UA CFO Rainey on Bloomberg: Global First "Effectively the Same" as J
Sep 9, 2014, 8:12 am
#271
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Same can be said of J and F. Who would be happy being cramped in a tiny cubicle in a plastic/aluminum tube for 12 hours with insufficient oxygen.
The point being that ...the original statement "most people are perfectly happy in J" only makes sense in the context of other options.
People are "happy" in J only in the context of not being able to afford or not wanting to pay a lot extra for GF. Just like people choose to sit in Y because they don't want to pay for J.
The assertions in this thread that there is no reason to fly GF or that the seats are almost the same, or that J is perfectly fine are nonsense. Everybody would pick UA GF over UA J if they could afford it.
The issue is not whether UA GF is better than UA J. The issue is that UA GF is no longer competitive when for the same price there are much better options for F on LH, NH, CX, EK, etc.
(And if we're really honest 90% of the people currently flying J would be "perfectly happy" in Y if they were paying for the ticket with their own money rather than OPM.)
The point being that ...the original statement "most people are perfectly happy in J" only makes sense in the context of other options.
People are "happy" in J only in the context of not being able to afford or not wanting to pay a lot extra for GF. Just like people choose to sit in Y because they don't want to pay for J.
The assertions in this thread that there is no reason to fly GF or that the seats are almost the same, or that J is perfectly fine are nonsense. Everybody would pick UA GF over UA J if they could afford it.
The issue is not whether UA GF is better than UA J. The issue is that UA GF is no longer competitive when for the same price there are much better options for F on LH, NH, CX, EK, etc.
(And if we're really honest 90% of the people currently flying J would be "perfectly happy" in Y if they were paying for the ticket with their own money rather than OPM.)
Feb 24, 2015, 1:45 am
#272
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He is correct. There are a lot of people on FT who remember the old days of international first class and want those days back - but it ain't happening. As a good FTer I would rather have more BF seats on the plane in order to increase my upgrade chances. Screw GF. Anyone who is going to pay for GF isn't going to fly a US airline anyway.
1) I remember International First from 20 or more years ago. In many cases not as good as International Business now. No lie flat seats. I remember the first time I encountered a lie flat seat was in the early 90s on SQ and they had just introduced them.
IMO, the reason that First and Business are not all that much different is not that First has deteriorated, but rather that Business has become much better. Lie flat seats for Business? Unheard of 10 or 20 years ago.
2) I can't comment on the difference in food because a) I don't each much and b) none of it is all that great. But there is a significant difference in seats. More length (my feet are always pushing against the wall in front of me in business), more width (for some of us that's important), mattress pad (not much but it helps), more storage at seat level, etc.
Feb 24, 2015, 7:30 am
#274
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 217
All you have to do is stand between GF and UA 2-4-2 business class on a 777 and there is a huge difference. When you look back from GF and see four men in the 4 across - it looks like 4 men in a king sized bed. UA GF is a decent seat - although not as good as some other international carriers.
The BF product, from CO, is good, but the density only gives you a small cubby hole for your feet. Again - not similar to GF.
What Rainey should be saying is that UA does not have the demand to justify a separate First product, but that UA is planning to introduce a new business class with all seats having aisle access (similar to AA's new J products).
The BF product, from CO, is good, but the density only gives you a small cubby hole for your feet. Again - not similar to GF.
What Rainey should be saying is that UA does not have the demand to justify a separate First product, but that UA is planning to introduce a new business class with all seats having aisle access (similar to AA's new J products).
Feb 24, 2015, 11:04 am
#277
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Feb 24, 2015, 11:09 am
#278
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BF good enough for me
There's no point in defending Global F. It is as good as dead. BF is the new F, and there's no point in arguing it when you are not flying on OPM. I cannot even defend the cost of BF from a personal expense standpoint. Seriously--- $5-7K for an international flight versus a new 80 inch 4K widescreen and still get there in Y?
Best value in the air is a Y ticket to Asia--- $1000 plus or minus a few hundred. I wish my employer would pay me 1/2 the difference between Y and C. 8 trips a year and I'd be driving a nice old Porsche on weekend!
Best value in the air is a Y ticket to Asia--- $1000 plus or minus a few hundred. I wish my employer would pay me 1/2 the difference between Y and C. 8 trips a year and I'd be driving a nice old Porsche on weekend!
Feb 24, 2015, 11:10 am
#279
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The corporate culture at UA must really encourage sarcastic wit. Rainey-- the guy who brought us "over-entitled" into the FT lexicon!!
Feb 24, 2015, 11:13 am
#280
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No way. There is NO ONE perfectly happy on a 14 hour flight in Y. Can you sit in a chair-- 17" wide, with a seatback nearly in your face at home for that long? Perfectly Happy..... more like grudgingly tolerant.
Feb 24, 2015, 2:12 pm
#281
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But Y fliers are perfectly happy with the money they are saving.
Feb 24, 2015, 2:25 pm
#283
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Ive got two petite assistants who are perfectly comfortable in Y unlike LardButt Boss. I think precious few sit for a full 14 hour flight.
Feb 24, 2015, 7:13 pm
#285
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I like to go to the club and get a quick workout in every few hours. The pool and sauna are awesome. There is a VERY serious lack of standing room other than in aft pass through on 744. Exit row upper deck is like a tiny office from port to starboard.
Back on topic-- flying in Y sucks period. Greyhound busses have more seating room.