Quoting STT757 (Reply 1): The only mainline aircraft left with Tulips are
3 777s
13 744s
4 757
I do remember seeing a 744 with Tulips at SFO last week. (at the international terminal)
I have also seen Tulips on ground handling equipment - Bag carts, tuggers, etc. I have seen rampers wearing yellow vests that still have the Tulip, as well... However, I am not sure this is really what you're looking for.
By the way, whatever ended up happening to that big Tulip in the UA terminal at DEN? Is it a CO globe now?
Darn, these mergers... Every time I fly UA and see the new logo I get a little sad.
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5720 posts, RR: 20 Reply 4, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 12929 times:
B747forever From United States of America, joined exactly 6 years ago today! , 16574 posts, RR: 11 Reply 5, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 12903 times:
Quoting STT757 (Reply 1): The only mainline aircraft left with Tulips are
3 777s
13 744s
4 757
Any reason why they are slower with the 744 fleet?
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5338 posts, RR: 11 Reply 7, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 12821 times:
Quoting 727LOVER (Thread starter): Anyone have reg #s? Since UA reds are trackable on FlightAware, very valuable information!
Um, you do realize that we have a WHOLE THREAD dedicated to UA fleet updates, including a list of airplanes that have been repainted, and it's been an open thread since before the merger?
Also, the person who replied up above neglected to include the many 767-300s that have yet to be repainted.
Good riddance, I say; a livery only earns its keep if you work to maintain it, which United couldn't be bothered to do with EITHER of their last liveries.
Someone on here recently was ranting and raving about United's perfect image pre-merger; obviously, they hadn't seen any United aircraft in the last few years. Like these two:
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5720 posts, RR: 20 Reply 9, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 12599 times:
I agree. I miss the UA colors. Just had a trip through ORD, IAH, and DEN, and there's precious few tulips left. The only mainlines I saw was one 744 at ORD (N120UA) and one 763 at IAH (N659UA). Thankfully I flew on a UAX blue aircraft, possibly for the last time.
I did see one CR7 taxiing in the battleship gray at ORD, but unfortunately I was on the escalator into the B/C tunnel and had no chance of taking a picture.
Quoting AlnessW (Reply 3): By the way, whatever ended up happening to that big Tulip in the UA terminal at DEN? Is it a CO globe now?
That was something I checked for at DEN. There was nothing there, and I'm positive I was looking in the right place. It was sad.
VC10er From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 2425 posts, RR: 9 Reply 11, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 12424 times:
I wish United would sell some of the thousands of tulip plaques as they come down. Even if their are a handful of them on some birds, they will all be gone. Owning a 3D tulip will be a piece of nostalgia for those of us who love her. I have a big piece of a PanAm 707 fuselage in my living room (with a window ) and PanAm cuff links. I have VARIG port glasses and VARIG espresso cups. I covet these items as they are now antiques. What I want is a tulip now. I have some UA tulip glasses - but I want a sign!
The world is missing love, let's use our flights to spread it!
maxamuus From United States of America, joined Feb 2011, 67 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 12378 times:
Quoting MSPNWA (Reply 10): at was something I checked for at DEN. There was nothing there, and I'm positive I was looking in the right place. It was sad.
Is the old CO globe still in A? They could just move it over to B.
Tigerguy From United States of America, joined Aug 2010, 446 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 12361 times:
Quoting AlnessW (Reply 3): By the way, whatever ended up happening to that big Tulip in the UA terminal at DEN? Is it a CO globe now?
Quoting MSPNWA (Reply 10): That was something I checked for at DEN. There was nothing there, and I'm positive I was looking in the right place. It was sad.
Yeah, those have been gone for at least a year. I remember making a note of it in a trip report I wrote after going through there at the time.
Quoting Tigerguy (Reply 14): You may know about my habit of going to Denver’s Concourse B and walking from one end to the other whenever I have the time; Monday was no exception. Seeing the transformation of United’s territory to fit the new brand has been interesting. I saw workers going down the line, gate by gate, replacing panels and signs as I walked past on a previous jaunt. Besides all of that, there was always one curiosity on my mind since the merger was announced and the brand decision made. Each time I went through the middle section, I wondered when the day would come when the giant tulips would be relieved of their watch over the vast hall. I received an answer:
liftsifter From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 237 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 12008 times:
United just changed the logos on their Ops center on Touhy road just a second from my house to the new globe. Still was sporting pre-battleship!
mesaflyguy From United States of America, joined Dec 2012, 710 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 11978 times:
Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 7): Good riddance, I say; a livery only earns its keep if you work to maintain it, which United couldn't be bothered to do with EITHER of their last liveries.
I can't say that I have seen any blue tulips that have seemed unkept. The Battleship Grey colors were HORRIBLE to begin with, but they really, as you said, did nothing to keep it up.
This whole business with this merger has upset me. One one hand, I love the UA tulip, and am greatly disheartened to see it go. On the other CO holds a sentimental place in my heart, as my first flight was on a COEX E45X. I really wish both liveries would stay.
Polot From United States of America, joined Jul 2011, 1497 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 11944 times:
Quoting mesaflyguy (Reply 16): I can't say that I have seen any blue tulips that have seemed unkept. The Battleship Grey colors were HORRIBLE to begin with, but they really, as you said, did nothing to keep it up.
