Bo1953 Posted October 11, 2022 #1 Share Posted October 11, 2022 Hello all - My question is about mixing class of service on UA the following non-stop flights using FBC: 29 Aug 23 EWR - BCN UA 120 (Boeing 767-400ER) Business Class 15 Sep 23 ROM - EWR UA 41 (Boeing 777-200) Business Class My question is, due to pricing I Am considering booking Premium Economy for the return flight.... As these are the only non-stops I could currently find, is this a good move do you think for saving quite a few bucks? I do understand that planes and schedules will most likely change between now and then to one degree or another, yet in a perfect world this will remain the same!!! LOL Thank you for your input and recommendations. bon voyage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted October 11, 2022 #2 Share Posted October 11, 2022 There is a big difference between Polaris and Premium Plus. You’d have to decide what you prefer: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/onboard-experience.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gardyloo Posted October 11, 2022 #3 Share Posted October 11, 2022 While I'd fly in business class both ways, if I had to choose, I'd probably go with premium economy on the way over and business returning. The reason for that is that the eastbound flight is over an hour shorter (could be more depending on winds) than the westbound, again, because of winds. The westbound flight will also be during daylight, so you'll have more time to enjoy the business class food and amenities, not to mention lounge access at FCO before you fly. I personally find that eastbound overnight flights tend to offer less restful experiences, even with "flat beds" in business class, due to interruptions for meal service and pre-landing formalities as you approach Europe in the morning. You won't sleep as well in PE, but you might find that the tradeoff is acceptable. YMMV of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted October 11, 2022 #4 Share Posted October 11, 2022 @Gardyloo, having been in both, the Polaris Lounge at EWR is better than the contract lounge at FCO. A fair bit better. I would definitely take Business Class going over, both for Polaris Lounge, and for sleeping ability on the lie flat Business class seats. The food isn't going to be that great to stay up all night for. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted October 12, 2022 #5 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Honestly, the food is pretty terrible in Polaris, so don’t use that to make your decision. I would also chose business on the outbound and eat in the Polaris Lounge (which is very nice) and skip the meal on the plane. I’d rather have the lie flat seat to sleep on the way over. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo1953 Posted October 26, 2022 Author #6 Share Posted October 26, 2022 (edited) Hello all, as a follow up, I Am currently booked in Business Class as follows: 29 Aug UA #120 EWR - BCN B767-400ER NS 1905 - 0900 (+1) 14 Sep BA #551 ROM - LON AB A320 0805 - 0950 BA #0185 LON-EWR B777 1100 - 1350* * - in LON the arrival and departure terminal is five (5), the time between seems it might be an issue for the connection there. Second Choice airport closer to home (looking for better pricing on this route) 29 Aug AA #742 EWR - BCN B787-8 NS 14 Aug AA #719 ROM - EWR B787-8 NS Thoughts about the sectors, service, class of service on the airlines in play currently??? I do understand that all of these plans will change, yet will not know the extent until it happens... LOL TIA and bon voyage Edited October 26, 2022 by Bo1953 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globaliser Posted October 26, 2022 #7 Share Posted October 26, 2022 5 hours ago, Bo1953 said: Second Choice airport closer to home (looking for better pricing on this route) 29 Aug AA #742 EWR - BCN B787-8 NS 14 Aug AA #719 ROM - EWR B787-8 NS Thoughts about the sectors, service, class of service on the airlines in play currently??? All other things being equal, I'd definitely prefer the pair of non-stops simply because they're non-stops. I have a lurking fondness for the 777 for - how shall I put this? - its over-engineered structural integrity, but if in business class this really wouldn't be a big factor. This is from the point of view of someone for whom air travel is a means of getting from A to B, and who wouldn't go much out of the way just for differences in service levels (but would do so for operational excellence). However, it would be relevant