United Airlines LHR - JFK March

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Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 2,114

Hi i am going to New york with college in March and we were due to fly on British airways but are now flying United airlines flight UA905 LHR-JFK 13:20 Arrive 16:15 scheduled 777. And return UA956 18:55 and land at 06:55.
Has anyone flown on united airlines and flown in economy and know what they are like?
thanks
chris

Original post

Member for

19 years 8 months

Posts: 1,953

UA transatlantic Y-class is pretty much of a muchness - pretty standard US carriers offer. Pitch is fair (32" I believe - better than VS!), seats are 2+5+2, 777s and 767s but NOT 744s have multi-channel seat back PTVs (not VOD), food is "chicken or pasta" and you pay for alcoholic drinks ($5 or £3) - at least they don't charge for headsets like some US airlines do.

UA have the front of the main/economy cabin configured as "Economy Plus" - 36" pitch instead of 32". These seats are available either (a) by paying extra on the day or (b) are free on a first come first served basis to passengers who pay full economy fare or anyone with silver or gold status in any Star Alliance frequent flyer program. Economy plus is THE main reason why I like UA transatlantic - being gold in both BMI and United FFPs, I get the extra room for free every time I travel. If you don't qualify for Economy Plus, you can always be cheeky and ask at checkin - they won't allocate you E+ in advance unless you qualify for it, but if they don't have that many who qualify you may get E+ on the day.

One other thing to watch out for (or more correctly listen out for) on UA is channel 9. Channel 9 on audio on all UA a/c is USUALLY live ATC (but it is at pilot discretion so sometimes its switched off - ask the flight attendants to ask the captain if he'd mind having it on if you would like to try it and its off). If you do listen to channel 9, be aware its gate-to-gate and they do let you use the headphones during taxi out and taxi in. UA/TED are the only airline in the world with live ATC at each seat.

UA have their own terminal at JFK (which only a few other airlines use) and my experience is that if the LHR flight is on time immigration is usually fairly quick.

That's about all there is to say really.

Andy

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,394

I have never travelled UA but it's always good to read sites such as below.

http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/ual.htm

Here's a preview with the names of the passangers who submitted a review.....

Check in at Heathrow was quick and the staff were all very helpful. Plane was late boarding but we were seated quickly enough and we left approx 25 mins late. Seats comfortable - plane and toilets were clean. Magazines somewhat tatty but it was economy. IFE kept my son happy and I even watched a movie between naps - A special mention go to the crew who were very professional and courteous at all times. On the return trip, service and quality of food was again very good.

As usual, United seats were cramped, and I had the great fortune of sitting next one of the galleys. On the 14 hour journey to Hong Kong I slept maybe a max of two hours. The lights in the galley kept coming on every time someone stepped near the galley, so getting to sleep was next to impossible. Aggravating things were the busybody gossip flight attendants who didn't have the common courtesy to shut up during the flight, when everyone was asleep.

Hope this helps! :D

Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 2,114

thanks for your help :) im looking forward to it.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,213

UA956 was bloody awful on 19th of December. The aircraft is very umcomfy, the main film was "Kindergarten Cop" which was analogue quality. Only saving graces was the food and ATC Channel on 9.

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 1,645

Going to New York on a travel and tourism course, yet we're on an airline/airport ops course and can't even make it to MAN. Lovely.

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18 years 6 months

Posts: 2,343

Going to New York on a travel and tourism course, yet we're on an airline/airport ops course and can't even make it to MAN. Lovely.

I was in a similar position to you...

For my course, we were told we would be going to Bristol Airport to meet some of the management, and have a look around, however, that never materialised, so last year I went on the travel and tourism courses trip to Orlando...hehe.

Member for

19 years 8 months

Posts: 1,953

UA956 was bloody awful on 19th of December. The aircraft is very umcomfy, the main film was "Kindergarten Cop" which was analogue quality.

"Will passenger 'Victor Meldrew' please make himself known..."

UA has multiple move channels on all longhaul a/c except the 747-400 (which isn't used on JFK-LHR). Either you did not fully use the facilities available to you, or you are embellishing the story for some reason...