There were some issues with some of the blue tulips peeling, but I think that was because of problems with the paintshop and not due to UA neglecting them. With the Battleship Grey UA seemed to just stop caring about them as soon as they went bankrupt.
Wingtips56 From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 216 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 11932 times:
We still get UAX/OO EMB-120s here in CEC in the stealth paint job (they disappear in our daily fog) and the less-common final blue/white Tulip, though mostly we get the bare metal with red/blue SkyWest logo (which IIRC is a throwback to when OO operated briefly as a Western/WA connection, and later as DL connection).
I haven't seen a Brasilia in the new UHC globe here yet.
Worked for WestAir, Apollo Airways, Desert Pacific, Western, AirCal and American Airlines
Quoting VC10er (Reply 11):
I wish United would sell some of the thousands of tulip plaques as they come down. Even if their are a handful of them on some birds, they will all be gone. Owning a 3D tulip will be a piece of nostalgia for those of us who love her.
I would love this, too.
Quoting Tigerguy (Reply 13): Yeah, those have been gone for at least a year. I remember making a note of it in a trip report I wrote after going through there at the time.
Thanks for sharing that image. That is definitely where the Tulip once reigned...
Quoting Tigerguy (Reply 13): Last I saw, the wall was still blank. I doubt they'll put anything up there.
The white-Blue scheme was maintained and Well. The Grey was LOUSY Paint scheme that NOBODY at United even liked !. ICK !!
As boring as the Globe paint job is?
It's STILL Light Years in advance of that Blue//Grey "Civil War" Paint Job!!
I'd rather the airplanes be green Primer than that LOUSY paint Job..
UA735WL From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 97 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 11521 times:
I flew LAX-SFO on a Tulip 752 last June...N589UA. It was the only tulip plane I saw at either airport. Sad. I always loved the tulip (and CO). Seems that this merger has destroyed them both :'(
Caspian27 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 359 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 11431 times:
Quoting MSPNWA (Reply 10): That was something I checked for at DEN. There was nothing there, and I'm positive I was looking in the right place. It was sad.
The tulip is definitely gone from the center core of the DEN B Concourse and as yet hasn't been replaced with the globe. I kind of hope they do put it up though. I'm also curious when they will change the Continental hangar in DEN to United.
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5338 posts, RR: 11 Reply 24, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 11417 times:
mesaflyguy From United States of America, joined Dec 2012, 710 posts, RR: 1 Reply 25, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 11842 times:
Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 24): Quoting strfyr51 (Reply 21):
Do I need to post a pic of N175UA to show you peeling blue-U paint?
Or how about N646UA, which has looked like crap since before the merger?
I'm not saying your wrong, but there are always going to be a few bad ones in the batch.
I flew US from JFK to CLT in the beginning of November and at T7 @ JFK, we were parked next to a N517UA, which was still a tulip. About 10 minutes before we started boarding our a320, another tulip landed on 31R and gave me probably my last view of a tulip in action. I feel lucky to have seen two tulips at one airport.
gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 26, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 11513 times:
I'm sure they'll put up a Globe in B... they had one in A for years and it would be only appropriate.
I think the ground branding efforts have gone quite nicely... pretty well put together, especially places like the lobby of SFO.
mesaflyguy From United States of America, joined Dec 2012, 710 posts, RR: 1 Reply 28, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 11617 times:
CALPSAFltSkeds From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 2204 posts, RR: 7 Reply 29, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 10796 times:
Antoniemey From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 1504 posts, RR: 4 Reply 30, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 10444 times:
Quoting VC10er (Reply 11): I wish United would sell some of the thousands of tulip plaques as they come down.
A lot of them probably ended up in employee hands (along with a lot of the old Continental signage that got taken down to be replaced with the United globes).
Quoting Caspian27 (Reply 23): I'm also curious when they will change the Continental hangar in DEN to United.
When (if?) they decide they're keeping it long term? They still haven't replaced the external signs on jet bridges here in BNA... we have two with globes that still say Continental and two with tulips that date back to the battleship era. And then there are a few (very few) pieces of GSE that still say Continental. (None of the GSE said United pre-merger).
It is interesting when we get one blue tulip ERJ in the middle of a line of globes here for the RONs, though.
Make something Idiot-proof, and the Universe will make a more inept idiot.
comairguycvg From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 304 posts, RR: 1 Reply 32, posted (4 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 9949 times:
The battleship gray CR7 was here in ATL the other day. That one has been here a lot lately. It must be the only CR7 in that scheme because its always the one with the white nose cone.
JHCRJ700 From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 377 posts, RR: 0 Reply 34, posted (4 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 9191 times:
Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 7): Good riddance, I say; a livery only earns its keep if you work to maintain it, which United couldn't be bothered to do with EITHER of their last liveries.
Someone on here recently was ranting and raving about United's perfect image pre-merger; obviously, they hadn't seen any United aircraft in the last few years. Like these two:
haters gunna hate! I'll certainly miss seeing the Tulip. Still my favorite livery of all time. I even liked the battleship gray a lot as well. It's amazing how fast they repainted nearly the whole fleet considering they never finsihed painting it over from the battleship gray in years.
