SYD-LAX ...UA Quality of Service

[anj777]

Hi all,
looking at doing SYD-LAX in the next few weeks. Used to be UA Gold but haven't flown with them for about 12 months.
Looking for some feedback on their quality of service and type of planes they are using these days.

 

[smit0847]

What class are you looking to fly?

 

[anj777]

Economy but looking at using points for upgrade as they will be expiring soon.

 

[lovestotravel]

Hi there,

They use the 747-400s still

They have had a slight refit in Economy, new seat covers, but it's still the worst way to fly to the USA

Have a look at Air NZ or Virgin Australia for only a little bit more usually

 

[anj777]

Thanks for the info.
Unfortunately UA has never really looked after the SYD-USA passengers. Always the oldest planes in the fleet on these routes.
Only reason I used to fly them was because the of the free upgrades on flights within USA for Gold members plus the generous FF points where after 4 return trips to USA you earned enough points for a free return trip.
I havent flown UA since the amalgamation with Continental. Has the FF program gotten better or worse?

 

[Paddy55]

Think of it as "retro flying" bringing back the joy of 1970s Y

In fact it brings back memories of the Pan Am days :shock:

 

[ABC1]

This from Airliners.net

Bunch of changes coming out for flying at United starting next spring. SFO-KIX will become a 787 market effective April, replacing mix of 777 and 744s. SFO & LAX-SYD runs will shift to 777s in the spring replacing 744s 744s will return to ORD and operate to FRA, NRT, and PVG with W patterns that originate in SFO. Changes will be loaded and available in GDS in next couple days.

 

[SYD]

Economy but looking at using points for upgrade as they will be expiring soon.

If you can secure the upgrade, the J product is fine. Full fat seat, ok IFE. The food can be hit and miss. But overall, certainly better than down the back on any trans-pacific flight.

you can also purchase a couple of miles to extend the expiry date of your miles.

 

[mushypeas]

This from Airliners.net

Bunch of changes coming out for flying at United starting next spring. SFO-KIX will become a 787 market effective April, replacing mix of 777 and 744s. SFO & LAX-SYD runs will shift to 777s in the spring replacing 744s 744s will return to ORD and operate to FRA, NRT, and PVG with W patterns that originate in SFO. Changes will be loaded and available in GDS in next couple days.

I wonder if that means our Spring or northern hemisphere spring?? do their 777 have F?

 

[ABC1]

i'd be their spring, and the CO 777's have first

 

[mushypeas]

damn, that's still a good 9 or so months away... ;(

 

[jgm]

i'd be their spring, and the CO 777's have first

The CO 777's DON"T have first, but it is the UA 777's (which do) that will be on this route.

 

[FxTrader]

They have had a slight refit in Economy, new seat covers, but it's still the worst way to fly to the USA

Just did Syd/Lax and Sfo/Syd in UA E+ as part of the UA Gold Challenge.

Nice to have a seat with a 35" pitch instead of the standard 31" pitch.
3 meal services and no charge for wine.
Both the food and wine were very acceptable.

As a tall person, this is the lowest cost way to cross the Pacific and get a decent seat with 35" pitch.
Used my laptop for movies, so the lack of a screen based IFE is not an issue.

Would fly with them again as the extra 4" seat pitch makes the flight so much easier to handle.

Also traveled around the US (13 sectors in total).
40% of the internal flights were upgraded to J/F which is more comps in one trip than with many QF years as Gold and Plat.

So a happy UA customer.

 

[Tannin]

Both the food and wine were very acceptable.

You are joking right? It's the dreadful stuff we got served in the 1990s (the food that is. I'd happily accept wine from the late 1990s if it was cellared correctly!)

 

[eastwest101]

Just did Syd/Lax and Sfo/Syd in UA E+ as part of the UA Gold Challenge.

Nice to have a seat with a 35" pitch instead of the standard 31" pitch.

I realize you may not have this info on hand, but do you remember the approximate cost of any of the E+ transpacific legs?

 

[FrankC]

Just did Syd/Lax and Sfo/Syd in UA E+ as part of the UA Gold Challenge.

Nice to have a seat with a 35" pitch instead of the standard 31" pitch.
3 meal services and no charge for wine.
Both the food and wine were very acceptable.

As a tall person, this is the lowest cost way to cross the Pacific and get a decent seat with 35" pitch.
Used my laptop for movies, so the lack of a screen based IFE is not an issue.

Would fly with them again as the extra 4" seat pitch makes the flight so much easier to handle.

Also traveled around the US (13 sectors in total).
40% of the internal flights were upgraded to J/F which is more comps in one trip than with many QF years as Gold and Plat.

So a happy UA customer.

I assume that there is in seat power?

 

[Tannin]

Definitely no in seat power. It costs about $150-200 extra per leg.

 

[eastwest101]

Definitely no in seat power. It costs about $150-200 extra per leg.

Yes I would not have expected in-seat power, but the $150-$200 extra for an extra 4 inches of seat pitch sounds reasonable - given that UA Y fares are often quie a bit lower than their competitors for transpacific flights. Thanks for getting back to us with that info.