Just a wild guess, but US government regulations require travelers whose fares are paid by US government (including grant money) to fly US-flagged carriers, and government fares can be cheap. US government fliers are kind of a captive group.

Why doesn't United just raise their fares by ten bucks? Unbelievable.

Re: "Flight attendant feedback" - my sister in law is BA cabin crew, and I can tell you now that her feedback would be "eliminate as much as you can if it saves me from doing any work!"

Everyone carry on something horrible and messy - mustard, ketchup, soy sauce - and leave copious amounts of it splattered everywhere so UA spends more time & money cleaning the planes, perhaps missing their slots at Heathrow due to nasty cabin conditions. A few missed takeoff slots will teach 'em quickly :td:

I don't think anybody here is proposing UA become an all-inclusive airline. I would not propose UA bring back meals to Y pax in the US, even tho CO does so on many routes. I think we're pissed because they're de-valuing mileage plus with crazy fees and now even attacking their premium cabin products.

Raise fares. Charge fuel surcharges. Whatever, just stop with the GD nickel and diming. And stop hacking the service in the front cabin to nothing. Why even bother putting the F seats back in the TED A320s if that's what they want to do??

Assuming this is true.. It appears UA will be cutting the number of FAs on the domestic 3 class 777 runs to 6 per:

Staffing will be adjusted to FAA minimums.

For that to work there cannot be dedicated C class FA's. In other words, while we are on a 3 class cabin, the FAs will be separated into 2 teams. Two serving F and the other 4 serving C and Y.

I assume this also means the elimination of glassware etc in C. Also fat chance of getting a refill.


rich

I think the answer to this question is that the real savings comes not from the few bucks collected for the BOB, but rather the reduced FA staffing that goes with BOB, and perhaps also the reduced aircraft weight from eliminating some carts and perhaps eventually ovens.

It's not the elimination of glassware in C, it's the elimination of C altogether.

Those will be really good Y seats for Elites. They're just copying AA.

If it plays out like this, it will be a huge win, and we'll be looking for these 3-class aircraft whenever we can.

This is how I read it too. "Two-class service" means selling two classes of service. If not, then whoever wrote the memo needs to be sent to remedial English. If they are pulling an AA here, then I don't see it as a bad thing. Basically just an E++ product.

Probably only 1 full time for F (especially with the reconfigured F cabins..there just aren't that many seats in 3 class F)... with 4 for C & Y, and 1 floater who can help out in both places...that would be my guess.

Again, I think you're seriously mistaken if you think UA will give away 3-class C seats on domestic runs.

I hope you are correct!!!

But, if you are, why would they offer free food and Booze to people that have already gotten a free better seat? That does not make sense.


rich

Bad move by UA for sure. For vegetarians like me, BOB was hardly ever an option. So I guess we will be forced to brown-bag it if we fly UA.

The memo did not specifically state that booze or food would be free in the domestic biz cabin.

Then whats their plan? The memo said 2 classes of service so it sounds like F/Y if they aren't selling C seats they have to give them away.

I believe this is what AA does as well.

This is a great point.
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Although I am generally not in favor of government interference in private corporations, I wonder if a Passenger Bill of Rights would mandate complimentary meal service on overseas flight?

Also, I bet I am not the only one who has shared a C-Class cabin with a Member of Congress before. I doubt Senator Feinstein is going to appreciate not being able to have a hot meal on IAD-SFO!! :o

Maybe a BofR will come to pass...

These are exactly what keeps me from just throwing up my hands and saying I've had it with UA. From what I can tell, it's the easiest to upgrade on UA compared to any other carrier for someone of my status, international upgrades are the cheapest (miles and $), and award redemption levels are very reasonable. Should ANY of that change, however, the door won't have time to hit me on the way out.

This is a pretty important point for IAD. I've been flying on some gov tickets lately, and buried in my travel regulation is a statement to the effect of 'upgrades to business class that are sponsored by the flyer are OK, while upgrades to first are not allowable under any circumstances'. This means that any upgrades on a two class domestic flight are technically not allowed, while 3-class aircraft allow us to skirt the rules.