When is UA going to kill Ted?
#32
Join Date: Sep 2008
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...I'd think UA would also need to offer frequency comparable to AA, but AA can financially justify more frequency because of the onward Caribbean/Latin America connections from their MIA hub.
#33
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I was happy with the exPlus service to MIA, personally. You just can't beat that 1-2 seating configuration! Nice clean E170's compared to dirty old AA 757/MD80's. Maybe it will come back after the "heavy" season down here.
#34
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Whatever people say about F on UA, it is still preferable to being one of a hundred in the back. In exchange for a likely otherwise unusable e500 (I've got about 24 of these) I get:
* free alcohol, though not recommended to Vegas
* probably use of the closet (which should be restored in a typical A320 config)
* guaranteed front of the plane seating
* larger seat (and 38+" pitch)
I would gladly trade that for an inch or two of guaranteed pitch in the back. I understand an upgrade isn't guaranteed, but on a route like LAX-LAS, there aren't a ton of 1Ks or other elites flying anyway.
#35
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Flew LAX-LAS today where the plane was painted mainline, the safety video was mainline, still only a cup of soda, but for me, the first time the TED sign was off of the bulkhead (although the tape that held the sign in place was still there).
#36
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#38
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The difference is that LAS<->ORD flights are always full or overbooked. It's just that the people filling E+ are discount ticket lottery winners. That's why I think UA will mainline LAS last, because there are so few elites anyway (to fill upgrades) and they'll lose revenue seats on every flight.
#39
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#40
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I noticed yesterday that the splash screen on Mr. Chicken still has a TED plane on it.
#43
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I know - I was one of them, and likewise I've come back. (Admittedly I started to divert some of my business to N7 pre-TED because I had to fly to NYC a lot and preferred nonstops.) But it doesn't change that mainlining LAS reduces revenue seats and that's why I believe the typical UA beancounting management will hold out longest on restoring F to LAS, because they think they have the most to lose here. Hopefully I'll be wrong, but I don't hold out much hope. We all know that if UA was smart, TED would never have happened.
#44
Join Date: Jan 2005
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I know it is going to be a long time before the new configuration. However, in the mean time they should do what Lufthansa has done on some of their Airbuses by sectioning off a first class section of about 10 rows, placing a drink tray to take up the middle seat (for the free booze) and serve free meals. I would definitely use my 500-milers and be quite satisfied.
#45
Join Date: Mar 2001
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I truly believe that TED was what opened the door to Southwest in Denver. If both UA/TED and F9 are not going to have first class, then Southwest had a great opportunity to come in and compete. They did and now they are #3 in Denver.
I was on a flight with a TED flight number from DEN to LAS recently. When the plane pulled up, it was the new white with blue stripes paint job. WOW, a non-TED plane, I thought?
But, on-board, it was still TED. On the back wall was www.flyted.com. On the front wall "TED." Still had the TED video (woman telling us that TED wants us to be safe). TED seating configuration.
TED is dying but has not gone quietly into the night yet. I'd bet it will take at least a couple of years to get rid of all signs of TED.
Having experienced no change fees and no bag fees over at Southwest, however, it will be pretty hard to get me to come back when the planes are re-UNITED.
I was on a flight with a TED flight number from DEN to LAS recently. When the plane pulled up, it was the new white with blue stripes paint job. WOW, a non-TED plane, I thought?
But, on-board, it was still TED. On the back wall was www.flyted.com. On the front wall "TED." Still had the TED video (woman telling us that TED wants us to be safe). TED seating configuration.
TED is dying but has not gone quietly into the night yet. I'd bet it will take at least a couple of years to get rid of all signs of TED.
Having experienced no change fees and no bag fees over at Southwest, however, it will be pretty hard to get me to come back when the planes are re-UNITED.