UA 787 Status

TWA772LR · Sun May 13, 2012 3:57 am

When is UA supposed to receive their first 787s? I know they will be flow domestically for familiarization purposes, but what will be their first international routes? Will IAH-AKL start when the 787s go international?

747400sp · Sun May 13, 2012 5:53 am

The 787 in the background, during Obama visit to the Boeing plant, was built for UA.

gigneil · Sun May 13, 2012 6:04 am

It actually wasn't.

They did dress that one up with United decals for the ceremony. Its a random bit of trivia that nobody would know.

There are 5 United 787s completed. What the hell goes on between completing and delivering a 787 these days I have absolutely no understanding of. They are going to get all 5 of them this year and the first one in the second half, which technically starts in 6 weeks (wow).

NS

Schweigend · Sun May 13, 2012 6:36 am

Quoting gigneil (Reply 2):
What the hell goes on between completing and delivering a 787 these days I have absolutely no understanding of.

Neither do I. I hope there will be a book published soon covering the 787's travails. How too-rosy promises, supplier non-conformance with specs, and difficulty with reworking early frames played out.

I'm curious to know what UA's coach seating on the 787 will be. Will it be 2-4-2 as originally expected when CO ordered theirs, lo so many years ago, or 3-3-3, as many on anet have predicted?

So far as I can tell, United has not released anything about this. If early models are overweight, and they mean to use them to AKL after U.S. domestic proving missions, then maybe less weight could make a difference, and eight-abreast in Y might still be in the offing. I hope so, anyway.

skytony · Sun May 13, 2012 6:40 am

The configuration for the UA 787 is 36/183. Y is 3-3-3.

gigneil · Sun May 13, 2012 6:41 am

Nah its 2-4-2. They DID announce the configs right after the merger when they confirmed Economy Plus seating for it.

NS

skytony · Sun May 13, 2012 6:44 am

Nah it's 3-3-3. I am looking at the seat map.

gigneil · Sun May 13, 2012 6:47 am

Where are you looking at this seat map?

NS

skytony · Sun May 13, 2012 6:50 am

I can't say. Take my word for it it's 3-3-3. I also heard the announcement that it would be 2-4-2. Then I see the seat map and I am disappointed its 3-3-3 just like the IPTE 777.

Schweigend · Sun May 13, 2012 7:00 am

Gigneil, I'm very pleased to hear that. It will likely be one of the nicest rides in the sky.

The 2-4-2 config, pioneered by the Airbus A300 and continued with the A330-A340, is very nice for pax comfort, similar to the 767's 2-3-2. ANA's new 787s are 2-4-2 in coach.

[Edited 2012-05-13 00:05:46]

flyPBA · Sun May 13, 2012 7:04 am

Quoting gigneil (Reply 2):
It actually wasn't. They did dress that one up with United decals for the ceremony. Its a random bit of trivia that nobody would know.

um actually it was and will be ... just wasn't really painted in UA colors ... but it is UA's 787 ... currently sitting near the future of flight museum w/blue tail and no markings

Max Q · Sun May 13, 2012 7:06 am

So is it 2-4-2 or 3-3-3 ?!

skytony · Sun May 13, 2012 7:27 am

3-3-3. In economy sorry to say.

United727 · Sun May 13, 2012 7:44 am

After some quick research, it appears that "skytony" is correct with his 3-3-3. So....with that said lets talk about the initial domestic routing so we can all be prepared to do mileage runs with the new fleet before they go international.

DocLightning · Sun May 13, 2012 8:06 am

I'm guessing we'll be seeing a lot of HOU-SFO service on them during the initial "break-in" runs.

Max Q · Sun May 13, 2012 8:17 am

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 14):
I'm guessing we'll be seeing a lot of HOU-SFO service on them during the initial "break-in" runs.

Not like me to be picky but HOU is Houston Hobby Airport and I don't think it will see much 787 service.

The777Man · Sun May 13, 2012 9:06 am

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 14):

I'm guessing we'll be seeing a lot of HOU-SFO service on them during the initial "break-in" runs.

No, they are going to fly IAH-LAX and perhaps IAH-EWR and EWR-MCO as well. No SFO flight announced so far.

The777Man

NorthstarBoy · Sun May 13, 2012 9:51 am

How about sending a little 787 love Denver's way! Hmm, maybe I'll get a surprise for my 6 October Denver to Chicago flight. Here's to hoping.

I wonder if J class is going to be configured as nine rows of four abreast or six rows of six abreast?

nycjbird · Sun May 13, 2012 10:45 am

Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 17):
I wonder if J class is going to be configured as nine rows of four abreast or six rows of six abreast?

J class is to be 6 rows of 6. Y class is 3-3-3 as mentioned earlier.

United1 · Sun May 13, 2012 10:58 am

Quoting TWA772LR (Thread starter):
When is UA supposed to receive their first 787s? I know they will be flow domestically for familiarization purposes, but what will be their first international routes? Will IAH-AKL start when the 787s go international?

UA should receive 5 787-822s this year...starting sometime in the 3rd quarter.

LN 45, 50, 52, 53 & 55...all of which are on the Everett flight line undergoing some change and rework modifications.

