DELee

Depends if you're only flying domestic - and are not allowed to book J/F. Lots of biz folks take many planes but don't go far. So, yes, segments or enough total miles. It is not as easy as those who fly international - even for Silver (go 2P!).

Back on thread. Yes, if Oscar and/or the other two would take either a transcon or international in a middle Y seat for 5 to 10 hours sitting between just 2 regular sized people much less anyone with real shoulders. That would be entertaining.

David

HNLbasedFlyer

That would be even more of PR stunt than the original WSJ article. Even if they sat in the back of the plane for 10+ hours - what would you expect them to say? I'm fairly sure they wouldn't go - wow, that was really uncomfortable - we are immediately removing seats!!!! No, they would say - I feel great, but I would urge anyone who desires more legroom and space to upgrade to our premium seating.

Sykes

Yeah. A lot of people deride WN's open seating, but it's the only airline I know of where an elite (A List) is pretty much guaranteed a window or aisle 100% of the time as long as they are at the gate when boarding starts (absent a massive gaggle of A-listers on a given flight). It can be a big advantage for people that book late.

COSPILOT

For a non elite with WN a last minute ticket got me A-list (A3 from memory), a free drink, and maybe even free wifi. Not bad for a nobody with WN, and not able to travel as a somebody on UA. I'm open to WN, but I prefer I keep my miles with UA for the family vacations to places WN doesn't go to. Colleagues use WN exclusively because they have spouses that are retired and the companion pass thing saves them a ton of money. I can see the appeal of that.

SightseeMC

So for boarding and carry-ons, UA offers exactly what they get with WN. And since they check in at +24, there's no need to check in at the airport. Those wins are extremely minimal. And the odds of getting an upgrade to F as a Silver are *extremely* low; I also specifically stated that top tier is the measuring stick, not bottom status. Your point about network is well taken; I agree. I never stated they were better, just that they are a good option. This isn't meant to derail, or be anti-UA or even anti-major - again, I fly UA now (primarily for Asiana status, but still). But to repeat: if you fly within their network consistently, WN provides a strong value prop for a business flyer who won't reach top tier status at an airline.

As for UA's CEO ditching this, I agree with the sentiment that it would provide no real upside. If he goes like Delta and UA, he gets lambasted for faking it for a 15 minute photo op instead of a long haul flight, plus he might say something he regrets. If he skips it, everyone forgets in the next 2 days or so. It's not like AA or Delta are suddenly going to get a lot of long-term press from this one story and photo.

garykung

The entire article is all about inflammatory.

1. The detail of the interview is unknown. However, Oscar's heart condition is well-known. FWIW - his condition can be the reason of the refusal.

2. Even Oscar refused, SMI/J has traveled in E+ before.

3. If WSJ is serious about the tight seats? Go after AC like CBC.

DCA writer

Speaking as a journalist, I doubt Oscar made the call to decline the sit-down interview--that looks to me like the PR department advising against it. And UA declining to speak at all is definitely PR's call and PR's screwup. UA has a decent story to tell in terms of extra-legroom availability in Y, but you wouldn't know that from the WSJ piece. I hope somebody in Chicago is now reflecting on how poorly United came across in the story because of this failure to communicate.

(Disclosure: As a journalist, I'm always in favor of companies answering journalist questions.)

COSPILOT

Not uncommon for companies to have a policy of not speaking to the press, unless under a controlled environment. No matter what positive things a company may have, the press rarely tells the whole story for the quick and cute 15 second video clip. Find me a reporter that tells the whole story and I'll find you the winning lotto numbers.

ExplorerWannabe

Except I don't think it's much of a screwup. Who but FT even remembers this article now? If Oscar had participated, the photo would be around to recirculate and the media would have twisted his words to tell whatever story they wanted anyway. Speaking as a reader who remembers when journalism was really journalism versus the out-and-out chicanery that passes for journalism today, I don't see any upside to participating in "journalist" interviews today.

spin88

Delta clearly wins in seat width in long haul in Y. The 772 is not some exception:
UA's fleet
77w/772 - 19.4"/seat (currently 91, 1 to come, width is for 77w and ongoing retrofits)
787 - 19.8"/seat (currently 37, 18 to come)
763/4- 21.2"/seat (currently 51, 3 to come

DL's fleet (currently)
763/4 - 21.2"/seat (currently 77)
A330/330neo - 20.8"/seat (currently 42, 25 on order)
B772 - 21.3"/seat (currently 18)
A350 - 20.3" seat (currently 11, 14 in delivery)

The numbers from those (like SW or UA) with narrower planes is just bogus. The figure that matters is actual space (plane width - aisle width/# seats) which is what I put above. But even then, the 10x 777s try to cheat by taking 1" from each aisle (which is why the plane feels so cramped when you walk arround, and you get bumped so much in the aisle seats). Absent this each seat would be only 19.2" wide.

Mothers/brothers are usually ok with WN, but for any women who is reasonably attractive and under 50 without some guy/etc as a blocker the lack of assigned seating is a killer. If you wonder why there are rarely any "single" attractive women on WN, its because some perve makes a be-line sit next to them. Real turn off for some....

Intrepid

Instructive photo.

jethornton

cerealmarketer

No I don't, and most non perves [sic] don't wonder why there are rarely any "single" attractive women on WN.

I'm glad the article tried to pry on seat comfort but for me the biggest issue with coach seat comfort these days is the poor padding in seats installed the last 10 years on all the airlines. That sore feeling you get after a couple hours. Extra width or legroom doesn't do anything to help that.

zombietooth

Truth!
A reporter from the New York Times approached me recently wanting an in depth interview about a current Federal case. They were so cheery and friendly as they introduced themselves and massaged my ego with complimentary statements. You wouldn't believe the transformation when I said, "I am sorry, but I don't talk to the media." The rage and indignation was over the top, demanding to know why. I told them that I had been misquoted in the past and had no intention of ever being misquoted again.

reuthermonkey

Southwest has been consistently profitable through good and bad economies for a reason, and it's not a bunch of leisure travelers buying "Wanna Get Away" fares...

If you don't live near a hub, Southwest is a winner hands down - even without status - if only for the simple fact that it offers more direct flights from any non-hub than any hub-spoke airline. If you're flying mid-market to mid-market with a hub-spoke, you're probably *more* likely to find yourself with 2 connections and a higher price to boot.