You can read about my outbound trip here. My trip home Chicago could have been easy, a straight shot from Chicago to Los Angeles with an upgrade. But I opted to fly via Newark instead. Why? Social distancing…oh yes, and a lie-flat bed and hot dinner.
An Indirect Routing Home
After my appointment in Chicago, I could have just flown home nonstop. But it would have been onboard a 737-800 and I would have had someone sitting next to me in first class (the horror!). So to practice good social distancing, I flew home via Newark instead.
Nah, I cannot say that with a straight face. I flew home via Newark because I had wanted to see how United’ premium transcontinental product was holding up and because I far preferred a spacious lie-flat bed to a recliner seat for my journey home, even if it involved some backtracking and a segment in economy class. I realize most will consider me crazy, but surely some of you can understand my logic.
One of the most generous things United offers elites is free confirmed same day changes. Within 24 hours of your schedule flight, you can move to an earlier or later flight. You can also add or subtract connections: there just must be availability in your originally booked fare class. And if you haven’t checked out the app, understand that you can sometimes rebook on routings that are typically not possible. I’ve never seen a connection in Newark offered when booking a Chicago to Los Angeles ticket. But the app…
My best same-day confirmed change (SDC) was changing Seattle – Los Angeles to Seattle – Newark – Los Angeles. That was a fun way home!
Anyway, the cost for this last-minute change was flying economy class to Newark. Elites also do not receive complimentary upgrades on premium transcontinental flights, but the pandemic has meant I really don’t have a good way to burn PlusPoints, which have only been extended to July 2021. An upgrade costs 20 PlusPoints.
Flight #1 – Chicago to Newark – 737-800 – Economy Class
I’m glad one of my four legs on this trip was in economy class, just to experience it. The flight was less than half full, though, so I did not get to experience one of the crowded flights I have been warned about. I was originally given an exit row aisle seat, but opted to move back a few rows into “deep coach” (no extra legroom) so that I could have a row to myself.
The flight was very uneventful. Flight attendants offered a beverage service and that was it. No snack and no coffee or tea was available, which is limited to flights departing before 9:45AM.
Newark Layover
My layover in Newark was one hour, which did not give me much time before boarding began for my connection to Los Angeles. I did have time to walk around a bit since I landed in one pier and departed from another. Almost everything was closed, with most chairs sealed. Starbucks was open and a bar was open with drinks to go, but I did not notice any food options open.
Flight #2 – Newark to Los Angeles – 767-300 – United Premium Transcontinental Business Class In Pandemic Era
I was excited to try United’s premium transcontinental service in the pandemic era. What would it be like?
As before, a blanket, pillow, and amenity kit were sitting on each seat.
And can I just say here how much I hate air conditioning? I had brought a t-shirt along, but was so cold practically the entire day I just left the same long-sleeved shirt on. It was so nice to finally curl up in a warm blanket…it literally was the first time I was warm all day.
As for the “throw” blanket, it’s quite comfortable, but much smaller than the old duvet United recently removed from these flights. Since the cabin was only half full, I ended up using two.
The 767-300 has 1-1-1 stating in business class. The seats are a bit narrower than the 777-3oo, but quite comfortable for me.
No pre-departure beverages, but the flight attendants were quite cheerful in performing cabin checks and making sure that everyone was fasted up prior to takeoff. It seems there were a lot of first-time upgrades or people not use to the product, because the flight attendant had to remind almost everyone to put their shoulder strap on.
We took off on time and were soon in the air.
Shortly after, dinner was served, a choice of “chicken” or “pasta” (no menus were offered). I ordered chicken and it was served on one tray with mixed nuts, pretzels, crackers, butter, a fruit cup, and cookie.
During dinner I watched a movie called The Assistant…and loved it. Very well-done; a clean movie (no gratuitous sex, nudity, or violence…just fabulous innuendo) with a sinister plot line.
Snacks were also available throughout the flight (self-serve in the front of the cabin):
Lavatories were clean:
After the movie, I reclined the bed and did not wake up until the captain announced final approach into Los Angeles.
…at least I thought.
While going through the pictures I noticed this one:
Was I sleepwalking over Denver? Did someone borrow my phone? I have absolutely no recollection of taking that picture.
LAX was again quiet and I walked over to LAXit, which was also deserted.
