United to Hawaii in First Class - What to Expect? (Archive)
Jan 27, 2018, 5:00 pm
#256
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,418
If you can get the DL 330, that's a better hard product than anything UA flies to Hawaii. Service on DL to Hawaii is equally inconsistent as UA IMO. These are routes that draw the more senior crews, and some of them are just phoning it in (both airlines).
Jan 27, 2018, 5:43 pm
#257
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 226
Flew that IAD/HNL route a couple of weeks ago. Grimmest Polaris yet but did have lie lie flat and movies. Food bad, snacks not passed. Am in HNL United Club waitingfor return. Eat elsewhere. Bowls of liquidy chicken salad and egg salad sitting on melted ice. Picked over cheese cubes. Salad. Ate a roll.
Jan 27, 2018, 6:20 pm
#258
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,189
I flew DEN-HNL in paid F on Dec 22 and the meal was either pizza (as shown above) or a burger, tropical fruit cup, and cheesecake. They did at least plate everything and the seat was lie-flat but the experience really wasn't worth the price differential from Y.
Jan 27, 2018, 6:25 pm
#259
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,418
With domestic F these days, 95% of what you're paying for is the seat. If they serve something edible, that's a bonus.
Jan 27, 2018, 6:59 pm
#260
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,000
it shows as First during the booking process and it says First on your ticket. Looks like you assumed you were in Polaris. When you fly Polaris, you’ll actually see “Polaris” on your ticket.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Jan 27, 2018 at 11:05 pm
Jan 27, 2018, 7:01 pm
#261
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,189
Yeah, I know it's the DEN catering issue, just reinforcing the point that he probably doesn't want to go via DEN. I'm heading back home in a few weeks and chose to book through LAX instead of DEN on the way out to avoid the DEN catering. I really dislike LAX but the DEN catering issue really turned me off. The mediocre teriyaki chicken and rice they used to serve in Y 15 years ago was better (IMO) than that burger.
Jan 28, 2018, 7:43 pm
#262
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wichita
Posts: 628
On Easter Sunday 1985, my wife and I flew from DEN to HNL on a UA DC-10 in coach.
There was a large tropical flower arrangement on a lip extending out of the bulkhead in coach below where they pulled down the screen. All of the FA's were in special Hawaii uniforms.
There was a choice of three very good entrees in coach shortly after takeoff. There was a buffet set up near the rear galley. There was a second snack (I want to say hoagies) about an hour before landing. Every single FA was polite and attentive. The seat pitch in Y then was approximately what first class is today.
It costs UA no more to have polite crews. The $350 OW fare then = $799 now (checked a cost of living calculator). Just did a scan of one-way prices for next Sunday (same day of the week) and they averaged $1,210. Obviously, that is a higher yield (with more seats compressed into each cubic yard) than in 1985.
So, I am having a hard time understanding all of the rationalizing for why UA has let its mainland to Hawaii service go to hell.
There was a large tropical flower arrangement on a lip extending out of the bulkhead in coach below where they pulled down the screen. All of the FA's were in special Hawaii uniforms.
There was a choice of three very good entrees in coach shortly after takeoff. There was a buffet set up near the rear galley. There was a second snack (I want to say hoagies) about an hour before landing. Every single FA was polite and attentive. The seat pitch in Y then was approximately what first class is today.
It costs UA no more to have polite crews. The $350 OW fare then = $799 now (checked a cost of living calculator). Just did a scan of one-way prices for next Sunday (same day of the week) and they averaged $1,210. Obviously, that is a higher yield (with more seats compressed into each cubic yard) than in 1985.
So, I am having a hard time understanding all of the rationalizing for why UA has let its mainland to Hawaii service go to hell.
Last edited by KansasMike; Jan 28, 2018 at 8:08 pm
Jan 28, 2018, 7:45 pm
#263
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
On Easter Sunday 1985, my wife and I flew from DEN to HNL on a UA DC-10 in coach.
There was a large tropical flower arrangement on a lip extending out of the bulkhead in coach below where they pulled down the screen. All of the FA's were in special Hawaii uniforms.
There was a choice of three very good entrees in coach shortly after takeoff. There was a buffet set up near the rear galley. There was a second snack (I want to say hoagies) about an hour before landing. Every single FA was polite and attentive. The seat pitch in Y then was approximately what first class is today.
It costs UA no more to have polite crews. The $350 OW fare then = $799 now (checked a cost of living calculator). Just did a scan of one-way prices for next Sunday (same day of the week) and they averaged $1,210. Obviously, that is a higher yield (with more seats compressed into each cubic yard) than in 1985. So, I am having a hard time understanding all of the rationalizing for why UA has let its mainland to Hawaii service to to hell.
There was a large tropical flower arrangement on a lip extending out of the bulkhead in coach below where they pulled down the screen. All of the FA's were in special Hawaii uniforms.
