Prologue:
Hello and welcome to this mileage run TR that I did over the weekend.This trip was conceived after I saw a good fare to NY for USD 231 RT. I needed to fly around 8,000 miles in order to preserve my TK Gold Elite status before Aug. 2020 and this trip was cheap enough to warrant a run just for that.
I purchased a Basic Economy fare (N) which only gave me 50% mileage and was highly restrictive. It's been a long time since I have visited EWR and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. Besides as avgeeks we tend to do crazy things in order to be on a plane and accumulate status. ;)
24 hrs before my departure I received an email from UA reminding me how restrictive the Basic Economy fare was. When I checked in I noticed that the computer assigned me 25F - a middle seat right behind the last middle row of E+. For a second I was excited because according to UA site map row 25 on the 777-200 seemed to be in E+ but upon checking further on seatguru.com this was not the case. The airport was not very crowded and I used the Premium desk to check in. An agent at the entrance of the line directed me to use the kiosk for check-in and print my boarding pass. I am dropped off at the airport about 3 hrs before dept with plenty of time.
Nice exhibition from the past by the entrance to the F gates @ UA.
Dedicated to Francis. Oauf!
First stop the UA Club at T3 Gates E. SFO has recently renamed the gates in an effort to make it more passenger friendly to get around.
Reception was friendly and welcoming. I asked the agent if she could find me an aisle seat and she advised me that only middle ones were available and to check at the gate.
Interior of the lounge.
Bar.
Buffet.
Salad bar. There was also minestrone soup (not pictured).
A while back there was a charcuterie tray with different types of cold cuts. Today I only saw salami as the only choice.
Hummus and pita chips.
Bread in a jar? First time I have seen it being served this way. :P
My snack - salad with lite lemonade.
Minestrone soup with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
Then it was time to go to the F gates and visit the UA Club by the Rotunda.
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United Club T3 - Rotunda "F" gates. This UA Club is a vestige of the old UA one with a maritime theme inside. I hope it never gets remodeled and stays the same. It is fairly large with different sitting areas.
Entrance hall.
Magnificent lobby with customer service desk. I tried my luck again but nothing was available. Agent suggested me to ask at the gate.
The martime theme is everywhere.
Bar.
Snacks to go.
At around 45 min. before dept. I left for the gate.
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My plane parked at F19.
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On time dept. and weather in NY. It's cold! I inquired with one of the gate agents if there was an aisle seat and she informed me that because I purchased a Basic Economy fare no changes were allowed. Fair enough. The weird thing is that on my return I was assigned an E+ window seat and there were plenty of regular seats opened in the back.
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Boarding commenced with priority boarding given to pax with disabilities families with children active military personnel and Global Service/Premier elites. This was followed by Group 1 then 2 and the rest.
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Nice welcome aboard.
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J cabin with the strange configuration of seats facing front and back.
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Economy cabin with a 3-4-3 config.
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Row 25 - My seat is the second one from left to right.
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The flight was full in Y but there were a few E+ middles seats that were empty on the sides.
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Seat pitch and pocket seat docs. On UA site under My Booking this row seemed to be part of E+. In reality row 24 in the middle is the last one although the seats on the sides of row 25 were E+. Strange configuration.
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Not the cleanest airplane. Two electrical plugs for 4 pax.
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This protruding box and the bar right in front of me cuts a lot of my foot space.
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No IFE. Instead UA asked you to download the app on your devices.
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After take off service started with a beverage and to my surprise E+ pax were offered a meal. I asked the FA for a snack box and she told me that she had a lot of leftover meals from E+ so she gave me one. I really appreciated her kind gesture and there was a choice between beef or quinoa. Both choices were cold. FA's offered water throughout the flight and just before arrival there was a cookie offered. Behind me in regular Y pax were only offered Biscoff cookies or pretzels. There was 1 more snack which I forgot (maybe snack mix or Dutch caramel cookie).
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Beef slices over soba noddles served with cucumbers.
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Fresh fruit and brownie.
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========== San Francisco Intl Arpt (SFO) - ==========
========== United Club ==========
========== United Airlines - Airline ==========
========== Newark Liberty Intl Arpt (EWR) - ==========
Summary:
It's been a long time since I have flown a transcon trip on UA. I was surprised that E+ pax were offered a meal and not just cookies or pretzels. If I wanted to reserve a seat it would have cost USD 19 but I decided to take a chance.Overall I found the staff at UA to be courteous and at times friendly. As far as comfort the Y seats in the 777-200 felt narrow and tight. It was literally a sardine can when the flight is completely full.
13 Comments
ReplyThanks Adan, the lounge looks better than the one we've been to :) Good to get something to eat.
No wonder why you were tired !
To think that the one that we've been to was the Intl one and used for *A Golds. What's wrong with this pic? Soup and salad are great for your health. ;)
ReplyA very good review, I'm still not sold on the product. Thanks for sharing your MR.
This is what happens when bean counters run the company. You are welcome.
ReplyThanks for sharing this TR
"This UA Club is a vestige of the old UA one with a maritime theme inside"
It's a gorgeous UA Club I like it
"Agent suggested me to ask at the gate."
I can't understand why it should be different at the gate
Great FA on board you were lucky
"Beef slices over soba noddles served with cucumbers."
I could never get used to this American food
Seats are not comfortable
A real true redeye flight :(
See you soon
"It's a gorgeous UA Club I like it"
- It has a lot character. It reminds you of the old UA, not CO. :P
"I can't understand why it should be different at the gate"
- It's called passing the ball. :) Nobody wants to look like the bad guy.
"Great FA on board you were lucky"
- As a result of dealing with a great pax. ;)
"I could never get used to this American food"
- It's an Asian dish or at least Asian inspired. Maybe you should try mayo on the soba noodles to make it a salad. :P
"Seats are not comfortable"
- They are great if you want to snuggle with someone.
"A real true redeye flight :("
- I hate these type of flights.
A plus tard.
ReplyI feel the pain. I don't get the point why at the gate is should be different. Not the best timing, Gracias Amigo.
Casper
Ouch! Supposedly gate agents have the ultimate control of the flight and it is up to them to grant every wish. :P Passing the ball....
ReplyThanks for the review! I like the exhibition back to the 50s, nice lounge decoration!
The two domestic lounges are a great contrast between modern and old fashioned. Ah the 50's...I wouldn't know since I wasn't born yet. :P Maybe other members can give you a nostalgic opinion. ha ha
ReplyYou are brave Adan ! Thanks for another stellar review.
Glad you liked it. Brave? more like someone who lost his marbles. :P Thanks.
ReplyHello Adan!
Thank you for this really nice TR.
See you soon.
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