In what has been a week of big announcements in the airline industry, we have had Qantas, American Airlines making news and now United Airlines have announced its new international business class cabin, with the center piece being United’s new lie-flat bed that boasts a massive 15.4 inch LDC screen.
United Airline’s lie-flat bed which is six foot long and reclines to 180⁰ will recline into possibly the flattest business class bed in the world and will be progressively rolled into the United’s 97 plane international fleet over the next 30 months with the entire upgraded to be complete in late 2009. United’s international fleet consist of Boeing 767, Boeing 747 and Boeing 777 aircraft.
Word has it that United’s new International Business Cabin will have both forward and rear facing seats, which might seem a little odd at first but has been used by British Airlines for a while now with great success.
Details of United’s International Business Cabin upgrade:
- Lie-flat bed: reclines 180⁰ 6 Foot 4 inch 23.5 Inch wide bed
- Four way lumbar support: With six way adjustable head rest
- An ottoman: providing additional storage for a laptop or other personal items
- Ergonomically designed tray table that comfortably accommodates a laptop and other items
- iPod adapter that enables customers to play their own music and videos on the seat's entertainment unit while recharging the iPod
- Universal Serial Bus (USB) port to charge personal electronic devices, such as personal digital assistants, mobile phones and digital cameras
- Standard 110v power outlets requiring no adapter
- Adjustable LED reading light with dimmer
- Noise cancelling headphones. Not known which brand but possibly Bose.
On the in-flight entertainment side of things, the 15.4 Inch LCD screen will be bundled with an on-demand media center that will contain up to 150 hours of movies and TV programs, with additional programming in French, German, Spanish, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Dutch, Arabic and Italian.
To top off the upgrade United Airlines will be totally revamping its cuisine with a menu developed by Chef Charlie Trotter and a new wine menu from Master sommelier and Master of wine Doug Frost.
View United Airline's Flash Media Promo of their New Cabin.
What do I make of this announcement?
In the past I have always tried to stay clear of United on the Sydney to Los Angeles route, as I have found their cabin to be ageing and outdated, but with this announcement, I can’t want to give them a try.
Its a great effort on the behalf of United and I am sure it will pay off in terms of bottoms on seats, the whole forward-facing rear-facing seat configuration is a non issue, which I know will become more common place as time goes on. |
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