EWR764

Free AVOD. The same system as is installed on the sCO 764s, with the Panasonic Eco9i integrated 'smart monitors' built into the seat shell. It's a really nice product, very modern-looking. This system will also be installed on the 787s.



Credit to LAXIntl from Airliners.net for snapping a quick photo of the new 67E Y-cabin.

UA-NYC

Good content, an absolute crap interface though

EWR764

No argument here. I believe the 67E has the former UA interface, which would be great.

UA767400

So this 763 could be on the IAH-LIM flight right? I could see the swap occurring on the EWR route especially if there is a strong cargo demand.

ORDGuy79

There will be some very long-haul domestic markets where this config will go into play (I'm guessing anything CO previously flew domestically), but I highly doubt this investment is being made with a mainline focus where profitability is lower.

This is the death-knell for F class (which is a trend overall; nothing new there) and the overall premium-class density has decreased (albeit slightly) by 2 seats versus the previous configuration.

Further, ORD-LHR are 763s (not sure if they're switching back to the 777s when the PMUA lie-flat configurations are finally completed), but if not I could just as easily see UA switching to the two-class cabin on that route as well even though it's far more traveled and elite-heavy.

Given the significant lock AA + OW and UA +*A have on ORD, I fail to see stiff Skyteam competition out of ORD. KL's C seats out of ORD are angled and they only have one flight a day too, so I don't see KL being stiff competition either.

UA should increase revenue (and there are other ways to do it than cramming 75% more people across the pond at 31" of pitch), but that's not the issue at hand. The issue I made mention of was a press release stating the new configuration is beneficial to the customer in terms of "more comfort, choice, and value" when it clearly is not true compared to the previous configuration.

I believe more elites than you think will wind up in E- with the significant reduction in E+ seats in this new config, especially combined with less seats in premium-cabin space.

UA-NYC

Really?!?! PMUA AVOD with PMCO seats? If so, that's kind of interesting.

sbm12

Agreed that we'll see fewer routes with it in the coming months and years.


There are plenty of 3-cabin 763s still around to fly the routes where they are warranted.

EWR764

If a three-cabin aircraft is deployed in a market where paid F cabin fares are infrequent to nonexistent, yet J sales are strong, or in a high-volume market with a lot of economy class travelers, moving to a higher-density, less-premium configuration allows the airline to capture more revenue at the same or similar fixed cost. On the other hand, where you have routes with strong premium demand but limited leisure/economy traffic, a high-density configuration leaves money on the table.

That is how a fleet with a diversity of premium:economy ratios serves an airline well.

Aside from the fact that there is clearly a global trend away from 'true' F cabins, this still doesn't make sense to me, because the 3-cabin 763ERs are not affected by this mod. The two-class 763s (becoming 67E) were formerly in high-density domestic configurations and did not serve front-line transoceanic routes.

It's possible, but entirely speculative on your part. Despite the extensive cross-fleeting since the merger, even on international routes, ORD/IAD/SFO/LAX-LHR have retained three-cabin service. The weight of the evidence does not point to this outcome.

KL dominates Amsterdam-originating traffic to Chicago and also offers extensive connections throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East over AMS. Although the product may be inferior and the service is only once a day, it is with a 275-seat 747-400 (Combi) as against United's 183-seat 767-300ER. I would call a competitor's 50% ASM advantage over the local hub carrier's capacity in the market stiff competition, though not necessarily evidence that one is 'beating' the other. Consider that AA and OW do not even offer ORD-AMS service.

I believe you are mistaken as to what the previous configuration actually was.

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont.../300ER/v3.aspx

JOSECONLSCREW28

Looks like 6674 isnt doing so hot it's first full day in service. Was late leaving SFO by 2 hours, and was supposed to fly to AMS tonight as 908, however its still experiencing mechanical issues, so now 908 will be operated by 6453. However 6674 is operating 908 on Wednesday.

ualisthebst

Just beat me to it...I saw this as well. I wonder what the issue was with this a/c today. Not good for the first day back in service.

meFIRST

Just to be clear, these are the old ghetto birds, stripped of domestic F seats and replaced with CO BF seats and Y AVOD?

Did they swap the engines too?

EWR764

Correct.

The engines are all the same, but were uprated when they re-certified the aircraft at higher gross weights in preparation for the winglet mods and cabin update.

ualisthebst

Although delayed an hour, it looks like N674UA finally took to the skies last night as UA908 (ORD-AMS). However, the return flight to ORD today looks to be delayed 2.75 hours after returning to the gate with a mechanical issue.

Anyone have any clue what is going on with this a/c? It doesn't seem to be having a very good first week after the 4+ month conversion.

belfordrocks

Apparently (according to A.net) the 6 domestic 777's and 3 int'l non IPTE sUA 777's are getting reconfigured with 2-2-2 p.s. business seats and 3-3-3 non AVOD coach seats in a 2 class config. Anyone confirm/deny this?

EWR764

Lot of new/overhauled systems on this bird. It's practically a new airplane. New deliveries tend to have some teething troubles, especially since this is the first ship. Subsequent mods and service reentries typically go much smoother.