Impact on UA?, JetBlue Will Add 30 New Routes, Launch MintŪ at Newark
Jul 31, 2020, 11:37 am
#76
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Westchester NY
Programs: UA GS 4+ MM
Posts: 373
Premium Cabin Price War EWR - SFO/LAX
Well, United appears to be responding to the new trans-con competition. Never seen aggressive pricing on the PS routes like this. Nearly all flights (with 2 week advance purchase) priced below $400 each way, with some flights around $369 for P fares one way. I checked as far out as Christmas and the fares are present. Even more surprising, same day pricing dropped to $499 one way.
Could get tough to use upgrade points on this route with fares this low. A sub $400 price point should get lots of leisure travelers who want the extra space up front.
Could get tough to use upgrade points on this route with fares this low. A sub $400 price point should get lots of leisure travelers who want the extra space up front.
Last edited by dkc715; Jul 31, 2020 at 11:46 am
Jul 31, 2020, 12:41 pm
#77
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: NYC
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 66
Well, United appears to be responding to the new trans-con competition. Never seen aggressive pricing on the PS routes like this. Nearly all flights (with 2 week advance purchase) priced below $400 each way, with some flights around $369 for P fares one way. I checked as far out as Christmas and the fares are present. Even more surprising, same day pricing dropped to $499 one way.
Could get tough to use upgrade points on this route with fares this low. A sub $400 price point should get lots of leisure travelers who want the extra space up front.
Could get tough to use upgrade points on this route with fares this low. A sub $400 price point should get lots of leisure travelers who want the extra space up front.
Jul 31, 2020, 1:10 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,047
Being a frequent paid J PS flyer prior to Covid-19, I have often found it difficult to switch flights within 24 hours of departure.
The premium cabin was usually full and the choices were middle of the regular E seats regardless if it is the 16-seat or 28-seat 757 or the 28-seat 777. occasionally I might get lucky to find a seat on the 787-10.
I am not sure if upgrades were cleared too early or just simply a huge demand for paid J seats.
Although I do like the multiple frequencies offered by United on PS routes, it has not worked well for me in terms of making changes within premium cabin between flights. IAD-SFO is another one that is hard to change to J seat on another flight even with a paid J ticket.
Post Covid-19, who knows!
The premium cabin was usually full and the choices were middle of the regular E seats regardless if it is the 16-seat or 28-seat 757 or the 28-seat 777. occasionally I might get lucky to find a seat on the 787-10.
I am not sure if upgrades were cleared too early or just simply a huge demand for paid J seats.
Although I do like the multiple frequencies offered by United on PS routes, it has not worked well for me in terms of making changes within premium cabin between flights. IAD-SFO is another one that is hard to change to J seat on another flight even with a paid J ticket.
Post Covid-19, who knows!
Jul 31, 2020, 5:30 pm
#79
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Mlife NOIR
Posts: 320
I have the opposite experience. With routine misconnects and other issues at EWR there are regularly seats on seats in the next couple of hours and UA regularly opens up inventory. In January and February I was able to SDC easily at a kiosk in EWR and that was on a P fare!
I agree with the previous poster that most flights on PTS routes - especially on Monday mornings / Thursdays evenings - were usually sold out in biz so it was often hard to do SDC.
Jul 31, 2020, 8:41 pm
#80
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,323
What a shame CA is not the best place to be visiting in the foreseeable future!
On a related note, I had my first B6 Mint experience yesterday and holy smokes - it was exceptional. I hope they stick around.
On a related note, I had my first B6 Mint experience yesterday and holy smokes - it was exceptional. I hope they stick around.
Jul 31, 2020, 10:26 pm
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Jul 31, 2020, 10:56 pm
#82
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
UA just moved to 3 frequencies of EWR-LAX on 9.29. Morning frequency becomes a 787-10, midday a 752 and a nonPolaris refit 763 in the evening,. Cash prices are really low at ~$367 1-way.
Aug 1, 2020, 11:38 am
#83
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,020
Within 24 hours of departures UA would often open up all fare buckets so even if there was only one or two biz seats left you could do a SDC with a P fare.
I agree with the previous poster that most flights on PTS routes - especially on Monday mornings / Thursdays evenings - were usually sold out in biz so it was often hard to do SDC.
