United to Hawaii in First Class - What to Expect? (Archive)
Apr 28, 2019, 7:43 pm
#391
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 6
ORD-HNL r/t in April 2020
Greetings,
My wife and I are going on a long delayed trip to HNL in April 2020, using award travel which we have been saving miles for years to do.
Some questions:
1) Are we best off booking one-way tix, to ensure we can get in first the days we want (since return will be 10-11 days after departure)?
2) Seating-in looking at a seating chart on UA for March 2020 flights, it looks like some rows face backwards. Am I correct that the < points the direction you are facing (aka 2AB face forward, 3AB backwards)?
If there are any recent pictures, tips, etc, that would help would be greatly appreciated.... I've seen various 777 FC pictures, but not sure what is current for the ORD-HNL r/t.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin
My wife and I are going on a long delayed trip to HNL in April 2020, using award travel which we have been saving miles for years to do.
Some questions:
1) Are we best off booking one-way tix, to ensure we can get in first the days we want (since return will be 10-11 days after departure)?
2) Seating-in looking at a seating chart on UA for March 2020 flights, it looks like some rows face backwards. Am I correct that the < points the direction you are facing (aka 2AB face forward, 3AB backwards)?
If there are any recent pictures, tips, etc, that would help would be greatly appreciated.... I've seen various 777 FC pictures, but not sure what is current for the ORD-HNL r/t.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin
Apr 28, 2019, 8:02 pm
#392
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,334
Greetings,
My wife and I are going on a long delayed trip to HNL in April 2020, using award travel which we have been saving miles for years to do.
Some questions:
1) Are we best off booking one-way tix, to ensure we can get in first the days we want (since return will be 10-11 days after departure)?
2) Seating-in looking at a seating chart on UA for March 2020 flights, it looks like some rows face backwards. Am I correct that the < points the direction you are facing (aka 2AB face forward, 3AB backwards)?
If there are any recent pictures, tips, etc, that would help would be greatly appreciated.... I've seen various 777 FC pictures, but not sure what is current for the ORD-HNL r/t.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin
My wife and I are going on a long delayed trip to HNL in April 2020, using award travel which we have been saving miles for years to do.
Some questions:
1) Are we best off booking one-way tix, to ensure we can get in first the days we want (since return will be 10-11 days after departure)?
2) Seating-in looking at a seating chart on UA for March 2020 flights, it looks like some rows face backwards. Am I correct that the < points the direction you are facing (aka 2AB face forward, 3AB backwards)?
If there are any recent pictures, tips, etc, that would help would be greatly appreciated.... I've seen various 777 FC pictures, but not sure what is current for the ORD-HNL r/t.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin
That route is currently flown with the 772 v4, which yes, has some rear-facing lay-flat seats: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...efault.aspx#v4
The rear facing seats aren't as bad as it may sound, except maybe 3B and 3K where the economy passengers are likely to stare at you (through the curtain).
These are some of the oldest 777 planes in the fleet with some dating back to 1995.
Added: since your travel is that far into the future, it may well be that this plane's configuration won't be the one that you actually fly on. There's a lot of changes going on right now with retrofitting older 777-200 with the new Polaris seats.
Last edited by narvik; Apr 28, 2019 at 8:13 pm
Apr 28, 2019, 8:23 pm
#393
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
Greetings,
My wife and I are going on a long delayed trip to HNL in April 2020, using award travel which we have been saving miles for years to do.
Some questions:
1) Are we best off booking one-way tix, to ensure we can get in first the days we want (since return will be 10-11 days after departure)?
2) Seating-in looking at a seating chart on UA for March 2020 flights, it looks like some rows face backwards. Am I correct that the < points the direction you are facing (aka 2AB face forward, 3AB backwards)?
If there are any recent pictures, tips, etc, that would help would be greatly appreciated.... I've seen various 777 FC pictures, but not sure what is current for the ORD-HNL r/t.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin
My wife and I are going on a long delayed trip to HNL in April 2020, using award travel which we have been saving miles for years to do.
Some questions:
1) Are we best off booking one-way tix, to ensure we can get in first the days we want (since return will be 10-11 days after departure)?
2) Seating-in looking at a seating chart on UA for March 2020 flights, it looks like some rows face backwards. Am I correct that the < points the direction you are facing (aka 2AB face forward, 3AB backwards)?
If there are any recent pictures, tips, etc, that would help would be greatly appreciated.... I've seen various 777 FC pictures, but not sure what is current for the ORD-HNL r/t.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin
2) You are correct. It’s the pre-merger UA long haul config on the Boeing 777. Economy is pretty awful with 10 seats across. No premium economy to my knowledge. It’s a high density config. As a couple, little downside if you book the side in United First as in 2AB. 2A has to crawl over 2B if 2B is sleeping. Even though those seats face the next row, the divider is pretty high so you’re not staring at the next row - a little bit diagonally but it’s not weird. There’s no better UA config between O’Hare and Hawaii. Some people call these seats ‘coffins’ but they’re darn good for those of us that are 6’3”.