CONCLUSION
Traveling again was a thrill. The trip was smooth and I’m happy to report the experience felt very safe. I was under the false impression that United’s hub-to-hub flights were full, but that was decidedly not the case on all four of my flights. For all the horror stories about packed flights, there were no middle seat passengers on any of my flights unless they were traveling with friends or relatives and chose to sit there.
Good pix, weird to see the terminals so empty. Missing flying. How was the load up front & in econ on the 767?
1/2 in business, about 1/3 in economy.
Sounds dreadfully boring. I want to see real food. Not a safe sterile service. I hope this misery is not permament
Agreed that it is just a shadow of the past, but I was thankful to at least have a real meal.
Dear Lord… That fruitcup looks so sad and pathetic
Why are they still using LAXIt even tho the terminal itself is no longer clogged with car traffic
Agreed. Ridiculous at this stage.
Look at me in first class while 40 million Americans are unemployed.
I wasn’t boasting…
Angled seats that weren’t certified have them…these Polaris seats, legacy UA F seats on the 747, etc.
For Polaris they are esp. annoying on the forward-facing seats.
I feel out of touch. I haven’t yet used an airline seat product with a shoulder strap.
“Elites also do not receive complimentary upgrades on premium transcontinental flights”
Sigh. The very reason that I’m a slave to AA Exec Plat
And that is a valuable selling point for AA. By all accounts, their premium transcon appears business as normal.
Walla all this flying is causing you to loose your hair. If you continue to fly, the radiation is going to cause you to go bald. You need to stop aggravating me. I am not a spring chicken anymore. Allah doesn’t like people who fly. Look what happened to the Italians. Allah punished them. I am had it with you.
Some constructive criticism…
I realize you’re flying mostly in premium classes, and while it was good to know what service was offered in one of your economy routes, it would ‘t hurt to ask the FAs what meal service (if any) is offered in economy on longer flights like these. Just to give people an idea of what to expect.
Also, from your pics it looked like some outlets that sell packaged food may have been open? Again, good to know for people who might want to purchase food and take it with them on the plane…
Good points.
First, UA is offering no food for sale in economy class on any flight. On flights over 2hrs, 20min, a snack bag (like I received in first from LAX-SFO) is offered with pretzels, stroopwafel, and a bottle of water.
I noticed that most newsstands were open at airports that had packaged food. Restaurants were closed. Starbucks were open at all airports.
After flying DCA-CLT, DCA-CHS, DCA-AUS (via DFW), DCA-LAX (via PHL/PHX), and DCA-LAX (nonstop) all round-trip this past month, all on AA, I have noticed that the airport concessions at California terminals seem to all be closed, other than the coffee kiosk. At AA’s T4 in LAX, the only concession that seemed to be open was a Dunkin’ Donuts. Whenever I fly out of LAX on AA, I always walk to T5 to get an iced coffee at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (I have a thing for it, plus you cannot get it in DC). The Coffee Bean was the only concession at T5 open as well, save for a small kiosk that sold sad looking sandwiches.
DCA was pretty similar to LAX in that the only things open were the fast food outlets located in the National Hall pre-security, with Dunkin’ being the only thing open post-security.
Meanwhile at PHL/CLT, everything seemed to be open, even the retail outlets (I saw the Gap was open at PHL). DCA/DFW/PHX are all somewhat in between PHL/CLT and LAX/DCA, in that some places were opened whilst others were closed.
It’s a tough situation for me, especially considering how AA announced last week they are going to suspend meal service domestically in F, sans for JFK-California and DFW-Hawaii. I’m going to do something I haven’t done since undergrad and either pack a nice homemade sandwich or bring left overs.
I flew SFO LAX via DFW first class RT x2 over 2 days for $80. One leg was on a dreamliner with seat 1A. Lots of free booze no meals . In return I made RJ Platinum with 4 free business class upgrades.
UA’s options with SDC are far more generous, and logicial than what AA offers. Case in point I was flying PHXLAXSTL and wanted to change it to PHXSTL nonstop. One agent told me I was trying to game the system by buying a cheaper ticket then wanting the benefit of a nonstop (which actually the LAX connection was more $$ due to PFCs, but I digress) and always had to connect thru the same point, another agent told me to call the AAdvantage Elite Desk, and then I simply thought well hell what if I miss the PHXLAX connection? The later PHXLAX would have misconnected so they couldn’t fly me over LAX….surely they would fly me on the nonstop. Wrong. They told me they could route me thru DFW (which was closed due to wx btw) and the only way I could get on that nonstop was to pay $600 (change fees + refare)…..$600 later….