United Airlines

[thunderchild]

Does anyone know how many trans-Atlantic 757s UA have? I tried so work out the routes to see if 21 767s was a straight like for like swap but to be honest I got muddled up with frequencies and seasonal upgrades.

Given the load factors I imagine BHX could support a few extra seats.

 

[CL44]

Hi Ray.

There is certainly demand for the flight cargo wise. UA are not selling their flight as it has been dedicated to one particular market so anything originating from BHX is either going north or south. If (and it is a big if) AA do decide to uplift the capacity on the flight it would certainly be something we would consider looking at (weight restrictions of 150 Kgs and max load height of 101 cms does put a crimp on what you can load on board). What everyone needs to remember (and I feel certain I have mentioned this before) is now we have the service coming online we have to use it or loose it. We lost the original AA service after their re-structure following 9-11, we lost the US service after 1 season (but it did not help that they accepted no bookings for cargo either way), so the answer is in our own hands. We either use the service (both as passengers and for cargo) or we loose the service entirely. I would much rather have a 757 (as per UA) than not have a service at all. The countdown has started: less than a week to go.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thanks again for the info.

There is certainly demand for the flight cargo wise. UA are not selling their flight as it has been dedicated to one particular market so anything originating from BHX is either going north or south.

Would that be a Royal Mail contract? It was rumoured a while back that there had been an increase for United and we may see a 767 to cater for the extra load. I guess that sort of info wouldn't be in the public domain but it would be nice if there was some truth to it.

What everyone needs to remember (and I feel certain I have mentioned this before) is now we have the service coming online we have to use it or loose it. We lost the original AA service after their re-structure following 9-11, we lost the US service after 1 season (but it did not help that they accepted no bookings for cargo either way), so the answer is in our own hands. We either use the service (both as passengers and for cargo) or we loose the service entirely. I would much rather have a 757 (as per UA) than not have a service at all. The countdown has started: less than a week to go.

Totally agree. That includes those in the Greater Birmingham business community who bang on about new services but then continue to use LHR even after they become available. Both AA and UA need their support!

 

[BHXsupporter]

Re: United Airlines' service level conundrum

On the BHX skyscrapercity.com website there is a lot of criticism of United's customer service standards, particularly in-flight - rude stewardesses, old planes etc. :shok:

If true, is this an illustration of the myth that is spread of fabulous US have a nice day service 'offerings'' across that shiny continent? If the mantra on market forces - rather than protectionism - really worked, wouldn't this have rid the US of such a reportedly bad carrier by now?

Why then do folk continue to buy tickets for routes that United fly, unless they specialize mainly in unique routes as Ryanair do restricting consumer choice on routes. One argument on the website is that it enables Air Miles to be used (despite the quality of the product!) which really does show how the marketers can pull the wool over eyes!! If there is merit in this argument, will this all now result in time in a natural transference of passengers to American at BHX if sufficient people realize the difference in service? :s_dunno

 

[BHXsupporter]

Re: United Airlines and used A319s

AerCap to Lease up to 25 Used A319 Aircraft to United Airlines 15 May 2015
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, May 15, 2015

Read more: http://www.aercap.com/newsroom/view?reqid=2048848

This isn't going to affect BHX but it may be a plan to upgrade from even older aircraft in the United fleet (?)

 

[Ray Finkle]

I've never flown on an American carrier but I have heard plenty of horror stories about United. There also seems to be similar stories about American but to a lesser degree.

I suppose over the years United have offered regional departure points that the others didn't. They have continually served BHX throughout some dark times and in the past have served others such as BRS and now a seasonal NCL. If I'd have travelled to New York last year I'd have booked United from BHX simply for the convenience.

I guess it could be one reason why they are so concerned about the Gulf carriers cracking the US market. If Emirates ever offered flights from BHX and MAN to JFK connecting with Jet Blues network they'd make a killing.

In the future I'd love to see Norwegian enter the BHX-NYC market, with a Dreamliner I'm sure their flights would be very popular indeed. That's just me dreaming though

 

[Jon Dempsey]

I'd like to see the ME3 running US services through Manchester & Birmingham.

That would really screw the protectionism of BA and the arrogance of their management dictating that if you want to fly internationally, you must drag yourself down to London.

If UA, AA, Delta etc can make a profit via BHX/MAN, there is no reason BA cannot.

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Oh, and apologies for the rant!!

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'd say we all agree with you

I think most people would love Emirates doing US services through their airports and I don't think they would have any problems filling a daily 77W from BHX/MAN. Tim Clark said that when they opened Milan-JFK there were 20 other cities asking for something similar.

No surprise really.

 

[CL44]

Todays UA026 took off earlier on this morning (about 0920 hrs) and returned to BHX landing at 1120 hrs having made it to just past the Irish coast. The Aircraft parked up on the 80's and has recently moved out to one of the taxi ways. The UA website shows the flight as delayed due to a technical problem but shows no indication of what went wrong. All told there are 11 empty seats (according to the seat map on the website) which means a virtual full load of PAX feeling very sorry for themselves at the moment. Last update I saw showed 1430 as a departure time (over 40 minutes ago) so not looking clever for UA today from BHX.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Both United and American look to have had an awful summer reliability wise, not just at BHX but across the whole of the UK.

 

[CL44]

Well the UA026 for today has been cancelled. The Aircraft has been moved back onto the 80's for however long it takes to sort out the problem. Tomorrows flight is still showing as a 757 so I hope UA have moved the PAX down to LHR already because it could be quite a scrum in departures tomorrow if everyone turns up from todays flight expecting a seat. All in all not a very good day for UA (again).

 

[Ray Finkle]

The United website now has UA2054 on sale for a 10am departure tomorrow.

The seat map shows only two business seats taken and the rest of the cabin at around 50% so I'd imagine the others either had a bus down to LHR or got seats on other Star Alliance partners. Business on tomorrows UA26 had been full for a while with only a few Premium Economy seats left, Friday also only has one business seat left.

 

[BHXsupporter]

It will be interesting to learn why these US flights are failing. Aging B757's? Might be time to replace with the LRA321 as soon as available but meanwhile ...?

Interestingly, this site waxes lyrical about the 757 and I agree that it does look and sound impressive. I was at Tatton Park over the w/e where there are fabulous views of the Manchester traffic and there were many of them. My sister-in-law was agog at the A380 that appeared over the walled vegetable garden and proceeded to 'hang' above us in its memorable way. Oh for my phone camera to have been ready!

 

[Brum X]

Yeah i noticed that yesterday, however AA from JFK arrived on time. (Photo to follow) :rockon:


I also noticed the Air Transat has moved to an A310 already, school holidays are only just finishing ??????



Anyway back to United.

 

[BHXsupporter]

Perhaps some of the recurrent complaints about United service on the site might now be addressed shortly.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... ct-417598/

 

[Ray Finkle]

Never used United myself but from what I hear from people who have he has a big task on his hands.

 

[Brum X]

Mentioned on another website that United are showing 4 a week all winter now on their website.

Departs BHX Friday to Monday and Newark Thursday to Sunday.

Obviously a reduction of 1 flight per week for most of the winter season but im just happy that United are keeping there all year round service to EWR despite the extra uncertainty that we face this coming winter. And together with AA to JFK, it isnt too bad a frequency to New York.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Good to see it continue, after reading the wording of that interview I did have concerns that we may end up with it seasonal.

 

[Brum X]

Good to see it continue, after reading the wording of that interview I did have concerns that we may end up with it seasonal.

Yeah me too, but what we have is 1 less flight a week and an all year round service.