Reduced First Class Cabin Configuration on 757 Fleet

[JAMAKE1]

Okay...don't shoot the messenger here. I was merely perusing the forums over at Airliners.net and according to several sources, UAL Management has decided to decrease the number of UF (United First) seats on the standard 757 fleet (read non p.s. fleet) from 24 seats to 14, and increase the number of UF seats on the A-319 fleet from 8 to 12. Additionally, in the same thread, it is mentioned that Coke will replace Pepsi products beginning this summer.

All I can say is that, although it is indeed, a dream to work the Purser position on an A-319 trans-con flight with only 8 seats, this adjustment does make sense as it standardizes the Airbus fleet. On the other hand, having recently worked a EWR-SFO trans-con on a 757, in which the ENTIRE UF cabin was comprised of Global Services, 1K's and Exec Million customers, I can see that a loss of 10 UF seats, particularly in high-yield markets such as SFO-EWR and SFO-BOS, will likely upset the customer base that generates the largest revenue premium for United. It sort of makes me wonder if Doug Parker has been mentoring Tilton on this one...

 

[BuffaloJoe]

All I can say is that, although it is indeed, a dream to work the Purser position on an A-319 trans-con flight with only 8 seats, this adjustment does make sense as it standardizes the Airbus fleet. On the other hand, having recently worked a EWR-SFO trans-con on a 757, in which the ENTIRE UF cabin was comprised of Global Services, 1K's and Exec Million customers, I can see that a loss of 10 UF seats, particularly in high-yield markets such as SFO-EWR and SFO-BOS, will likely upset the customer base that generates the largest revenue premium for United. It sort of makes me wonder if Doug Parker has been mentoring Tilton on this one...

Are they doing away with the Economy Plus? I hope not, I do like the idea of that, but really don't want to upgrade to FC.

 

[JetClipper]

UAL Management has decided to decrease the number of UF (United First) seats on the standard 757 fleet (read non p.s. fleet) from 24 seats to 14

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that how many FC seats the 757s had when they were first introduced (or was it 12)?

 

[laura62]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that how many FC seats the 757s had when they were first introduced (or was it 12)?

It was 12 and then we had that funny little economy section with 2 rows of seats just forward of door 2. It was the forgotten zone-we always seeed to "forget" to back our carts up all the way and feed/water those folk!

 

[The Gopher]

Not to mention that no narrowbody will have ovens anymore after this conversion is complete.

But, 12F for both the A319 and A320 fleets makes sense from a UG/DG standpoint. You can then equipment swap easily without IDG'ing the folks up front. Not to mention the addition of revenue-generating seats in economy. UG/DG form the bulk of UF, who buys full fare F tix?

 

[BuffaloJoe]

Not to mention that no narrowbody will have ovens anymore after this conversion is complete.

But, 12F for both the A319 and A320 fleets makes sense from a UG/DG standpoint. You can then equipment swap easily without IDG'ing the folks up front. Not to mention the addition of revenue-generating seats in economy. UG/DG form the bulk of UF, who buys full fare F tix?

OK what about when they put a TED on a regular route? Or vice versa? I got lucky and it never happened to me yet.

 

[UnitedChicago]

OK what about when they put a TED on a regular route? Or vice versa? I got lucky and it never happened to me yet.

oh it happened to me and i was a paying united first customer on a red eye from sfo-ord. the gate agent handled it horribly - i was very peeved.

i'm since over it 🙂

 

[FWAAA]

I can understand standardizing the A319 and A320 F cabins, as equipment substitutions between the two (downgrades from A320s to A319s) have been a big issue for the affected elites.

But taking 10 F seats out of the 757s? That makes no sense, given UA's inferior upgrade potential (compared to AA). Across the board, AA generally has larger narrowbody F cabins, and a reduction from 24 to 14 would give AA a ton of ammo to try to convert more ORD-based UA elites to AA. I can see the commercials now:

Tired of sitting in E+ on that UA 757 because your upgrade didn't clear? Next time try AA, where its 757s feature 22 F seats, not a stingy 14 F seats.

Then the ad would go on to describe how AA's 737s and MD-80s all feature 16 F seats, which is more than UA's 737s and Airbus models. If you want a better shot at an upgrade, Fly an Airline that Knows Why You Fly - AA.

No way will UA give AA that type of competitive AAdvantage. B)

 

[laura62]

We have a lot of widebody service into/out of ORD with opportunities to upgrade to both first class and business class. Our frequent fliers prefer that over narrowbodies.

 

[FWAAA]

We have a lot of widebody service into/out of ORD with opportunities to upgrade to both first class and business class. Our frequent fliers prefer that over narrowbodies.

You're right - what with all that frequent and numerous UA 3 class widebody service from ORD to such places as:

ANC, AUA, BWI, BOS, DTW, BDL, MSP, LGA, EWR, OAK, OMA, SNA, PHL, PDX, SMF, SAN, SJC, SEA and DCA - UA will be the clear winner everytime. 😀

Seriously, if you're flying to those few destinations where UA flies domestic widebodies - you're absolutely correct. Places like DEN, IAD, LAX and SFO. But that earlier list features plenty of 752s that this rumour says might have only 14 F seats (and, of course, numerous 737s and A319/320s with even fewer F seats).

 

[BuffaloJoe]

You're right - what with all that frequent and numerous UA 3 class widebody service from ORD to such places as:

ANC, AUA, BWI, BOS, DTW, BDL, MSP, LGA, EWR, OAK, OMA, SNA, PHL, PDX, SMF, SAN, SJC, SEA and DCA - UA will be the clear winner everytime. 😀

Seriously, if you're flying to those few destinations where UA flies domestic widebodies - you're absolutely correct. Places like DEN, IAD, LAX and SFO. But that earlier list features plenty of 752s that this rumour says might have only 14 F seats (and, of course, numerous 737s and A319/320s with even fewer F seats).

The last month flying back from ORD we we supposed to be on a 757, they had an issue at the last minute and put a 737-500 on. That sure sucked for some. But I believe they didn't need anymore seats. I believe there were about 5 seats still open.