Bingo!!! If choosing between E+, better protection for IRROPs, and 100% RDM vs. 31"-32" pitch with a hot (albeit mediocre) meal and free booze, it's a no brainer that I want the extra leg room...especially for a long-haul flight. I can bring a snack (or even do the BOB) and have dinner beforehand. And while everyone complains about $6 for a drink, that's just as much as paying for a drink at a bar in a lot of cities.

Sure many people will be disappointed with the lack of food, but many people will stay with United because they value something else more than food.

As for the domestic C service, either there will be enough people who value the seat enough to use upgrade instruments or there will be lots of op-ups. And United will either be OK with doing lots of Op-ups (they have no additional cost to United) or they will decide they are losing too much money by way of upgrade instruments and C fares and change their minds. But frankly, the idea of more op-ups combined with cost savings doesn't sound like a horrible outcome for United.

There is no doubt that most seats in C (and F on 3-class) are filled with upgrades. NO DOUBT.

I took 871 SFO-IAD in F last week. I was the only one in F when I checked in 2 hours prior to departure. It ended up being booked 9 of 10. I guess I can see why UA doesn't want to cater for it.

I'm definately left wondering, though, about getting an ECO meal for my paid C flights SFO-IAD-SFO that I do regularly. I'm paying for C anyway. I think I'll reconsider paying $600 extra over VX to stay with UA.

VX has a better seat, RED, real food and costs $600 less. Yup. Just convinced myself.

This is a really dumb move, however expect other airlines to follow in NA.

Just got off the phone with the 1K desk. They said that the changes to BOB in Y were being discussed, but were not 100% yet. The changes to the C product (free BOB), were probably not going to happen, but admitted that they were being talked about.

I told the agent not to complete the purchase of my BOS-LHR flight until we knew more information, and please pass along STRONG objections to whomever makes those decisions. My thought is that an itinerary not purchased makes a louder statement than just whining....

Could it be that UA is sending this memo to employees before an official announcement so that they can gauge the outrage level? If it seems like outrage is too high, maybe they will pull back.

Easy, Easy. Sudan Airways has lie flat seat in coach and serve hot meals on all flights....especially the Sudan to River Nile flights.

:D:D

I'm just wondering how UA can continue to compete against AA in the JFK transcon market when AA has cheaper fares at the equivalent restriction levels in J and F (some by a few bucks, some by a few hundred) and isn't undergoing service "enhancements".

This just in: The people at the 1K desk have no idea what they're talking about. Trust me, they'll be the last to know. You'll read about it in The New York Times before the 1K desk will have a clue. :rolleyes:

and warm nuts!!!!!

Well, for one detail, AA hasn't had a full-snack service on breakfast flights for who knows how long? It is one main reason I book UA. With that gone, the only differentiator is row 9 on the ps 757s :mad:

Whenever I take morning transcons that don't serve a snack before landing I am STARVING when I reach my destination. I was peeved as hell when UA dropped the snack before landing in F/C on the rest of their transcons a couple years ago. It used to be served on IAD/BOS/NYC(maybe others?)-LAX/SFO, then scaled back to only p.s. flights.

It is truly moronic to sacrifice your 'cash cow' p.s. flights. Like others have said this seems like Pan-Am "hey let's sell our only profitable routes!"

Beginning of the end if they go through with this. Nice knowing you UA!

O my gawsh! What a bunch of drama queens. 'Ohhhh... the end is near!!!' 'US will survive over UA!' "Oh, I think WN is way better than UA because of this!' 'I'll never fly UA again!' 'I'm canceling my UA credit cards and complaining to a Chase rep in India who could care less!' 'I'm burning all my UA miles!'

Ok, everybody... take a deep breath in..... release.....

Now, let's take a rational look at this.

1. Does anyone see any airlines making money? Anyone....?

2. Does anyone think it is a smart thing to continue operating under a business plan that was designed to work under $80/barrel oil, when the current oil price is still $113? Anyone...?

3. Can you all explain to me why it would be smart for UA to be an all-inclusive airline in a market that is over-saturated with competition driven by pricing as opposed to amenities?

Unless that C fare becomes a F/A fare and you're getting 3-cabin F seat

IAD is UA's hub so no competition. Whereas ORD, gees where should I start...... AA, BA, LH, e.t.c.

UA cannot implement this in ORD because AA will cream (oh what a juicy term) them.

The same JetBlue that has no free meals and no first class?

Yes. Plenty of them.

By that logic, United should cease flying since it's not profitable anyway.

Transatlantic is oversaturated? Really?