United first class "suite?"
 

Anyone have any experience with United's specially equiped first class suite aircraft?<BR><BR>Any tips? <BR><BR>Also, what is the first class lounge like at CDG?

We flew United First from SFO to CDG last year in the new plane. The set up was outstanding. Not too many seats and service was very good. They escorted you from the 1st class lounge in SF to your seats. Go for it!

This was FABULOUS!!! We flew September 15, 2001 from Denver to Paris. Having flown First Class on United many times to other destinations, I can actually say this was the first time I had a Fantastic meal!!<BR><BR>If you are traveling with a companion and want to sit together, the middle section is the only place where there are two seats together. The window seats are single.<BR><BR>Can not tell you about the lounge at CDG because it was closed due to 9/11.<BR><BR>

No experience of United First, but I did see the cabin in a 777 from Business Class last June from SFO to LHR. If you mean the "flat bed" type seats, they did look fantastic and appeared at least to go completely flat. If you are in a two, though, it could be difficult to have a conversation as the layout means that only the middle seats were in twos and you can't see your travelling companion!

I have also flown this class from CDG to LAX and the service was truely amazing. Its like having a bed in the sky. There are lots of seat controls, videos, gourmet food and extras! The flight attendant will even 'make up' your seat for you when you turn it into a bed. Very nice. This is the way to fly!

Oh, i forgot -- the first class lounge at CDG is small and very private. Good treats like cheeses, liquor, snacks, etc.

Please refer to the post about "how much money the Fodorites make" and then tell us how you afford to fly first class if you pay for it yourself and not mooching off your padded expense accounts from some company that squanders the stockholder's money to send their high muckety mucks on first class junkets and thus eat into the profits.....ok tell us you posers.

Hey "Mr How"<BR><BR>If you traveled for a living you would also require comfort when on a 12 hour jet flight. Screwing the stockholder is the American way. I suppose that you will be mad to learn that all of us who fly for business get to keep all those frequent flyer miles and use them to go on FREE vacations. Not to mention that when we charge things on our airline miles credit cards we also get miles or other gifts for doing so... A trip to Europe for a frequent traveler can amount to about 35,000 frequent flyer miles earned. This includes charges and miles.<BR><BR>24,000 for R/T with 'gold' status withdouble miles (sometimes more!)<BR><BR>8,000 miles for the air ticket ($8000)<BR><BR>1,500 miles for hotel (5 nights @ $300)<BR><BR>650 miles for food charges ($130 a day)<BR><BR>500 misc charges<BR><BR>Just take 2 of these trip and you have enough fpr a free businnes class ticket to go on vacation.<BR><BR>All this and I make less than $100,000 a year!<BR><BR>

Screwing the stockholder is the American way.<BR><BR>maybe this should be posted under the forum then explains why America is so wonderful and the leader of the world.<BR><BR>Sounds like business takes as much advantage of the stockholders as the gov't does of the citizens.<BR><BR>I'm sure Uncle Sam will defend you to the end.<BR><BR>Fly cheap, stay an extra day at a lesser hotel , give your FF miles back to your employer, then you can say you are doing it the "right" way. I don't blame you I blame your company for wasting shareholder money..in just another way.

Not everyone squanders their employer's money. I fly for business because it's necessary. I don't enjoy flying, but I do it because it is the practical and fastest way to get from place to place. Yes, my employer lets us keep our freq. flyer points. That's the payback for taking us away from our homes and families. It does not cost my employer one cent more. Also, I save points for all the credit card charges. And, I switch my phone service at least once a years. Again, these things do not cost anything additional for my employer. What's your problem?

the problem was the phaase " Screwing the stockholder"" <BR>When you took the job you knew you would be away from your hame and family..live with it, that's what you are paid for.

Thanks for your helpful replies.<BR><BR>Re: how's assumption that I actually paid the $10,000 per ticket for these tickets, guess again. I make a pretty modest living, but fly 40,000 miles a year for business. With silver (and last year gold) status, the bonus miles add up. Also, the airlines gave several additional bonuses when they were trying to attract customers.<BR><BR>add the extra miles hotels give, as well as credit cards, and that translates to enough miles to take my wife to Europe in 1st class for our 10th anniversary.<BR><BR>My company screws me in many ways, so it's nice to get something out of it.<BR><BR>

I agree with Bill... My company also likes to figure new ways to screw me and take away benefits. When they do I just call the airlines and book and expensive flight to wherever I think I want to go and rack up thos FF miles. When all is said and done, I have a free vacation to europe too. Not to mention a trip to NYC or Chicago, accomodations in a kiss my a** first class hotel and dining at the best restaurants in the city. All on my good friend, the company. Try it sometime, its nice to eat in a restaurant that you normally wouldn't pay for yourself!

not so fast "i agree." I manage my own budget at my company, and fly, stay, and eat as cheaply as possible as long as it's comfortable. <BR><BR>But at the end of the day, I still think I should be able to keep my ff miles, and am thrilled to be able to use them for something like this (as opposed to an upgrade on a business trip).

Or you could work for a company like I do. One of the biggest and most successful in its field, a darling of the market, considered the creme de la creme, that treats it employees like crap. An attitude of confrontation at all times, and always poor mouthing how hard times are, even though they are posting record earnings and profits. We have been on a travel ban for a year now, not allowed to have any training, no business trips, no attendence at professional conferences, etc. BUT, the hot dogs at the top continue to spend money like water, travel first class at all times, or fly in private jets, and generally ignore how "poor" the company is. Before I joined this company I was, like most people, of the mind that it was top notch. What it is a house of cards and smoke, and one of these days the truth will come out.

It amazes me how valid questions in this forum quickly turn into nationalistic, secular etc. etc. bashing.<BR><BR>It's no wonder that shows like Jerry Springer thrive. It certainly does not bode well for humanity.

My goodness. It sounds like someone neds to look for a new job.

a new job? but its true. when i am abused by my job, i go on a biz trip and spend their money!

AND SCREW THE STOCKHOLDERS OF WHICH YOU ARE PROBABLY ONE..IF YOUR PENSION PLAN AND 401, are tied to your company.. Makes a whole lot of sense ...go screw yourslf..Ben Franklin said it was impossible .. he wasn't around in year 2000...Ben had a lot to learn!

Don't worry, I work for one of the biggest companies in the world and they ain't gonna miss $10,000 or a few office supplies.