Andy

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,213

There were other films but they introduced Kindergarten cop over the PA as the main movie. Given the listings in the magazine were wrong and no PA was made there was no way to know which film was what.

All the films where not digital quality as the sound was not crisp as digital is and neither was the picture.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,956

There were other films but they introduced Kindergarten cop over the PA as the main movie. Given the listings in the magazine were wrong and no PA was made there was no way to know which film was what.

All the films where not digital quality as the sound was not crisp as digital is and neither was the picture.

Yeah, well, that's when you flip through the channels during the opening credits and find one that appeals to you. Either that, or watch Kindergarden Cop, which is a classic. At least you had channel 9 and good grub. Not crisp digital sound? Big whoop. :rolleyes:

UA is due to upgrade their long haul cabins soon, anyhow.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,213

Did I mention the unfriendly crew and suicidal sounding pilot? My dad has been in a few business class cabins in long haul and he rates UA as the worst of the lot!

Member for

19 years 8 months

Posts: 1,953

he rates UA as the worst of the lot!

Ah well... I'm flying a UA 777-200 in business class again to SFO tomorrow... Personally I quite like UA in both Y-class (E+ makes a huge difference) and in J-class - I admit that their business class isn't as good as VS Upper, but then again the round trip was under £1900 compared to nearly £5000.

Andy

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,956

Did I mention the unfriendly crew and suicidal sounding pilot? My dad has been in a few business class cabins in long haul and he rates UA as the worst of the lot!
Yeah, I'm sure no other airlines have employees that fall under this mold. I've flown in several business class cabins and for my taste, UA is only blown away by SQ, and is right on par with QF, NZ, and LH.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,213

Its def not on a par with LH or VS or BA or BD. At least with LH,VS,BD,BD you can sleep on the flight!!! Several people on this forum say UA pilots always sound the most depressed on ATC and compared to all other traffic at JFK our pilot (F/O) sounded as if he wished his life was over and it was hassle to repeat atc instructions!

I admit not all the problems with the flight were UA's fault, Boeing has a hand in this too - Noisey Cabin from Air Con whine, Overhead Bins not having ceilings to them so stuff is able to fall our in turblance and they dont fit International Standard Size Carry On Luggage!!! My recent Dash 8 Q400 flight had more Overhead Bin Space!

Member for

19 years 8 months

Posts: 741

Its def not on a par with LH or VS or BA or BD. At least with LH,VS,BD,BD you can sleep on the flight!!! Several people on this forum say UA pilots always sound the most depressed on ATC and compared to all other traffic at JFK our pilot (F/O) sounded as if he wished his life was over and it was hassle to repeat atc instructions!

I admit not all the problems with the flight were UA's fault, Boeing has a hand in this too - Noisey Cabin from Air Con whine, Overhead Bins not having ceilings to them so stuff is able to fall our in turblance and they dont fit International Standard Size Carry On Luggage!!! My recent Dash 8 Q400 flight had more Overhead Bin Space!

United pilots probably sound suicidal because there pension scheme is now worth nothing, after years of contributions, and probably all the concessions they have been asked to make,so they will have a job.

Just a theory

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,956

I fly on United roughly 40,000 miles per year, and I never get any pilots sounding suicidal, pension or no pension. So Boeing is to blame now? That's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard! None of the airlines you mentioned fly Boeings.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,213

I choose airline not type. Saying it as how i found it. I have complaints about airbus too.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,956

I choose airline not type.
I didn't say you did. Did you have the same issue with BA/LH/VS Boeings that you did with UA's?

Member for

19 years 8 months

Posts: 1,953

Never heard a "suicidal" pilot on UA - in fact, the lady captain on yesterday's flight from LHR to SFO sounded positively pleasant... And there was plenty of space in the overhead bins! ;)

Andy

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 17

whenever there was any turbulance the flight attendants would crouch down and clutch their trolley for dear life!! clearly united have a dock your pay if you lose your trolley policy!!