IAH-AKL was announced as the first international route (IAH-LOS was announced as a 787 route as well but it started up with a 777...no idea if it will switch at some point.) UA hasn't announced allot lately in regards to what routes that the 787s will fly probably because they are not entirely trusting of Boeing's delivery dates.

I'm not sure if its 3-3-3 or 2-4-2 or not (I do think at one point we discussed it on here and decided that it was going to be 3-3-3.) The onboard product (seats IFE ect) should be the same as what is being retrofitted to the 2-class 763s and 764's.

Someone83 · Sun May 13, 2012 12:42 pm

Quoting gigneil (Reply 2):
There are 5 United 787s completed

Semantics/nit picking, but they're not complete. If they were, they would have been delivered

[Edited 2012-05-13 05:43:36]

CALMSP · Sun May 13, 2012 12:43 pm

Quoting The777Man (Reply 16):

you sure about that??

RayChuang · Sun May 13, 2012 1:27 pm

I wonder has UA talked about flying the 787-8 out of SFO? I have my doubts for now, since SFO is UA's major US West Coast international hub and the 788 may be just a tad too small for many long-range international flights out of SFO.

As such, it'll be mostly 747-400's and 777-200ER's out of SFO on long-range international flights until 2016, when the A350-900 starts to arrive to replace UA's oldest 777's.

tu154 · Sun May 13, 2012 1:34 pm

Looking at the chapter we just added to our flight attendant manuals for the 787.........it is indeed configured
3-3-3......................

qf002 · Sun May 13, 2012 1:37 pm

Quoting RayChuang (Reply 22):

Doing a nonstop to MEL might be a possibility. As it stands, UA doesn't really have aircraft capable enough of the flight (the 744 can make it, but would struggle and probably be a bit big) though they've spoken about nonstop MEL flights in the past...

SFO-MEL makes more sense to me than LAX-MEL.

Fiveholer · Sun May 13, 2012 2:02 pm

Quoting The777Man (Reply 16):

I'm pretty sure I read in a company letter that they would be run EWR-IAH-LAX for some months.

CairnterriAIR · Sun May 13, 2012 2:03 pm

Come on UA...perhaps you are feeling "retro"? Remember back when...when you flew 2-3 DC-10's a day between BDL and ORD? Why not a few 787's??

strfyr51 · Sun May 13, 2012 2:23 pm

Quoting gigneil (Reply 5):

Don't mistake the CO ordered airplanes the-824's with theUAL ordered -822's they very WELL might have differen't seating configuration by the time Marketing decides where to use them and what they intend to feature on them. Co ordered a different seat than Star Alliance is going to use the BE Aerospace seat will be our standard as we already fly BE Aerospace seats across the fleet

SonomaFlyer · Sun May 13, 2012 2:42 pm

A 3-3-3 config is very disappointing but not at all a surprise. Comfort is not a consideration for most airlines with Y class, especially domestic carriers.

I would expect AKL service to start in time for the Christmas season after they have at least three a/c in the fleet and the familiarization program is complete.

BestWestern · Sun May 13, 2012 2:52 pm

How does 3-3-3 on the 787 compare to the tight seating on the 777?

qf002 · Sun May 13, 2012 3:26 pm

Quoting bestwestern (Reply 29):
How does 3-3-3 on the 787 compare to the tight seating on the 777?

More space than a 10 abreast 777, less than a 9 abreast 777. The general tagline seems to be that the seats in a 9 abreast 787 are the same width as in a 747.

SonomaFlyer · Sun May 13, 2012 3:57 pm

I think we can expect something around 32" pitch in standard Y with seats at or just a bit under 18" wide.

as739x · Sun May 13, 2012 4:11 pm

Quoting RayChuang (Reply 22):

There have been no rumors around SFO on 787's service. I believe the 787 is to small for any current routes and are not used to their capabilities.

SonomaFlyer · Sun May 13, 2012 4:23 pm

The only time we'd see 787's at SFO is if they open up new long haul routes across the Pacific. I don't think we'd expect that for a few years. I don't see much in the way of new routes to Europe from SFO right now given the current economic climate.

777ord · Sun May 13, 2012 5:42 pm

Quoting The777Man (Reply 16):

Correct. All the first runs on each type will be for trial and proving purposes between the major hubs/MX bases. Whether or not they are simply "repo" type flights that are not actually commercially available, or not. I cannot say. Looking in Shares last night I did NOT see anything loaded with a 787. There is the odd 777 on the IAH-EWR run that we RARELY see. If only they'd add another 763 on EWR-IAH and get another IAH-ORD run would really help us relocating north a LOT. I hate going ORD-DEN-IAH. Whoops! didn't mean to get off target.

tommy767 · Sun May 13, 2012 5:44 pm

Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 17):

Quoting The777Man (Reply 16):

EWR-MCO was a big CO "break in" route when they got their widebody aircraft in the late 1990s/Early 2000s.

However, this could change. I know for sure EWR-IAH-LAX is going to get the first routing and then it's also been rumored IAH-SFO, ORD-DEN. I can't see IAD getting the shaft of the early 787 routes either. Maybe IAD-ORD?

