• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » United Airlines » United May Cut p.s. Name, but not Premium Service
NewsUnited Airlines

United May Cut p.s. Name, but not Premium Service

Matthew Klint Posted onJanuary 24, 2017November 14, 2023 8 Comments

United PS Servie

In 2004, United Airlines introduced p.s. (premium service) onboard its transcon flights between New York Kennedy and Los Angeles/San Francisco. This enhanced domestic product mimicked an international flight with menus, enhanced meals, and a premium business and first class seat. When UA closed its JFK station in 2015, p.s. shifted to Newark. But rumors have been swirling this week that United will end p.s. service. United has now confirmed that enhanced service on these premium transcon flights is not going away.

Yesterday on one of my United flights a FA mentioned that p.s. service is going away “and would be replaced by traditional domestic first service”. That sounded far-fetched, but a thread on Flyertalk revealed others had heard the same thing.

With fierce competition between New York and San Francisco/Los Angeles, the idea that United can cutback its product offering makes little sense. On the contrary, Delta and JetBlue continue to enhance their product.

I reached out to United for a quote and Jonathan Guerin, a Public Relations Senior Manager and spokesman, wrote me back with the following–

The premium trans-con markets we operate between EWR and SFO and LAX are not going away. We will continue to offer the enhanced service on those flights.

I called him up and we spoke for a few minutes this afternoon. Indeed, removing the p.s. name is under consideration, but the lie-flat beds will remain. The enhanced meals are not going away. Even menus and amenities kits will remain.

Will the new service be just called standard domestic first class or perhaps Polaris? No decision has been made. Guerin did admit that strong competition is factoring into the analysis. That suggests United is looking at some ways to trim costs — premium advance-purchase fares have plummeted since JetBlue entreated the fray with its MINT service.

What United Should Do

As long as a decision has not been made yet, I will add my two cents.

P.S. was a great marketing campaign, but it may have run it course. A name-change is okay, but I am happy to hear United will not pull the plug on a successful product during a time in which competition is improving. United has a strong presence at Newark (with minor competition from Virgin America) but it still competes in a greater New York market. It would be irrational to cede all local traffic and focus just on lucrative international connections. Chunks of New York City are reached more easily via Newark than Kennedy. UA must aggressively highlight this.

United would be wise to keep the menus, keep the premium service and go a step further, offering Polaris Lounge access to all premium transcon passengers (even if that leads to food cutbacks onboard). With low oil prices and dwindling competition, we are not in the era of racing to the bottom. Rather, we are in an era where carriers must innovate to win business.

Hopefully, in changing the p.s. name, United will introduce new perks that will distinguish its product from a crowded field. Stay tuned.

Read More:

A Review of My First and Last United p.s. Flights from JFK
Onboard Video from the Final United p.s. Flight from JFK
United JFK Employees Say Goodbye to Home, Hello to Uncertainty
Pictures: Saying Goodbye to United Airlines at JFK
United Airlines Leaves JFK, Moves p.s. to Newark

Top image courtesy of Matt@PEK / CC

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Will Emirates Squeeze United Out of Athens?
Next Article Review: Johannesburg to Livingstone, Zambia in British Airways Comair Economy Class

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Influencer Dog United Airlines

    Unreal: Influencer Brings Her Massive Great Dane “Service Dog” On United Airlines Flight

    May 21, 2025
  • Hawaiian Airlines Bomb Threat

    “The Guy Next To Me Has A Bomb!” Hawaiian Airlines Passenger’s Lie Sparks Tarmac Chaos

    May 21, 2025
  • Newark Airport Flight Caps

    How the FAA Is Determining Which Carriers Must Reduce Service At Newark

    May 21, 2025

8 Comments

  1. Gary Leff Reply
    January 24, 2017 at 9:26 pm

    The introduction of p.s. service was actually a cutback in soft product, though an improvement in seats

    • Matthew Reply
      January 24, 2017 at 9:40 pm

      I hope you will write about this. The p.s. I remember in 2004 (the year I started flying United) was grand — Bellinis, protein on salads, nice appetizers, great main courses like rack of lamb, ice cream, and chocolate truffles. Two meals (breakfast and lunch) on eastbound morning flights.

  2. Christian Reply
    January 25, 2017 at 12:49 am

    With competition dwindling, why do you feel it is necessary to innovate to win business? Increasing periods of competition would be the time to change.

    • Matthew Reply
      January 25, 2017 at 1:03 am

      Because even with less competition, JetBlue and Delta are getting better. AA and UA have the same seat in business class, but AA also has a true first class product as well. UA cannot expect to win local customers by cutting back benefits and charging the same as a Suite in JetBlue MINT Class.

  3. MeanMeosh Reply
    January 25, 2017 at 10:56 am

    “UA cannot expect to win local customers by cutting back benefits and charging the same as a Suite in JetBlue MINT Class.”

    Except, there is precedent here. Basic Economy is Spirit Airlines at a higher price point, except you can’t even pay for seat assignments or carry-on bags. “Innovation” in today’s airline-speak tends to mean service cuts sold as “enhancements”. So you’ll forgive me if I’m skeptical that you won’t see the same thing with p.s. service, especially with Scott Kirby at the helm.

  4. Bobby Reply
    January 25, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    The current post-merger UA does not know how to innovate. They are only good at mimicking others. What a shame. The good old UA that I knew and loved is long gone. I can just see them getting rid of the name “p.s” for “domestic first class” (or some other meaningless bunch of words), and spinning it like it is an enhancement. The flight attendant service (especially on the pmCO birds) is downright poor.

    Even Delta (in Comfort Plus) offers a choice of TWO free meals, and also hands out small amenity kits and pillows and blankets. Now that is a way to distinguish yourself from the others in this market. This move is easy. UA could easily copy it … but they won’t as it is something customer-friendly.

  5. henry LAX Reply
    January 26, 2017 at 3:24 pm

    “Bobby” sounds like he either works for Delta or the major troll SPIN88 on Flyertalk.

    • Greg Reply
      January 26, 2017 at 4:03 pm

      Indeed – trying to push his Delta stock price which has languished behind United for the last year

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Influencer Dog United Airlines
    Unreal: Influencer Brings Her Massive Great Dane “Service Dog” On United Airlines Flight May 21, 2025
  • Hawaiian Airlines Bomb Threat
    “The Guy Next To Me Has A Bomb!” Hawaiian Airlines Passenger’s Lie Sparks Tarmac Chaos May 21, 2025
  • Newark Airport Flight Caps
    How the FAA Is Determining Which Carriers Must Reduce Service At Newark May 21, 2025
  • Delta CrowdStrike Lawsuit
    Delta’s $500M Lawsuit Against CrowdStrike Moves Ahead—But Passengers Are Suing Too May 21, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.