You Trip Report

	DATE	FLIGHT NUMBER	SEAT	AIRCRAFT
14 Nov 20	UA 501	10F	737-800
CLASS	VIEWS	LANGUAGE	AUTHOR
Economy	87602	English	jetsetpanda

Prologue:

Hello and welcome to this last segment of my trip to MIA.

After my arrival from MIA I stayed 1 night at LAX. Originally I purchased this return as a separate ticket and gave myself plenty of time to connect to a later flight. Unfortunately UA decided to cancel the late night flight and gave me about 1 hr to connect at LAX on different airlines and terminals. I didn't want to risk it so I rebooked for the next morning.

That night when I checked in UA assigned me a middle seat in the back. I purchased a Basic Econ. tkt so I had no choice for seat assignments and It looked like a fairly full flight. I decided to splurge about $15 for an Econ Plus seat in the front with a window seat instead. That was a good decision.

The hotel shuttle deposited me at the terminal and I went straight to the Premier check in area.

Premier check in was not busy and I was helped immediately. Security was quick although there were a few people today.

Leaving the security area towards the UA Club.

Friendly reception at the club. Let's go upstairs to the lounge.

Pretty empty.

WC.

Buffet was empty. Guests were directed to the bar.

Bar.

The attendant was notifying patrons that consumption of food and beverages had to be outside by the patio. He did not say anything like that to me. Ignorance is bliss I guess. :P

Buffet spread.

I sat in an isolated area without anyone around me and sipped my tea quietly. Later I noticed 2 Club agents going to every guest and advising that per LA health regulations food and drinks had to be consumed in an open air area.

The rest of the lounge.

Nice views.

Quite a few people waiting at the gate.

My plane.

Announcement was made to board with priority given to families and people in wheelchairs.

Boarding.

Sanitizing wipe distributed to everyone during boarding.

Cabin.

Great legroom.

As it turned out I had the middle seat next to me empty.

No magazine only safety card.

Taxiing out.

Take off.

Beverage service started once we reached cruising altitude.

The views on this route are breathtaking.

Landing.

========== Los Angeles Intl Arpt (LAX) - ==========

Security/Immigration efficiency: 8/10

Access and parking: 8/10

Services and activities: 8/10

General cleanliness: 9/10

========== United Club Gate 71A ==========

Staff Service: 8/10

Entertainment: /10

Business Center: /10

Food: 4/10

Lounge Design: 9/10

Spa and Bathroom: 7/10

Wifi: 10/10

========== United Airlines - Airline ==========

Cabine comfort: 10/10

Crew: 8/10

Entertainment: 8/10

On-time performance: 10/10

Appetizer: 0/10

Starter: 0/10

Main Meal: 0/10

Main Meal-2: 0/10

Cheese: 0/10

Desserts: 0/10

Alcohols: 0/10

Mid-flight snack: 0/10

Breakfast or light meal before arrival: 0/10

========== San Francisco Intl Arpt (SFO) - ==========

Security/Immigration efficiency: 9/10

Access and parking: 10/10

Services and activities: 8/10

General cleanliness: 9/10

Summary:

This was a smooth and uneventful flight.

The UA Club in LAX is huge and has a nice contemporary design. Too bad that the buffet offering is limited to vending machine snacks and these had to be requested from the bar staff.

The best entertainment on this flight is looking out the window. The landscape views are just magnificent on this route within California.

19 Comments

AAFlyer — Dec 21,2020

A well-written short hop.
Thanks for this review.
Reply

jetsetpanda — Dec 23,2020

Hi AAFlyer,

Thanks for your comment.
Thomas — Dec 21,2020

Stingy to pay 15usd to select a seat while being *G. No comment for the lounge... Good to have something to drink. Unlike BA.
Merci my friend :)
Reply

jetsetpanda — Dec 23,2020

Hi Thomas,

Yes it's kind of cheap especially when they market how great *A is and how each airline cherish each other's elite members. Can't complain about the service especially when they give you a full can.
Nomascoach — Dec 21,2020

Thanks for this report Jetset, how can you drink a tomato juice :( Ouch
Great pictures.
Reply

jetsetpanda — Dec 23,2020

Hi Nomascoach,

What is one man's poison is another one's libation. ;)

Vendredi13 — Jan 09,2021

Woooof^^

I agree with Nomascoach;))
Casper — Dec 22,2020

Gracias Amigo, a good report from my home airport. I love the view whenever I take off.
I like the design of the lounge, but yeah with the fucking covid, it's hard to catch the real experience.
Have a lovely xmas amigo.
Reply

jetsetpanda — Dec 23,2020

Hola Casper,

When you depart from certain airports it's worth having a window seat.

I can't wait for this year to be over. For avgeeks this year will be remember as a "dysfunctional" year among other things.

Best wishes to you too for this holiday mi amigo.
GG_007 — Dec 22,2020

Thanks for sharing this TR

"That night when I checked in UA assigned me a middle seat in the back"
They want you to regret buying a Basic Econ fare

Lounge spread is pathetic

Gorgeous pictures when taxiing, at take off and all along the flight

See you soon

Reply

jetsetpanda — Dec 23,2020

Hi GG,

"They want you to regret buying a Basic Econ fare"
- I think they are succeeding. :P Seriously the process to assign seats to *G seems arbitrary. On a previous flight to EWR I also purchase Basic Econ and was assigned Y+ seats to my delight and the flight had plenty of seats in the back.

"Lounge spread is pathetic"
- Back to "carrot sticks and cheese days. "

LAX is a very photogenic airport during take off.

A plus tard.
Emile — Dec 22,2020

Thanks Panda for this short flight. Not groundbreaking but still better than nothing.
Reply

jetsetpanda — Dec 23,2020

Hi Emile,

I try to enjoy every experience that I can get these days. ;)
samlecorsaire — Dec 22,2020

Hello Panda
thank you for sharing this TR.
The lounge is very nice but very poor food and drink speaking.
Nice spoting
bye
Reply

jetsetpanda — Dec 23,2020

Hi Sam,

Some lounges are better than others. UA can do better in that area but I think it's cost cutting mentality.

LAX is also a good airport for plane spotting in my humble opinion.
Capoune — Dec 23,2020

Hi Adan!
The lounge... lol!!!
Nice flight with beautiful pics as always with you!

Thank you for sharing my friend
Reply

jetsetpanda — Dec 23,2020

Hi Seb,

Yes that's why I got some candies to take the bitter experience out of my moth. :P

Ciao mon ami.
Vendredi13 — Jan 09,2021

Ouaaf ! JetSet' !

3 beautiful distinctive parts in your YTR :
The lounge and it's nice contempory design.
The spotting part : I love the picture with the different sizes of tails;)
And the aerial views. you smelled right when you bought this expensive eco+ seat with the window.

Thanks for sharing this beautiful roundtrip, Adan. See u soon !
Reply

jetsetpanda — Jan 09,2021

Oauf mon cher ami.

I'm glad you liked the TR. It was short but very picturesque. One of the few domestic routes that is worth getting a window.

The lounge is nicely designed and a great place to relax. Too bad that the food offering is so limited these days.

LAX is a great spot for plane spotting.

See you later.