Originally Posted by sbm12 (Post 25142111)

You're not crazy.

Some love it. Some don't mind it. Some hate it.

Originally Posted by idayvuelta (Post 25131356)

To be clear, one may (as I did for many years) choose to fly United for its frequent flyer program, its routes or its prices. But in terms of in flight experience, I think United comes up short against a great many in coach and business (in which frankly I think you have include United Global First). Of what I've flown lately:

-Virgin America, Jet Blue, Delta (int'l domestic) I think are all better experiences by a measurable amount than United. American needs to finish its merger and still has some old old old J flying around, but I think will end in a better place.

-Lufthansa - old J is a joke but otherwise it's a quality airline. Y is a little tight.

-British Airways - Perhaps not what it used to be but much more professional flight attendants, much much better J catering and seats, better lounges, Y and Y+ a little better. Austrian and Swiss are miles better.

-Turkish has wonderful food and good seats plus a great lounge in Istanbul.

-Pretty much all of the major asian carriers. SQ, JAL, ANA, Garuda, Cathay. Even aspects of Air China compared favorably (though it uses the Continental seat). In some cases (SQ and jokes aside, Malaysia) the service is wildly better in Y, J and F. I will never forget being in Y on a lightly-booked flight on Malaysia and being addressed by my last name the entire flight by the flight attendant. EVA distributes pijamas and serves Krug in business.

-For what they purport to be, I also have had good experiences in Y on the LCCs (AirAsia, Tiger, Jetstar). Professional crews, reasonable fares, reasonable costs for add-ons like extra seating.

-The Mideast carriers are controversial but by all means do a better job in flight in all classes (on the ground/customer service is another story).

-South African Airways has a very reasonable J product with good wines and decent seats.

Originally Posted by tyroner (Post 25142099)

Call me crazy but I really like the 757-200 when I fly to Dublin. It is cozy and the AVOD is good. The seats are fine and the bins are a decent size. In comparison to the 767 I occasionally get to LHR with looped video on a tiny screen and the overhead bins that are the stuff of stand up comedians, I say the 757-200 is perfectly adequate for TATL. Besides, it allows UA to offer more frequent service to DUB.

I remember a few years back, maybe 2011/2 I was flying DL to Dublin a lot and they had an ancient relic on the route. I think it was a 767 (please correct me if people remember). They bought it from some outfit in Florida perhaps and it was domestically configured and was missing mid cabin toilets. Again my memory isn't good, all I recall is that going back to the UA 757-200 was a dream in comparison.

Originally Posted by tuolumne (Post 25142347)

As for the actual topic, I can definitely see how a pax could find the 67I outdated in the back. Yes, the bins are ancient. Yes, the PTVs are ancient. And yes, in a perfect world this cabin should have had a complete makeover during IPTE. With that said, given the short flight distances to Europe, and given the comfortable seat and 2-3-2 arrangement, I still am OK with flying these planes.

Originally Posted by poisson (Post 25146182)

Any reason 747s are not used very much anymore?

I've never even been on a 747. I think it would be cool to fly on one.

Originally Posted by PsiFighter37 (Post 25146263)

The 744 is an old plane, and the 748 has been ordered by very few airlines because of poor economics of flying the plane. If you fly UA, the only way you'll catch one a ride will be on a TPAC flight. ....

Originally Posted by PsiFighter37 (Post 25146263)

I think once UA gets the 77W, they will retire the remaining 744s.

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA (Post 25146808)

744s are still used by UA on both TPAC & TATL

SFO-FRA/LHR/NRT/HKG/PVG/ICN
ORD-FRA/NRT/PVG/PEK

NRT<>HNL was using 744 until a few months ago.

probably missed one ...

Originally Posted by poisson (Post 25146952)

Those that have flown on a 747, are they more comfortable than the smaller 757 and 767?

Originally Posted by PsiFighter37 (Post 25147003)

I can't speak to Y - I've only flown J on it - but it's hard to beat the upper deck of a 744. I'd take that over any other J on United.

That said, I have heard those say that in Y, the 763s have the most comfortable seats in the back.

Originally Posted by halls120 (Post 25147016)

J on the upper deck of a 747 is the best business ride in the UA fleet, bar none.