Apr 22, 2018, 1:13 pm
Last edit by: JALsnipe
Wiki note about the forum’s several, active “Channel 9” threads.
Offering live ATC communications on UA flights on Channel 9 of the audio entertainment system (“Channel 9”) is exclusive to United and offered at the Captain’s discretion. This forum has four prime, active threads about Channel 9. This note will guide you to the right thread for your post, or to where you would look for those channel 9 posts you’re interested in.
1) This thread – intended as a basic status thread only to list the specific channel 9-equipped flights offering or not offering Channel 9. The thumbs-up/down codes used in the thread are:
^ Channel 9 offered on this flight but no announcement made about it.
^^ Channel 9 offered and crew announced or promoted its availability.
: td : Channel 9 not offered on this flight.
Please postings to status reports of availability -- and use the thread below to discuss the general topic.
2) A discussion thread to pursue issues about Channel 9 availability. (See the previous paragraph. if you merely wish to list the flights offering or not offering channel 9.)
Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [Merged]
3) A thread, to discuss interesting things heard on Channel 9, such as interesting exchanges between pilots and controllers or asking about pilot-controller phraseology. The Consolidated "Interesting Things Heard on Channel 9" Thread [Merged]
4) A thread to discuss United’s progress in converting legacy Continental aircraft to offer Channel 9.
Anyone get channel 9 on a reconfigured CO or PDE aircraft yet?
The following aircraft types have "From the Flight Deck" installed (commonly known as "Channel 9," as that's the location it is found on audio handset selectors):
pmUA 777-200ERs
pmCO 777-200ERs
pmUA 777-300ERs
pmUA 777-200As (high density, first class only)
pmUA 767-300ERs
pmCO 767-400ERs
pmUA 757-200 (28J p.s.)
pmCO 757-200 (16 p.s.) -- To be retrofitted with cabin refresh per Oct 2019 announcement
[pmUA A320 and A319 aircraft have had it removed. It is not installed on any 737s, 787s, nor pre-2019/2020 refresh pmCO 757-200s (16J p.s.) or pmCO 757-300s.]
The Moderators may move misplaced posts to conform to these thread aims.
Archived posts in Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [ARCHIVE]
Offering live ATC communications on UA flights on Channel 9 of the audio entertainment system (“Channel 9”) is exclusive to United and offered at the Captain’s discretion. This forum has four prime, active threads about Channel 9. This note will guide you to the right thread for your post, or to where you would look for those channel 9 posts you’re interested in.
1) This thread – intended as a basic status thread only to list the specific channel 9-equipped flights offering or not offering Channel 9. The thumbs-up/down codes used in the thread are:
^ Channel 9 offered on this flight but no announcement made about it.
^^ Channel 9 offered and crew announced or promoted its availability.
: td : Channel 9 not offered on this flight.
Please postings to status reports of availability -- and use the thread below to discuss the general topic.
2) A discussion thread to pursue issues about Channel 9 availability. (See the previous paragraph. if you merely wish to list the flights offering or not offering channel 9.)
Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [Merged]
3) A thread, to discuss interesting things heard on Channel 9, such as interesting exchanges between pilots and controllers or asking about pilot-controller phraseology. The Consolidated "Interesting Things Heard on Channel 9" Thread [Merged]
4) A thread to discuss United’s progress in converting legacy Continental aircraft to offer Channel 9.
Anyone get channel 9 on a reconfigured CO or PDE aircraft yet?
The following aircraft types have "From the Flight Deck" installed (commonly known as "Channel 9," as that's the location it is found on audio handset selectors):
pmUA 777-200ERs
pmCO 777-200ERs
pmUA 777-300ERs
pmUA 777-200As (high density, first class only)
pmUA 767-300ERs
pmCO 767-400ERs
pmUA 757-200 (28J p.s.)
pmCO 757-200 (16 p.s.) -- To be retrofitted with cabin refresh per Oct 2019 announcement
[pmUA A320 and A319 aircraft have had it removed. It is not installed on any 737s, 787s, nor pre-2019/2020 refresh pmCO 757-200s (16J p.s.) or pmCO 757-300s.]
The Moderators may move misplaced posts to conform to these thread aims.
Archived posts in Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [ARCHIVE]
Channel 9 availability reports (no discussion)[Consoldidated]
May 10, 2018, 9:11 am
#123
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,290
Jun 22, 2018, 7:15 am
#128
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
UA952 15May18 ORD-MUC 3-class 772 No
My wife asked the Captain. His excuse for saying no is that the flight is anyways mostly over the ocean. Poor excuse since it's not like we were going to listed to it during the whole flight and from ORD there is enough time over land. We like to listen from boarding time to about 20 minutes after wheels up. And from 20 minutes before landing to arrival at the gate.
UA953 29May18 MUC-ORD reconfigured 772 Yes but No.
My wife asked a FA to ask the Captain. He said that since a passenger requested it, he would put it on. Unfortunately, his niceness was sabotaged by the FAs who only put the entertainment on 30 minutes after wheels up. At that time, we could hear the communication but it was obviously very sporadic and it was in German. We were assigned a reconfigured 772 with a FA team that had never been in a reconfigured 772. They did not know where anything was and at the beginning they were a little stressed. But they recovered and the service was good. Before landing, we could hear something but it was very garbled. Anyways, Captain R. goes on my list as a Yes.
