United cuts flights to SYD

[Mattg]

United is reducing frequencies on its SYD-LAX and SYD-IAH routes from the start of April until the end of October (during the northern hemisphere summer).

Both routes currently operate daily; SYD-LAX will be reduced to 3x weekly and SYD-IAH reduced to 4x weekly.

 

[Legoman]

As it so happens I am to be booked on UA from SYD to IAH on 25 Oct. Really annoying as I have a butt-tonne of both VFF & QFF points and am silver status QFF too and all of that is meaningless drivel to UA. Still, the flight is for work and I don't have any choice in the matter unfortunately.

Never flown UA before. How bad is it? I'm expecting pretty bad. I have flown AA before US-domestic and that was horrendous. I expect UA to be worse than AA. Is that accurate?

Not wishing to die of a DVT, I am seriously considering using my own pocket to pay for UA's version of Premium Economy called something like Economy Plus. I've heard anectodal reports it's circa 2x normal economy price and all you get for all that extra money is more legroom and a seat closer to the front of the cabin. Wondering if it's worth it? Any experiences would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mattg]

Economy Plus is not premium economy, nor is it double the price. All you get is an Economy seat with 5 inches of extra legroom, and it costs around USD200. You can choose and pay for one of those seats through the seat selection tool, I think.

I get these seats for free with UA Gold status and find the legroom very good, actually. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to avoid it.

 

[Mattg]

United is apparently reducing service on MEL-LAX from daily to 4x weekly from February.

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[docjames]

As it so happens I am to be booked on UA from SYD to IAH on 25 Oct. Really annoying as I have a butt-tonne of both VFF & QFF points and am silver status QFF too and all of that is meaningless drivel to UA. Still, the flight is for work and I don't have any choice in the matter unfortunately.

Never flown UA before. How bad is it? I'm expecting pretty bad. I have flown AA before US-domestic and that was horrendous. I expect UA to be worse than AA. Is that accurate?

Not wishing to die of a DVT, I am seriously considering using my own pocket to pay for UA's version of Premium Economy called something like Economy Plus. I've heard anectodal reports it's circa 2x normal economy price and all you get for all that extra money is more legroom and a seat closer to the front of the cabin. Wondering if it's worth it? Any experiences would be greatly appreciated.

The usual solution where the schedule is sub-daily is to see what options are offered if you “have to” travel on a day not served. Of course if all they do is route you SYD-LAX-IAH on UA then that’s no better......

 

[Mattg]

United is cutting SYD-LAX to 3x weekly and SYD-IAH to 4x weekly again during the upcoming 2020 Northern Summer scheduling period (from April until October).

 

[jch]

Just checked my reversion early April and am now being routered through LAX instead of direct to IAH from SYD. It says Polaris business, but what are the chances it will be the new Polaris seats? It was an Avianca redemption so i guess won't have much negotiating power to change to a direct on another date....

 

[SeaWolf]

Never flown UA before. How bad is it? I'm expecting pretty bad. I have flown AA before US-domestic and that was horrendous. I expect UA to be worse than AA. Is that accurate?

It's not the horror that everyone makes it out to be. You'll be on their newest planes, the 787 and it's not glamorous (what Economy is?) but it's fine. I've done it a few times and I'm doing it again in June. In a QF A380 the seat pitch is 31 inches, on a UA 787-9 it's 32 inches, so you'll have an extra inch compared to QF without paying anything extra anyway. My biggest gripe is the seat recline, which is not as much as other airlines.
They aren't my first choice to fly to the USA (that would be Virgin) but they're fine.

 

[clifford]

In a QF A380 the seat pitch is 31 inches, on a UA 787-9 it's 32 inches, so you'll have an extra inch compared to QF without paying anything extra anyway. My biggest gripe is the seat recline, which is not as much as other airlines.

I was thinking that seat width would be better on the Qantas 380, but when I checked I was surprised to find it's only 0.2 inches wider.

It's very poor of Qantas when the Singapore Airlines 380 economy class seats have an extra 1.5 inches of width.

 

[Mattg]

I was thinking that seat width would be better on the Qantas 380, but when I checked I was surprised to find it's only 0.2 inches wider.

It's very poor of Qantas when the Singapore Airlines 380 economy class seats have an extra 1.5 inches of width.

How can SQ's A380 seats be 1.3 inches wider than QF's when they both use a 3-4-3 layout in economy on the exact same aircraft type? Where is SQ getting an extra 33cm of cabin width?

 

[SeaWolf]

How can SQ's A380 seats be 1.3 inches wider than QF's when they both use a 3-4-3 layout in economy on the exact same aircraft type? Where is SQ getting an extra 33cm of cabin width?

I'm guessing QF is just using the exact same seat in a whole bunch of planes, so it's probably a lowest common denominator thing, they just order a heap of identical seats and ask for the dimensions to fit whichever aircraft is smallest. This would also make them easier to switch around during reconfigurations or to replace if they get damaged. SQ probably orders seats with specific dimensions for each plane type, which is probably a little more costly and a bit less flexible (if an A380 seat is damaged they specifically need an A380 replacement seat).
QF would get a little 33cm bonus in aisle width as well I guess...

 

[clifford]

I'm guessing QF is just using the exact same seat in a whole bunch of planes, so it's probably a lowest common denominator thing, they just order a heap of identical seats and ask for the dimensions to fit whichever aircraft is smallest. This would also make them easier to switch around during reconfigurations or to replace if they get damaged. SQ probably orders seats with specific dimensions for each plane type, which is probably a little more costly and a bit less flexible (if an A380 seat is damaged they specifically need an A380 replacement seat).
QF would get a little 33cm bonus in aisle width as well I guess...

I think that's spot on. QF gives you a wider aisle and SQ gives you a wider seat. I know which I'd prefer.