Outdated planes
Jul 19, 2015 | 8:50 pm
#91
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,324
As for the actual topic, I can definitely see how a pax could find the 67I outdated in the back.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.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 19, 2015 at 9:43 pm Reason: Updated Quote to reflect Mod edit;Discuss the issues, not the posters
Jul 19, 2015 | 10:02 pm
#92
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
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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.
-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.
Jul 19, 2015 | 10:40 pm
#93
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 723
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.
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.
Jul 20, 2015 | 7:41 am
#94
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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.
Jul 20, 2015 | 3:38 pm
#96
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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. I think once UA gets the 77W, they will retire the remaining 744s.
Jul 20, 2015 | 5:31 pm
#97
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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. ....
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 ...
Jul 20, 2015 | 5:58 pm
#98
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As WineCountryUA already pointed out, you could fly a UA 744 to Europe tomorrow (SFO-LHR and SFO-FRA).
Jul 20, 2015 | 6:03 pm
#99
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I've flown it PEK-SFO and NRT-HNL on UA. I missed the TATL ones because I'm based in NYC...don't get to enjoy them from this part of the country.
Jul 20, 2015 | 6:25 pm
#101
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That said, I have heard those say that in Y, the 763s have the most comfortable seats in the back.
Jul 20, 2015 | 6:28 pm
#102
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J on the upper deck of a 747 is the best business ride in the UA fleet, bar none. And Y on the 763s is the best Y in the fleet, seat comfort wise.
Jul 20, 2015 | 7:14 pm
#105
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