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5338 posts, RR: 11 Reply 35, posted (4 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 8991 times:
Quoting JHCRJ700 (Reply 34): haters gunna hate! I'll certainly miss seeing the Tulip. Still my favorite livery of all time. I even liked the battleship gray a lot as well.
I didn't hate on the livery, I hated on the maintenance thereof. I actually like the "tulip" as a logo; I did NOT like how horrid the planes ended up looking in the end, in particular, the battleships. The Saul Bass rainbow was certainly my favorite, but the battleship scheme looked GREAT when it looked good, but wretched when it looked bad. The blues, well, the UA fanboys above seem to think it always looked immaculate, but they're ignoring the realities of the photo posted in this thread, as well as dozens of others (need I again refer to 646UA?).
So yeah, haters gonna hate, but pay attention to what we be hatin' on, yo.
that's a failure of the painting shop , we already are addressing that failure. It appears that was bad prep work. We can't paint airplanes is our own hangars anymore due to EPA constraints. the airplane had to be scheduled back to the paint shop that's booked solid with the NEW Globe paint scheme a few planes out of 700 really isn't that bad in my book. though rushing or using unproven practices for the paint work undoubtedly will lead to problems. Everybody already knows that much it seems.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38500 posts, RR: 80 Reply 38, posted (4 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 8704 times:
The best looking United livery of all time.
Too bad the 747-400 wore these colors for a very short time.
The battleship grey I begain to like when UA decided to change their colors - again.
JHCRJ700 From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 377 posts, RR: 0 Reply 39, posted (4 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 8590 times:
Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 35): I didn't hate on the livery, I hated on the maintenance thereof. I actually like the "tulip" as a logo; I did NOT like how horrid the planes ended up looking in the end, in particular, the battleships. The Saul Bass rainbow was certainly my favorite, but the battleship scheme looked GREAT when it looked good, but wretched when it looked bad. The blues, well, the UA fanboys above seem to think it always looked immaculate, but they're ignoring the realities of the photo posted in this thread, as well as dozens of others (need I again refer to 646UA?).
word bro! I see what your saying now. Can't argue there. 646UA is THE example of how poorly maintained some of the planes were. The Saul Bass was a great livery as well.
STT757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 16256 posts, RR: 52 Reply 40, posted (4 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 8207 times:
I was very impressed with the Battleship livery when I first started seeing them in the early '90s, 1993?, it was something totally different. But by 2000 they were not looking so good. For whatever reason it wasn't holding up, whether it was how it was painted or the dark colors. US's dark scheme was horrendous and thankfully didn't last too long.
CALTECH From Poland, joined May 2007, 1578 posts, RR: 22 Reply 41, posted (4 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 8141 times:
Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 35): I didn't hate on the livery, I hated on the maintenance thereof. I actually like the "tulip" as a logo; I did NOT like how horrid the planes ended up looking in the end, in particular, the battleships. The Saul Bass rainbow was certainly my favorite, but the battleship scheme looked GREAT when it looked good, but wretched when it looked bad. The blues, well, the UA fanboys above seem to think it always looked immaculate, but they're ignoring the realities of the photo posted in this thread, as well as dozens of others (need I again refer to 646UA?).
So yeah, haters gonna hate, but pay attention to what we be hatin' on, yo.
Have to agree with your post. Never saw so many horrid paint jobs since the days of the merger of PEOPLEExpress with Continental. There were many 'Blues' that were just pathetic, the 'Grays' were even worse. One may not like the 'Globe' livery, but when it fades, it still looks better than the 'Blues' and the 'Grays' when they were faded. And it is very nice flying into DEN, IAD, IAH, ORD, LAX, SFO and seeing the fleet in one color. Then again, I am a bit biased.
STT757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 16256 posts, RR: 52 Reply 42, posted (4 months 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 7998 times:
Quoting CALTECH (Reply 41): Never saw so many horrid paint jobs since the days of the merger of PEOPLEExpress with Continental.
I flew on those hybrid CO/PE 727s many times, my last flight on one was August 1994 EWR-STT. That was nearly Eight years after the merger. They painted the 737-100s and 747s quickly into CO colors, but for some reason the 727s lingered on in the hybrid colors for many years.
DualQual From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 638 posts, RR: 1 Reply 43, posted (4 months 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 7814 times:
When a battleship was freshly painted it could look really good. The Tulip on the tail should have been a bit larger though. When battleship faded though it looked like hell. I really did actiually like the blue scheme before the merger and wouldn't have complained if that had been kept.
For all the Tulip missers just keep in mind that the Tulip has much better chances of returning in the future than does the name Continental Airlines. So you got that.
A little bit of history on Battleship if you care: a group of branding people and designers left their respective agencies including a bunch of LANDOR people and opened " March 1st" (which was the day they opened and what they named the agency) it was created to be one of the worlds first digital & internet agency - they were too early to the internet world, and died. However, before they died, via a connection to Wolf at UA, March 1st took the United branding project (not digital- but they needed the money) ONE person who was a senior creative at LANDOR (but who I thought was not good) led the rebranding. Wolf wanted an Air Force or some sort of super powerful American military look for UA. So they did Battleship. I liked the blue stripes w small tulip, it was classy. But the rest I hated. It was wrought with mistakes as the guy from LANDOR wasn't an airline specialist. Number one early complaint was the grey matched the Tarmac, taxi ways etc, and on a low visibility day, the tower could barely even see a UA 747! They didn't realize (nobody) that the shine on the grey would quickly turn flat and dull.
