Back from hell: UAL 744s

Originally posted by mikeconnell
Hope you’re not about to start posting these photos on every United-related thread that appears from now on. Everyone has their axe to grind, but you’ve already made your point.

I concurr. We’ve seen those pics twice already. They were interesting the first time.

Originally posted by Wrenchbender
I hope the maintenance is better on the United 747’s than the
A-320’s. United sends their planes out to 3rd party chop shops and they put the gear in wrong. It worked a few times and then it turned 90 degrees. The plane landed like this. I could have killed everyone. I heard of engines failing also.

Hope you’re not about to start posting these photos on every United-related thread that appears from now on. Everyone has their axe to grind, but you’ve already made your point.

Regards
Mike

yeah i know but even so…

Originally posted by Airline owner
The pilot must have been heavy to stuff that landing gear up good and proper:D 😀 😀

LOL, if you read the earlier posts by wrenchbinder, you’ll know why that happened.

Bad Maintenance

The pilot must have been heavy to stuff that landing gear up good and proper:D 😀 😀

Picture 3

Picture 2

I hope the maintenance is better on the United 747’s than the
A-320’s. United sends their planes out to 3rd party chop shops and they put the gear in wrong. It worked a few times and then it turned 90 degrees. The plane landed like this. I could have killed everyone. I heard of engines failing also.

Originally posted by mikeconnell
I’m not disputing your knowledge – this is already well proven. Do United have more than one 744 config like on the 777s (the one I checked out was N177UA on UA919 LHR-IAD on Mon 9th Feb)?

Thank you for the kind words, sir. UA once upon a time had 2 different config’s for their 744’s. The less common had a ton of first and business class seats and only like 130 economy class. Basically, between doors 4 and 5. I don’t know that those are around anymore, therefore, that leaves the ones that start at row 32 for economy. I really don’t know what to say, Mike, other than you could be right. Anytime I purchase tickets from united.com, they are classified as such. I always choose 35C/H because of the isle on lone flights is a must for me and they have the middle door for huge legroom. If I don’t get one of those, I choose 32H even though it’s at the bulkhead. The screen is right in front of you, however.

Originally posted by mikeconnell
Milage Plus top notch? Agreed wholeheartedly. 🙂 And I got upgraded this morning using a Mileage plus reward ticket on bmi London – Manchester. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Mike

The one time I flew bmi, they did this, as well! Last year between LHR and AMS, they upgraded myself and my brother while we were in the lounge.

Originally posted by greekdude1
Mike, I have to disagree here. I’ve been premier or premier executive on UA since the end of 1999 so I’ve sat no further aft than row 35 on a UA 744, ever. Row 32-34 can’t be any more cramped than the rest of the Y-class cabin, per se. My favourite seat on UA’s 744’s is actually 35C or 35H because you have the overwing exit row in front of you and unlimited legroom, so I just stretch my legs out all the way and go to sleep and have the toilet literally right next to me. However when those 2 seats aren’t available, I sit in the 3 rows in front of that which are the aforementioned rows. If anything those rows are ‘better’ because it is the Economy plus section and only members such as myself can reserve those ahead of time. Everybody else can only do so upon check-in subject to availability.

As far as frequent flyer programs go, UA’s is top notch. I won’t even get into details because this post will wind up being much longer than it already is. I’ll save that for another. TG’s sounds pretty good also, Michael. I lost all respect I had for LH’s program recently. But again, that’s for another future thread.

Hi Greekdude,

I just got to check this out last week on a UA 744, and I have to stick by my original comments. UAL don’t count 32-34 as Economy Plus, and I would say these have less legroom than normal economy. Also, row 33 doesn’t have a window at either end, and they are pretty poorly located for 32 and 34.

I’m not disputing your knowledge – this is already well proven. Do United have more than one 744 config like on the 777s (the one I checked out was N177UA on UA919 LHR-IAD on Mon 9th Feb)?

BTW, I have to say that if anyone’s flying transatlantic on a UA 777 then the best Economy seats that can be reserved in advance have to be 21H (aisle) and 21J (window). These are behind the crew rest seats and have loads and loads of legroom. I had 21J last night and slept like a baby.

Milage Plus top notch? Agreed wholeheartedly. 🙂 And I got upgraded this morning using a Mileage plus reward ticket on bmi London – Manchester. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Mike

Originally posted by theplane
Although I’ve never flown on a 744 before, I guess I would partly rather try their 777… torn apart between flying on either one, since i’ve never been on them…

Depending on which flight you’re on, is what aircraft you’ll get. I checked UA’s timetable for March 18th, and they have 3 flights from LHR to IAD. The morning flight is operated by a 763. The noon flight is a 744 and the later flight is a 777.

