wcj1

We are flying IAD-FRA at the end of February and the equipment is a 777 XC/XI. I would normally select 17AB or 21HJ in this situation.

However, if that plane is switched out with an XQ, 17AB will go away and 21HJ will be part of a row of 3 (if the seats actually stick). Ideally we would then pick 20AB or JK.

I was thinking about playing it 'safe' and selecting 20AB now, but I realized that this plane could be switched out with an XD/XJ. Since there are no XD/XJ in service yet, those could have a different seat map, much like the XC/XI differ now from the XP.

Does anyone have a recommendation on what we should pick now? We have never minded flying economy overseas (including IAD-NRT) because we book early enough to get 17AB/21HJ. The idea of 3 across, especially when I now use a CPAP, is decidedly less attractive.

Thanks,
BillJ

GRU the wanderer

So how many more planes will get the new interior before year's end?

why fly

I cant imagine UA will speed up 777 conversions? till they decide what they are going to do with CO/UA planes however, after I type this I can't think why UA has not decided already what they and CO are going to do.

jhayes_1780

Because they have only been one company for 29 days?

It can take years to plan a fleet, let alone seating configurations.

Rome wasn't built in a day

why fly

yah I guess I assumed they were planning from months.. So oops.

Lets give them another 60 days and at a few million a plane to convert lets hope they decide quickly. And somehow ADD lots more C class

1kBill

And then there are those pesky problems with contracts and schedules.

Folks, these upgrades not like light bulbs that you can turn on/off with a switch. It will most likely take some time for new UA to even decide what to do before they can start impelmenting it.

wripro

Did I miss something? Have they stopped converting the 777s?

planemechanic

No, they have not stopped.

CloudsBelow

Just booked an around the world deal in Business (J or is it C?). Spent time in J on UA 763s and assumed 777s to LHR would be lie flat as well.
Kind of silly to book and then look into the seats I guess.

I'm on UA924 in January as well - Assuming it will be the old style. What seats good for GF and I? Is it worth it to move to Air Canada lie flat if price is the same?

thanks

1k-all-the-way

Had my first trip on the reconfigured 777 this week, LHR-SFO. I was in C. Have to say it is no longer my favorite plane. felt too close to me - i think its the 4 seats in the middle making it feel like sardine cans. i was on the side aisle last row, rear facing, and looked into the Y cabin the whole time. felt like i was on stage - the little curtain didn't help much.

the fact that our London based crew was one of the most miserable group of people to ever work on an international fight did not help the experience either.

While I didn;t sit there, I like the look and feel of the new Y cabin, tho will miss the 2-5-2. Too bad. But a seat with an empty beside you will be very nice all things considered.

SFOTurtle

Unless you enjoy feeling squeezed for space, I would take AC C any day over C on UA's 777s, new or old. The AC herringbone is a superior product.

why fly

UA NEW seats are better than AC, and IFE is light years better on UA. However the food is better on AC's
The problem with AC seats is they are so NARROW, and in the lay flat position they are not as comfortable as UA's
PS take a rear facing seat on UA's its better for the up angle of the plane when sleeping.

Eurotraveller2011

Hi everyone,

Just hoping someone might have an update on the status of the 777 reconfiguration program. Am flying to Europe (Munich/Paris) in June 2011 and hoping the equipment will have the new configuration.

Anyone have any info?

eponymous_coward

The fleet should be about half-done then. IMO you might as well be asking about winning lottery ticket numbers for June 2011- I doubt even UA's route planners know exactly which routes will have which planes 8 months from now, outside of a few guesses/general rules (LHR is a priority, long routes like IAD-DXB are likely to see them first, and so on).

If you want to maximize your chances at the new config, fly to Europe through LHR.

Eurotraveller2011

Hi,

Thanks for the update. Yeah, sounds like long odds. Am hoping I'll get lucky on this deal as the difference between the old/new config seems pretty significant.

Maybe UA will put an express on this...LOL

Thanks for the link - definitely helpful....and depressing to see the progress on the 777 conversion progress