United p.s.

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 BusinessFirst, United Economy Plus, and United Economy. Each class of service includes certain amenities not offered on regular flights.

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 2002. 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 transcontinental service offers extra amenities not found on other domestic flights, as well as high frequency of departures as a flagship/signature service.

United's premium product competes with the American Flagship Service introduced by American Airlines for the U.S. domestic market in 1992.^[1]

On March 22, 2010, the Chicago Tribune reported that United Airlines would be retaining its p.s. service after the merger with Continental Airlines. A number of interior improvements such as upgrading the lie-flat beds and the cabin service are planned for the p.s. 757 fleet.^[2]

On August, 22, 2011, United Airlines announced the p.s. fleet would be gutted and "reborn" with: Flat-Bed Seats, New Economy Plus Seats, AVOD and Wi-Fi, however these changes include the elimination of United First, making p.s. a "two-plus" class service.

Flights

All flights operated between Kennedy and Los Angeles or San Francisco are flown using specially configured 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."^[3]

Fleet

Classes of service

United BusinessFirst

United BusinessFirst consists of 28 fully flat-bed seats in a 2x2 configuration from rows 1 through 7. This aircraft uses exactly the same BusinessFirst seats featured in United's internationally configured 757s. The major difference is that the ps BusinessFirst configuration includes 3 additional rows of BusinessFirst after Door 2L. This class of service includes AVOD at every seat and BusinessFirst service standards. Access to the United Club is included with a BusinessFirst boarding pass. All seats on this aircraft feature 110v power.

United Economy Plus

United Economy Plus takes up rows 15 through 26 with 72 regular economy seats that feature up to 3 inches more legroom than standard economy seats. The seats are in a 3x3 configuration. For each three-seat segment, there are two 110 V AC power ports and one satellite phone unit.^[3]

United Economy

United Economy will be offered on United p.s. flights starting in 2012, upon completion of the transition of the p.s. fleet to a "two-plus" class service.

References

External links

• United Airlines

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