UA Temporarily Grounds Boeing 772 (PW Power); returning to service: late May 2022
Jul 5, 2021, 3:08 pm
#316
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
I’m traveling from London to Honolulu December 30th. While not particularly fond of the F sardine can, I can sleep in it. Now I’m stuck on a 753. Was able to nab 1A. No other lie-flats I can connect to.
Jul 5, 2021, 3:29 pm
#317
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,660
Besides UA, what other airlines are hoping this gets a fix? I think I’ve read that most P/W 772 operators have decided to retire the aircraft rather than wait for a fix. Seems like a fix would be expensive for an engine in so few aircraft.
Jul 6, 2021, 7:38 pm
#318
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: ORD, MCO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 271
According to this blog post from February, you've got Asiana, Korean Air, and Jin Air from South Korea and Japan Airlines and ANA from Japan. IIRC JAL and ANA said they were retiring theirs for good and the South Korean fleet isn't too large. The combined OZ/KE will have newer aircraft to replace them if that's what they end up doing. UA appears to have the largest exposure. Is this impacting 764's returning? I think I saw one scheduled for EWR-SFO
Jul 6, 2021, 9:32 pm
#319
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
yup, and they took them off of SFO-OGG in the fall - I think they were scheduled for a couple of months from roughly mid-Oct. to mid-Dec. I was looking for early-mid Nov, and finally, a couple of weeks ago, they gave it the boot and replaced it with [another] 738 - so now SFO-OGG in the fall (of course, when we’re going) is now all showing 738. That also drove up the cost of the earlier morning westbound flight and early afternoon eastbound, which is our preferred times. Hoping there’s still time to amend the schedule with a widebody at some point, but we’ll see - I seem to always remember at least one on this route a widebody.
Jul 6, 2021, 9:33 pm
#320
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,524
Possible there's another schedule/aircraft change or two between now and December.
Jul 7, 2021, 3:56 am
#321
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,129
I had booked a December 13 trip from KOA-ORD. It looks like they are resuming the non-stop Summer service for the December holiday period, which is great news if it sticks! That said, when we booked it it was 772HD service. A few days later it became 788 service like the Summer service. It looks like the retrofit on the PW 772 is going to take a long time and/or UA is retiring some of these birds.
Jul 7, 2021, 6:45 am
#322
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: No. California
Programs: UA MP HH LTD
Posts: 2,040
yup, and they took them off of SFO-OGG in the fall - I think they were scheduled for a couple of months from roughly mid-Oct. to mid-Dec. I was looking for early-mid Nov, and finally, a couple of weeks ago, they gave it the boot and replaced it with [another] 738 - so now SFO-OGG in the fall (of course, when we’re going) is now all showing 738. That also drove up the cost of the earlier morning westbound flight and early afternoon eastbound, which is our preferred times. Hoping there’s still time to amend the schedule with a widebody at some point, but we’ll see - I seem to always remember at least one on this route a widebody.
Jul 7, 2021, 9:24 am
#323
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
I can actually change to LHR-DEN-OGG for a lie-flat all the way, but a schedule change is exactly what I am afraid of - a change to that DEN-HNL flight timing that'll make the same-day connection impossible (plus I have faint hopes the PL will be open by then at SFO). I guess I'll suffer the 753.
Jul 7, 2021, 10:42 am
#324
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,679
I can actually change to LHR-DEN-OGG for a lie-flat all the way, but a schedule change is exactly what I am afraid of - a change to that DEN-HNL flight timing that'll make the same-day connection impossible (plus I have faint hopes the PL will be open by then at SFO). I guess I'll suffer the 753.
Jul 7, 2021, 4:00 pm
#325
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
WN doesn't have a plane with enough range for DEN-HNL - maybe it could be attempted with a MAX 7, but between the distance, altitude, headwinds, fuel reserves I don't think it would be possible.
Jul 7, 2021, 9:54 pm
#326
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,524
Some folks are enamored of WN to the extent that they prefer a WN connecting itinerary over a UA nonstop.
Jul 7, 2021, 10:12 pm
#327
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
..UA bag fees can add up for a family of four going on vacation. Rumor of UA providing meals in coach DEN-Hawaii might be something UA can crow about in addition to the non-stops.
Aug 30, 2021, 6:13 am
#329
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: UA MM, AA PPro
Posts: 1,480
Subscription may be required to read the full article, but the gist is that Boeing is working on the engine cover modifications, while UA and P&W are developing new testing procedures that can be performed at many maintenance stations, as opposed to the P&W facilities. Exact criteria for the return to service have not yet been decided by the FAA.
Aug 30, 2021, 10:44 pm
#330
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,324
I do have to wonder if this unilateral decision to ban all PW 777s for this length of time, or at all, would have taken place in an environment where Covid wasn't occurring - Even in a post 737-Max world.
Imagine the amount of overnight capacity reduction, and associated cancellations across the system in a UA circa 2019 were this to occur. I'm candidly sure what the least-messy contingency plan would be here. And I certainly would expect a different tenor and tone from the company to the FAA behind closed doors and in public.
Imagine the amount of overnight capacity reduction, and associated cancellations across the system in a UA circa 2019 were this to occur. I'm candidly sure what the least-messy contingency plan would be here. And I certainly would expect a different tenor and tone from the company to the FAA behind closed doors and in public.