Anyone tried United First ?

Booked United MCO to EWR in 1st - anyone any experience ?

Not expecting too much but it was a reasonable price which included 2 bags at 32kgs with plenty of choice of times.

Thanks

David.

Booked United MCO to EWR in 1st - anyone any experience ?
Not expecting too much but it was a reasonable price which included 2 bags at 32kgs with plenty of choice of times.
Thanks
David.

1.Kerb-side check-in.

2.Additional luggage allowance.

3.'Priority' though security, along with all the other FC and BC travellers; probably faster to go with the EC passengers; arrived at the Gate to find that they had 're-assigned' our seats as we hadn't arrived early enough; my how we laughed after the usual TSA fiasco and point 3 above. We did get our original seats back after a 'discussion' with the Gate staff.

4.Crap on-board stowage; anything other than a tiny carry-on will be heading off to the hold, so ensure you have your paperback and/or iPad in your pockets.

5.Mediocre meals.

6.No offer of top up of in-flight drinks unless you request them.

7.'Free' on-board AV rubbish; I spent the flight watching the weather channel.

8. Failed to load one of my suitcases at the point of departure.

If you have additional bags; points 1 & 2 make sense, especially if booked well in advance; otherwise avoid.

NV & Lauren

United are on my 'never again' list. Terrible airline.

[honey lamb]

Got an upgrade to First. Got a glass of water and that was it!

I've had better service in economy on some of their regional services.

United are on my 'never again' list. Terrible airline.

They're on my "not if I can help it" list but one route I fly from time to time is served only by them. :0

Have flow UA in both Y and J but not for about 4 years.

They weren't bad but they weren't stellar either. Some of the CC were a bit matronly and the two free drink limit in the JFK lounge was a bit miserley but they got me from A to B in relative comfort.

Mmmm, I suppose its only 3 hours so I will take one for the team ( and of course a TR ).

As long as they get me to EWR and my 1st visit to the Clubhouse there.

Thanks for your views

David.

Right now, by all accounts, UA are the clear third in F class service on internal flights amongst the legacy airlines. DL has the best transcon Flagship service (JFK-SFO/LAX) and AA the best mid-range service.

UA botched the merger and has been on a downward trajectory since. That said, I flew them a fair bit in F until about a year ago and, while not spectacular, they are IMO a much better experience than pretty much any European short & mid haul carrier, mostly for the seat and for the general service style (surly FAs notwithstanding). The caveats are that with UA this applies only to mainline flights; regional jet flights are outsourced to the Skywest-style carriers and offer typically much poorer service (not the case with DL and AA); that since the merger FAs are even more miserable than they ever were; that UA is nowhere on delivering Wifi on board.

You will get a mid-con meal, which is OK unless your window falls into the "snack" period (think BA's brunch of Afternoon Tea nonsense here). By OK I mean there will be a decent amount of food - quality is another story. Drinks may or may not flow, that's very sensitive to the crew's moods. They should do a full beverage service prior to departure, which is not typical of euro flights.

That's about the long and short of it.

There are some reviews on Business Traveller forum.

Right now, by all accounts, UA are the clear third in F class service on internal flights amongst the legacy airlines. DL has the best transcon Flagship service (JFK-SFO/LAX) and AA the best mid-range service.

UA botched the merger and has been on a downward trajectory since. That said, I flew them a fair bit in F until about a year ago and, while not spectacular, they are IMO a much better experience than pretty much any European short & mid haul carrier, mostly for the seat and for the general service style (surly FAs notwithstanding). The caveats are that with UA this applies only to mainline flights; regional jet flights are outsourced to the Skywest-style carriers and offer typically much poorer service (not the case with DL and AA); that since the merger FAs are even more miserable than they ever were; that UA is nowhere on delivering Wifi on board.

You will get a mid-con meal, which is OK unless your window falls into the "snack" period (think BA's brunch of Afternoon Tea nonsense here). By OK I mean there will be a decent amount of food - quality is another story. Drinks may or may not flow, that's very sensitive to the crew's moods. They should do a full beverage service prior to departure, which is not typical of euro flights.

That's about the long and short of it.

Both AA and DL outsource regional flying to the likes of SkyWest, in fact SkyWest is now the biggest carrier at LAX thanks to them taking over the American Eagle ops there.

Thanks everyone.

Only a couple of days to go, so will post a TR when waiting at EWR

Yesterday's flight was on a 737-900 and was 11 mins early at the gate so fingers crossed.

David

First on regional on United is nothing to get excited about in the slightest. If you are on a regional jet make sure your carry on is soft sided so it can crush down into the o/h locker, if not you are going to have to gate check it. Morale is crap within United and it shows in the GA/FAs.

Everything I feared about the CO / UA merger has come to pass - where CO was my first choice within the US it's now dire post merger, as in CO was moved to UA's standard not the other way.

Expect all that others have shared.

More recently I've been trying Delta to get a flavour for them pre-JV with VS. Generally positive except the JFK experience which, even with many flights now in T4 is absolutely dreadful. Flew from DCA to JFK last Thursday and the ground ops seemed like they couldn't organize a piss up in a brewery, waited 55 mins parked on the tarmac and commuting around the airport to get into an alley to disembark.

In the US its VX first choice where they are an option, Jet Blue second (love the extra legroom seats) and now DL third.

In the US its VX first choice where they are an option, Jet Blue second (love the extra legroom seats) and now DL third.

I'd agree with the first two here. I think that JetBlue are probably the best short haul airline in the US and EU.

I can't comment on DL as I haven't tried them yet.

UA domestic First is virtually the same as VS PE or what used to pass as J class in the 80's. Pretty awful. No wifi. Food is usually a bowl of lettuce masquerading as a 'salad'.

First fail so far, checkin v good, security v good, but no lounge access ?| ?|

Looks like I'll have to pay for coffee

David

Have a great trip home. Can't wait to read the TRs.


Jon

First fail so far, checkin v good, security v good, but no lounge access ?| ?|

Looks like I'll have to pay for coffee

David

Ha ha ha I fell for that years ago, you think you're in First and you get a lounge, well welcome to the US!

UA domestic First is virtually the same as VS PE or what used to pass as J class in the 80's. Pretty awful. No wifi. Food is usually a bowl of lettuce masquerading as a 'salad'.

Not sure that's true about the food, I got a comp upgrade to First recently on a fairly short flight DEN-SFO and the food was pretty nice IMHO. Mushroom soup, some chicken flatbread thing and a desert...plus, they weren't the only options.

Yes, UA aren't great, but they sure make themselves appealing with the availability of award seats.

forum/index.php?f=21&t=280546&rb_v=viewtopic

Cross referenced the TR to help with the search facility.

David

Sounds like the 'new' UA has improved a lot.