Oct 29, 2018, 2:14 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
UA has started installing Premium Plus / Premium Economy seats in 772s and 773s. Other long haul aircraft will also be receiving these new seats.
For 77x it is a 2-4-2 (vs economy 3-4-3) with 3 rows - 24 seats
For 76x it is believe it will be 2-2-2 (vs 2-3-2) with 3 rows ( and maybe a partial row) - 22 seats
For 78x it is believed it will be 2-3-2 (vs 3-3-3) with 3 rows - 21 seats
UA has not yet started selling this new cabin but has restructured its fare class -- which appears to be in preparation of selling the new cabin (and removed 3-class F)
In the meantime, the Premium Plus cabin is being treated as an extension of E+ and those with E+ access can select the new seats.
In many cases UA is initially using an interim seat maps, such as https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1926142-interim-772-seat-map-polaris-potentially-premium-economy-2018-a.html
Things start to firm up about 2 days prior but last minute changes can happen
For 77x it is a 2-4-2 (vs economy 3-4-3) with 3 rows - 24 seats
For 76x it is believe it will be 2-2-2 (vs 2-3-2) with 3 rows ( and maybe a partial row) - 22 seats
For 78x it is believed it will be 2-3-2 (vs 3-3-3) with 3 rows - 21 seats
UA has not yet started selling this new cabin but has restructured its fare class -- which appears to be in preparation of selling the new cabin (and removed 3-class F)
In the meantime, the Premium Plus cabin is being treated as an extension of E+ and those with E+ access can select the new seats.
In many cases UA is initially using an interim seat maps, such as https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1926142-interim-772-seat-map-polaris-potentially-premium-economy-2018-a.html
Things start to firm up about 2 days prior but last minute changes can happen
Real Premium Economy is Coming [Update: UA studying "Real" Prem Y in domestic market]
Oct 14, 2018, 8:40 am
#842
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
That's bad news as I was planning to purchase PE when United starts selling it. I'm hoping that, since the key word has Economy, my employer will reimburse that fare.
Oct 14, 2018, 9:12 am
#843
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Re: service downgrades after rollout. Delta fairly quickly cut glass barware and replaced with plastic cups in PS. Rumor was that it was a storage issue, perhaps on the 777. While this may seem like a small thing I think it's the little things that make a big difference in this category.
Oct 14, 2018, 11:52 am
#844
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,217
So to my surprise, my bulkhead window seat last night on a 772 (IAD-CDG) was a new premium economy seat (with a honking big plaque "Premium Plus" above seat 20K) in a 2-4-2 mini-"cabin", without the amenities: purple headrest (side head support adjustable), seat recline ok, nice calf support on the footrest. Both seat and footrest recline were more limited that expected (i.e. I felt like an accordion in a lawn chair, and didn't sleep at all well due to the limited recline), and I'm not even tall. However, lumbar support was noticeably better than regular E+ seats, and the seat was wider. Larger touchscreen and tray table, which are (at least so far) easier to extract than those in E+. The bulkhead at least seemed to have more leg room than regular E+.
Each seat has an LED-lit power outlet and USB outlet (a step up from E+), but in a new (large paperback book-sized) cubby to the L under the back of the armrest. Even the FAs didn't know where the headphone jack was: turns out, it is above the power outlets but (bafflingly) not LED-lit; so you either have to do some serious yoga as I did to stick your head down to plug level, or you have to bend your left arm backwards and find it inside the cubby by feel.
And, of course, the soft product was regular economy E(-) blanket/pillow/food, and an even more undrinkable red than is normal.
On the plus side, trekking back to the lav in E- through all the densified seating made the front mini-cabin seem spacious; and, the flight crew was cheerful and competent.
Each seat has an LED-lit power outlet and USB outlet (a step up from E+), but in a new (large paperback book-sized) cubby to the L under the back of the armrest. Even the FAs didn't know where the headphone jack was: turns out, it is above the power outlets but (bafflingly) not LED-lit; so you either have to do some serious yoga as I did to stick your head down to plug level, or you have to bend your left arm backwards and find it inside the cubby by feel.
And, of course, the soft product was regular economy E(-) blanket/pillow/food, and an even more undrinkable red than is normal.
On the plus side, trekking back to the lav in E- through all the densified seating made the front mini-cabin seem spacious; and, the flight crew was cheerful and competent.
It is disappointing to read about the jack for the headphones - I swear the people who design the interiors on planes, specifically where the passengers sit, do not actually travel themselves.
The seat itself sounds similar to NZ PE product (the recent product not the really great PE product with the ottoman for your legs that they have now replaced). I slept fine on the NZ PE product LAX-LHR and LAX-AKL. Much better than UA E+.