SO....IMHO The livery you did is very good. Maybe not the final, it could use some tweaking, but a great start.
The world is missing love, let's use our flights to spread it!
MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15722 posts, RR: 47 Reply 45, posted (4 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 6447 times:
Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 7): Good riddance, I say; a livery only earns its keep if you work to maintain it, which United couldn't be bothered to do with EITHER of their last liveries.
I'm indifferent whether it's a globe or a tulip or Barney the dinosaur, as long as the entire fleet is painted consistently in a timely manner. Just a tiny bit of upkeep would have maintained the battleship or rising livery in decent shape, but UA couldn't even manage that. This is probably the first time in two decades the United fleet is painted in one color scheme. And it was/is being done quickly.
Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 35): The blues, well, the UA fanboys above seem to think it always looked immaculate,
The UA fanboys always remember the admittedly beautiful ad/brand campaign, but never the actual follow through once you see the plane or facilties that looked like Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors", or god forbid, get onboard
3green From Australia, joined Nov 2000, 144 posts, RR: 0 Reply 48, posted (4 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 5448 times:
I too liked the Tulip paint jobs, i have to admit i find the new livery a bit boring , although i know it is a very expensive project when changing to new colour schemes, lets hope American never lose their nice colours.
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5338 posts, RR: 11 Reply 49, posted (4 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 5219 times:
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 45): Just a tiny bit of upkeep would have maintained the battleship or rising livery in decent shape, but UA couldn't even manage that.
Quoting DualQual (Reply 43): When battleship faded though it looked like hell. I really did actiually like the blue scheme before the merger and wouldn't have complained if that had been kept.
Quoting CALTECH (Reply 41): There were many 'Blues' that were just pathetic, the 'Grays' were even worse.
Quoting STT757 (Reply 40): But by 2000 they were not looking so good. For whatever reason it wasn't holding up,
Quoting JHCRJ700 (Reply 39): 646UA is THE example of how poorly maintained some of the planes were.
But yet:
Quoting strfyr51 (Reply 36): Everybody already knows that much it seems.
Strfyr, what "everybody" knows and what you know seem to be at odds.
Wrong. 646 had perfect paint application- it's simply filthy, disgusting, and neglected.
Quoting strfyr51 (Reply 36): the airplane had to be scheduled back to the paint shop that's booked solid with the NEW Globe paint scheme a few planes out of 700 really isn't that bad in my book.
Don't kid yourself- United couldn't be bothered to paint anywhere NEAR 700 airplanes in the six years they had to do so. Amazing that new UA/CO can get the whole sUA fleet done in about three years, but old UA couldn't manage to do HALF that in DOUBLE the time.
I have yet to see a new globe paint aircraft that needs a retouch. And I see a LOT of United airplanes, a LOT of the time.
AlnessW From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 618 posts, RR: 1 Reply 50, posted (4 months 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 5080 times:
Quoting mesaflyguy (Reply 28): That's actually really cool. Yes, I would like something like that!
Yeah, I think if they really tried they could've combined the UA Tulip and the CO Globe in a nice way, like in that example image. The new logo just looks like it was slapped together in Photoshop.
I personally never flew CO much, nor thought the globe was anything special/worth keeping, but I know that the Globe carries sentimental value for some, just like how the Tulip does for others (like myself). For this reason I think that the logos should have been combined.
Quoting JHCRJ700 (Reply 34): Still my favorite livery of all time. I even liked the battleship gray a lot as well.
Quoting IAH59 (Reply 46): I am going to miss the old Gray United livery.
I liked the Battleship Gray, too.
Quoting FlyDeltaJets (Reply 33): Worldwide Service that was on that scheme. Certainly they could have kept that.
Actually there is no link between the ex Landorian at March 1st and BA. It was Wolfe, he wanted battleship and also directed the dark blue US Airways.
The LANDOR British Airways livery was done in London and NY by a different person. The person who went to March 1st started at LANDOR SF and years after BA was done. However the blue belly on BA started a giant trend we still see today. The Dove grey was done for 2 reasons: first it was classy and not euro white and it helped hide the dirt!
I wish our London team lead by PK did United. He'd have fought for the Tulip and captured CO in a different and more modern way. But branding didn't drive this decision, money did.
Perhaps in 5 to 10 years we will see a contemporary new livery.
The world is missing love, let's use our flights to spread it!
There's a bit too much going on for me on that fuselage, but I LOVE that logo design on the tail. I was hoping that they would have done something like this to keep the tulip alive but still incorporate the continental globe as well...too bad they didn't go in that direction.
Polot From United States of America, joined Jul 2011, 1497 posts, RR: 0 Reply 54, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 4443 times:
Quoting davs5032 (Reply 53): There's a bit too much going on for me on that fuselage, but I LOVE that logo design on the tail. I was hoping that they would have done something like this to keep the tulip alive but still incorporate the continental globe as well...too bad they didn't go in that direction.
I have always liked something like [url=http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/05/airline-livery-of-the-week-what-could-have-been-with-united-airlines/]this[url], combining the design of the tulip with that of a globe. The problem with the one that CALTECH posted is that while it may look great on an aircraft, the logo starts to look like a mess when scaled down (i.e. for tickets, letterheads, etc).
richierich From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 4022 posts, RR: 6 Reply 55, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 4386 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 38): The battleship grey I begain to like when UA decided to change their colors - again.
