Jun 8, 2021, 10:33 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is United Pilot Q & A thread
United Pilot Q & A {Archive}
Mar 7, 2019, 9:38 pm
#6706
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
I flew LHR-EWR about a month ago on the 764 and the pilots were based out of IAD (and the crew LHR) — thought it a little odd to have an IAD flight crew fly into EWR (and then presumably have to deadhead back to IAD), especially since I guess there should be way more 757/67 pilots based in EWR than IAD.
I had a friend who was a UA FA and I think she flew EWR-NRT-DEN-NRT-EWR a lot (iirc). Not 100% sure pilots do this too because I think in this case it was because DEN didn't have enough Japanese language speaker FAs.
It's also possible they'd dead-head back to IAD after, of course. Could have asked!
Mar 7, 2019, 9:46 pm
#6707
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: EWR, BDL
Posts: 4,471
I think there are a lot of "M"-shaped trips. Like IAD-LHR-EWR-LHR-IAD (with overnight layovers, of course).
I had a friend who was a UA FA and I think she flew EWR-NRT-DEN-NRT-EWR a lot (iirc). Not 100% sure pilots do this too because I think in this case it was because DEN didn't have enough Japanese language speaker FAs.
It's also possible they'd dead-head back to IAD after, of course. Could have asked!
I had a friend who was a UA FA and I think she flew EWR-NRT-DEN-NRT-EWR a lot (iirc). Not 100% sure pilots do this too because I think in this case it was because DEN didn't have enough Japanese language speaker FAs.
It's also possible they'd dead-head back to IAD after, of course. Could have asked!
Mar 7, 2019, 11:18 pm
#6708
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 843
I flew LHR-EWR about a month ago on the 764 and the pilots were based out of IAD (and the crew LHR) — thought it a little odd to have an IAD flight crew fly into EWR (and then presumably have to deadhead back to IAD), especially since I guess there should be way more 757/67 pilots based in EWR than IAD. Also presumably the pilots were sUA, so was interesting to have an all-UA crew on a CO plane.
Mar 7, 2019, 11:31 pm
#6709
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Latin America and USA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold
Posts: 456
I remember the first time I saw a 747 as a small child at Stapleton airport in Denver many years ago, and I asked my dad if they really had an upstairs and if we could try it out. He laughed and said maybe one day when you can pay for it yourself. Fast forward almost 3 decades later to 2017 when I took my final United 747 flight. I scored an upgrade on ICN-SFO, and finally got to fly on the top deck. I was so excited to finally enjoy my childhood dream.
I couldn't help myself - I knocked on the cockpit door while we were still at the gate in ICN. I said "excuse me gentlemen, I'm sorry, I do realize I'm a grown man, but it's been my dream to be on the top deck for years. Could I get a picture with you guys?" They all chuckled and smiled, and the Captain said "it was my dream for years too. How about you take my seat and I'll take your picture?" Then he let me sit in the Captain's chair and snapped a picture with my phone.
The was my final 747 flight before Untied retired them. I'll never forget it. What a cool group of aviators!
Last edited by IMissThe747; Mar 7, 2019 at 11:32 pm Reason: accuracy
Mar 8, 2019, 3:17 am
#6710
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,042
I f
Also about halfway through the flight a pilot came on the PA and announced "flight attendants please check in", and repeated that again about 5 minutes later. Same announcement happened ~30 minutes after that as well — so what does "checking in" mean, and why would such an announcement be made? Have never heard that one before in any of my flights.
Also about halfway through the flight a pilot came on the PA and announced "flight attendants please check in", and repeated that again about 5 minutes later. Same announcement happened ~30 minutes after that as well — so what does "checking in" mean, and why would such an announcement be made? Have never heard that one before in any of my flights.
Mar 8, 2019, 5:47 am
#6711
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
Mar 8, 2019, 7:47 am
#6712
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,452
I flew LHR-EWR about a month ago on the 764 and the pilots were based out of IAD (and the crew LHR) — thought it a little odd to have an IAD flight crew fly into EWR (and then presumably have to deadhead back to IAD), especially since I guess there should be way more 757/67 pilots based in EWR than IAD. Also presumably the pilots were sUA, so was interesting to have an all-UA crew on a CO plane.
Mar 8, 2019, 8:45 am
#6713
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,184
Widebody schedules change seasonally. It is easier to temporarily move some flying from one domicile to another than it is to transfer pilots back and forth every few months.
Also about halfway through the flight a pilot came on the PA and announced "flight attendants please check in"
Mar 8, 2019, 9:15 am
#6714
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
OP said it was a smooth flight, but I don't think that rules out the above explanation. The flight might have passed through an area where turbulence had been reported, so the captain advised the FAs to take their seats. The check-in afterwards is probably a required part of the procedure even if the plane didn't actually encounter turbulence.
Mar 13, 2019, 1:46 pm
#6715
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,291
Do any of the pilots on here fly the MAX?
Mar 13, 2019, 2:24 pm
#6716
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,351
Mar 13, 2019, 2:41 pm
#6717
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
Following up on that, do pilots see a distinction between the -8 and the longer -9? United is apparently making a point in the media that they're the only domestic carrier not flying the -8, the -8 being the aircraft involved in both crashes.
Apr 17, 2019, 8:03 pm
#6718
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,042
How often do flights get delayed due to clogged toilets?
Apr 17, 2019, 8:09 pm
#6719
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,184
May 31, 2019, 10:46 pm
#6720
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,291
Seen it posted here before but never experienced it until today. Captain gave all of the F passengers his business card with a personalized note. And the card had his Twitter handle. He also used the FA intercom in the cabin to tell us about a ground stop delay, which turned out to only be an hour but he let people get off in the terminal. I didn't because I scored a rare upgrade as a Gold and wanted to enjoy my PDB. It was an awesome crew and flight and I didn't even think about the minor delay.