Last edit by: Juventini
United to retire 747 by end of 2017
Current scheduled 747 routes
Currently 14 left, retirement plan as follows(updated Aug 2017):
N127UA Owned - Exit 15-Aug-17 Age 18.0
N181UA Lease -01-Nov-17 -Exit 15-Oct-17 Lease return Age 26.0
N117UA Owned - Exit 30-Oct-17 Age 18.8
N174UA Lease- 09-Dec-17 Exit 30-Oct-17 Lease return Age 27.8
N105UA Lease- 09-Dec-17 Exit 01-Nov-17 Lease return Age 23.4
N107UA Lease- 01-Jun-18 Exit 01-Nov-17 Lease return Age 19.2
N175UA Owned - Exit 01-Nov-17 Age 27.2
N116UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 18.9
N118UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 18.7
N128UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 17.5
N119UA Owned - Exit 20-Nov-17 Age 18.7
N121UA Owned - Exit 20-Nov-17 Age 18.6
N178UA Lease - 01-May-18 Exit 20-Nov-17 Lease return Age 27.1
N180UA Owned - 20-Nov-17 Age 26.3
See details at United Fleet Site.
Current scheduled 747 routes
Currently 14 left, retirement plan as follows(updated Aug 2017):
N127UA Owned - Exit 15-Aug-17 Age 18.0
N181UA Lease -01-Nov-17 -Exit 15-Oct-17 Lease return Age 26.0
N117UA Owned - Exit 30-Oct-17 Age 18.8
N174UA Lease- 09-Dec-17 Exit 30-Oct-17 Lease return Age 27.8
N105UA Lease- 09-Dec-17 Exit 01-Nov-17 Lease return Age 23.4
N107UA Lease- 01-Jun-18 Exit 01-Nov-17 Lease return Age 19.2
N175UA Owned - Exit 01-Nov-17 Age 27.2
N116UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 18.9
N118UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 18.7
N128UA Owned - Exit 10-Nov-17 Age 17.5
N119UA Owned - Exit 20-Nov-17 Age 18.7
N121UA Owned - Exit 20-Nov-17 Age 18.6
N178UA Lease - 01-May-18 Exit 20-Nov-17 Lease return Age 27.1
N180UA Owned - 20-Nov-17 Age 26.3
See details at United Fleet Site.
UA to pilots: We're considering retiring all 747s by end of 2018 (Phaseout EOY 2017).
#781
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,147
Ms747FC and I just returned from last duo of flights in 1AK. I was curious about the plans that the FAs had for themselves, so I polled them. The common plan seemed to be that either they would grab GF on a remaining non-747, or they would work economy. The opinion was voiced was that the J cabin is too crowded with demanding passengers.
#782
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Yeah, it's alot of work keeping up those smiles, answering the needs of the passengers and treating them with respect. You don't have to bother with any of that in Y. I'm not sure about crowding. It's more crowded in J than Y?
#784
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Shows you the extreme underachieving behavior that has plagued UA for many years now.
#785
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Yeah, I've seen their faces literally go from a smile to a frown as they cross into the Y cabin. And for someone in J who paid 4X the price, I think they deserve to have a higher expectation of service and a few more demands.
Now since I started this line of negativity and before we go too far off topic, I'll point out that I still believe that the number of FA's who behave this way is in the minority. Unfortunately we tend to remember the bad ones more than the good ones. A few bad eggs can spoil the batch. I've spoken to FA's and pilots (some unaware of my status or booked cabin) thank me and tell me that I pay for their pay check. FA's in Y that actually care to help people (no matter how clueless they are) and do it with a smile. The numbers might be different than the early days of the 747 though.
Now since I started this line of negativity and before we go too far off topic, I'll point out that I still believe that the number of FA's who behave this way is in the minority. Unfortunately we tend to remember the bad ones more than the good ones. A few bad eggs can spoil the batch. I've spoken to FA's and pilots (some unaware of my status or booked cabin) thank me and tell me that I pay for their pay check. FA's in Y that actually care to help people (no matter how clueless they are) and do it with a smile. The numbers might be different than the early days of the 747 though.
Last edited by eng3; Aug 22, 2017 at 2:59 pm
#787
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
It really comes down to the culture that's been going on inside of UA for years and years now - the customer is the enemy.
With that said I have had more FA's who genuinely enjoy their job and make each flight a great experience for everyone surrounding them, than FA's who couldn't care less about being there. I just feel I have to add that caveat, I mean I'm not trying to complain about FA's, I guess my overall point is they shouldn't complain about something they are paid to do for a job they themselves chose to do as a career.
#788
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA 1.6MM EXP; UA GS; SPG LTG,Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,477
"here primarily for your safety"
For some, the implication is that service is to be begrudged. I agree that's the minority, but that's not the point. It's a significant minority, and true in every class of service, F included; and is consistent across the carriers I am tied to (AA, UA, and to a surprising extent, BA)
For some, the implication is that service is to be begrudged. I agree that's the minority, but that's not the point. It's a significant minority, and true in every class of service, F included; and is consistent across the carriers I am tied to (AA, UA, and to a surprising extent, BA)
#789
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,147
The SFO-LHR-SFO crews seemed tired and lacking in any enthusiasm. They were not bad, but were not a good example of CS skill sets. One would think that GF cabins would be populated by the best of the best. (Yes, I know that seniority prevails). There was none of the formerly obligatory rounds about the GF cabin, thanking the 12 GF passengers for flying with UA. During the flights, there was little attention to the near-empty glass sitting besides me.
#790
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Portland OR
Programs: United 1K 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 560
I did so, good thought. I'm on board the delayed flight now (probably will be a bit behind the scheduled 10:30 departure), and backed up on the noon departure.
In the confusion and churn, a seat opened up on the upper deck 16A), and somehow I was able to snag it yesterday before control went back to the gate.
In the confusion and churn, a seat opened up on the upper deck 16A), and somehow I was able to snag it yesterday before control went back to the gate.
I retired from the 747 on 5th June with LHR-SFO in 13K (round trip P fare from PDX to LHR for $2509 , seat 15K on the outbound). I had another opportunity on FRA-SFO booked in Y by my company, but I've had zero upgrades on that route so took the LH A380 instead.
It was good to go to go out on a high. Now look forward. I'm flying my first Polaris 77W this Sunday , SFO-NRT.
#791
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seoul, Korea
Programs: UA Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 36
According to Flightradar24, N127UA is going from SFO to VCV as UA2779 at 1015 today.
#792
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South Wales, UK
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 693
Have a fare lock on a trip from NYC to PVG at the end of next month (30th returning 4th) via SFO and IAH on the rtn.
UA have kindly dropped the P fare by $300 in the last four days, (bookable before tomorrow). First trip on the 777-300 and my first PS flight followed by TPAC crossings in 16A and 16K. The handful of trips that I have done on the UD have been some of my most enjoyable. I will miss the 747's when they disappear.
Still R space and UD seats up for grabs both outward and rtn for anyone who fancies using a couple of GPU's.
UA have kindly dropped the P fare by $300 in the last four days, (bookable before tomorrow). First trip on the 777-300 and my first PS flight followed by TPAC crossings in 16A and 16K. The handful of trips that I have done on the UD have been some of my most enjoyable. I will miss the 747's when they disappear.
Still R space and UD seats up for grabs both outward and rtn for anyone who fancies using a couple of GPU's.