Think twice about using United miles to Australia
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2
Think twice about using United miles to Australia
I had to vent about my experience with United from the US to Australia. It was absolutely miserable and I only flew United because I could go with miles. I just did this roundtrip route in November 2011 and I can report no improvements have been made since their CEO claimed a year ago that improvements were on the way. The seats and aisles are significantly narrower than United domestic flights. I almost wasted $175 or so to upgrade to economy plus and I'm glad I didn't as I noticed hardly any improvement in space. The absence of personal entertainment units was unacceptable, even if you have an iPad. I couldn't believe they played these violent movies with explosions part of the way. I was trying to sleep a few rows back from the large center section tv on the back of the bathrooms and I kept waking up to the large, bright flames - crazy they would show this. Worst thing was the rude flight attendants that BULLDOZED passengers down the aisle. I was stepped on TWICE with no apology by flight attendants walking faster than necessary up and down the aisle. There is absolutely nowhere to stand to stretch your legs. They tell you at the beginning of the flight not to stand anywhere in the aisles. Very dangerous with deep vein thrombosis risk. if you need to get something out of your bag and want to quickly lean out in the aisle to retrieve something, watch out for the flight attendants that step on you and yell at you to get back in your seat! You are glued to your seat for 14 hours straight. I'm used to finding a few empty seats together when i fly internationally, but I can report these flights were oversold (SFO-SYD) with not an empty seat each way. It's not worth it to use miles to go with United. Pay to fly Virgin or Air New Zealand instead.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,343
next time use your United miles to fly Air NZ or Air Canada to Australia.
United 747s in economy are miserable, no news here...
United 747s in economy are miserable, no news here...
#4
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: LHR/LGW
Programs: DL Gold, CO Silver
Posts: 1,036
Just because every seat is occupied in economy-how does that make the flight over-sold?
Quite honestly a little research would have told you what to expect with UA on this route -and a little more would have shown you that you had options to use other carriers within *A too.
Quite honestly a little research would have told you what to expect with UA on this route -and a little more would have shown you that you had options to use other carriers within *A too.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,896
I think your suggestion is right on (avoid this trip in coach if you have alternatives). United's own CEO said as much a year ago, discussed at e.g. http://www.ausbt.com.au/united-conti...an-747-service :
He didn't announce specific product or timeline improvements, so you might think twice about making plans to fly this route in coach until you hear a timeline. For most merger-related changes, once UA has announced a date, they have stuck to it or beat it.
This is too late for the OP, but you can actually use United miles to book award tickets on other Star Alliance carriers. There are other options to Australia (for example Air New Zealand), and while availability can be spotty, it can be worth calling in to try to find help.
The back of the product on the 747 that United flies to Australia is not an acceptable level of product Smisek admits. And I know that, I recognise that. But United on its own didnt have the money to invest in that product. Now (with the United-Continental merger) it does, and we will.
This is too late for the OP, but you can actually use United miles to book award tickets on other Star Alliance carriers. There are other options to Australia (for example Air New Zealand), and while availability can be spotty, it can be worth calling in to try to find help.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,267
UA C on that route is quite nice. Sure it is still on the stinkin' 747 but you notice it a whole lot less.
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,780
Of course not you wasted miles on a coach ticket!!!!!! That is a mortal offense on FT ... the gods of heck will punish you for this ... oh wait they already did @:-) .
UA C on that route is quite nice. Sure it is still on the stinkin' 747 but you notice it a whole lot less.
UA C on that route is quite nice. Sure it is still on the stinkin' 747 but you notice it a whole lot less.
If you aren't going to do some basic research, don't complain.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
Feel better now OP? Welcome to FT.
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: UA-1K, Marriott Plat Premier
Posts: 340
How about this. In 2009 I did Chicago - Hong Kong - Singapore six times, all in economy on the lovely 747. Company was being super cheap and forced us to use absolute lowest fare airline at the time so UA it was.
