Why Airbus?
Apr 26, 2002, 3:11 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: SNA, LAX
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat, Hertz P Circle
Posts: 1,628
Why Airbus?
In a previous thread, Mark Rogers mentions that its possible in 20 years UA will have two fleets, A319/320 for narrowbody and 777 for widebody (he didn't say it will happen, just that its possible).
This made me wonder, why did UA switch to Airbus after years of operating Boeing narrobodies? For years the fleet was 737-2/3/5, and 757-200, but in more recent years the only narrowbody additions have been Airbus 319/320. These are very different aircraft in terms of design philosophy, engines, operating equipment, and maintenance requirements. What caused the switch?
This made me wonder, why did UA switch to Airbus after years of operating Boeing narrobodies? For years the fleet was 737-2/3/5, and 757-200, but in more recent years the only narrowbody additions have been Airbus 319/320. These are very different aircraft in terms of design philosophy, engines, operating equipment, and maintenance requirements. What caused the switch?
Apr 26, 2002, 3:25 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: United MM- Marriott Titanium - Air France/KLM Flying Blue Platinum
Posts: 4,835
From a frenchman standpoint, Airbus just make better planes !!!! 
Apr 26, 2002, 3:26 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2001
Location: exUA1K, UA MM, lifetime UA1P, AA MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,731
I remember 2 reasons pretty clearly:
1. Boeing was reluctant to extend the range of the 737 family.
2. Airbus offered OUTSTANDING lease terms.
The ironic thing is that after losing the order to Airbus, Boeing DID extend the range with the newest 737 versions.
1. Boeing was reluctant to extend the range of the 737 family.
2. Airbus offered OUTSTANDING lease terms.
The ironic thing is that after losing the order to Airbus, Boeing DID extend the range with the newest 737 versions.
Apr 26, 2002, 3:45 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: source of weird and eccentric ideas
Posts: 38,686
All the full service airlines are moving to a combined fleet. I think the reason is to work one vendor against the other.
The exceptions are the lowfare carriers who are generally standardized on 737s (some exceptions) because there are many older 737s available at a reasonable cost to get a lowfare airline started.
The exceptions are the lowfare carriers who are generally standardized on 737s (some exceptions) because there are many older 737s available at a reasonable cost to get a lowfare airline started.
Apr 26, 2002, 3:50 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: SNA, LAX
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat, Hertz P Circle
Posts: 1,628
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">So will we see 321s to replace the 757s? </font>
Apr 26, 2002, 3:53 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1P (1MM), AA PLT (2MM)
Posts: 709
read the next post-sorry
[This message has been edited by jss (edited 04-26-2002).]
[This message has been edited by jss (edited 04-26-2002).]
Apr 26, 2002, 3:54 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1P (1MM), AA PLT (2MM)
Posts: 709
"All the full service airlines are moving to a combined fleet. I think the reason is to work one vendor against the other"
I'd disagree with this. AA and DL are notable for signing MOU's with Boeing to operate an all Boeing fleet.
I'd disagree with this. AA and DL are notable for signing MOU's with Boeing to operate an all Boeing fleet.
Apr 26, 2002, 4:31 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: West Seattle, WA
Posts: 10,469
US is the only U.S. airline flying the 321 and I'm just going to say, don't make a comment until you've been on this bird! It is very nice. I'm looking forward to my 3 segments on the 321 this weekend!
Apr 26, 2002, 4:56 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: CDG, FRA
Posts: 1,600
LH replaces old 737s by Airbus A320 family :
1- More confort for pax, because the cabin is wider.
2- same pilots for A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircrafts (and same maintenance) .
3- lower operative costs !
Airbus is not only french, but merged from :
- BAE systems (UK)
- Aerospatiale-Matra (France)
- DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Germany)
- CASA (Spain)
http://www.airbus.com
1- More confort for pax, because the cabin is wider.
2- same pilots for A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircrafts (and same maintenance) .
3- lower operative costs !
Airbus is not only french, but merged from :
- BAE systems (UK)
- Aerospatiale-Matra (France)
- DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Germany)
- CASA (Spain)
http://www.airbus.com
Apr 26, 2002, 5:16 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K MM, AS MVPG, SPG PLAT 100
Posts: 1,497
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chexfan:
US is the only U.S. airline flying the 321 and I'm just going to say, don't make a comment until you've been on this bird! It is very nice. I'm looking forward to my 3 segments on the 321 this weekend!</font>
US is the only U.S. airline flying the 321 and I'm just going to say, don't make a comment until you've been on this bird! It is very nice. I'm looking forward to my 3 segments on the 321 this weekend!
</font>
Apr 26, 2002, 5:16 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold
Posts: 3,640
UA needed a 737 size plane for transcon flights, and back in the early nineties when they made the Airbus order, the NG 737s were still several years away.
Losing the 757/767 fleet seems unlikely in my opinion...there is too large a seat gap between the A321 and the 777.
Losing the 757/767 fleet seems unlikely in my opinion...there is too large a seat gap between the A321 and the 777.
Apr 26, 2002, 5:37 pm
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
one of the gotcha's on the a320 is when they toss an a319 in its place and you have a seat assignment behind row 2. all the seating gets screwed up and pax have dup. seat assignments. if you had 3b, you now have nothing, if you had 6c, you are no longer in a bulkhead and if you had the exit row, you now are in E-.
i try to never take an ug in row 3 if i can. i always check the plane type the day before and day of flight to make sure it didnt change. if it did, i start negotiating for a new seat assignment.
------------------
f
i try to never take an ug in row 3 if i can. i always check the plane type the day before and day of flight to make sure it didnt change. if it did, i start negotiating for a new seat assignment.
------------------
f
Apr 26, 2002, 5:51 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
friend in fleet planning said there are no plans to replace the 737/744/757/767/ fleet anytime soon. He said most of those birds are owned... so maybe in 20 years, you'll see a different makeup. He said everything so fare is chit-chat.
United already said it won't go w/ the A321 for operational reasons... it's not a short field performer like the 757.
Only thing on the books right now is dumping the 767-200s for -300s and UA is waiting to see how CO/NW/TZ are doing w/ the 757-300 before ordering a few.
United already said it won't go w/ the A321 for operational reasons... it's not a short field performer like the 757.
Only thing on the books right now is dumping the 767-200s for -300s and UA is waiting to see how CO/NW/TZ are doing w/ the 757-300 before ordering a few.
Apr 26, 2002, 6:55 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Gold, Cattle Class
Posts: 295
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fparker1:
one of the gotcha's on the a320 is when they toss an a319 in its place and you have a seat assignment behind row 2. all the seating gets screwed up and pax have dup. seat assignments. if you had 3b, you now have nothing, if you had 6c, you are no longer in a bulkhead and if you had the exit row, you now are in E-.
i try to never take an ug in row 3 if i can. i always check the plane type the day before and day of flight to make sure it didnt change. if it did, i start negotiating for a new seat assignment.
</font>
one of the gotcha's on the a320 is when they toss an a319 in its place and you have a seat assignment behind row 2. all the seating gets screwed up and pax have dup. seat assignments. if you had 3b, you now have nothing, if you had 6c, you are no longer in a bulkhead and if you had the exit row, you now are in E-.
i try to never take an ug in row 3 if i can. i always check the plane type the day before and day of flight to make sure it didnt change. if it did, i start negotiating for a new seat assignment.
</font>
row 10A and 10F are probably the best econ. seat in 733-market1 coz of the missing window seat in row 9. and for 733-market2 this row is in 12. so double check when picking this exit row!