United p.s.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| United Airlines | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| IATA UA |
ICAO UAL |
Callsign UNITED |
| Founded | 2004 | |
| Hubs | John F. Kennedy International Airport | |
| Focus cities | San Francisco International Airport Los Angeles International Airport |
|
| Frequent flyer program | Mileage Plus | |
| Member lounge | Red Carpet Club | |
| Alliance | Star Alliance | |
| Fleet size | 13 | |
| Destinations | 3 | |
| Parent company | UAL Corporation | |
| Company slogan | It's Time to Fly | |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois | |
| Key people | Glenn Tilton (CEO) Jake Brace (CFO) |
|
| Website: http://www.unitedps.com/ | ||
United p.s. is a premium service offered by United Airlines on flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Francisco International Airport or Los Angeles International Airport. The fleet consists of specially configured Boeing 757-200 aircraft with three classes of service: United First, United Business, and United Economy Plus. Each class of service includes certain amenities not offered on regular flights.
Contents |
[edit] History
After the September 11, 2001 Attacks, the airline industry generally suffered severe losses in passenger traffic. Coupled with often high legacy labor and fixed operating costs, such as the operation of relatively inefficient aircraft models (such as the Boeing 727, and Boeing 767-200) and unprofitable routes, the UAL Corporation (parent company of United) filed for bankruptcy in December of that year. Once the airline began to bounce back, United launched TED, a low cost airline, in 2003 and United p.s., a luxury service between JFK and SFO and LAX, in October 2004. The demand/justification for United p.s. (with a lower number of seats per plane, yet higher premium fares) seems to be generated by passengers from lucrative financial and media companies (e.g. Wall Street and Hollywood), who are sometimes by contractual obligation entitled to fly the highest class of service offered when traveling (for example, Screen Actors Guild).[original research?] Thus, this transcontinental service offers extra amenities not found on other domestic flights, as well as high frequency of departures as a flagship/signature service.
[edit] Flights
All flights operated between Kennedy and Los Angeles or San Francisco are completed using special Boeing 757-200 aircraft. United's description about its premium service is as follows:
"With routes to only a trio of cities, one might say that p.s. is a service with a selective air about it. It's quite true. There is something about New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco that calls for a sophisticated touch. That means refining our service to better provide a better experience for bicoastal business travelers, whom we hold in the highest regards."[1]
[edit] Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (First/Business/Economy Plus) |
Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 757-200 | 13 | 110 (12/26/72) | All Flights JFK-LAX JFK-SFO |
[edit] Classes of service
[edit] United First
United First consists of 12 leather trimmed, angled lie-flat seats in a 2x2 configuration. United offers free individual hand held media players with various entertainment choices including a set of noise reduction headphones. In addition, all seats are equipped with 110V AC power ports (no adapter needed) power ports and satellite phones. With the purchase of a p.s. UnitedFirst ticket, there is an included admission to UnitedFirst International Lounges and Red Carpet Clubs.[1]
[edit] United Business
United Business consists of 26 spacious, comfortable seats in a 2x2 configuration. As UnitedFirst, this class of service includes individual, hand held media players featuring various entertainment choices along with noise canceling headphones. All seats in this class include 110V AC power ports as well as satellite phone service.
[edit] United Economy Plus
United Economy Plus takes up the rest of the aircraft—starting a few rows behind the wing—with 72 standard width seats that feature up to 5 inches more legroom than standard economy seats. The seats are in a 3x3 configuration. For each three seat segment, there are two 110V AC power ports and one satellite phone unit. A complimentary meal service was initially offered, but eliminated in August 2006. This formally ended the airline's practice of offering complimentary meals in economy on all domestic flights.[1]
