Denver Internation Airport

Boarding started a few minutes after we reached the gate with First Class, Business Class and Star Gold / Star Silver Passengers. As I had passed the check in desk, I noticed that the passengers behind were not allowed to board. As I reached the door I noticed why: The plane was not yet ready for boarding. After roughly a minute, we were allowed to board and I headed for my seat in the Business Class Cabin, while cathaana took her seat in First.

22 May 2006
DEN – ORD
[Denver International – Chicago O’Hare]
UA 272 (United Airlines; Boeing 777 – 200
Gate 36 '
18:31 – 21:49 [effective 18:35 – 21:54]
Business Class
Seat 09 J

It was the same seat I had experienced on the last flight on United’s Business Class on the route Tokyo to Taipei in April 2004. After I stored my belongings, I visited cathaana in her Sky Suite in First Class. It looks very comfortable, but was told later by her, that it was not that comfortable.

First Class and Economy Plus / Economy Cabin seems to be pretty full, while Business Class was less than half full. So every passenger in Business Class could enjoy a free seat aside, which was really nice.

On the ground, the captain informed us to expect several turbulences in the first minutes in the air and therefore no service will be done in the first 30 minutes. Channel 9 was also available. Pre departure drinks were saved and I choose the champagne out of the choice between champagne, water and orange juice.

We were pushed back at 18:35 and were on our long way to the runway, were we lined up after several other planes. Some smaller planes were allowed to take off before us and at exactly 19.00 the captain began the take off.

He was right, the first twenty minutes were bumpy, but not that worse I had expected. The 17 music channels and the 5 video channels were not available during this time, but started shortly after the crew could leave the seats.

After a hot towel service, warm nuts were served with a choice of beverage (this time a Tonic Water for me). Some minutes later the meal was served. Due to the short flight time, one got a Cesar Salad. It was served on a tray and rolls and croissants were offered. Wine was available on this flight and the crew was very friendly and attentive. They offered refills of beverage quite often.

The curtain between Business and First Class was not closed during the flight. First did not get a much different level of service than we on the cheaper seat got.

Trays were collected round about 1 hour and 20 minutes flight time and I listened to the music channel, while I put the seat in my favourite relaxing position. From my experience the Business Class seat of United is not that bad at all. It is comfortable and I am quite happy with it. I find my ideal position really fast. On the modern seat I have to press several buttons and try several positions to find an ideal position. United’s seat is better than the old seat of Asiana and I would rate it also over the old product of Thai and Lufthansa after these flights.

We began our final approach into Chicago O’Hare and touched down with a delay at 21.54 and were at our gate ten minutes later. During our taxi, I saw the Asiana 747-400 parked at Terminal 5, while we had a gate at Terminal 2.

I exit the plane trough the First Class Cabin and meet cathaana waiting right after the jet bridge. Together We walked over to terminal 5 where the Asiana flight was departing latter.

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