to me that this itinerary is all on oneworld. I'm assuming that the second line here was intended to read "14 Sep", as in your first itinerary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted October 26, 2022 #8 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Is the airport in London Heathrow? It's code is LHR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted October 26, 2022 #9 Share Posted October 26, 2022 BA and UA aren’t in the same alliance. If you chose this set, where will you book it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fbgd Posted October 26, 2022 #10 Share Posted October 26, 2022 9 hours ago, Bo1953 said: 29 Aug AA #742 EWR - BCN B787-8 NS 14 Aug AA #719 ROM - EWR B787-8 NS Thoughts about the sectors, service, class of service on the airlines in play currently??? This doesn't look right (excusing the incorrect IATA codes for Rome, FCO). AA don't fly internationally from EWR, those flights are to and from Philadelphia. AA742 is from PHL-BCN. AA719 is from FCO-PHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fbgd Posted October 26, 2022 #11 Share Posted October 26, 2022 32 minutes ago, 6rugrats said: BA and UA aren’t in the same alliance. If you chose this set, where will you book it? Airlines don't need to be in the same alliance for you to book a roundtrip on them, pretty much any OTA will do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo1953 Posted October 26, 2022 Author #12 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Hello all - thank you for pointing out my errors... LOL Much appreciated, for sure. The corrections are as follows: 29 Aug UA #120 EWR - BCN B767-400ER NS 1905 - 0900 (+1) 14 Sep BA #551 FCO - LHR AB A320 0805 - 0950 BA #0185 LHR - EWR B777 1100 - 1350* * - in LHR the arrival and departure terminal is five (5), the time between seems it might be an issue for the connection there. Second Choice airport closer to home (looking for better pricing on this route) 29 Aug AA #742 PHL - BCN B787-8 NS 14 Sep AA #719 FCO - PHL B787-8 NS @6rugratsI prefer PHL because it is much closer to home for us, the difference in fare is, currently, $1,250 pp. I will keep checking fares, though as there is enough time to book. I have initially booked through Flights By Celebrity. Thank you all for your insight and input... bon voyage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchell810 Posted October 26, 2022 #13 Share Posted October 26, 2022 4 hours ago, Bo1953 said: Hello all - thank you for pointing out my errors... LOL Much appreciated, for sure. The corrections are as follows: 29 Aug UA #120 EWR - BCN B767-400ER NS 1905 - 0900 (+1) 14 Sep BA #551 FCO - LHR AB A320 0805 - 0950 BA #0185 LHR - EWR B777 1100 - 1350* * - in LHR the arrival and departure terminal is five (5), the time between seems it might be an issue for the connection there. Second Choice airport closer to home (looking for better pricing on this route) 29 Aug AA #742 PHL - BCN B787-8 NS 14 Sep AA #719 FCO - PHL B787-8 NS @6rugratsI prefer PHL because it is much closer to home for us, the difference in fare is, currently, $1,250 pp. I will keep checking fares, though as there is enough time to book. I have initially booked through Flights By Celebrity. Thank you all for your insight and input... bon voyage I am not any kind of flight expert but I will always take non-stops over connecting flights. (Plus, that LHR time seems really tight.) I did the FCO to PHL on AA in June. Things ran smoothly and we actually landed over an hour early. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fbgd Posted October 26, 2022 #14 Share Posted October 26, 2022 2 hours ago, mchell810 said: I am not any kind of flight expert but I will always take non-stops over connecting flights. (Plus, that LHR time seems really tight.) I did the FCO to PHL on AA in June. Things ran smoothly and we actually landed over an hour early. It's T5 to T5 so it's really not that tight. BA have Fast Track security for those in premium cabins that are connecting and there's also the ability to reclear security in T5B and T5C if you are on a tight connection. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted October 27, 2022 #15 Share Posted October 27, 2022 On 10/26/2022 at 8:37 AM, fbgd said: Airlines don't need to be in the same alliance for you to book a roundtrip on them, pretty much any OTA will do this. Yes, I am aware of this. Just wondering which One OP had in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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