Oct 16, 2018, 2:47 pm
#845
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: UAL 1KMM,Hilton Diamond
Posts: 758
I won’t pay for it
I flew in the new PE between IAD-LHR. After all the hype, it was disappointing. The pitch was less than E+. With the legrest and the footrest it was difficult to use either. I’m only 6 ft. When I tried the leg rest I had to arch my legs cause there was not enough room. The footrest blocks one from storing under the seat in front of you.
i can’t even imagine if the bedding is on the seat. It felt cramped. Once all the new China comes the fray is small.
Maybe the bulk head seat is better.
i can’t even imagine if the bedding is on the seat. It felt cramped. Once all the new China comes the fray is small.
Maybe the bulk head seat is better.
Oct 16, 2018, 5:01 pm
#846
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Francisco Penninsula
Programs: Bear Backers
Posts: 931
Disappointing to hear ,especially after a wonderful experience on Lufthansa. I guess Inwillbstaybthere when I fly PE
Oct 16, 2018, 5:21 pm
#847
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,217
I flew in the new PE between IAD-LHR. After all the hype, it was disappointing. The pitch was less than E+. With the legrest and the footrest it was difficult to use either. I’m only 6 ft. When I tried the leg rest I had to arch my legs cause there was not enough room. The footrest blocks one from storing under the seat in front of you.
i can’t even imagine if the bedding is on the seat. It felt cramped. Once all the new China comes the fray is small.
Maybe the bulk head seat is better.
i can’t even imagine if the bedding is on the seat. It felt cramped. Once all the new China comes the fray is small.
Maybe the bulk head seat is better.
UA's E+ is the reason I fly NZ in PE between west coast and LHR and LAX and SYD (via AKL). If the GPU does not come through on a red eye to LHR or to/from Australia NZ PE is my go to as price is very similar to UA E+.
Thank you for the report @santarosaflyer
Oct 16, 2018, 5:25 pm
#848
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
Well the seat itself is deeper so I am not exactly surprised that it is tight if they went with the 37" pitch they have been using in domestic First (vs the 38" it used to be, and still is on the 753 in F). I don't see a seatmap yet with the pitch listed, but hopefully they used the standard 38" (as e.g. DL has on the A359 and AA has used with its seats) vs 37". Anyone know?
Oct 18, 2018, 1:11 am
#849
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,192
This is nothing more than "everyone else installed PY, so how can we do it for the lowest possible cost and screw the customer over by over-charging them for a substandard me-too product very few people will actually pay for"
Oct 18, 2018, 1:06 pm
#850
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,166
You expected United to roll out a truly customer friendly product?
This is nothing more than "everyone else installed PY, so how can we do it for the lowest possible cost and screw the customer over by over-charging them for a substandard me-too product very few people will actually pay for"
This is nothing more than "everyone else installed PY, so how can we do it for the lowest possible cost and screw the customer over by over-charging them for a substandard me-too product very few people will actually pay for"
Oct 18, 2018, 1:56 pm
#851
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: Continental
Posts: 1,589
Does this announcement mean they are ready to start charging for the Premium Econ domestically?
Oct 18, 2018, 2:25 pm
#852
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
Programs: UA GS, Lifetime 4 MM, BA Gold, , Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 476
Thank you for the report.
It is disappointing to read about the jack for the headphones - I swear the people who design the interiors on planes, specifically where the passengers sit, do not actually travel themselves.
The seat itself sounds similar to NZ PE product (the recent product not the really great PE product with the ottoman for your legs that they have now replaced). I slept fine on the NZ PE product LAX-LHR and LAX-AKL. Much better than UA E+.
It is disappointing to read about the jack for the headphones - I swear the people who design the interiors on planes, specifically where the passengers sit, do not actually travel themselves.
The seat itself sounds similar to NZ PE product (the recent product not the really great PE product with the ottoman for your legs that they have now replaced). I slept fine on the NZ PE product LAX-LHR and LAX-AKL. Much better than UA E+.
Oct 18, 2018, 4:36 pm
#853
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
I believe the plan will be to block all of F and to assign the seats to high-value customers (some memo was saying it was by ticket price, could be GS, etc.) at the gate or by contacting them in advance. It would be similar to how they did this when 3-class aircraft flew p.s. routes a couple of years ago.
Oct 18, 2018, 4:39 pm
#854
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,446
I'm curious if they're going to do the same thing with the current Premium Plus seats--block them from the Economy seat map and assign them to high value customers afterwards. It seems to me like this maintenance is implementing the seats in the seat map as a separate class of service, but I doubt they'll be ready to actually sell Premium Plus yet.
Oct 19, 2018, 2:54 am
#855
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, IHG Platinum, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 323
Anyone have an informed opinion if United codeshare bookings (016) for PE on *A (e.g., O,A,U on Air NZ) will become possible after United officially rolls out the product?