3) Enjoy your onboard Mai Tai!
Apr 28, 2019, 8:27 pm
#394
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
....
My wife and I are going on a long delayed trip to HNL in April 2020, using award travel which we have been saving miles for years to do.
Some questions:
1) Are we best off booking one-way tix, to ensure we can get in first the days we want (since return will be 10-11 days after departure)? ...
My wife and I are going on a long delayed trip to HNL in April 2020, using award travel which we have been saving miles for years to do.
Some questions:
1) Are we best off booking one-way tix, to ensure we can get in first the days we want (since return will be 10-11 days after departure)? ...
Another issue is the award system has changed for flights starting Nov 15, 2019. COnsequences of the changes are still being digested
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...ore-chart.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...e.htmlOpinions are mixed on the backwards facing seats. So like them since you head is slightly higher when in the lie-flat position but does mean you may be looking at a passenger cross the aisle -- did bother me, does bother others. Same with the some forward facing seats. This one of the reasons for the new version of lie-flats.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 28, 2019 at 8:33 pm
Apr 28, 2019, 8:51 pm
#395
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,334
What's the life-expectancy for UA for the 777-200? 30 years?
Apr 28, 2019, 8:59 pm
#396
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
Apr 28, 2019, 9:03 pm
#397
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
UA Creating High-Density 777 Domestic Subfleet
Many of the A320s and 752 are even older.
Apr 28, 2019, 9:03 pm
#398
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
Was wondering too. When UA introduced flatbeds (~15 years ago?), Hawaii flights were relegated to the old huge recliners (7 across in the Trip Sev) with the 155 degree recline - (did not dislike those...) Now that there’s Polaris, Hawaii is the old flatbeds. I’m wondering if O’Hare-Hawaii is a strategic ‘graveyard’ of otherwise retired configs? So I’m ORD based. LHR & FRA run $5-15K upfront r/t. HNL & OGG rarely more than $2,500 and it’s just as far as EU on same machine.
Apr 28, 2019, 9:10 pm
#399
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
Remember - 1 ticket = 1 change fee when needed. So 2 tickets mean 2 change fee.
Yes.
Apr 28, 2019, 9:14 pm
#400
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,334
Cheers.
I completely forgot that -as a 1K- we do still have SOME good benefits!
May 1, 2019, 6:33 pm
#401
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 6
thank you
Thanks for the responses. I should be able to get a seat as long as they aren't sold as I have a chase MP card.
On the change fees, if it came to that - I've got trip insurance, so I'm not concerned.
I am aware that aircraft equipment and configs can change....its the nature of the beast...
Thanks again!
Kevin
On the change fees, if it came to that - I've got trip insurance, so I'm not concerned.
I am aware that aircraft equipment and configs can change....its the nature of the beast...
Thanks again!
Kevin
May 1, 2019, 6:52 pm
#402
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Was wondering too. When UA introduced flatbeds (~15 years ago?), Hawaii flights were relegated to the old huge recliners (7 across in the Trip Sev) with the 155 degree recline - (did not dislike those...) Now that there’s Polaris, Hawaii is the old flatbeds. I’m wondering if O’Hare-Hawaii is a strategic ‘graveyard’ of otherwise retired configs? So I’m ORD based. LHR & FRA run $5-15K upfront r/t. HNL & OGG rarely more than $2,500 and it’s just as far as EU on same machine.
https://frequentlyflying.boardingare...-747-100-1998/
Here's video of what it was like in the 70s when it was 'new.' Cute (but not decadent) meal service and man that's tight for a 10 hour flight in first.
May 2, 2019, 10:36 am
#403
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,189
It was that way even in the 90s - they ran the 747-100s with super dense configs on ORD-HNL - packs em even tighter than the 772 today - first was closer to regular domestic first pitch
https://frequentlyflying.boardingare...-747-100-1998/
Here's video of what it was like in the 70s when it was 'new.' Cute (but not decadent) meal service and man that's tight for a 10 hour flight in first.
https://youtu.be/VBUatj4gTvk?t=2319
https://frequentlyflying.boardingare...-747-100-1998/
Here's video of what it was like in the 70s when it was 'new.' Cute (but not decadent) meal service and man that's tight for a 10 hour flight in first.
https://youtu.be/VBUatj4gTvk?t=2319
May 2, 2019, 12:51 pm
#404
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
Programs: UA GS 1.6MM UC | AA CK 0.7MM AC | Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist | Hertz PC
Posts: 1,052
I remember "connoisseur class" on the 747 in the nose of the aircraft with a very difficult to operate barcalounger seat from when I was a kid on UA1/2 ORD <> HNL. I remember the donuts in the RCC even more fondly though.
Jun 29, 2019, 3:19 pm
#405
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
Any recent experience with IAD-HNL catering in F?