flyinbob

One of the big changes that doesn't cost anything so didn't have to change is soft product. Service then was incredible. My first international F was a year or so after the OP, and out of LA it was great. A call the night before from MY concierge, asking when I would arrive at LAX. There she was, wearing a red flower as promised, waiting curbside for me, with several other people. Someone to take my papers, to get me processed quickly, someone to take my bags, either to check, or on ahead to the International First Lounge. She took me to the special security checkpoint, walked right through, with the lady with my papers waiting, already having given them to security.

Then escorted on the the IFL. Met inside by the butler, everyone addressing me by name. Special tags for all my carry-ons. Asked when I wanted to board. Before everyone else, or just before takeoff. Also asked if I wanted anything for the flight. Newspaper, book, anything. They would go fetch it for me! Then GREAT food. Even though a 747, not a lot of people in the lounge. Because I had never been in first I wanted to board early. So my concierge comes and gets me, and we go to the gate (77, I think), and with all the others huddled around the gate struggling to be first, my concierge announces loudly "I'll be boarding Mr. flyinbob now", and without even slowing, on I go. No ID, no ticket to show. Nothing.

Introduced to the purser and other F attendant on board. The concierge stays on board until departure, in case you forgot to get something. Everything perfect. The flight attendants were beyond exceptional. They were there when you wanted, and were discreet when you wanted to sleep. The service was incredible. Multi-page menu, lots of champagne and food. Wanting for nothing, including impeccable service.

Last international flight I took on UA all I remember is having to fight to get into the IFL, with the guardians of the gate demanding lots of proof I was worthy. Tell me, really, if someone (or their company) spends thousands or tens of thousands on a ticket, how does UA get away with the level of service they do? Hard product be damned, how much does it really cost for people to be nice?

bmr12

This is indeed as it was on my first time in International F. And as described by elitetraveler:


My spouse and I flew DEN-LAX-AKL; AKL-MEL; and then SYD-SFO-DEN.

I remember arriving in LAX and almost having a heart attack when we were paged before deplaning. I thought someone must have died, but it was instead the concierge to escort us to the F lounge.

After lounging, we were escorted to the aircraft by the concierge just before departure--no need for that boarding group stuff.

And I remember en-route to AKL, the flight attendant setting the bottle of Dom on the table (marked "TA" on the image above) saying "you're the only one drinking this--enjoy!".

The only thing missing was the lie-flat part. I probably wouldn't trade the service for a UA C-class lie-flat, but definitely would for UA GF today.

JDT1955

Sorry, I dug through and couldn't find the ticket (this was looooong before the advent of e-tickets). My recollection is that it was well under 10K for a BOS-SFO-Osaka-SIN-KUL-HKG-SFO-BOS itinerary, all in the highest class of service available. It was also my first time on SQ (Osaka-SIN), and I recall there were "disagreements" among the flight attendants as to whether the Dom Perignon or the Krug Crystal was the better champagne on the flight, insisting that I try both (repeatedly!). I was also working on a grant at the time and found long handwritten notes and edits that I made during each leg of the trip, faxing them back to my research team at the next hotel, this being before e-mail became widely available when traveling. When international local dial-ups became available on AOL a couple of years later, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven!

The one piece of pricing data I find from this era was my first trip to Saudi Arabia in 1989. It was in C-class, BOS-JFK-AMS (put up overnight in Kempinski Hotel with lots of meal money) -Dhahran mainly on KLM for $1260 with the return via London on British Caledonia (F) from DHA to LGW, limo to LHR and to BOS on BA in C for $1350. Pretty good value for money! British Caledonia certainly knew the needs of their customers, taking drink orders prior to take off and having my Bourbon delivered when the wheels were about 6" off the runway! It was also my first experience seeing Saudi women enter the plane covered head to toe in abaya and hijab, only to have these peeled away to reveal Fendi and Christian Dior by the time we landed.

seenitall

Ahh, yes. The concierge. CO also had these agents for international BF in the late '90s/early 2000s. They had little kiosk set up by the terminal entry door at EWR. The concierge requested your name, looked at your passport, then provided your BP and relieved you of your luggage -- which they then manhandled across the terminal to the belt. You were invited to relax at an uncrowded President's Club. The concierge then reappeared at the Club when boarding time approached and escorted you to the gate. And I believe last check-in time for BF passengers was reduced from 2 hours down to something like 45 minutes.

The good old days ....

PTahCha

The bento box is still around for NRT routes. However, just because you reserved it online or over the phone doesn't mean you'll get it, as the purser informed me that they didn't have a record of the special meal, and I should have called again to reconfirm.

Ahh yes, the carnation people. They wear yellow tie/scarf now.