Thanks Gd, that’s exactly what i meant…some airlines nowadays won’t let you earn miles in some of the economy class tix, and since I’m paying for this flight myself (instead of my parents paying for it), I’m not exactly too thrilled with having to pay an extra £200 (about $330) just for the sake of earning full miles…

Originally posted by theplane
…anyone here know if there are certain restrictions on miles earned vs. ticket class? thanx all the same guys 🙂

I’m not quite sure what you mean by this, but let me see if I can clarify it nonetheless. You earn 100% actual flight miles flown on all economy class flights, or 500 miles, whichever is greater. 125% in business, 150% in first. Miles don’t ever expire, provided there is some acitivity in your account, once evrey five years. That part of the program is outstanding, unlike LH’s.

lol dcfly…there’s bound to be more than a few people that’ll flame u for that one, but i think you’re right hehehe
anyways, thinking about joining UA’s frequent flyer programme I guess… LHR-IAD-SJO and back should give me quite a few miles…and I might be able to put them to good use…anyone here know if there are certain restrictions on miles earned vs. ticket class? thanx all the same guys 🙂

….as likely as Tony Blair accepting the blame for anything??
dave

hey guys, thanx for the replies… for some reason, the email notification doesnt work for me 🙁 I’m flying out March 18th i believe… UA 744 to IAD, and then a 757 to SJO…
Although I’ve never flown on a 744 before, I guess I would partly rather try their 777… torn apart between flying on either one, since i’ve never been on them… and no PTV’s and less audio….hmm….oh well…..hopefully they’ll pull the 744s out before then :p then again, that’s about as likely as……………..anyone want to help me here???? 😉

Originally posted by greekdude1
Mike, I have to disagree here. I’ve been premier or premier executive on UA since the end of 1999 so I’ve sat no further aft than row 35 on a UA 744, ever. Row 32-34 can’t be any more cramped than the rest of the Y-class cabin, per se. My favourite seat on UA’s 744’s is actually 35C or 35H because you have the overwing exit row in front of you and unlimited legroom, so I just stretch my legs out all the way and go to sleep and have the toilet literally right next to me. However when those 2 seats aren’t available, I sit in the 3 rows in front of that which are the aforementioned rows. If anything those rows are ‘better’ because it is the Economy plus section and only members such as myself can reserve those ahead of time. Everybody else can only do so upon check-in subject to availability.

As far as frequent flyer programs go, UA’s is top notch. I won’t even get into details because this post will wind up being much longer than it already it. I’ll save that for another. TG’s sounds pretty good also, Michael. I lost all respect I had for LH’s program recently. But again, that’s for another future thread.

Last time I flew on a UAL 744 I was allocated 33A, and this was not classed as E+ by United. I found it rather more cramped than normal economy and was not fond at all.

Luckily the flight was only about 80% full and a F/A took pity on me and moved me to an empty E+ seat.

Couldn’t agree more on Mileage Plus – but like you say that’s for another thread.

Mike

Originally posted by mikeconnell
The 744s have the same excellent Y class seats as the 777s but no PTVs and (IMHO) the 747 configuration isn’t as nice as on a 767 or 777 because of the three seat sets by the windows. Still a very nice aircraft though, we’re just spoiled with the latter.

Mike I agree 100% here, but what can you do? All 747 economy class sections have 3 seats by the window, unless you’re in row 60+!

Originally posted by mikeconnell
Another suggestion is if you are travelling Y class avoid rows 32-34 – they’re a little area in front of the economy plus, and because of the structure of the aircraft they’re horribly cramped.

Mike, I have to disagree here. I’ve been premier or premier executive on UA since the end of 1999 so I’ve sat no further aft than row 35 on a UA 744, ever. Row 32-34 can’t be any more cramped than the rest of the Y-class cabin, per se. My favourite seat on UA’s 744’s is actually 35C or 35H because you have the overwing exit row in front of you and unlimited legroom, so I just stretch my legs out all the way and go to sleep and have the toilet literally right next to me. However when those 2 seats aren’t available, I sit in the 3 rows in front of that which are the aforementioned rows. If anything those rows are ‘better’ because it is the Economy plus section and only members such as myself can reserve those ahead of time. Everybody else can only do so upon check-in subject to availability.

As far as frequent flyer programs go, UA’s is top notch. I won’t even get into details because this post will wind up being much longer than it already is. I’ll save that for another. TG’s sounds pretty good also, Michael. I lost all respect I had for LH’s program recently. But again, that’s for another future thread.

Originally posted by mikeconnell
Just a thought – if you’re not already in UAL’s Mileage Plus make sure you join before you travel – the miles from one transatlantic round trip can be enough for a bmi freebie within Europe if you count all the bonus miles they keep throwing in.

The 744s have the same excellent Y class seats as the 777s but no PTVs and (IMHO) the 747 configuration isn’t as nice as on a 767 or 777 because of the three seat sets by the windows. Still a very nice aircraft though, we’re just spoiled with the latter.

Another suggestion is if you are travelling Y class avoid rows 32-34 – they’re a little area in front of the economy plus, and because of the structure of the aircraft they’re horribly cramped.

Hope this helps

Mike

I joined the British Airways Executive Club and the Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus schemes.

A return trip to Bangkok will allow to me take an extra 10kg of baggage for the next 2 years and once you fly 50,000 miles (LHR-BKK-LHR almost 10 times) you get a free flight in the next class. So, if you fly economy, you’ll get upgraded to Business Class.

British Airways gave me 250 points for a return flight to Edinburgh. You need to make this trip 320 times in order to get a return flight to Bangkok (in economy)!!

Just a thought – if you’re not already in UAL’s Mileage Plus make sure you join before you travel – the miles from one transatlantic round trip can be enough for a bmi freebie within Europe if you count all the bonus miles they keep throwing in.

The 744s have the same excellent Y class seats as the 777s but no PTVs and (IMHO) the 747 configuration isn’t as nice as on a 767 or 777 because of the three seat sets by the windows. Still a very nice aircraft though, we’re just spoiled with the latter.

Another suggestion is if you are travelling Y class avoid rows 32-34 – they’re a little area in front of the economy plus, and because of the structure of the aircraft they’re horribly cramped.

Hope this helps

Mike