gnaget

I have flown 3 legs between SEA and NRT since February. The first two had the old 777 when I booked it, but changed to new config. The latest one a few weeks ago had the new config when booked but changed to old config.

To answer the question about when the old seatmap appears, it happened 2-3 days before the flight for me 2 weeks ago. Well, that was for LAX-NRT. For NRT-SEA, I didn't notice until the day before.

So I had LAX-NRT change to old config as well. So it's not that they discriminate against SEA and the question "when will SEA have the new config" pre-supposes that they have specific aircraft on this route, which they do not.

Also, I had a NRT-LAX change from old to new. I didn't notice until check-in and I got a crappy seat (row 7 rearward toward galley).

Actually, come to think of it. All five 777 legs changed aircraft on me since February! The sixth leg was on a 747.

drewguy

There's a sliver of hope, but I've found like the PP, the seat maps seem to change in the last couple of days before the flight. I have, even in that situation, ended up with a double switch (old->new->old in that case)

Weatherboy

I called reservations who told me my F cabin had 12 seats. When I said looking at the seatmap on united.com, my view only shows 8. She said "oh, must be something wrong with the website, let me transfer you to the online support desk." Got a guy there who said reservations was wrong, there's not 12 seats. When I asked him how many there were, he said 8...but I heard him counting before he answered. I asked him if he was looking at the website seatmap or at actual buyable inventory: he said he was looking at the website. I hung up.

ainternational

Had a crappy experience in F from BKK to NRT yesterday. Purser said she's not often seeing the old config on that route any more, but low and behold, it reared its ugly head. She said, "we all hate it when we walk on board and see those old seats". Yeah... and I paid to be in one. Just great.

Nothing like having a 4" blurry LCD screen with VCR tapes in 2012.

Weatherboy

It's not looking good I'm on 934 LAX-LHR on Saturday and 931 LHR-SFO on Sunday, presumably the same metal, but the United Cargo site still shows it as a 777. United.com, though, still shows a 77D, although it's selling more seats in F than exist in a 77D. Anyone care to place a wager?

transpac-canuck

Anyone know why zero 777s are in for conversion? Or is the wiki outdated?

LordTentacle

Moving into summer == higher loads == more flights/bigger planes
The 777's are all required to be running routes right now

SFOTurtle

You might be right, although the 777 conversions continued at a decent pace last summer and there were seemingly at least two in the shop at all times.

chinatraderjmr

LHR flights seem to have the best chance of new lie flat as UA must compete with at least 3 other airlines on this route ALL W LIE FLAT

tjuabayflyer

looks like n204UA is in SFO, not sure whether it is being reconfigured.

planemechanic

That airplane is being reconfigured.

tjuabayflyer

thanks for the info. Great to see the first XI in the shop.

It also looks like N222UA (already reconfigured) is in PEK for maintenance. Before, N788UA (was also already reconfigured) was in PEK for quite some time as well.

Bitterroot

About the same number of T7 frames will see shopping this summer as last -- but more of the planes occupying those shop slots will already have been converted. Consequently, the number that can be worked in for conversion at any given point goes down over time.

transpac-canuck

Thrilled to see N204UA in for conversion.

What's the average conversion time on these birds? There have been varying estimates given in the thread, but I think that variation is dependent on the shop doing the work. How long do our brethren in San Francisco take to do this work?

-tpc

planemechanic

The airplanes done in SFO are typically stand alone visits without a maintenance visit attached. The ones done in Beijing are done with a heavy maintenance check included, which is what drives the schedule. The average for SFO is about 22-24 days, in Beijing with the maintenance visit it is typically 30 days.