My wife asked the Captain. His excuse for saying no is that the flight is anyways mostly over the ocean. Poor excuse since it's not like we were going to listed to it during the whole flight and from ORD there is enough time over land. We like to listen from boarding time to about 20 minutes after wheels up. And from 20 minutes before landing to arrival at the gate.
UA953 29May18 MUC-ORD reconfigured 772 Yes but No.
My wife asked a FA to ask the Captain. He said that since a passenger requested it, he would put it on. Unfortunately, his niceness was sabotaged by the FAs who only put the entertainment on 30 minutes after wheels up. At that time, we could hear the communication but it was obviously very sporadic and it was in German. We were assigned a reconfigured 772 with a FA team that had never been in a reconfigured 772. They did not know where anything was and at the beginning they were a little stressed. But they recovered and the service was good. Before landing, we could hear something but it was very garbled. Anyways, Captain R. goes on my list as a Yes.
Jul 26, 2018, 1:51 pm
#131
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AA EXP, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,252
Jul 19- UA803 IAD-NRT 
Asked an FA who asked the Purser if Channel 9 could be made available and was told by the purser "oh, it's not connected anymore after they switched to the new system (referring to IPTE)." I literally pointed to the "From the Flight Deck" screen and was like, "are you sure about that, I've had it on before." He said yes, and I just left it at that because he was actually really nice about it, but also firm in his assurance so I wasn't going to push the issue. Maybe I should have referred to it as "From the Flight Deck" rather than CH9.
You still hear music, right, if it's actually turned off? So if there is just no sound, it's on but the volume is turned down? I was going to point that out, but then couldn't be sure about it.
Asked an FA who asked the Purser if Channel 9 could be made available and was told by the purser "oh, it's not connected anymore after they switched to the new system (referring to IPTE)." I literally pointed to the "From the Flight Deck" screen and was like, "are you sure about that, I've had it on before." He said yes, and I just left it at that because he was actually really nice about it, but also firm in his assurance so I wasn't going to push the issue. Maybe I should have referred to it as "From the Flight Deck" rather than CH9.
You still hear music, right, if it's actually turned off? So if there is just no sound, it's on but the volume is turned down? I was going to point that out, but then couldn't be sure about it.
Jul 26, 2018, 3:30 pm
#132
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
Jul 19- UA803 IAD-NRT
Asked an FA who asked the Purser if Channel 9 could be made available and was told by the purser "oh, it's not connected anymore after they switched to the new system (referring to IPTE)." I literally pointed to the "From the Flight Deck" screen and was like, "are you sure about that, I've had it on before." He said yes, and I just left it at that because he was actually really nice about it, but also firm in his assurance so I wasn't going to push the issue. Maybe I should have referred to it as "From the Flight Deck" rather than CH9.
You still hear music, right, if it's actually turned off? So if there is just no sound, it's on but the volume is turned down? I was going to point that out, but then couldn't be sure about it.
Asked an FA who asked the Purser if Channel 9 could be made available and was told by the purser "oh, it's not connected anymore after they switched to the new system (referring to IPTE)." I literally pointed to the "From the Flight Deck" screen and was like, "are you sure about that, I've had it on before." He said yes, and I just left it at that because he was actually really nice about it, but also firm in his assurance so I wasn't going to push the issue. Maybe I should have referred to it as "From the Flight Deck" rather than CH9.
You still hear music, right, if it's actually turned off? So if there is just no sound, it's on but the volume is turned down? I was going to point that out, but then couldn't be sure about it.
Sorry to hear your purser gave you a bad story. He was wrong. That's why I always try to make a friendly ask directly to the captain if I can during boarding. For example, I saw the captain the other day on TPE-SFO (77W) during boarding. I asked, "Might you be able to make the ATC available today?" He replied, "I usually don't, but since you asked, sure." And it was on the entire trip.
Jul 26, 2018, 6:22 pm
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,038
Jul 19- UA803 IAD-NRT
Asked an FA who asked the Purser if Channel 9 could be made available and was told by the purser "oh, it's not connected anymore after they switched to the new system (referring to IPTE)." I literally pointed to the "From the Flight Deck" screen and was like, "are you sure about that, I've had it on before." He said yes, and I just left it at that because he was actually really nice about it, but also firm in his assurance so I wasn't going to push the issue. Maybe I should have referred to it as "From the Flight Deck" rather than CH9.
You still hear music, right, if it's actually turned off? So if there is just no sound, it's on but the volume is turned down? I was going to point that out, but then couldn't be sure about it.
Asked an FA who asked the Purser if Channel 9 could be made available and was told by the purser "oh, it's not connected anymore after they switched to the new system (referring to IPTE)." I literally pointed to the "From the Flight Deck" screen and was like, "are you sure about that, I've had it on before." He said yes, and I just left it at that because he was actually really nice about it, but also firm in his assurance so I wasn't going to push the issue. Maybe I should have referred to it as "From the Flight Deck" rather than CH9.
You still hear music, right, if it's actually turned off? So if there is just no sound, it's on but the volume is turned down? I was going to point that out, but then couldn't be sure about it.
Jul 27, 2018, 7:59 am
#135
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
UA835 10July18 ORD-PVG 3-class 772 Yes.
The captain said that he always puts it on.
UA 836 19July18 PVG-ORD 3-class 772 Yes
When my wife asked the captain, he said that he never puts it on but since she had asked he will put it on.
The captain said that he always puts it on.
UA 836 19July18 PVG-ORD 3-class 772 Yes
When my wife asked the captain, he said that he never puts it on but since she had asked he will put it on.