Why is there no Premium Transcon Service for IAD to SFO (or LAX)?
Apr 16, 2019, 11:30 pm
#121
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
This. Look at all transcontinental premium routes - they are highly competitive with all three major airlines (plus in most cases JetBlue and Alaska) flying at very high frequency. Similarly, even though BOS-LAX is not officially premium, United felt the pressure and added more 757-200s. There is much less competition in IAD+DCA to SFO/LAX.
Apr 16, 2019, 11:36 pm
#122
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
I thought the answer to this question is obvious: cause government officials can only fly economy, but they will insist on upgrades and so the business class would basically have to be given away for free (and there would be angry paid customers who didn't get their seats)
Apr 17, 2019, 1:08 am
#123
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,462
I thought the answer to this question is obvious: cause government officials can only fly economy, but they will insist on upgrades and so the business class would basically have to be given away for free (and there would be angry paid customers who didn't get their seats)
Apr 20, 2019, 12:51 am
#124
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,138
Could they have fit four tracks? Some of the route is ground level in the median of a highway.
Definitely. United didn't make SFO-BOS a premium transcon route until they saw how well JetBlue was doing with their Mint product.
I have a feeling that United had plans to make BOS-LAX a premium transcon route due to JetBlue's success with it, but Delta did the premium transcon product on this route first and eventually eliminated it due to poor performance (they weren't filling the front cabin, and definitely not with fares of significance (they were selling many seats for $399 one way), so they opened it to complimentary upgrades, and ended up ruining their domestic premium transcon product with extensive soft product cuts before they got rid of the service on this route)
Definitely. United didn't make SFO-BOS a premium transcon route until they saw how well JetBlue was doing with their Mint product.
I have a feeling that United had plans to make BOS-LAX a premium transcon route due to JetBlue's success with it, but Delta did the premium transcon product on this route first and eventually eliminated it due to poor performance (they weren't filling the front cabin, and definitely not with fares of significance (they were selling many seats for $399 one way), so they opened it to complimentary upgrades, and ended up ruining their domestic premium transcon product with extensive soft product cuts before they got rid of the service on this route)
Apr 23, 2019, 11:52 am
#125
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Woodside, CA, USA
Programs: United Platinum
Posts: 517
Having just flown IAD - SFO in F on a Polaris/Premium Economy updated 777-200, I would MUCH rather fly on that plane in F rather than a PS-equipped 757. Sure, there's no lounge access included and maybe the food isn't quite as good, but the seat is so much better.
I'm flying the same route again next week and have my fingers crossed that the 777 stays a Polaris updated frame.
So while SFO-IAD isn't a Premium Transcon route officially, there are some flights on that route that offer a better hard product than the official premium routes.
I'm flying the same route again next week and have my fingers crossed that the 777 stays a Polaris updated frame.
So while SFO-IAD isn't a Premium Transcon route officially, there are some flights on that route that offer a better hard product than the official premium routes.
Apr 23, 2019, 8:53 pm
#126
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
Recent posts debating elected officials / government works travel patterns got very off-topic and has been removed.
Let's return the discussion of if UA should convert SFO<>IAD or LAX<>IAD to a premium transcon service route.WineCountryUAUA coModerator
Let's return the discussion of if UA should convert SFO<>IAD or LAX<>IAD to a premium transcon service route.WineCountryUAUA coModerator