ge44723

Has anyone flown the new United route from EWR to KEF and the return route? Wondering about the logistics of the route, arrival, check-in at KEF and boarding, and the product quality of the flight? I flew DL from JFK to KEF a few years back and the ground operation in KEF was a nightmare, as they were using contractors who had no idea what they were doing. I tried searching the forums but did not see any posts on this.

ATLflyer2017

I'd assume its just like any other international United flight. Maybe a little less organized.

emcampbe

Haven’t been to kEF, on UA or other, but maybe ground handling issues are the norm there? Sister flew on AC (well, Rouge), and has issues there also. Arrived well before he check in cutoff, not sure exactly, but I think like 45-60 minutes prior to cutoff), and they were so slow she missed the cutoff and they tagged her bags but said it wouldn’t be on that flight. She was able to actually board the flight - she must have checked in online so they were able to give her a BP (and actually, I’ve had this happen at CVG so maybe it is just as much of an AC problem). Her bags didn’t show up in YYz for over a week.

Hopefully, UA is better than that.

UAPremierGuy

In KEF right now. I'll be flying the return in C-Class in a few days, but the outbound was pathetic in Y. EAT BEFORE YOU FLY! All we were served was a bag of Lay's potato chips, M&M's, a Fig Newton type bar, and a small, stale turkey sandwich on a roll. Oh, and a granola bar for breakfast. UA should be embarrassed!

EWR764

Interesting that UA waters down the Y service... it's still coded as 'dinner'. I wonder if the return is catered at EWR? I am also curious to see if it gets a full Polaris service. EWR-KEF has generally been about 5h enroute takeoff-to-touchdown, and about 5.5h going west, so it compares favorably to most EWR transcons.

fightingsioux09

How many meals do you normally eat in 5 1/2 hours?

airb330

Not excusing the lame meals, but with WOW/IcelandAir being the main competitors, I am surprised UA serves anything on this route. Delta and American both serve meals to HNL and United doesn't for example.

UAPremierGuy

It is not just the 5.5 hours! Many people, especially with UA's horrible MCT's, go from gate-to-gate, running, especially in the packed EWR that is horrible to connect in, without a meal before the flight. Again, NO REASON to fly with UA on this route unless they figure out that even with the late departure, Y customers still want a proper meal and not the 7-11 Lunchable meal that is currently offered.

Repooc17

I flew from KEF to EWR on Monday, May 28, 2018

Boarding process: F
Food: B+
Seat Comfort: B+ (E- was surprisingly good; lost E+ after I removed my UA info)
Flight Experience: A+

Overall: A-

Bonus: we went through immigration at EWR Terminal C (first time ever for me). Our gate (56) at Terminal B was occupied, so after running around the taxiway for 20-25 minutes, we parked at gate 137 at Terminal C. GE kiosk wasn't working (except it was!). First one to an empty baggage area and before I exited the terminal, an officer asked me why I didn't have any luggage

One of the first meals I enjoyed in Y ^

kmersh

A buddy just flew back on UNITED and said it was like someone explained the UNITED procedures to management, but management never actually communicated UNITED's procedures to the people actually doing the work so it was chaotic.

He said that catering (at least in Business) was fine and he said actually a little better than other airports that he has flown from on UNITED.

MatthewLAX

I'm told the flight is double-catered in Newark.

notquiteaff

So no Kæstur hákarl on the return?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A1karl

Repooc17

Also, it's a 1030pm flight out of EWR - way past dinner time anyway.

Return flight is a light lunch, which is appropriate, IMO.

For unknown reasons, I had a better experience in E- than all of the PS 752 flights in E+, same plane and all.

JerseyCityS

I flew the inaugural in row 7 in Y. It was a fun flight. Crew were excited, cocktails were comped for the whole flight. As somebody already mentioned, the food in Y is a total disgrace. And I got the exact same pitiful meal on the return, obviously catered in EWR.
The KEF airport was fine on all levels. Ground staff were clearly new, but there were numerous employees, probably from the USA, there monitoring everything.

There were only 22 people on my return which was almost creepy! Great FA's on the return though, but the food...….ugh. For an International flight, it was shameful. The prearrival "snack" on my return was a granola bar.

Great flight attendants, Iceland was fun - EXTREMELY expensive. Food and drink there is crazy expensive. At least $25 for a burger in a non-luxury restaurant. A well mixed drink is over $20 in a dive bar.

Repooc17

Full flight on Memorial Day back to the US, which I was surprised given it was the first week of launch.

I tried to use my drinks voucher but the FA told me it was free