Really? The battleship grey colors were around for more than a dozen years and it was only at the end when you decided you liked it?
To me liveries are not only a representation of the airline but also the time period they reference (with AA being the exception.) The pre-battleship livery practically defined United Airlines in the late 1970s and 1980s. A classic and simple design, not quirky. I liked the battleship colors as soon as they were revealed though. Very '90s cool, a sort of American (region, not airline) interpretion of what British Airways doing at the time. Boring colors but the livery was not boring, if anything it was highly fashionable in the same way a grey business suit is classy and professional.
The tulips had one of the shortest lives of any UA livery in recent memory but only because of the merger, of course. It didn't have the same effect on me as, say, the battleship livery did when it came out but it was elegant in its own way. The biggest criticism is that it is just like so many other airline liveries around the world, a basic white airplane with different tail and title designs. To be honest, I wouldn't have been disappointed if the merged UA had stuck with a variation of that livery; the CO globe is getting long in the tooth now at 20 years old. Oh well.
The truth is..it COULD HAVE BEEN DONE! A great team of designers could have solved it. We (Landor) merged FedEx and Kinko's, we could have crated a merged livery- that would have modern and bad ass. But they didn't try. They would have to pay major bucks and many years to paint a fleet that large! Half the entire fleet was already painted in globe, all they had to do was change Continental to United. The United fleet was all over the place with many ac still in battleship etc, just choosing CO's livery but change the name was a much easier and far less costly- and faster! Plus they had 2 very upset groups of employees: UA&CO. The best way to make it 50/50 was United name and Rapsody and have the airline look like Continental.
As for consumers...if the new UA improved beyond everyone's expectations (a long journey- but it's getting better) nobody will care about the livery. UA fliers do miss the tulip, but we will get over it. In fact in a few years painting one 747 in Bass livery before the 747's go, as a retro livery would be SO cool. IMHO.
The world is missing love, let's use our flights to spread it!
loved the pain job wasn't too thrilled about the Brown seat covers. they didn't seem to have much style.would have liked leather better. infinitely more durable.
you don't see NEAR as many as I see and even the GLOBE paint has needed Paint repairs right out of the shop.
The one in Greenville Mississippi. We're now painting the AB's in Amarillo Texas. Still others at VCV.
CALTECH From Poland, joined May 2007, 1578 posts, RR: 22 Reply 58, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 4305 times:
Quoting VC10er (Reply 56): Half the entire fleet was already painted in globe, all they had to do was change Continental to United. The United fleet was all over the place with many ac still in battleship etc, just choosing CO's livery but change the name was a much easier and far less costly- and faster!
There you go.
Quoting strfyr51 (Reply 57): you don't see NEAR as many as I see and even the GLOBE paint has needed Paint repairs right out of the shop.
The one in Greenville Mississippi. We're now painting the AB's in Amarillo Texas. Still others at VCV.
That's the point, the bad Globe paint jobs get addressed long before they look like the 'Greys' in post # 41. Legacy United had shameful paint jobs floating around the system, just like Legacy Continental had in the early 90s. Should have never happened, to the flying public, it looked like the planes were neglected. Whether one likes it or not, there is a difference in this 'merged' United, and it is getting better.
RDH3E From United States of America, joined Mar 2011, 1059 posts, RR: 0 Reply 59, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 4266 times:
Quoting AlnessW (Reply 3): I have also seen Tulips on ground handling equipment - Bag carts, tuggers, etc. I have seen rampers wearing yellow vests that still have the Tulip, as well... However, I am not sure this is really what you're looking for.
I was in CLE a couple weeks ago, 95% of the wheelchairs say "CONTINENTAL AIRLINES" on them, with the other 5% being "UNITED AIRLINES" with their respective pre-merger branding. And it's a decent amount of wheelchairs, I saw 20+ I think.
spacecadet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3250 posts, RR: 14 Reply 60, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4050 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 38): Too bad the 747-400 wore these colors for a very short time.
The 747-100 and -200 wore them for a long time, though. When I used to live near SFO, I watched quite a few of them take off over my house. I grew up with that livery.
I still prefer the "Friend ship" livery, though.
The battleship livery was always terrible. The previous livery (before the new one) wasn't bad when it was fresh.
I'm tired of being a wanna-be league bowler. I wanna be a league bowler!
FWAERJ From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 3172 posts, RR: 1 Reply 61, posted (4 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4033 times:
Quoting AlnessW (Reply 3): I have also seen Tulips on ground handling equipment - Bag carts, tuggers, etc. I have seen rampers wearing yellow vests that still have the Tulip, as well...
IIRC, FWA's United Express ticket counter was still all tulips last time I was there in late September. Not sure if a globe backdrop was finally put up since my last arrival. The GIDS system at FWA, however, switched to the globe quite a while back.
DGS (and previously Regional Elite/Comair) handles UA at FWA, so the wheelchairs and other assorted ground and gate equipment used by UA say either "Delta" or (occasionally) "NWA".
