this poll
Jun 3, 2017, 1:01 pm
Update on our Airbus Reconfigurations (Seats, Entertainment, Channel 9, etc.)
Jun 9, 2013, 12:19 pm
#511
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Are you trying to say it is not my birthright to sit in an F seat with a CPU that cleared at my window?
Perish the thought...
More often than you think.
Most of my travel is international. I usually am responding to sudden issues when I buy first, which is usually within two days of departure. I usually have a heck of a time finding an F seat.
Even when I have more time, it is a problem. I am flying LHR to LAX in about two weeks. I'm sure not going to give sucky UA my money any more. I tried to book F on the AA flight (it's the new 777-300ER). Already full.
So I am now booked on BA, which is UA with an accent and even more attitude.
Most of my travel is international. I usually am responding to sudden issues when I buy first, which is usually within two days of departure. I usually have a heck of a time finding an F seat.
Even when I have more time, it is a problem. I am flying LHR to LAX in about two weeks. I'm sure not going to give sucky UA my money any more. I tried to book F on the AA flight (it's the new 777-300ER). Already full.
So I am now booked on BA, which is UA with an accent and even more attitude.
Holding some seats for flyers like you clearly makes good business sense.
Or are you just saying UA is 'sucky'?
Jun 9, 2013, 1:05 pm
#512
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat
Posts: 11,500
IMHO (And i'll probably get flamed for this) I would much rather prefer to experience the new seats for myself rather then go by what someone else experienced. Let's not forget we all have different body types etc. What may work for one person, may not exactly work out for another and so on.
5'10" - 170 lbs. - Average build.
The point of my blog post and the post here was not to keep people from posting their experiences but simply to offer the opinion of a frequent flyer. I fly UA out of IAH and have been spending more time on Airbus aircraft this year than before (out of 75 domestic segments this year 68 have been on an Airbus). Up until this seat, I've actually enjoyed the Airbus fleet. Row 21 on them may have been some of the best coach seats anywhere. Now they've been reduced to pretty much standard rows with seat bottoms that are not long enough to be supportive.
I have also flown the Lufthansa seat and wanted to compare the difference between the comfort package and the base package that LH went with. Like I said in my post, there is more padding on the UA choice but certainly not what we had before. I understand the economical reason that UA is putting in these seats but that does not mean I necessarily have to like it.
The original UA Insider post about these seats said it would be an even trade as far as comfort and I simply disagree. People are free to disagree with me once they fly on a plane with these new seats.
One thing I did find odd was that the plane was completely dark; No power, no WiFi, etc. I thought we were going to at least have power when the plane went out but there were no outlets anywhere. I know that UA has a schedule to keep with installations and maintenance but from a customer standpoint they're pushing a product out that is not an improvement and every person who steps foot on that plane has their own mind to make up. This is an area that UA could significantly improve on, rather than putting the plane out there dark, make sure it has power or have a brochure on board describing the future WiFi streaming entertainment.
Jun 9, 2013, 1:56 pm
#513
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Sure and what I offered was an opinion. I didn't realize we needed a quorum for whether someone thought something was good or bad around here. I guess I could add my body stats:
5'10" - 170 lbs. - Average build.
The point of my blog post and the post here was not to keep people from posting their experiences but simply to offer the opinion of a frequent flyer. I fly UA out of IAH and have been spending more time on Airbus aircraft this year than before (out of 75 domestic segments this year 68 have been on an Airbus). Up until this seat, I've actually enjoyed the Airbus fleet. Row 21 on them may have been some of the best coach seats anywhere. Now they've been reduced to pretty much standard rows with seat bottoms that are not long enough to be supportive.
I have also flown the Lufthansa seat and wanted to compare the difference between the comfort package and the base package that LH went with. Like I said in my post, there is more padding on the UA choice but certainly not what we had before. I understand the economical reason that UA is putting in these seats but that does not mean I necessarily have to like it.
The original UA Insider post about these seats said it would be an even trade as far as comfort and I simply disagree. People are free to disagree with me once they fly on a plane with these new seats.
One thing I did find odd was that the plane was completely dark; No power, no WiFi, etc. I thought we were going to at least have power when the plane went out but there were no outlets anywhere. I know that UA has a schedule to keep with installations and maintenance but from a customer standpoint they're pushing a product out that is not an improvement and every person who steps foot on that plane has their own mind to make up. This is an area that UA could significantly improve on, rather than putting the plane out there dark, make sure it has power or have a brochure on board describing the future WiFi streaming entertainment.
5'10" - 170 lbs. - Average build.
