Originally Posted by Phoenician Aviator (Post 8572833)

The difference between a hard block and a soft block is that the hard block is guaranteed. Plenty of times we've all seen our blocked middle seat become occupied at the last minute. Certainly wouldn't want that when paying for a premium cabin.

That said, I just don't think the right service culture exists at UA, certainly not in the short-haul division. If you fly LH from FRA-LHR, say, the meal you get will be substantially better quality (as will the drinks) than a UA meal on comparable length flight. Unless UA funded better meals from the diminished spend on premium seats, this would not be as good of a soft product as you find on the good European airlines, and thus, a net loss for the customer.

Originally Posted by lucky9876coins (Post 8571944)

I know some people like European Business, but I can't stand it. I would rather have what UA has now than European Business as it is (typically with less legroom).

Originally Posted by CantonFlyer (Post 8574008)

Whoops, meant ORD not IRD in my previous post!

Originally Posted by ryan182 (Post 8572568)

this makes sense and you have to wonder what brain trust added the 6 seats to being with.

Originally Posted by Phoenician Aviator (Post 8572833)

The difference between a hard block and a soft block is that the hard block is guaranteed. Plenty of times we've all seen our blocked middle seat become occupied at the last minute. Certainly wouldn't want that when paying for a premium cabin.

That said, I just don't think the right service culture exists at UA, certainly not in the short-haul division. If you fly LH from FRA-LHR, say, the meal you get will be substantially better quality (as will the drinks) than a UA meal on comparable length flight. Unless UA funded better meals from the diminished spend on premium seats, this would not be as good of a soft product as you find on the good European airlines, and thus, a net loss for the customer.

Originally Posted by lucky9876coins (Post 8575798)

What if UA guaranteed a block middle, meaning on the manifest the seat would be blocked out and no one could take it? I would guarantee there would still be people screaming "in Y someome had a blocked middle, so I want my money back!" Either way I don't think service in European Business is that good. I would not call the food substantially better than in the US at all, but that's just me. Don't even get me started on the attitudes of some of those Lufty FA's!:td:

Originally Posted by iluv2fly (Post 8575827)

If you are going to guarantee a "hard block," then just bring back F. It's soooo easy...

Originally Posted by CantonFlyer (Post 8574003)

Would be fantastic to reintroduce First Class - As I live in the UK, nothing is worse than flying UA in C or F across the Pond and then to connect at IAD or IRD for a TED flight to LAS or Florida, despite paying for a through premium ticket - please please please please, lets have some premium seats back on these routes!

Originally Posted by Axey (Post 8570424)

I suspect the real reason this idea is floating around is fleet utilization.

Maintaining a subfleet with a different configuration means that the United fleet as a whole can't be optimized to its full potential due to the lack of F on Ted. If Ted went away, there would likely be numerous tangential benefits related to fleet utilization and I'm sure a few new routes/flights would come of it.

I will bet a nickel that customer requests and comfort have 0.00% to do with it.

Originally Posted by Liz (Post 8575333)

Back when the 156 was announced, I wrote to the "suggestion box" and said I really felt the 6 seats would not overcome the costs of a 4th f/a. Of course this fell on deaf ears. In fact, I received a very condescending email explaining how I just don't get it, they have studied this, blah blah blah.

I wish I had saved that email...

Originally Posted by rch4u (Post 8576815)

The accountant in me would love to see all of the creative cost allocations and methodologies that go into making Ted look profitable/revolutionary on paper for all the execs at UA. I bet it's incredible!

Originally Posted by ryan182 (Post 8576748)

unless the overwhelming majority of ted flights goes out 99%-100% full then I would bet the 4th FA vs 6 seats is a big fat $$ loser and the sender of that email is a moron.