Like mentioned above, you don't have to look in the weeds very far to realize the Aussie/Asis routes on the UA 747 in economy is bottom of the barrell and that's being generous.
Of course I got screwed with a Singapore Air booking too. Had a low fare (I think Q) that got ZERO miles credited for an SFO-SIN routing. That cost me 1K that year......
The only enjoyable seat I know does not exist on ANY airplaine
Like mentioned above, you don't have to look in the weeds very far to realize the Aussie/Asis routes on the UA 747 in economy is bottom of the barrell and that's being generous.
Of course I got screwed with a Singapore Air booking too. Had a low fare (I think Q) that got ZERO miles credited for an SFO-SIN routing. That cost me 1K that year......
The only enjoyable seat I know does not exist on ANY airplaine
#11
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA GLD
Posts: 1,709
I'll take the bait......
I agree that the overhead TV screen is horrible... BUT the UA 744's have always been that way and you can see that at seatguru.
Like Rank said... NZ or AC next time!
I agree that the overhead TV screen is horrible... BUT the UA 744's have always been that way and you can see that at seatguru.
Like Rank said... NZ or AC next time!
#12
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
I did a 747 last month LHR-SFO in the back of coach (no E+, even for a 1K) and can feel your pain. In my case, though, I had a Samsung tablet along that provided video to meet my needs, and didn't suffer as much as you did.
#13
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: BNE/OOL temporarily-permanently at CAK/PIT
Programs: UA*1K & UA Club, National Ex. Elite, Hertz Pres. Circ., Amex Plat., CLEAR
Posts: 1,703
A quick reminder that the new NZ 77W product in Y is not any better - 10 seats across in the back.
Redeeming 67,500 miles for AC or NZ J for a hop across the pond, however, is excellent.
Redeeming 67,500 miles for AC or NZ J for a hop across the pond, however, is excellent.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,910
I had to vent about my experience with United from the US to Australia. It was absolutely miserable and I only flew United because I could go with miles. I just did this roundtrip route in November 2011 and I can report no improvements have been made since their CEO claimed a year ago that improvements were on the way. The seats and aisles are significantly narrower than United domestic flights. I almost wasted $175 or so to upgrade to economy plus and I'm glad I didn't as I noticed hardly any improvement in space. The absence of personal entertainment units was unacceptable, even if you have an iPad. I couldn't believe they played these violent movies with explosions part of the way. I was trying to sleep a few rows back from the large center section tv on the back of the bathrooms and I kept waking up to the large, bright flames - crazy they would show this. Worst thing was the rude flight attendants that BULLDOZED passengers down the aisle. I was stepped on TWICE with no apology by flight attendants walking faster than necessary up and down the aisle. There is absolutely nowhere to stand to stretch your legs. They tell you at the beginning of the flight not to stand anywhere in the aisles. Very dangerous with deep vein thrombosis risk. if you need to get something out of your bag and want to quickly lean out in the aisle to retrieve something, watch out for the flight attendants that step on you and yell at you to get back in your seat! You are glued to your seat for 14 hours straight. I'm used to finding a few empty seats together when i fly internationally, but I can report these flights were oversold (SFO-SYD) with not an empty seat each way. It's not worth it to use miles to go with United. Pay to fly Virgin or Air New Zealand instead.
So read until your brain hurts and you will absorb a lot if good information. And ask questions. You also will learn to get a thick skin on Flyertalk as some just can't resist flaming people for things. But if you learn to ignore the negative there is a lot of good information here.
Welcome.
Last edited by Baze; Jan 2, 2012 at 1:53 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2001
Location: exUA1K, UA MM, lifetime UA1P, AA MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,731
OP, you have now learned why most of us work at procuring Business Class or better.
BTW, UA 747's have a large area in the very aft of the Y cabin (storage galley) that can be used for hours of PAX physical exercise on long flights.
BTW, UA 747's have a large area in the very aft of the Y cabin (storage galley) that can be used for hours of PAX physical exercise on long flights.