The point of my blog post and the post here was not to keep people from posting their experiences but simply to offer the opinion of a frequent flyer. I fly UA out of IAH and have been spending more time on Airbus aircraft this year than before (out of 75 domestic segments this year 68 have been on an Airbus). Up until this seat, I've actually enjoyed the Airbus fleet. Row 21 on them may have been some of the best coach seats anywhere. Now they've been reduced to pretty much standard rows with seat bottoms that are not long enough to be supportive.
I have also flown the Lufthansa seat and wanted to compare the difference between the comfort package and the base package that LH went with. Like I said in my post, there is more padding on the UA choice but certainly not what we had before. I understand the economical reason that UA is putting in these seats but that does not mean I necessarily have to like it.
The original UA Insider post about these seats said it would be an even trade as far as comfort and I simply disagree. People are free to disagree with me once they fly on a plane with these new seats.
One thing I did find odd was that the plane was completely dark; No power, no WiFi, etc. I thought we were going to at least have power when the plane went out but there were no outlets anywhere. I know that UA has a schedule to keep with installations and maintenance but from a customer standpoint they're pushing a product out that is not an improvement and every person who steps foot on that plane has their own mind to make up. This is an area that UA could significantly improve on, rather than putting the plane out there dark, make sure it has power or have a brochure on board describing the future WiFi streaming entertainment.
I would like to experience the seat for myself though, and at that point will finalize my own opinion. Unfortunately, my 'body stats' don't quite match your svelteness...
Thanks again, yours is the kind of information sharing that makes FT a valuable community.
Lark
Jun 9, 2013, 4:16 pm
#514
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: EWR, BDL
Posts: 4,471
Sure and what I offered was an opinion. I didn't realize we needed a quorum for whether someone thought something was good or bad around here. I guess I could add my body stats:
5'10" - 170 lbs. - Average build.
The point of my blog post and the post here was not to keep people from posting their experiences but simply to offer the opinion of a frequent flyer. I fly UA out of IAH and have been spending more time on Airbus aircraft this year than before (out of 75 domestic segments this year 68 have been on an Airbus). Up until this seat, I've actually enjoyed the Airbus fleet. Row 21 on them may have been some of the best coach seats anywhere. Now they've been reduced to pretty much standard rows with seat bottoms that are not long enough to be supportive.
I have also flown the Lufthansa seat and wanted to compare the difference between the comfort package and the base package that LH went with. Like I said in my post, there is more padding on the UA choice but certainly not what we had before. I understand the economical reason that UA is putting in these seats but that does not mean I necessarily have to like it.
The original UA Insider post about these seats said it would be an even trade as far as comfort and I simply disagree. People are free to disagree with me once they fly on a plane with these new seats.
One thing I did find odd was that the plane was completely dark; No power, no WiFi, etc. I thought we were going to at least have power when the plane went out but there were no outlets anywhere. I know that UA has a schedule to keep with installations and maintenance but from a customer standpoint they're pushing a product out that is not an improvement and every person who steps foot on that plane has their own mind to make up. This is an area that UA could significantly improve on, rather than putting the plane out there dark, make sure it has power or have a brochure on board describing the future WiFi streaming entertainment.
5'10" - 170 lbs. - Average build.
The point of my blog post and the post here was not to keep people from posting their experiences but simply to offer the opinion of a frequent flyer. I fly UA out of IAH and have been spending more time on Airbus aircraft this year than before (out of 75 domestic segments this year 68 have been on an Airbus). Up until this seat, I've actually enjoyed the Airbus fleet. Row 21 on them may have been some of the best coach seats anywhere. Now they've been reduced to pretty much standard rows with seat bottoms that are not long enough to be supportive.
I have also flown the Lufthansa seat and wanted to compare the difference between the comfort package and the base package that LH went with. Like I said in my post, there is more padding on the UA choice but certainly not what we had before. I understand the economical reason that UA is putting in these seats but that does not mean I necessarily have to like it.
The original UA Insider post about these seats said it would be an even trade as far as comfort and I simply disagree. People are free to disagree with me once they fly on a plane with these new seats.
One thing I did find odd was that the plane was completely dark; No power, no WiFi, etc. I thought we were going to at least have power when the plane went out but there were no outlets anywhere. I know that UA has a schedule to keep with installations and maintenance but from a customer standpoint they're pushing a product out that is not an improvement and every person who steps foot on that plane has their own mind to make up. This is an area that UA could significantly improve on, rather than putting the plane out there dark, make sure it has power or have a brochure on board describing the future WiFi streaming entertainment.
Jun 9, 2013, 4:59 pm
#515
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
. 
