United Airlines, in an effort to raise cash, sold 22 of its jets to Bank Of China Aviation. It plans to lease them back. Bank of China (BOC) is one of the largest state-owned commercial banks in China. The deal includes: 6 Boeing 787-9 16 Boeing 737-9 MAX No purchase prices were announced, but BOC […]
Review: Turkish Airlines 787-9 Business Class
Business class onboard the Turkish Airlines 787-9 is a solid overall product and even better if you are traveling solo. Instead of booking nonstop to Los Angeles on the 777-300ER, a product I have reviewed before, I booked to Atlanta on the 787-9. Last-minute space was available using Aeroplan miles via transferred American Express Membership […]
United Airlines Reduces Service Across Asian Network
United Airlines is continuing to scale back service to Asia with a new round of reductions in service and capacity to Japan, South Korean, Singapore and Taiwan. As coronavirus fears continue to diminish travel demand, United is responding with several short-term changes that dramatically scale back United’s (already diminished) service to Asia. United Airlines Extends […]
First Impressions: Turkish Airlines 787-9 Business Class
Some complain the legroom is tight, but I think business class onboard the Turkish Airlines 787-9 is great if you are traveling solo. Instead of booking nonstop to Los Angeles on the 777-300ER, a product I have reviewed before, I booked to Atlanta on the 787-9. Last-minute space was available using Aeroplan miles. I was […]
Booked! Turkish Airlines A321neo + 787-9 Business Class
I spent the weekend in Germany and decided I will return to California in a different way than my usual United Polaris or Lufthansa First Class. This time, I’m trying two new products on Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines Last-Minute Award Space It seems that Turkish rarely (if ever) opens up last-minute award space to Los […]
Review: United 777-300ER Business Class San Francisco To Sydney
Here’s a rundown of the first half of my whirlwind journey to Sydney, Australia in United Business Class in order to achieve 1K status for 2020…and of course for a proper cup of coffee. I’ve outlined the reason for the trip here, so will jump right to the flights. I proceeded directly from a Christmas […]
United’s Bifurcated Approach To Aircraft Seating
Just what is a “Scott Kirby Retrofit”? Is that configuring a 767-300 with a staggering number of business class seats or squeezing more passengers onto a 787-8? My friend Gary from View from the Wing wrote a story yesterday entitled, “Leaked Seat Maps Show United’s 787s Are Getting A Scott Kirby Retrofit.” Working off seat […]
Analysis: United Orders 50 Airbus A321XLRs, Defers A350-900 Order
Airbus has scored another victory with a large A321XLR order from United Airlines. United will also defer its A350-900 order until at least 2027. United Orders 50 Airbus A321XLR To Replace Boeing 757s For years, United has sought a replacement for its aging 757-200 fleet. Many airlines, including United, hoped that Boeing would develop a […]
United Will Operate More Boeing 787s From Chicago
United Airlines will concentrate more Boeing 787 Dreamliners at Chicago O’Hare next year. In August, United announced the 787 was finally coming to Chicago, United’s home base. That included service to: Brussels (starting on March 28, 2020) Frankfurt (starting on March 28, 2020) Munich (starting on March 28, 2020) In 2020, United will add the […]
United Airlines Strategically Retools Winter Schedule
United Airlines is adjusting its winter longhaul schedule this weekend. The story is not just the upgauges and downgauges, but the strategy behind them and the versatility of the United fleet. First, let’s starts with the changes, which include a mix of downgauges (smaller aircraft) on route with reduced demand and upgauges (larger aircraft) on […]
I Chose 16 Hours In United Economy Class…
No PAL review this time. Instead, I chose to come home quickly from Singapore…in economy class. And I’m so glad I did. I asked for your feedback and appreciated your feedback, which was fairly evenly-divided between taking the quick United option home or taking the more exotic Scoot + Philippine Airlines option. > Read More: […]
Review: United 787-10 Polaris Business Class Newark To Los Angeles
If you’re going to be delayed, it’s always nice to be delayed in a premium cabin…like United’s 787-10 Polaris business class. With storms raging across the country, our flight was re-routed after we had pushed back from the gate, creating a flight path approximately one hour longer than planned. That required returning to the gate […]
United Airlines Accelerates Resumption Of India Flights
With Pakistani airspace unexpectedly re-opened, United will resume flights to India earlier than originally planned. Yesterday, I wrote about United’s decision to delay the resumption of its service to India until late October. There, I suggested that aircraft had likely been re-allocated for other missions and therefore United was unlikely to modify the October 26th […]
Review: United Airlines 787-8 Business Class Zurich To San Francisco
I’ve asked my two-year-old son Augustine to offer his thoughts on our recent 787-8 flight from Zurich to San Francisco on United Airlines in Polaris Business Class. Last time Daddy asked me write up a trip report was after my very first flight from Los Angeles to London, also on a United Dreamliner. I was […]
What Made My Latest United Flight Simply Fabulous
Last Saturday I flew from Zurich to San Francisco on United Airlines in business class with my family. While there were many positive aspects of the flight, the service was so excellent that it overshadowed everything else. I offered a very critical review of United recently from Los Angeles to London. That centered around poor […]
Review: United 787 Business Class Munich To San Francisco
It was nice to catch up on sleep aboard an 11-hour flight from Munich to San Francisco in United Polaris Business Class. This was again on a 787-9 in business class, a hard product I have reviewed several times in the past. See here for more details about the seat itself. This review will focus […]
United Airlines Returns To Africa, Announces New Service To Cape Town
United Airlines will resume service to the African continent with new seasonal service to Cape Town, South Africa. Starting on December 15, 2019, United will operate three flights weekly from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Cape Town (CPT). The flight will utilize a 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring: 48 seats in Business Class 88 seats in Economy […]
Menu Descriptions On United Are Now More Detailed (And Why It Matters)
Earlier this week I flew to London on United Airlines in Polaris (business) class. I noticed a small but meaningful change in the dining menu. Each course now has a more detailed description. I appreciate knowing, for example, what kind of bread will be offered, what kind of cheese is on the plate, and what […]
United May Replace 757s With A321XLR
In the coming years, United plans to replace its aging fleet of Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft. Now United is floating the Airbus A321XLR as a potential replacement. Speaking to employees in a video that was seen by Flight Global (and me), United President Scott Kirby discussed United’s fleet renewal plan. Currently, United has a […]
United 787 Diverts To Small French Island After Mechanical Scare
A United Airlines’ 787-9 bound for Los Angeles diverted to Noumea due to the “smell of smoke” onboard. Noumea is the capital of New Caledonia, a French territory located east of Australia and north of New Zealand. The flight, UA99, landed at La Tontouta International Airport (NOU) at 4:22 PM local time after leaving early from […]