Antoniemey From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 1504 posts, RR: 4 Reply 62, posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days ago) and read 3611 times:
Quoting AlnessW (Reply 3): I have also seen Tulips on ground handling equipment - Bag carts, tuggers, etc. I have seen rampers wearing yellow vests that still have the Tulip, as well... However, I am not sure this is really what you're looking for.
Quoting RDH3E (Reply 59): I was in CLE a couple weeks ago, 95% of the wheelchairs say "CONTINENTAL AIRLINES" on them, with the other 5% being "UNITED AIRLINES" with their respective pre-merger branding.
Somewhere in the system there's a bag tag printer that's still programmed with "Continental Airlines" instead of "United" as the logotype. Any sUA uniform item that was issued pre-merger is going to still have the tulip on it. New uniforms for Ticket/Gate and Ramp personnel are due in 2013.. I've seen a drawn representation, but don't know if that's been released for public view. Pretty sure I won't be wearing it, though, since I work the ramp and am not a United employee.
Make something Idiot-proof, and the Universe will make a more inept idiot.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 63, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3556 times:
Smisek should go crawling back to Pentagram on his knees
Quoting B747forever (Reply 5): Any reason why they are slower with the 744 fleet?
Fairly heavy fleet utilization and the concentration in SFO/LAX means less chance to repaint.
Quoting gigneil (Reply 26):
I'm sure they'll put up a Globe in B... they had one in A for years and it would be only appropriate.
I think the ground branding efforts have gone quite nicely... pretty well put together, especially places like the lobby of SFO.
Except that it looks awful.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 38): The best looking United livery of all time
Best looking livery of any airline.
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 45): The UA fanboys always remember the admittedly beautiful ad/brand campaign
No airline has ever been branded better than pre-merger UA. The marketing kept them alive.
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 45): but never the actual follow through once you see the plane or facilties that looked like Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors", or god forbid, get onboard
CO's no picnic, and at least you get good service on UA - especially as a high level elite.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15722 posts, RR: 47 Reply 64, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3463 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 63): No airline has ever been branded better than pre-merger UA. The marketing kept them alive.
PmUA couldn't consistently brand one plane from nose to tail, or even some ticket counters from one end to the other. Never mind you could drive a 747 through the gap between the brand promise and actual delivery. US had a more consistent, tighter brand than pmUA.
Quoting N1120A (Reply 63): CO's no picnic, and at least you get good service on UA - especially as a high level elite.
Why don't we look at the UA award case? Or any chart, ranking, survey, poll, or award in the ten years prior to the merger.
AlnessW From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 618 posts, RR: 1 Reply 65, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 3224 times:
Quoting davs5032 (Reply 53): I was hoping that they would have done something like this to keep the tulip alive but still incorporate the continental globe as well.
I agree.
Quoting Polot (Reply 54): I have always liked something like [url=http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/05/airline-livery-of-the-week-what-could-have-been-with-united-airlines/]this[url],
Except that design looks a lot like Comfort Inn.
Quoting Polot (Reply 54): The problem with the one that CALTECH posted is that while it may look great on an aircraft, the logo starts to look like a mess when scaled down
Valid concern indeed.
Quoting VC10er (Reply 56): The truth is..it COULD HAVE BEEN DONE! A great team of designers could have solved it. We (Landor) merged FedEx and Kinko's, we could have crated a merged livery- that would have modern and bad ass. But they didn't try.
Exactly! They didn't even try.
Quoting RDH3E (Reply 59): I was in CLE a couple weeks ago, 95% of the wheelchairs say "CONTINENTAL AIRLINES" on them, with the other 5% being "UNITED AIRLINES" with their respective pre-merger branding.
That would make sense considering that CLE was a former CO hub.
Quoting Antoniemey (Reply 62): Any sUA uniform item that was issued pre-merger is going to still have the tulip on it.
That makes sense.
Quoting Antoniemey (Reply 62): New uniforms for Ticket/Gate and Ramp personnel are due in 2013.
coairman From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 89 posts, RR: 0 Reply 66, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 3231 times:
Here is a 757-2 that pulled into a CLE gate last week. I was struck by how gorgeous the livery was on a clear sunny day as it taxied to the gate. I think it's a beautiful livery and I am a CO born guy. I think the new UA should have retained a small tulip near the UNITED lettering. Plus I think the new UA missed out on the "Worldwide Services" slogan as the new UA is an airline of tremendous world wide scope as far as routes and worldwide destinations.
Below is one of the four 757's left to be painted as mentioned above. So long my Tulip friend that rings in my memories since childhood along with Rhapsody in Blue. At least UA kept the song, but its still kinda weird hearing it with the CO livery.
HoMsaR From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 802 posts, RR: 0 Reply 67, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3138 times:
Quoting Antoniemey (Reply 62): Somewhere in the system there's a bag tag printer that's still programmed with "Continental Airlines" instead of "United" as the logotype.
Last month, I checked a bag in ORD and noted that my claim tag had a tulip logo printed on it.
FWAERJ From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 3172 posts, RR: 1 Reply 68, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3089 times:
Quoting AlnessW (Reply 65): That new font they use is bad, too.
The font in question is FF Clan (originally commissioned as the official font of the Scottish Government, hence the name). It replaces the sUA usage of Helvetica Neue regular and Bodoni along with the sCO usage of Helvetica Neue compressed (at one time, CO used ITC Garamond for some material, the same font that AA used in ads for years). Personally, I like it, but I think the new UA identity is fine: not the best out there, but they could have done far worse and picked Comic Sans as the official font.
MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15722 posts, RR: 47 Reply 69, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3081 times:
Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 68): I think the new UA identity is fine: not the best out there, but they could have done far worse
it's simple, clean, and consistent. And considering the customer service metrics are down the tubes, the branding is pretty low on the list of things to fix.
FWAERJ From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 3172 posts, RR: 1 Reply 72, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2868 times:
Quoting sulley (Reply 71): On paper, old UA had a fantastic brand image.
It's just a shame that it was never consistently implemented system wide.
You may agree or disagree with the new UA branding, but it has far more systemwide consistency now (and only growing) than the last PMUA branding ever did.
UA's newfound brand consistency is a remnant of CO's Gordon Bethune, who ordered every single CO meatball plane painted into the globe livery within a short timeframe after he arrived. Like PMUA or pre-"Onward & Upward" DL, CO at the time Bethune came on board was a motley mashup of liveries (globe, meatball, and there were even some PEOPLExpress hybrids still floating around). The rapid repaints and hub brand conversions post-merger prove that Gordon's DNA is still alive and well at UA/CO.
Antoniemey From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 1504 posts, RR: 4 Reply 73, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 2603 times:
Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 72): The rapid repaints and hub brand conversions post-merger prove that Gordon's DNA is still alive and well at UA/CO.
I agree with you overall, but I'm wondering how long it'll take them to work their way out to the exterior jetbridge signs and GSE markings at express stations. The signs currently up in BNA are showing their age, especially with Delta's nearly-new ones visible on the next concourse over.
Make something Idiot-proof, and the Universe will make a more inept idiot.
tommy767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6172 posts, RR: 9 Reply 74, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2496 times:
I think it's safe to say that you can thank Smisek and company for killing a great American logo and color scheme in favor of a horridly bland one.
"Folks that's the news and I'm outta here!" -- Dennis Miller
FWAERJ From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 3172 posts, RR: 1 Reply 75, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 2463 times:
Quoting Antoniemey (Reply 73): I'm wondering how long it'll take them to work their way out to the exterior jetbridge signs and GSE markings at express stations.
There's no jetway signs at FWA, as all gates are shared (but there are plans for ads, a la the HSBC ads you see at LHR, JFK, and the like). And some ground equipment at some stations doesn't have any United branding: at FWA, it's all Delta-branded (DGS handles UAX here).
Quoting tommy767 (Reply 74): I think it's safe to say that you can thank Smisek and company for killing a great American logo and color scheme in favor of a horridly bland one.
Make that a livery that never had its chance to shine due to cost-cutting measures under Tilton that slowed repaints to a crawl. Wasn't the original plan for all planes to be repainted by 2009, five years after introduction? By the time the UA/CO merger was announced in 2010, many planes still weren't repainted.
tommy767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6172 posts, RR: 9 Reply 76, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2409 times:
Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 75): Make that a livery that never had its chance to shine due to cost-cutting measures under Tilton that slowed repaints to a crawl. Wasn't the original plan for all planes to be repainted by 2009, five years after introduction? By the time the UA/CO merger was announced in 2010, many planes still weren't repainted.
This argument is getting a little old. I look at the slip side -- perhaps UA had high utilization rates that prohibited them from getting the paint jobs done on time. Look how long it's taking to get the 747 and 763 painted in the CO colors. On top of that, the the "U" logo was so iconic that one didn't really have justify anything by looking at one of their planes. That's why I say it's the great American death of exceptionally branded logo in favor of a lackluster CEO with a bad ego.
"Folks that's the news and I'm outta here!" -- Dennis Miller
PMUA787 From United States of America, joined Oct 2012, 48 posts, RR: 0 Reply 77, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2388 times:
Quoting tommy767 (Reply 74): I think it's safe to say that you can thank Smisek and company for killing a great American logo and color scheme in favor of a horridly bland one.
Yes quite true. What should have been done was to go back to the livery design board and started fresh.
tommy767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6172 posts, RR: 9 Reply 78, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2374 times:
Quoting PMUA787 (Reply 77): Yes quite true. What should have been done was to go back to the livery design board and started fresh.
Very much so. I look at reply 66 and want to cry -- even now that scheme which is almost 8 years old is still cutting edge KILLED in favor of an ugly 22 year old design.
There are so things about PMCO that I'm warming up to (like the website -- fun to track the different flights and where they came from) but the logo isn't one of them.
"Folks that's the news and I'm outta here!" -- Dennis Miller
quiet1 From Thailand, joined Apr 2010, 291 posts, RR: 0 Reply 79, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2326 times:
Quoting coairman (Reply 66): I think the new UA should have retained a small tulip near the UNITED lettering.
Wow. Such a simple detail would have appeased SO many people! They had to put UNITED on each sCO airplane anyway, so why not also include such a small, but significant, detail?
FWAERJ From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 3172 posts, RR: 1 Reply 80, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 2275 times:
Quoting tommy767 (Reply 78): There are so things about PMCO that I'm warming up to (like the website -- fun to track the different flights and where they came from)
More website improvements, including a new look that is more post-merger branding guidelines and less sCO website, are on the way. Hopefully, a Windows Phone app will also be added to the existing iPhone and Android apps (don't expect a BlackBerry app as RIM is on their way out).
