Can Anyone Update On The 757 Conversions

[USlurker]

Rumor has it the next fleet to be modified will be the A319 moving down from 12 seats in first to 8.

If this turns out to be so, I think it will be a disaster. I love U's people and would hate to switch to another carrier, but if I stopped getting seated up front I think I'd have to go elsewhere. The new perk of allowing the lower-level elites to upgrade seemed like a very good move to me -- unlimited upgrades as a US1 were one of the reasons I have been loyal, even when cheaper fares seem to be available on every flight I take. I would think that the continued loyalty of the US2s and 3s would be worth keeping the seats. If I didn't almost always get up front, I'd probably have left already, despite the wonderful folks that work for y'all.

 

[ITRADE]

You guys better be careful about ripping out too many FC seats on the domestic fleet. If the domestic Airbus's start to look too much like the inside of a Southwest 737, you guys are in BIG trouble. 🙁

No kidding. The cut from 12 to 8 makes upgrades tough and deters a good number of passengers.

I can understand a reduction in the 757s on leisure routes, but would have felt a reduction to 16 or 12 would have been better.

If you're going to advertise reduced F class fares, have the seats available to fill them.

 

[ClueByFour]

If you're going to advertise reduced F class fares, have the seats available to fill them.

I found the fact that the IFE "level off" video on the 757's and last month's (December) Attache were still talking about the fare sale to LAS.

I found it even funnier when I was on one of the "shrunk" 757s and saw these things.

I would laughed out loud had I been on a shrunken 757 on the way to LAS--fortunately for me it did not happen.

 

[justaumechanic]

C checks on the 757 will Start in PIT on or around the 17th of Jan. Current seat mod is taking approx 4 1/2 to 5 shifts to accomplish.

As for taking out the First Class seats and people running to other carriers! Who are you going to run to? Southwest, JetBlue all running coach configuration. The funny thing is they making money, lots of money.. How about all of the Major Running first class?? Making Money??

Its a whole new world and there is no place for First Class in the Domestic Market of the United States.. If I had my way I would have removed all of the First Class from the 757's and shut down the IFE system.. Huge waste of money and time.. Ask Southwest.. I wonder how many MEL's a day they have on their IFE system?? Zero comes to mind.

If the company is going to offer IFE then they need to go the route of JetBlue, Frontier and AirTran.. Offer what people want not what our marketing people think they want. KISS.. Keep It Simple Stupid..

One Eastern Bird left to modify on the 757 track. (602 I think) 600 just passed thru the mod track and was uneventful. Everything fell into place with no problems. Maybe the 600 ghost went away!!

 

[700UW]

Here is a photo of the FSMC.

 

[firstamendment]

They do that, and they will find a large segment of their elite VFF population on UA. Same small number of F seats, but E+ to make the coach experience more desireable.

I don't have a hard time believing this--it's classic BBB--"here are unlimited elite upgrades--now we are going to shrink all the F cabins."

I guess you are aware that UAL has only 8 seats on their 319/320's. Personally, 26 seats on the 321 is just too many. That's more than the 767. I enjoy a more intimate f/c cabin. I can keep better in touch with 12 or 16 but wow, 26 starts getting weird.

 

[TomBascom]

They do that, and they will find a large segment of their elite VFF population on UA. Same small number of F seats, but E+ to make the coach experience more desireable.

I don't have a hard time believing this--it's classic BBB--"here are unlimited elite upgrades--now we are going to shrink all the F cabins."

I guess you are aware that UAL has only 8 seats on their 319/320's. Personally, 26 seats on the 321 is just too many. That's more than the 767. I enjoy a more intimate f/c cabin. I can keep better in touch with 12 or 16 but wow, 26 starts getting weird.

It's called "the last positive differentiator" between US & UA. Everything else is in the negatives column for US.

I suppose that you're all aware the NW runs both the 319 & 320 with 16 seats in F?

26 seats on a 321 isn't "too many" on Monday morning heading to the West Coast. That's what you need to size for -- not Wednesday afternoon.

 

[Bear96]

I guess you are aware that UAL has only 8 seats on their 319/320's.

UA has 12 F seats on the A320.

 

[MarkMyWords]

Calm down everyone. My sources tell me that there is no plan to reconfigure any other fleet type after the B757's.

 

[delldude]

Calm down everyone. My sources tell me that there is no plan to reconfigure any other fleet type after the B757's.

you better check with Bronner first... :blink:

 

[Flying Titan]

I'm flying from the east coast to LAS in a few months - not a route I usually fly. Though I am a loyal US traveler, I will likely look to UA for this trip because I would imagine I'll have trouble upgrading. If I don't get to upgrade on UA, I am certain that I will be in E+. That offers enough of a difference to tip the scales in favor of UA. This is the downside to pulling those F seats.

When the strategy came out to offer lower F fares, I thought this was a stroke of genius because it would justify keeping the large F section in the 757s and, if promoted properly, could generate new high-end business. Unfortunately, CCY seems to be working at crossed purposes here, announcing a limited program of reduced fares in F class while pulling the seats at the same time.

 

[ClueByFour]

I guess you are aware that UAL has only 8 seats on their 319/320's. Personally, 26 seats on the 321 is just too many. That's more than the 767. I enjoy a more intimate f/c cabin. I can keep better in touch with 12 or 16 but wow, 26 starts getting weird.

Yes, however, UAL has E+, which makes coach a much less tolerable proposition for the VFF.

US does not.