Preferred equipment for SFO-IAD redeye?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
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Preferred equipment for SFO-IAD redeye?
Havent done a transcon on UA in a very long time.
Traveling SFO-IAD on 5/26; expecting to use miles to UG. Have a choice of leaving 5pm fl#1723 (738), 10pm fl#1145 (753), or 11pm fl#355 (A320).
Which equipment do experienced travellers prefer? Early flight for dinner nice would be nice, but "gourmet" airplane food not a deciding factor and will go directly to work upon arrival unless I take #1723 in which case I will have time to stop home first.
thanks
Traveling SFO-IAD on 5/26; expecting to use miles to UG. Have a choice of leaving 5pm fl#1723 (738), 10pm fl#1145 (753), or 11pm fl#355 (A320).
Which equipment do experienced travellers prefer? Early flight for dinner nice would be nice, but "gourmet" airplane food not a deciding factor and will go directly to work upon arrival unless I take #1723 in which case I will have time to stop home first.
thanks
#3
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agree that the 5pm if an option for your schedule is much preferable and less painful than a redeye. don't count on getting into F with no status and likely having to waitlist an upgrade.
choosing among the two redeyes i'd go for the earlier one, there is always a chance that 753 gets subbed for 752 INTL. pick a seat in rows 1-4.
even if no substitution, my preference is always for the 753 over a 738.
the 5pm flight would have a dinner service in F. the redeye flights would have only a snack service which is generally pretty terrible (as is the dinner, FWIW). in coach all flights would have buy on board options but no free food, free non-alch drinks.
choosing among the two redeyes i'd go for the earlier one, there is always a chance that 753 gets subbed for 752 INTL. pick a seat in rows 1-4.
even if no substitution, my preference is always for the 753 over a 738.
the 5pm flight would have a dinner service in F. the redeye flights would have only a snack service which is generally pretty terrible (as is the dinner, FWIW). in coach all flights would have buy on board options but no free food, free non-alch drinks.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 546
Preferred equipment for redeye?
Having recently flown all three of these aircraft in F, I found the sCO 753 to have the deepest reclining seats. If you have have the flexibility, I would agree with others that the 5pm flight will be most comfortable (because you can sleep on the ground). Another alternative to consider may be the p.s. redeye to JFK connecting to a flight to IAD.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
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Posts: 2,239
The 5 pm flight is very unpopular for some reason and is almost always available for award travel and is frequently the cheapest flight of the day (when fares aren't being forced down by the likes of VX). I've seen it go out with Silvers getting upgraded, however, this isn't a certainty.
#6
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Herndon, Virginia
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Posts: 187
I fly this route 4 or 5 times a year. Most times I opt for the true redeye since that gives you a chance to go out for a nice dinner before getting to SFO. And while I do the 5PM often as well (I call it the pinkeye), it comes with a big risk. End of day delayed flights. And when the 5PM is delayed, usually 3 or 4 hours, that leads to landing at 3 or 4AM at IAD. And that is just brutal IMO, and I live just 5 minutes from the airport. As to equipment, it doesn't matter, they all stick and the planes will be full in back so you won't have any room. And you won't get an upgrade either, I am rarely upgraded on these as a 1k and I use my CPUs and GPUs to try and usually end up 5th or 6th on the list.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DC/SF/Herault
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Posts: 174
I have flown the 5 PM (or some other flight leaving between 4-5) flight a lot over the last few years and found it to be pretty reliable even though it is later in the day. I also second the suggestion of taking the ps flight to JFK. Much greater likelihood of a good seat. If you don't need to get to DC too early, that might be your best bet.
#8
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SFO
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Posts: 122
Havent done a transcon on UA in a very long time.
Traveling SFO-IAD on 5/26; expecting to use miles to UG. Have a choice of leaving 5pm fl#1723 (738), 10pm fl#1145 (753), or 11pm fl#355 (A320).