Jun 10, 2013, 2:09 pm
#516
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: UA-1K
Posts: 308
A few quick notes - flew on the next gen A319 this morning from PDX to SFO. It was a little odd to see the FAs standing in the aisle going old school on the safety presentation. No IFE at all, no window at row 12, 5 rows in F and the in-seat power didn't seem to work in E+. I did only try my own and not my neighbors so it could have been a one-off. I'm not very tall so while I know a lot of people like that there is extra height added to the seat back, the headrest is now essentially worthless to me.
Jun 10, 2013, 2:58 pm
#517
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Alameda, CA, USA
Programs: UA 2P (will be 0P next yr), HH Diamond (thank you Surpass Card!)
Posts: 807
I've been away for a while and just heard about these great and wonderful new "improvements". 
Every single one of these "improvements" is a negative for me personally. I flew in the LH seat last week and hated it. Even a bit more seat padding is not going to improve the experience of flying in those seats. It was unpleasant for 1.5 hr; it will be torture at 5+ hr. (BTW, I'm 5'5" and 170 lb.).
I have been slowly drifting away from UA, after a lifetime of flying them almost exclusively. I am now beginning to run in the opposite direction. So sad.
Every single one of these "improvements" is a negative for me personally. I flew in the LH seat last week and hated it. Even a bit more seat padding is not going to improve the experience of flying in those seats. It was unpleasant for 1.5 hr; it will be torture at 5+ hr. (BTW, I'm 5'5" and 170 lb.).
I have been slowly drifting away from UA, after a lifetime of flying them almost exclusively. I am now beginning to run in the opposite direction. So sad.
Jun 10, 2013, 3:21 pm
#518
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
I've been away for a while and just heard about these great and wonderful new "improvements".
Every single one of these "improvements" is a negative for me personally. I flew in the LH seat last week and hated it. Even a bit more seat padding is not going to improve the experience of flying in those seats. It was unpleasant for 1.5 hr; it will be torture at 5+ hr. (BTW, I'm 5'5" and 170 lb.).
I have been slowly drifting away from UA, after a lifetime of flying them almost exclusively. I am now beginning to run in the opposite direction. So sad.
Every single one of these "improvements" is a negative for me personally. I flew in the LH seat last week and hated it. Even a bit more seat padding is not going to improve the experience of flying in those seats. It was unpleasant for 1.5 hr; it will be torture at 5+ hr. (BTW, I'm 5'5" and 170 lb.).
I have been slowly drifting away from UA, after a lifetime of flying them almost exclusively. I am now beginning to run in the opposite direction. So sad.
Jun 10, 2013, 3:32 pm
#519
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
Programs: UA MM 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 4,419
A few quick notes - flew on the next gen A319 this morning from PDX to SFO. It was a little odd to see the FAs standing in the aisle going old school on the safety presentation. No IFE at all, no window at row 12, 5 rows in F and the in-seat power didn't seem to work in E+. I did only try my own and not my neighbors so it could have been a one-off. I'm not very tall so while I know a lot of people like that there is extra height added to the seat back, the headrest is now essentially worthless to me.
Jun 10, 2013, 4:12 pm
#520
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: EWR, BDL
Posts: 4,471
A few quick notes - flew on the next gen A319 this morning from PDX to SFO. It was a little odd to see the FAs standing in the aisle going old school on the safety presentation. No IFE at all, no window at row 12, 5 rows in F and the in-seat power didn't seem to work in E+. I did only try my own and not my neighbors so it could have been a one-off. I'm not very tall so while I know a lot of people like that there is extra height added to the seat back, the headrest is now essentially worthless to me.
Jun 10, 2013, 4:39 pm
#521
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Alameda, CA, USA
Programs: UA 2P (will be 0P next yr), HH Diamond (thank you Surpass Card!)
Posts: 807
Well, as I have flown UA almost exclusively in the past, I don't have much experience with other airlines and thus I don't have a single alternative airline in mind. Southwest and Jet Blue have been pleasant experiences, but they do not get me to Europe. I'll just have to try out other airlines. So I guess my short answer to your question is "anybody but United". Alas, it is a bit problematic that SFO is a major UA hub and alternative choices are more limited in this neck of the woods.
Jun 10, 2013, 5:12 pm
#522
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Well, as I have flown UA almost exclusively in the past, I don't have much experience with other airlines and thus I don't have a single alternative airline in mind. Southwest and Jet Blue have been pleasant experiences, but they do not get me to Europe. I'll just have to try out other airlines. So I guess my short answer to your question is "anybody but United". Alas, it is a bit problematic that SFO is a major UA hub and alternative choices are more limited in this neck of the woods.