I agree with the previous poster that most flights on PTS routes - especially on Monday mornings / Thursdays evenings - were usually sold out in biz so it was often hard to do SDC.
Aug 1, 2020, 1:19 pm
#84
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal (ONT), PVD/BOS, JAX, RSW
Programs: AA/US PlatPro & 1.05MM, DL Plat (challenge), UA dirt
Posts: 3,189
So pre-COVID, the reason why I switched from UA to AA was that I would routinely need to fly to PVD, MHT or PWM and UA just could not get me there, especially since I preferred to fly from SNA or PSP. The main issue that I had ex-SNA was that the aircraft was normally a 73W, and the redeye would leave really early in the evening. And, the UA 73W that operated SNA-EWR was just normal F seats, nothing spectacular, which coupled with the miserable OTP of my connections (EWR-PVD, EWR-PWM, EWR-MHT) it made the switch that much easer.
Even now, when I was attempting to find a non-stop to BOS from LAX, I actually defaulted to B6 first, and then AA. I ended up on AA because I didn’t want to have to deal with taking a 6am flight out of LAX. But, it was one of the reasons why I left UA...I just could not deal with the onward UAX connections from EWR.
Even now, when I was attempting to find a non-stop to BOS from LAX, I actually defaulted to B6 first, and then AA. I ended up on AA because I didn’t want to have to deal with taking a 6am flight out of LAX. But, it was one of the reasons why I left UA...I just could not deal with the onward UAX connections from EWR.
Aug 1, 2020, 10:47 pm
#85
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,323
Most notable: Bed lengthy in fully flat mode, solo seat is wider and more private than 787-10 Polaris (and has a door). Great pillow, proactive/young/enthusiastic FA's who offered a second pillow, saw me wake up and asked if they could get me anything. Solid food choices and good wines. See photo.
Main Meal Trio
Main Meal Trio
Last edited by seanp7; Aug 3, 2020 at 6:56 am Reason: Added Photo of meal service
Sep 11, 2020, 7:39 am
#86
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
B6 announced another round of new flights out of EWR recently, mostly targeted towards Caribbean destinations as far as I can tell...certainly aiming to take a good chunk of UA’s leisure travelers at the airport.
Sep 11, 2020, 8:13 am
#87
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: 66,853
Be aware B6 was drawn back on many of the earlier service increase announcements (airlines make less fuss on those types of changes).
Sep 11, 2020, 1:19 pm
#88
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 8
B6 will be adding more flights over time at EWR as long as gate space is available, especially on routes where they do well on. EWR will be wide open for B6/ULCCs to add flights to in the next few years (at least until international LH and business travel return to close to pre-COVID level). B6 will have room in new terminal 1 to connect more dots and add frequencies over the next couple of years. People also have option to fly out of JFK if EWR schedule doesn't work or get canceled. As they grow at EWR over time, some of the concerns here will probably be smaller concerns. There is some appeal to saying we fly 10 times a day to LAX out of JFK and 6 times a day out of EWR.
Their network at EWR probably will not work for a lot of people looking to fly to middle of the country for business. It will be more of a leisure oriented network with a lot of transcon and leisure stuff. I fully expect them to add a bunch of island routes that UA doesn't fly to right now. That will work for a lot of people who travel more leisurely and want choices.
Their network at EWR probably will not work for a lot of people looking to fly to middle of the country for business. It will be more of a leisure oriented network with a lot of transcon and leisure stuff. I fully expect them to add a bunch of island routes that UA doesn't fly to right now. That will work for a lot of people who travel more leisurely and want choices.
Sep 12, 2020, 10:03 am
#89
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
It shouldn't be a surprise that airlines would trim schedule out of EWR these days.
Also, it looks like EWR-LAS and EWR-SAN will see mint service for the next few months at least.
EWR will be a major growth area for JetBlue as the new Terminal 1 is about to open next year and gates become available.
Sep 12, 2020, 11:45 am
#90
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: 66,853
The point of mentioning here is B6 is throwing a lot up on the wall and trying to see what sticks -- so these recent announcements are to be taken with a huge grain of salt. Likely to be a lot of re-adjustment (trimming if you prefer) in the coming months.