Which equipment do experienced travellers prefer? Early flight for dinner nice would be nice, but "gourmet" airplane food not a deciding factor and will go directly to work upon arrival unless I take #1723 in which case I will have time to stop home first.
thanks
Traveling SFO-IAD on 5/26; expecting to use miles to UG. Have a choice of leaving 5pm fl#1723 (738), 10pm fl#1145 (753), or 11pm fl#355 (A320).
Which equipment do experienced travellers prefer? Early flight for dinner nice would be nice, but "gourmet" airplane food not a deciding factor and will go directly to work upon arrival unless I take #1723 in which case I will have time to stop home first.
thanks
If I had to travel further, I would have taken the 10 pm flt. I normally take the latest flt on Sunday to maximize my time home on the weekend.
I can sleep on any plane, and will be out cold before the door is closed, waking up when the wheels come down. I go straight to work from the airport.
I see alsolute no advantage of taking the 5 pm flight. Whether weekday or weekend, it cuts out half your day at the departure site and arrivs at 2:00 am. One advantage of the 10 pm flt, in case of flt disruption, you have a change for the 11 pm flt if your status is high enough.
To me, your decision is how well you sleep on the plane. For me, it is very easy to do the red eye and put in a full days work upon arrival.
If you can't sleep on the plane, then take the early 5 pm flt and grab a couple hour of sleep before going to work.
#10
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The 5 pm flight is very unpopular for some reason and is almost always available for award travel and is frequently the cheapest flight of the day (when fares aren't being forced down by the likes of VX). I've seen it go out with Silvers getting upgraded, however, this isn't a certainty.
#14
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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Ours do. But I am not able to argue my wife out of driving out to the airport; it's tough enough to argue for me to drive and pay for parking on a typical short trip (where the cost of parking would be on par with a cab ride anyway).
Regardless, I find myself on the late afternoon departures from CA a fair bit, as well as the 7-ish PM departure from DEN that arrives at a similar time. I don't mind the red-eyes that much so long as I'm in F and can get a window seat (otherwise, the FA tromping up and down the aisle all night keeps me up).
Speaking of that, there's a good point for all the narrowbodies: sitting in the aisle seats, you will feel and hear the traffic as the FAs and other pax walk by during the night. I always try to get a window seat on red-eyes for that reason. I also typically skip the snack plate for a bit more shut-eye, dozing during boarding and taxi and then asleep as soon as I recline on takeoff.
Regardless, I find myself on the late afternoon departures from CA a fair bit, as well as the 7-ish PM departure from DEN that arrives at a similar time. I don't mind the red-eyes that much so long as I'm in F and can get a window seat (otherwise, the FA tromping up and down the aisle all night keeps me up).
Speaking of that, there's a good point for all the narrowbodies: sitting in the aisle seats, you will feel and hear the traffic as the FAs and other pax walk by during the night. I always try to get a window seat on red-eyes for that reason. I also typically skip the snack plate for a bit more shut-eye, dozing during boarding and taxi and then asleep as soon as I recline on takeoff.
#15
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agree that the 5pm if an option for your schedule is much preferable and less painful than a redeye. don't count on getting into F with no status and likely having to waitlist an upgrade.
choosing among the two redeyes i'd go for the earlier one, there is always a chance that 753 gets subbed for 752 INTL. pick a seat in rows 1-4.
even if no substitution, my preference is always for the 753 over a 738.
the 5pm flight would have a dinner service in F. the redeye flights would have only a snack service which is generally pretty terrible (as is the dinner, FWIW). in coach all flights would have buy on board options but no free food, free non-alch drinks.
choosing among the two redeyes i'd go for the earlier one, there is always a chance that 753 gets subbed for 752 INTL. pick a seat in rows 1-4.
even if no substitution, my preference is always for the 753 over a 738.
the 5pm flight would have a dinner service in F. the redeye flights would have only a snack service which is generally pretty terrible (as is the dinner, FWIW). in coach all flights would have buy on board options but no free food, free non-alch drinks.