Good luck, and let us know what you end up deciding.
Jun 12, 2013, 2:22 pm
#523
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Federal Way, WA
Programs: Mileage Plus 2P, Marriott Silver, many others
Posts: 1,305
I never posted when this first came out, but I think it's a very unfortunate decision to not include Channel 9 with the new systems. It could have been done, if anyone spent some time thinking about how to make it happen. I realize it's just me talking, but the rest of the IFE has been worthless for decades as far as I'm concerned (maximum programs of 2 hours that don't change for 2 months at a time, classical channel just plays the old war horses, comedy and business channels long gone -- bleah!). I, for one, couldn't care less about having TV available.
Of course, I don't like the Airbuses, either, so guess I'll be flying AS as much possible now that I'm in SEA.
Of course, I don't like the Airbuses, either, so guess I'll be flying AS as much possible now that I'm in SEA.
Jun 23, 2013, 1:50 pm
#524
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 252
I got a couple different experiences with the Recaro seats in Europe this past week and I didn't see much issue with them. Two of the flights were about 2 hours long.
The seats on Lufthansa had the limited padding, but I thought they were comfortable enough and could probably do a trans-con in them. The bottom padding is more than sufficient and the back padding while thin and hard does provide good support; which I like contrary to most people (note: I personally like the PMCO seats better than PMUA seats for their back support except the bottom cushion being a little too hard). The negative of this seat was the lack of padding for your head, lack of adjustable headrest, and lack of contour in the seat bottom. It's not comfortable if you want to lay back and sleep. The big positive is the increased legroom from putting the magazine pouch on top which is a great design feature.
On Swiss Air they have the additional comfort padding which with that package I found quite comfortable. Again the lack of seat contour and headrest were a negative, but otherwise very good seats.
It looks like UA opted for headrests and more comfort upgrades so these seats might address the negatives I noticed on Lufthansa and Swiss.
The seats on Lufthansa had the limited padding, but I thought they were comfortable enough and could probably do a trans-con in them. The bottom padding is more than sufficient and the back padding while thin and hard does provide good support; which I like contrary to most people (note: I personally like the PMCO seats better than PMUA seats for their back support except the bottom cushion being a little too hard). The negative of this seat was the lack of padding for your head, lack of adjustable headrest, and lack of contour in the seat bottom. It's not comfortable if you want to lay back and sleep. The big positive is the increased legroom from putting the magazine pouch on top which is a great design feature.
On Swiss Air they have the additional comfort padding which with that package I found quite comfortable. Again the lack of seat contour and headrest were a negative, but otherwise very good seats.
It looks like UA opted for headrests and more comfort upgrades so these seats might address the negatives I noticed on Lufthansa and Swiss.
Jun 24, 2013, 7:49 am
#525
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
I got a couple different experiences with the Recaro seats in Europe this past week and I didn't see much issue with them. Two of the flights were about 2 hours long.
The seats on Lufthansa had the limited padding, but I thought they were comfortable enough and could probably do a trans-con in them. The bottom padding is more than sufficient and the back padding while thin and hard does provide good support; which I like contrary to most people (note: I personally like the PMCO seats better than PMUA seats for their back support except the bottom cushion being a little too hard). The negative of this seat was the lack of padding for your head, lack of adjustable headrest, and lack of contour in the seat bottom. It's not comfortable if you want to lay back and sleep. The big positive is the increased legroom from putting the magazine pouch on top which is a great design feature.
On Swiss Air they have the additional comfort padding which with that package I found quite comfortable. Again the lack of seat contour and headrest were a negative, but otherwise very good seats.
It looks like UA opted for headrests and more comfort upgrades so these seats might address the negatives I noticed on Lufthansa and Swiss.
The seats on Lufthansa had the limited padding, but I thought they were comfortable enough and could probably do a trans-con in them. The bottom padding is more than sufficient and the back padding while thin and hard does provide good support; which I like contrary to most people (note: I personally like the PMCO seats better than PMUA seats for their back support except the bottom cushion being a little too hard). The negative of this seat was the lack of padding for your head, lack of adjustable headrest, and lack of contour in the seat bottom. It's not comfortable if you want to lay back and sleep. The big positive is the increased legroom from putting the magazine pouch on top which is a great design feature.
On Swiss Air they have the additional comfort padding which with that package I found quite comfortable. Again the lack of seat contour and headrest were a negative, but otherwise very good seats.
It looks like UA opted for headrests and more comfort upgrades so these seats might address the negatives I noticed on Lufthansa and Swiss.