There was a choice of three very good entrees in coach shortly after takeoff. There was a buffet set up near the rear galley. There was a second snack (I want to say hoagies) about an hour before landing. Every single FA was polite and attentive. The seat pitch in Y then was approximately what first class is today.
It costs UA no more to have polite crews. The $350 OW fare then = $799 now (checked a cost of living calculator). Just did a scan of one-way prices for next Sunday (same day of the week) and they averaged $1,210. Obviously, that is a higher yield (with more seats compressed into each cubic yard) than in 1985. So, I am having a hard time understanding all of the rationalizing for why UA has let its mainland to Hawaii service to to hell.
Jan 28, 2018, 7:53 pm
#264
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wichita
Posts: 628
That's not correct either. According to https://inflationdata.com/Inflation/...ices_Table.asp a barrel of oil in 1985 cost $61.26 in today's dollars. Friday's close for West Texas crude was $66.15bbl.
Flight attendants made more in real dollars and much more in inflation-adjusted dollars than today.
Neither are explanations. Again, with seats crammed together, the yield per flight is much higher than it was in 1985.
Flight attendants made more in real dollars and much more in inflation-adjusted dollars than today.
Neither are explanations. Again, with seats crammed together, the yield per flight is much higher than it was in 1985.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 28, 2018 at 9:43 pm Reason: repaired quote
Jan 28, 2018, 10:37 pm
#265
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I can often be 20 or more on the first class waitlist HNL-SFO as a 1K - in the "good old days" even gold always got a upgrade - I fly the route - or near weekly and the planes are full. UA domestically Hawaii/Mainland dominates the Hawaii market including Hawaiian Airlines
Jan 28, 2018, 11:45 pm
#266
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: United GS+
Posts: 1,889
Perhaps because the flights often go completely full with 7+ years of record tourism in Hawaii.
I can often be 20 or more on the first class waitlist HNL-SFO as a 1K - in the "good old days" even gold always got a upgrade - I fly the route - or near weekly and the planes are full. UA domestically Hawaii/Mainland dominates the Hawaii market including Hawaiian Airlines
I can often be 20 or more on the first class waitlist HNL-SFO as a 1K - in the "good old days" even gold always got a upgrade - I fly the route - or near weekly and the planes are full. UA domestically Hawaii/Mainland dominates the Hawaii market including Hawaiian Airlines
Jan 29, 2018, 3:23 am
#267
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,866
In 1990 from IAH-HNL the 747 had a chef. By 1999 they were serving cava instead of French champagne with lower quality food. Today - forget it.
Jan 29, 2018, 6:19 am
#268
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 1,289
Agreed. West coast to OGG or KOA are the most difficult flights for me to clear as a GS, even with instruments applied 2+ weeks in advance. SFO-KOA was the first upgrade I didn't clear in several years. The days of upgrades to Hawaii being easy are long gone. Note that I fly west coast to LHR often on peak days, and have never not cleared that route.
Used to clear my OGG flights all the time. Now I buy first if I want to make sure I get it.
Jan 29, 2018, 3:06 pm
#269
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wichita
Posts: 628
Completely full flights from the mainland to Hawaii is good news for United. It also explains why it is tough to get upgrades.
But, I will state -- again -- that this does not explain the incredible deterioration in the quality of United's soft product in coach and first class. If anything, completely full flights is a counter- explanation.
Of course, it is United's decision how it wishes to run its business. What is so surprising to me is the amount of rationalization pertaining to United slapping its customers in the face.
But, I will state -- again -- that this does not explain the incredible deterioration in the quality of United's soft product in coach and first class. If anything, completely full flights is a counter- explanation.
Of course, it is United's decision how it wishes to run its business. What is so surprising to me is the amount of rationalization pertaining to United slapping its customers in the face.
Perhaps because the flights often go completely full with 7+ years of record tourism in Hawaii.
I can often be 20 or more on the first class waitlist HNL-SFO as a 1K - in the "good old days" even gold always got a upgrade - I fly the route - or near weekly and the planes are full. UA domestically Hawaii/Mainland dominates the Hawaii market including Hawaiian Airlines
I can often be 20 or more on the first class waitlist HNL-SFO as a 1K - in the "good old days" even gold always got a upgrade - I fly the route - or near weekly and the planes are full. UA domestically Hawaii/Mainland dominates the Hawaii market including Hawaiian Airlines
Jan 29, 2018, 5:00 pm
#270
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,392
It costs UA no more to have polite crews. The $350 OW fare then = $799 now (checked a cost of living calculator). Just did a scan of one-way prices for next Sunday (same day of the week) and they averaged $1,210. Obviously, that is a higher yield (with more seats compressed into each cubic yard) than in 1985.