United Flat Bed Transcon Awards Wide Open Temporarily as It Switches p.s. Flights from JFK to Newark

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Update 6/28/15 at 9:50 PM ET:

United now lists 757s as operating all flights between Newark and Los Angeles/San Francisco from October 25 on.

And yet, space is still amazing. This calendar shows great space for eight people on a single flight between LAX and Newark in November and December.

This one shows San Francisco to Newark for eight people next winter.

I should note that most of the Business Class space is available on the earliest flights and redeyes.

Act now! This space has lasted two weeks, but I don’t expect it to last another two.

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Originally posted 6/16/15:

Starting October 25, 2015, United is moving its p.s. flights from JFK to Newark airport; p.s. flights are United’s internationally configured 757s with flat beds in Business Class that fly between New York and Los Angeles or San Francisco.

Until October 24, the only two cities served from JFK on United will be Los Angeles and San Francisco. From October 25, the airline will have no JFK service at all. United adds the p.s. flights to Newark to consolidate its fortress hub at an airport where it carries 14 times as many passengers as the number two airline.

United will continue to fly some flights between its hubs and LaGuardia.

Whether United moving p.s. service to Newark from JFK is good for you depends on where you live, but this move is undoubtedly good news for who:

• live in Los Angeles and San Francisco and want to book international premium cabin awards
• want to book p.s. award space now for travel between October 25, 2015 and May 14, 2016

Good for International Connectivity

United serves dozens of international and domestic destinations from Newark. All of these places are more easily accessible for Californians with the move of p.s. service to Newark.

Of course, JFK has good international connectivity on Star Alliance partners. The move to Newark cuts Californians with Star Alliance miles off from that award space. It’s a trade I’m willing to make.

Temporary (?) Increase in Award Space for p.s. Flights After October 25

United.com already reflects the p.s. airport change. October 24 shows flights from Newark and JFK to Los Angeles.

October 25 only shows Newark to Los Angeles, with no JFK flights.However united.com does NOT reflect the aircraft switch. Right now the schedule is still showing 737s operating some Newark to Los Angeles flights on October 25 when in fact all the frequencies will be operated by 757s with lie flat seats up front.

Why does that matter? Because award space is way better on United’s 737s out of Newark than on its p.s. flights.

Book the 737 First Class award space now, and you will get to fly 757 p.s. Business Class space when your flight date rolls around. I’d book as soon as possible before the aircraft information is updated, which might cause award space to crater.

I suspect award space will worsen because award space is much better on the 737s than the p.s. flights. Check out these calendars for August and September. The first is Newark to Los Angeles. The second is JFK to LAX.
Newark has Business Class award space on 52 days; JFK has space on three days.

Look at how great award space is in First Class on the Newark to/from Los Angeles and San Francisco flights after October 25.

Book this space now while the computer still thinks it is 737 First Class, and fly it when it is 757 flat bed Business Class.

Booking the Space

Search the space on united.com, but there are cheaper ways to book it than with United miles.

United charges 25,000 miles + $5.60 one way for domestic First Class or Business Class. Singapore charges 20,000 miles + $5.60 for the same space. Singapore has access to all the Saver award space you see on united.com if you search without signing in.

Call Singapore at 213-404-0301 to book the award space. Feed the agent the date, flight number, and cabin of the award space you want to book. Call it “Business Class” whether you’re booking the front cabin on the 737 or 757.

Singapore miles are a partner of every transferable points program. Cards I like that earns points that transfer:

• Citi Prestige® Card: 40,000 bonus ThankYou Points after $4,000 in purchases made with your card in the first 3 months the account is open. The card also comes earns 3x points on airfare and hotels and has a host of benefits like lounge access and $250 in free airfare per year.

Bottom Line

United ends p.s. service to JFK on October 24, ceasing all operations at the airport. The premium San Francisco and Los Angeles flights with flat beds in Business Class move to Newark, United’s hub in the New York metro area.

Right now award space in excellent between Newark and San Francisco/Los Angeles in First Class after October 25, 2015. If you book that space, you’ll actually fly Business Class on a plane with flat bed seats. That space may disappear when united.com updates the operating aircraft. Book that space with Singapore miles to save 5,000 miles per person per direction.