Quoting tommy767 (Reply 78): even now that scheme which is almost 8 years old is still cutting edge KILLED in favor of an ugly 22 year old design.
Calm down. I loved the last PMUA livery as well, especially the "sweep tulip" on the tail, but PMCO's brand was very businesslike (well, except for the CO "Work Hard. Fly Right." ad campaign by Kaplan Thaler with slapstick humor, even though it was actually very effective). Keep in mind that when the last CO livery was introduced, they were trying to become more of a businessman's airline (hence the conservative grey, blue, and gold) and less of the Lorenzo-era "airline of last resort".
MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15722 posts, RR: 47 Reply 81, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 2220 times:
Quoting tommy767 (Reply 76): perhaps UA had high utilization rates that prohibited them from getting the paint jobs done on time.
Ha...UA and a high utilization rate...that's funny. No, UA was busy delaying as much mx as possible since that cost money too.
Quoting tommy767 (Reply 76): Look how long it's taking to get the 747 and 763 painted in the CO colors.
80+% of the fleet is repainted, in what, little over two years? *And* they've refit some of the 763s with nose to tail AVOD and new seats.
Quoting tommy767 (Reply 76): That's why I say it's the great American death of exceptionally branded logo
UA is turning into PA in terms of the chasm between the reality of the last decade, and what people remember
Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 80): PMCO's brand was very businesslike (well, except for the CO "Work Hard. Fly Right." ad campaign by Kaplan Thaler with slapstick humor, even though it was actually very effective).
It was probably the tightest, most consistent brand out there after WN. That aside, brand matters very little in the airline industry, maybe unless you're SQ.
OA412 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 4978 posts, RR: 25 Reply 82, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 2206 times:
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 81): Ha...UA and a high utilization rate...that's funny. No, UA was busy delaying as much mx as possible since that cost money too.
Wish you were joking about that, but I have a feeling you're not. Ugh!
tommy767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6172 posts, RR: 9 Reply 83, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2156 times:
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 81): UA is turning into PA in terms of the chasm between the reality of the last decade, and what people remember
The funny thing is that CO's relevance by 2010 was nothing distinctive and were on the same page as any of the other competitors in terms of declining service. You neglect the fact that UA was turning a corner by 2009, and CO was actually headed dead south compared to the Bethune days. So I'd go ahead and argue that most people at this point do not remember a whole lot about Continental, aside the die-hard fanatics.
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 81): Ha...UA and a high utilization rate...that's funny. No, UA was busy delaying as much mx as possible since that cost money too.
Yeah OK: I'm not going to even address this. This claim is just immature.
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 81): It was probably the tightest, most consistent brand out there after WN. That aside, brand matters very little in the airline industry, maybe unless you're SQ.
That's your opinion and I'd disagree. CO's branding worked in the markets they concentrated in which were only two parts of the country: Houston and Newark (fortress hubs.) The "Work Hard, Fly Right" campaign was virtually unrecognized and unseen by most of the nation when you really think about it. Whereas the "U" was universally recognized as the logo for United. Show a kid a picture of the globe and they'd be clueless of what company it is but show the "U" and I'm sure they'd know right away. This is the tragedy I speak of -- from a straight up branding perspective.
"Folks that's the news and I'm outta here!" -- Dennis Miller
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 84, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2039 times:
Quoting HoMsaR (Reply 67): Last month, I checked a bag in ORD and noted that my claim tag had a tulip logo printed on it.
You'll still see those for awhile, same with the "Continental Airlines" typeface and logo as well on bagtags. I see those pretty much every day.
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15722 posts, RR: 47 Reply 85, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1974 times:
Quoting tommy767 (Reply 83): You neglect the fact that UA was turning a corner by 2009,
I never have neglected that fact--after nearly a decade of bankruptcy and trying to sell a carrier no one wanted to buy, the UA team began to actually run the airline and invest in the product...as long as you were not in Y.
Quoting tommy767 (Reply 83): Yeah OK: I'm not going to even address this. This claim is just immature.
It's not immature, it's reality; it has been discussed many times on here
Quoting tommy767 (Reply 83): Show a kid a picture of the globe and they'd be clueless of what company it is but show the "U" and I'm sure they'd know right away
Lots of people recognize the Soviet hammer and sickle--that doesn't mean it's a good thing. The reality is that branding post deregulation is more of a luxury than a necessity, and the hemming and hawing over what color the plane is painted is trivial compared to the basics like network, fares, loyalty program, etc.
FWAERJ From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 3172 posts, RR: 1 Reply 86, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1908 times:
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 85): the UA team began to actually run the airline and invest in the product...as long as you were not in Y.
For proof to that statement, look at the 744 refurbishments under Tilton: AVOD in F and J, but not in Y. And this was at a time when virtually every UA competitor had installed or was planning to install plane-wide AVOD on their trans-Pacific fleet.
jetblueguy22 From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 2021 posts, RR: 1 Reply 87, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1813 times:
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From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5720 posts, 
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) and PanAm cuff links. I have VARIG port glasses and VARIG espresso cups. I covet these items as they are now antiques. What I want is a tulip now. I have some UA tulip glasses - but I want a sign!
Me, too. 
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