UA Orders Boeing 777-300ERs / 77Ws w/ 1-2-1 Polaris Business, 3-4-3 Economy
 

as per Bloomberg

Other than getting a significant discount to keep 777 production until the 777X rolls around, the article notes that the 300ERs could replace other long-haul aircraft. [speculatopn] Perhaps this could be another sign of the end of the 747? [/speculation]

I thought UA said they weren't interested in ordering any additional 777s, as they were "old technology."

Well, yeah, they want to get 77W aircraft by replaced the 744 aircraft. I think it's time to retired the entire 744 aircraft. Long overdue!!!

Let the speculation begin: Will they be 2-class or 3-class? :D

take a look at AC's 77HD configuration for a clue as to how they will be crammed with seats.
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Air...ER_77W_new.php

This may be the beginning of the end for the 744s, but more immediately will provide a path for phasing out the older 772s. UA was the launch customer for the type. With an average lifespan of about 25 years on an airframe(Yes, I know we actually count cycles but work with me here), some of those first planes are about due for their trip to VCV.

If we're not going to be flying 744s on routes like SFO<->SYD anymore, I'd like to see the 772s currently doing those trips replaced w/ these new 773s.

(Although given the choice, I'm sure SMI/J would just as soon bring back the DC-6).

But note that Airbus is still after UA's heart. It intends to figure out a way to squeeze 20 more seats into the 350-1000 model -- the one that UA has ordered.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-0...tml?cmpid=yhoo

United also holds orders for 35 A350-1000 jetliners, an Airbus model sized to directly compete with the largest 777. Toulouse, France-based Airbus said this month it would aim to squeeze 20 more seats into the jet for a total of 389 in a bid to boost sales.

10 years late... I wonder if these will be as short lived as the 762s.

Was there ever a commercial or advertising materials with the 777 that was a play on Vegas slot machines?
I've always had this image/memory in the back of my mind flying when I was a kid (which would coordinate with the 1995 launch) at some point and something about the new "lucky 7s" plane.

Which as 17" of width, and 31" of pitch, is no different than the 747, correct? Not saying I like it, but it wouldn't really be a change from that perspective.

heck no. these birds would be prime for UA or any major airline. Your operating costs are similar to the 772. Just like you have the 752/753.

2-2-2/1-2-1 in Business still beats 2-4-2 on UA's 772

I wouldn't be surprised if Boeing would also try to increase the order for the 787-10 from United as opposed to a 77W order. Considering the A350-1000 order was 35 with options for 40 more airframes, I think they would push for that.

Seat configuration is another story...

Wait, wait a minute. Did I read this right? United will order ten 77Ws? Not ten 777X?Wouldn't have been shocked if this was an order for ten 777-9X to cover LAX-SYD, SFO-PVG, SFO-HKG, etc. This is quite surprising. Guess $misek wants to dump the 747s as soon as possible. There are ten 747s delivered before 1997. Assuming no F Class and ten abreast Y class, these planes could all be delivered before the first A350-1000 appears in late 2018, that is assuming no delays. With this order, this pretty much guarantees the 777-9X will be appearing eventually in United's fleet. Question is whether the 1-2-1 BusinessFirst seat will be available in time. As previous threads alluded to, I expect the new seat to resemble Qatar's new business class on their Dreamliners, A350s, and A380s, which would give United a slight advantage over American and Delta.

Some thoughts on configuration:

I can't see UA putting F on these - they're doing everything they can to become a two cabin carrier. I assume they'll stick with the decade-old lie-flat BusinessFirst product, although the recent BF research invites point to a new product coming eventually. Y cabin will be 3-4-3 17" slimlines for sure. I'd guess 32" in E- and 35" in E+ like the 787s.

Zone 1 (doors 1-2): 3 rows of J, maybe 4 rows depending on galley config.

Zone 2 (doors 2-3): Remaining 6-7 rows of J plus 3-5 rows of Y depending on galley config. Not sure if it would be E+, might be too pinched and force a little E- cabin.

Zone 3 (doors 3-4): 10 rows of E+, 3 rows of E-.

Zone 4 (doors 4-5): 13-14 rows of E- depending on lav config.

54-60 J, 100-150 E+, and 156-216 E- for a total of ~370 seats.

Good point, this is a stretch, not the baby of the family, so the economics may not be so grim. But they're going to get these a couple years before the 10+% better 777X arrives, which could leave them in a real pinch if the price oil spikes again.