OSL-LHR-ORD March 17.

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Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 13

After a quick breakfast at the SAS hotel at OSL, I headed to the terminal for check in. For some reason, SK had lost my seat reservation between OSL-LHR. The flight was completely full, so I ended up in 22D, an isle seat, next to 2 hippies who were going to Beirut to work in a Palestinian refugee camp. The 737-800 was pushed back 08:08 AM, 8 minutes after departure time. After using a good chunck of runway 19L, we were on our way.

SK is obviously having problems with logistics after they started charging money for breakfast in economy class. About 10 people were without food, it’s not the first time this has happened. The purser gave them C meals, hot breakfast, and everyone became happy (except the ones who paid 4£ for a dry piece of bread, some orange juice and coffee in the same cabin). There was quite a bit of arguing around the cabin because of this.

A bad decision by the purser, she should have done what all cheap airlines do, "sorry, we are sold out!"

Besides that, it was a calm flight for me; I enjoyed 2 cups of coffee, as we were told to hold over London because of heavy traffic.

After landing, I went through security and rechecked in at UAs desk. The agent handed me a new boarding pass with an upgrade to C, my day was looking a lot better!

After chilling for an hour or so in the lovely London Lounge, I went to the gate getting ready to board the UA 949 777. We left on time and joined the queue starting about 100 yards from the Concorde. After refilling the champagne, it was time to get ready for take off. I love UAs channel 9! A Speedbird 747 took off and finally it was our turn.

Next to me I had the typical American jeans, suit jacket and loafers WITH NO SOCKS! Immediately after take off I had to get used to his yellow feet for the next 8 hrs 5 mins....

After 2 Gin/tonics, it was time for a meal, Filet Mignon and béarnaise sauce. Rather tasty. I managed to get 2 hours sleep, after watching a movie, the second serving started, Afternoon Tea ala UA. Not bad, to be honest.

The crew was excellent, lighting up the grey UA interior

Time to get the headset on and turn to channel 9 again. Racing with a Speedbird, BA297 we got cleared ahead of him to land on 9R, an excellent runway if you are parking at T5. We landed 15 minutes early, no lines at customs.

This was a good flying day!

Original post

Member for

20 years

Posts: 598

Nice report!

Member for

20 years 2 months

Posts: 2,495

Great report. SK have started to charge for food in economy but unlike most airlines have introduced a Economy premium class called Economy flex but Ive seen the prices and they are closer to BIZ fares than ECO so a bad move from SK.

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 13

Great report. SK have started to charge for food in economy but unlike most airlines have introduced a Economy premium class called Economy flex but Ive seen the prices and they are closer to BIZ fares than ECO so a bad move from SK.

Yeah, you are completely right.

The Difference between Business and EFlex is 50£ roundtrip OSL-LHR-OSL. The gap between Economy and EFlex is more like 3-400£. Same seating area as Economy, just the first or maximum 3 first rows is EFlex (no divider).

Not worth spending the extra money for no more legroom, the only thing you get is free drinks and a snack. (and flexibility)

In business there is 2 + 2 on the 737s. They have those cool business seats on one side that transforms from 3 to 2 seats (Like LH). On the other side, they block out the middle seat temporarily, those middle seats are never touched.

Member for

19 years 5 months

Posts: 1,887

Great report

Member for

20 years 11 months

Posts: 12,842

I take it channel nine is a cockpit or nose camera

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Channel 9 Is live ATC.

Member for

20 years 5 months

Posts: 5,019

Great report there. I am glad to hear once you got to LHR, things went smoothly.

Member for

18 years 11 months

Posts: 108

I know I'm late in this... but filet mignon on a UAL flight? Does every overseas flight come with such good meals? This came after UAL didn't offer peanuts to passengers on an ORD - MIA flight...

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 13

I know I'm late in this... but filet mignon on a UAL flight? Does every overseas flight come with such good meals? This came after UAL didn't offer peanuts to passengers on an ORD - MIA flight...

Hey,
I got upgraded to UA International Business class. They actually have about 5 different meals to choose from. Domestic First Class is not bad either. Flew ORD-EWR friday in upgraded First, served a nice breakfast with a sandwich, yoghurt, banana and cereal with milk! They still give you nice stuff, just not in the back. Good to have a lot of upgrade vouchers ;)

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,956

Hey,
I got upgraded to UA International Business class. They actually have about 5 different meals to choose from. Domestic First Class is not bad either. Flew ORD-EWR friday in upgraded First, served a nice breakfast with a sandwich, yoghurt, banana and cereal with milk! They still give you nice stuff, just not in the back. Good to have a lot of upgrade vouchers ;)
Tommy, are you a Mileage Plus 1K member that you get all these upgrades?

I know I'm late in this... but filet mignon on a UAL flight? Does every overseas flight come with such good meals? This came after UAL didn't offer peanuts to passengers on an ORD - MIA flight...
If you flying C cllass on United, Filet Mignon is almost standard as one of the choices. They have a few different ways of preparing, however. In terms of service on the flights, International flights always have better service. ORD-MIA isn't one of their trunk routes, so if you just got a drink service on that flight, that sounds about right. Them not giving you peanuts, that sounds a bit surprising. Maybe they ran out, or something. UAL's international economy glass service is pretty good, in my opninion. On LAX-SYD flights I get 2 full meals (which are usually pretty good), a box snack in between and unlimited booze. That's all I need.

Since we're still on the subject, I think business class on intra-European flights pretty much sucks. The food and service is obviously better, but the seats are the same. Those 2-3 conversion seats are the same crap from the cattle class. At least on business class flights within the U.S., I get bona fide 2-2 business class seats. I don't know any U.S. domestic carrier that has those coversion deals, unless someone can enlighten me.

Member for

19 years 2 months

Posts: 13

Tommy, are you a Mileage Plus 1K member that you get all these upgrades?

Yes sir, I am a UA1K, travel to Chicago every other week through LHR, so getting that status is easy :p

I couldnt agree with you more, intra European business class is not worth the money. Domestic First in the US gives you fixes, wide 2+2, not the "lego" conversion seats on LH/SK