STT757 · Sun May 13, 2012 5:48 pm

Quoting tommy767 (Reply 35):
However, this could change. I know for sure EWR-IAH-LAX is going to get the first routing and then it's also been rumored IAH-SFO, ORD-DEN. I can't see IAD getting the shaft of the early 787 routes either. Maybe IAD-ORD?

Well since it's going to be PMCO pilots flying them, and there's not a PMCO widebody pilot domicile in SFO, ORD, DEN or IAD I think we might rule them out for the initial routes. EWR, IAH, LAX and MCO are the safe bets.

justloveplanes · Sun May 13, 2012 5:53 pm

Quoting SonomaFlyer (Reply 28):

A 3-3-3 config is very disappointing but not at all a surprise. Comfort is not a consideration for most airlines with Y class, especially domestic carriers.

I'll do my best to Fly * partner ANA.....

gigneil · Sun May 13, 2012 6:02 pm

Quoting qf002 (Reply 24):
Doing a nonstop to MEL might be a possibility. As it stands, UA doesn't really have aircraft capable enough of the flight (the 744 can make it, but would struggle and probably be a bit big) though they've spoken about nonstop MEL flights in the past...

These 5 787s would splash down into the ocean long before arriving in MEL.

NS

SonomaFlyer · Sun May 13, 2012 6:13 pm

Quoting gigneil (Reply 38):
These 5 787s would splash down into the ocean long before arriving in MEL.

I assume this comment is due to these earlier models being overweight? They should be able to make this route work. SFO-MEL is about 400 miles further than their IAH to AKL route already announced. There might be a small weight penalty involved for west bound flights.

AA94 · Sun May 13, 2012 7:28 pm

Quoting 747400sp (Reply 1):
The 787 in the background, during Obama visit to the Boeing plant, was built for UA.

Quoting gigneil (Reply 2):
It actually wasn't. They did dress that one up with United decals for the ceremony. Its a random bit of trivia that nobody would know.

Quoting flyPBA (Reply 10):
um actually it was and will be ... just wasn't really painted in UA colors ... but it is UA's 787 ... currently sitting near the future of flight museum w/blue tail and no markings

The 787 displayed at the ceremony with Obama was in fact a UA 787, l/n 55. It is not the first UA 787, but it will be the fifth 787 to be delivered to United. The titles and tail logo were nothing but high-quality 3M decals which were applied for the event.

The first United 787 is l/n 45.

irishpower · Sun May 13, 2012 7:40 pm

Out of SFO I can think of plenty of potential flights. Granted this is kind of a wish list but what about

SFO-

NGO
MNL
MEL
CDG
MUC
GRU
GIG
EZE
DME
GUM
BNE
TPE
CAN

tommy767 · Sun May 13, 2012 7:48 pm

Quoting STT757 (Reply 36):

Orlando was never a pilot or crew base for Continental. Just MX.

And PLENTY of PMCO crews are being routed through PMUA hubs. Look at ORD -- it's quickly becoming a 737 heaven.

DocLightning · Sun May 13, 2012 8:10 pm

Quoting Max Q (Reply 15):
Not like me to be picky but HOU is Houston Hobby Airport and I don't think it will see much 787 service.

DOH!!!

I can't believe I did that.

For now, I can't see that we would be expecting much service at SFO to international destinations by UA. Other carriers, yes, but not UA just yet. SFO is too big of a transpac hub and so most of the flights would occur on larger aircraft.

b737100 · Sun May 13, 2012 9:36 pm

Isn't HOU the city code for Houston?

dynamicsguy · Sun May 13, 2012 10:30 pm

Quoting United1 (Reply 19):
UA should receive 5 787-822s

Quoting strfyr51 (Reply 27):
Don't mistake the CO ordered airplanes the-824's with theUAL ordered -822's

There's no such thing as a 787-822 or a 787-824. Boeing has done away with the model number including a customer code for the 787. They're all just 787-8s.

ZaphodB · Sun May 13, 2012 10:47 pm

Quoting SonomaFlyer (Reply 28):

A 3-3-3 config is very disappointing but not at all a surprise. Comfort is not a consideration for most airlines with Y class, especially domestic carriers.

It is the prelude to all the domestic carriers going 10 across in Y- on their 777s ... unless of course AA gets there first with their 77Ws.

United1 · Sun May 13, 2012 11:23 pm

Quoting dynamicsguy (Reply 45):
Quoting United1 (Reply 19):
UA should receive 5 787-822s
Quoting strfyr51 (Reply 27):
Don't mistake the CO ordered airplanes the-824's with theUAL ordered -822's

There's no such thing as a 787-822 or a 787-824. Boeing has done away with the model number including a customer code for the 787. They're all just 787-8s.

That was a rumor that they would be doing away with the customer code but most of the websites out there still list them as -822's...has Boeing confirmed that they are dropping the codes?

ebj1248650 · Mon May 14, 2012 12:13 am

I thought ANA's 787s had customer codes. 787-881.

drerx7 · Mon May 14, 2012 12:28 am

I'll definitely be on one of the IAH-MCO or LAX runs!!! How far in advance will they show up on SHARES?

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