What happened to the a350 order?
#16
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,621
But having gotten the 77W, UA does not really need the A350, let alone the A350-10, until it starts to retire the 772s. That is 3-4 years from now at the earliest, and probably in reality further away than that absent a spike in fuel prices. My guess is that the 772 will be in the fleet for 7 year minimum once the seats are retrofitted in J to Polaris.
#17
Moderator, Amtrak & Spirit Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: EWR :rolleyes:
Programs: AC 50K, AS MVP, AA Plat Pro, DL Plat, UA Silver, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 9,532
I've only flown it on VN which had a quite poor business class seat, so my experience wasn't as favorable. Seat aside, to me the A350 was indistinguishable from a ride standpoint to a 787. If UA only flies 787s, that's fine for me if they'd ever upgrade the seats on the -8s and -9s to new Polaris. The only big advantage to getting A350s would be more of the fleet having new seats.
I have flown 8 flights on the A350 on all variants in all different cabin configs and airlines. From CX/QR J on a -900, to SQ W on the -900ULR, and one segment on QR in Y on a -1000.
It feels way more modern on the inside then a 787, and is certainly more quiet aircraft there is no doubt there.
I haven't flown the 787-10 yet, but I have logged flights on the -8 and -9 variants. For me its not a contest the A350 would be my choice over the 787 every time.
I hope that UA adds them to the fleet at 9 across with the extra cabin width you get on the A350 it would be their most comfortable long haul seat in economy. Assuming by 2022/2023 there won't be too many 767s left.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,186
I maintain that UA has zero interest in ever taking delivery of the A350.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,651
(1) I don't discount the possibility of 777x issues, Boeing fired/offshored/"McDonald Douglased" its formerly leading engineering staff and the reality is that they have had one issue MAX after another 787, no company relying on Boeing to deliver quality new A/C on time can have much faith in Boeing at this.
With United's "strategy" of just shoving a 777 product into a narrower airframe (787 or A350), it's always going to be too narrow on a non-777.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,741
Same here. Let’s hope Boeing can knock it out of the park if and when the B797 is made public.
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
Meh. I'll never forgive it for replacing the 747. They took the double-decker concept and made it a terminally boring plane, identical to every other one, and ugly to boot
#22
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,166
@findark, not just ugly. The A380 is just too dang big to make sense. I never understood the logic of airports that reconfigured runways and terminals at huge (public) expense to accommodate the A380 unless there was a LOT of under-the-table palm-greaing going on.
#25
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,461
Does the 747 look better? Sure!
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
I would take the nose or UD of a 747 over any location on a 380. Sure, some of the best F suites are on the 380, but that's mostly because they are newer. But the 747 has unique locations that don't exist on other aircraft. The 380 is a fine ride on the inside, but it's not special that way 747 rides are
#27
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,413
I would take the nose or UD of a 747 over any location on a 380. Sure, some of the best F suites are on the 380, but that's mostly because they are newer. But the 747 has unique locations that don't exist on other aircraft. The 380 is a fine ride on the inside, but it's not special that way 747 rides are
But to come back OT, agree with posters who write that 350 is more quiet - my friend also commented on this after his first A350 flight. Though UD on 747 is pretty darn quiet IMHO
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,741
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
Remember SMI/J? He was the person who wanted many 787 routes to be based in IAH, as he believed it was a game-changing airport for UA/CO.
Guess what happened and how many 787 routes are actually based in IAH?
#30
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: EWR, BDL
Posts: 4,471