Were The Early 80's Really That Much Better On UA Than Now?
Nov 27, 2019, 2:23 pm
#61
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
I think I flew one of those as a kid. Shortly after was when my mom banned my dad from ever buying tickets on ATA again. I'm really not sure what they were trying to accomplish because they lost us as customers forever. We never flew them again until the day they went bankrupt.
Nov 27, 2019, 2:35 pm
#62
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM / Hilton Diamond / Bonvoy Gold / Hertz PC
Posts: 396
I think I flew one of those as a kid. Shortly after was when my mom banned my dad from ever buying tickets on ATA again. I'm really not sure what they were trying to accomplish because they lost us as customers forever. We never flew them again until the day they went bankrupt.
Nov 27, 2019, 3:34 pm
#63
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
Did UA ever fly PDX-NRT? I think maybe that was DL. UA fought for years to get international service and finally got rights from SEA to NRT, SEL and HKG if I recall correctly. Early 80s. My first UA flight ever was HKG-SEA. in 83 I believe. UA even had an International First Class Lounge in SEA but I don't remember when it opened, it may have been later. I seem to remember UA's approval to buy the Pan AM Pacific division was contingent on dropping their SEA routes but later UA added SEA-NRT and SEA-LHR.
Believe it! From the March 2, 1983 UA timetable.
Nov 27, 2019, 6:36 pm
#65
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 843
Amazing to see how skeletal UA’s international route network was (thanks to the regulation era limiting the US carriers with international route authorities). SFO’s entire international network consisted of two nonstops to Alberta.
Nov 27, 2019, 8:20 pm
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
UA purchased Pan Am's Heathrow routes and London operations in 1990
UA purchased Pan Am's Latin America and Caribbean routes and Miami gates in 1991
Most of the UA international route network came from purchasing Pan Am's assets, and then through merger with CO.
I was growing up in MIA where Pan Am had a huge presence due to its history, and I started flying Pan Am as a teenager and then moved to United in 1991.
Nov 27, 2019, 8:38 pm
#68
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
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UA purchased Pan Am's Transpacific Operations in 1985 (planes, routes, employees, gates). At the time, UA only offered two international flights (minus Canada) PDX-NRT and SEA-HKG
UA purchased Pan Am's Heathrow routes and London operations in 1990
UA purchased Pan Am's Latin America and Caribbean routes and Miami gates in 1991
Most of the UA international route network came from purchasing Pan Am's assets, and then through merger with CO.
I was growing up in MIA where Pan Am had a huge presence due to its history, and I started flying Pan Am as a teenager and then moved to United in 1991.
UA purchased Pan Am's Heathrow routes and London operations in 1990
UA purchased Pan Am's Latin America and Caribbean routes and Miami gates in 1991
Most of the UA international route network came from purchasing Pan Am's assets, and then through merger with CO.
I was growing up in MIA where Pan Am had a huge presence due to its history, and I started flying Pan Am as a teenager and then moved to United in 1991.
Nov 27, 2019, 8:47 pm
#69
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 500
It wasn't too bad because it was rarely filled when loads were in the 60-80% range. Often that seat was only filled intentionally such as for a family sitting together.
Nov 27, 2019, 9:07 pm
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
Remember the last purchase transaction was made more than 28 years ago. The Transpac purchase was done 34 years ago.
Some of the more experienced FAs working out of SFO and LAX came from Pan Am. Some of the Miami based FA stayed after UA discontinued its Latin America operations. Some have left.
There are still a few former Pan Am FAs scattered throughout of the system, but I don't think the number is significant anymore.
Nov 27, 2019, 9:12 pm
#71
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
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Not all!
Remember the last purchase transaction was made more than 28 years ago. The Transpac purchase was done 34 years ago.
Some of the more experienced FAs working out of SFO and LAX came from Pan Am. Some of the Miami based FA stayed after UA discontinued its Latin America operations. Some have left.
There are still a few former Pan Am FAs scattered throughout of the system, but I don't think the number is significant anymore.
Remember the last purchase transaction was made more than 28 years ago. The Transpac purchase was done 34 years ago.
Some of the more experienced FAs working out of SFO and LAX came from Pan Am. Some of the Miami based FA stayed after UA discontinued its Latin America operations. Some have left.
There are still a few former Pan Am FAs scattered throughout of the system, but I don't think the number is significant anymore.
Nov 27, 2019, 10:19 pm
#72
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
There was a brief series a year or two ago called LA to Vegas - there’s a character in it who is a satire of an ex-Pan Am flight attendant still flying today. There’s a hilarious line where he mutters about the old service standard.
Nov 27, 2019, 11:10 pm
#73
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 734
What nostalgia. What about the smoking signs that turned on? And the hazy smoke-filled cabins? The best were the European airlines whose two sections were effectively smoking and chain-smoking. You could look down the aisle of a 747 and see not even half way down the length of the plane because of the smoke.
Ah the tulip livery emblazoned complimentary cigarette packs.
And the movie screens that the FA's would deploy.
Ah the tulip livery emblazoned complimentary cigarette packs.
And the movie screens that the FA's would deploy.
Nov 27, 2019, 11:44 pm
#74
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
What nostalgia. What about the smoking signs that turned on? And the hazy smoke-filled cabins? The best were the European airlines whose two sections were effectively smoking and chain-smoking. You could look down the aisle of a 747 and see not even half way down the length of the plane because of the smoke.
Ah the tulip livery emblazoned complimentary cigarette packs.
And the movie screens that the FA's would deploy.
Ah the tulip livery emblazoned complimentary cigarette packs.
And the movie screens that the FA's would deploy.
Nov 28, 2019, 12:18 am
#75
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
It's funny, in the video of KE that I posted in my original post, at 3:15, it's of the upper deck of the 747. Right side has no smoking sign on the headrest cover and the left side does not with a guy smoking. My family and I have been assigned non smoking just a row or 2 ahead of the smoking section on our trip from LAX to IAD as a kid. The cig smoke never got the message that it was entering the non smoking section of the cabin.