Fleet Updgrade Report: Hard and Soft Product
Jun 25, 2007, 5:00 pm
#106
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: No longer loyal "over-entitled" 1K
Posts: 3,822
And, BTW, I find VS LHR CH to be better than any IFL.
Jun 25, 2007, 5:06 pm
#107
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: YYC
Programs: UA 1K, PC Plat
Posts: 762
I think kkjay makes a really good point here... When many consider the HKG IFL one of the top lounges, it really makes me shudder when I compare it to ANA F, CX Wing F or SQ SKL F..... Sure, it sounds like LH Sen doesn't have that great of an F lounge product... But still... the IFL product is not something to write home about and something they need to improve if they want to fight for premium customers.
Jun 25, 2007, 7:53 pm
#108
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,231
But what you fail to acknowledge are amenities, and all that United's competitors on route have to make mention of is their in-flight amenities. EG: Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Singapore, ANA, and many others all offer superior coach IFE compared to United, and all it takes is for Expedia, Orbitz, and the other booking engines that many people us to start displaying this information and as long as the price is within a few dollars, United's 747 fleet has just become a draw instead of a savings on IFE costs.
But I (and many of my immediate circle) won't subject myself to 14+ hours of UA's lack of amenities or indifferent "service" (except for UA's Asia-based flight crew, I'll fly with them!) to save US$100. That extra US$100 difference between UA and SQ/NH/CX is soooo worth it on the transpacific long haul. Being able to have a good meal, pleasant service and a choice of movies (instead of the PC, heavily edited second-tier movies UA runs on the big screen) helps to pass the time. So do clean bathrooms. ^
Since I can't tell which UA flights actually have the fabled Asia-based flight crew when I purchase my ticket, guess I'm stuck flying SQ/NH/CX instead!
Jun 25, 2007, 8:15 pm
#109
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: ORD & SIN
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat
Posts: 14
Last edited by alc217; Jun 25, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Jun 25, 2007, 8:27 pm
#110
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: No longer loyal "over-entitled" 1K
Posts: 3,822
I agree with the above and I will concur that Y is price sensitive.
But I (and many of my immediate circle) won't subject myself to 14+ hours of UA's lack of amenities or indifferent "service" (except for UA's Asia-based flight crew, I'll fly with them!) to save US$100. That extra US$100 difference between UA and SQ/NH/CX is soooo worth it on the transpacific long haul. Being able to have a good meal, pleasant service and a choice of movies (instead of the PC, heavily edited second-tier movies UA runs on the big screen) helps to pass the time. So do clean bathrooms. ^
Since I can't tell which UA flights actually have the fabled Asia-based flight crew when I purchase my ticket, guess I'm stuck flying SQ/NH/CX instead!
But I (and many of my immediate circle) won't subject myself to 14+ hours of UA's lack of amenities or indifferent "service" (except for UA's Asia-based flight crew, I'll fly with them!) to save US$100. That extra US$100 difference between UA and SQ/NH/CX is soooo worth it on the transpacific long haul. Being able to have a good meal, pleasant service and a choice of movies (instead of the PC, heavily edited second-tier movies UA runs on the big screen) helps to pass the time. So do clean bathrooms. ^
Since I can't tell which UA flights actually have the fabled Asia-based flight crew when I purchase my ticket, guess I'm stuck flying SQ/NH/CX instead!
How could you do that... you don't get 1P bonus miles
Jun 25, 2007, 8:30 pm
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 20,404
Jun 26, 2007, 12:29 am
#114
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: SQ AA TK
Posts: 1,438
If LH+TG = "many", I'm not sure what "a few" is. 
My point was that on the routes UA flies, only LH (who shares revenue with UA) is equally awful in terms of 744 Y entertainment. Most other longhaul carriers UA competes with to asia and europe have PTV's in Y. As for TG, I don't think they currently fly 744's to the US, do they?
UA and LH are at the bottom of the pile.
And no, no PTV on LH's 744 in Y
My point was that on the routes UA flies, only LH (who shares revenue with UA) is equally awful in terms of 744 Y entertainment. Most other longhaul carriers UA competes with to asia and europe have PTV's in Y. As for TG, I don't think they currently fly 744's to the US, do they?
UA and LH are at the bottom of the pile.
And no, no PTV on LH's 744 in Y
Jun 26, 2007, 2:27 am
#115
Join Date: May 2004
Location: near FRA
Programs: UA 1K 2MM (*G)
Posts: 1,459
Jun 26, 2007, 3:39 am
#117
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Taiwan
Programs: UA, CX, BR
Posts: 718
To get back to C-seats. I actually like the present UA 'loungers'. And now that I've *finally* tried the opposition's flat-but-slanted seats, I like the loungers even better. Certainly for sitting, and even, within reason, for sleeping. Of course, that means they will definitely disappear in a year or two.
Jun 26, 2007, 10:19 am
#118
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Too many
Programs: Lots
Posts: 5,761
I don't think I have to give you a list of airlines without PTVs as other members have already shown you how "many" carriers do not have PTVs in Y. More examples just in case you think the given carriers were insufficient to make up many, AI (Air India), AF on some 744s, PAL, Orient Thai, PIA. Also, don't forget that UA also operates the 777 to Asia, which has PTV but no AVOD. BTW, CX also does not have AVOD.
Jun 26, 2007, 10:20 am
#119
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
To get back to C-seats. I actually like the present UA 'loungers'. And now that I've *finally* tried the opposition's flat-but-slanted seats, I like the loungers even better. Certainly for sitting, and even, within reason, for sleeping. Of course, that means they will definitely disappear in a year or two.
But then, I have not tried all the competitions' seats yet. But I am trying LH lay flat biz next week. It will be interesting to compare.
Jun 26, 2007, 10:53 am
#120
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SFO, IAH
Programs: UA MM, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 434
When I was in the IFL in LHR, the food (e.g., basic sandwiches) was disgusting, the booze was average, and the condition / decor of the lounge was bland. I haven't been in other IFL, so maybe my n of one is small -- still, I would think if UA can't make its lounge nice in LHR, where would it be nice?! I conceed the IFL is less packed and is quieter than other *G and C lounges on other carriers, but that's purely a numbers issue -- less ppl flying in F. It's not about anything UA is doing besides limiting the entrance. Lucky, maybe we just care about different things -- the amenities are more important to me than how quiet the place is.
Besides, isn't it sad that we regularly compare UA's F product to other carrier's C products? If we were to compare it to a real F product...
1Konsultant
Last edited by 1Konsultant; Jun 26, 2007 at 10:59 am