what did United 5-across narrowbody coach (circa 1971) seating look like?
 

what did United 5-across narrobody coach seating look like? was it 2-3?

Thanks!

Well, it wasn't 1-4 and there weren't two aisles, so... ;)

I believe this was a short-lived experiment in which some 720s and DC-8s, maybe 727s, were in a single-class configuration that was a hybrid F/Y.

UA had a lot of different configurations in the CAB days. After it ditched the hybrid F/Y product, it launched the first three-cabin service with first, "club" and economy class. UA also had a high-density one-class 727 configuration on its "California Commuter" service and even added extra (entirely unnecessary) 'hat rack' doors forward of the wing for the higher seat counts.

http://departedwings.com/The%20Airports/SBA/N7623U.jpg

so it wasn't like 2-2-1 or 2-1-2 like the first class on 767s? :)

It's a fair question. I have seen seat maps of jets configured 3-3 in Y where the middle seat was an inch wider.

The CSeries CS100 and CS300 today are designed to be 2-3 with the middle seat an inch wider. Very comfortable ride, though still up to the airlines to decide pitch.

There are a few other seat manufacturers out there with designs that "favor" the middle seat but not much traction there from airlines.

Back in 1964, United was offering several different seating configurations.

At least three aircraft were involved with regard to single class service: the Boeing 720, the Boeing 727-100 and the Caravelle.

UA B720 and B727-100 aircraft featured "One-Class Red Carpet" service which I believe was 2-3 seating.

http://www.departedflights.com/UApitchyourtent64.html

http://www.departedflights.com/UAoneclass64.html

The Caravelles were in standard 2-2 seating configuration and this was the aircraft type flown by UA on its "Men Only" flights between Chicago and New York back in the day. United operated the Caravelle with an all first class cabin.

United was also offering transcon "Red, White & Blue" service with the Douglas DC-8 in 1964. These flights featured a three class cabin: Red Carpet First Class had 2-2 seating, White a.k.a Standard class was billed as being "comparable to our One-Class Red Carpet service" with 2-3 seating and Blue was coach with 3-3 seating.

http://www.departedflights.com/UAredwhiteblue64b.html

Wow, F was only $15.80 more than E- on a p.s. route! TODs live! :mad::D

"When you're friendly you do things for people."

What a horrible tagline.

Edit: And the advertisement says "pitch a tent" hahahah!

I know you jest, but in seriousness the first class is ticket is only ~10% more than the coach fare. If that was the difference between S and P today, I'd be up front on every ticket.

$15 1970 dollars is about $100 in 2017 dollars....

$100 is still much better than what UA charges for upgrade at OLCI. :)


so I'm not the only one who misses the 1970s? :) :(

While I wasn't alive in the 70s to remember, it's hard for me to complain too much. While I'd love to avoid over-zealous security and eat chateaubriand, compared to 1970 air travel is half the price and approximately 20x safer (passenger deaths per 100,000 miles flown by US carriers were well over 20x higher in 1970 [source]). Plus we have lie-flat seats. Because of the reduced cost and the increased choice, I can travel dramatically more than I would have been able to in 1970, and to me that's worth the compromise.

I miss the peace and quiet of nothing having cell phones, pagers, laptops, etc....

and I miss the early UA B747 that had a lounge in coach class where one could flake out. It was just behind the lavs and the elevator down below where the galley was.

I remember on of the passengers asking me where the lavs were and I pointed to the elevator which had a window in it as a stewardess head was visible as it was just going down

Had to Google this, wasn't around back then! Its a different world now :)