UA: Finally looks at upgrading 747's....

United belatedly is finally working on the 747-400's, and is looking to upgrade the economy product on those birds.

And may I say - it's about time. Stepping onboard one of those things is... a time warp.

Jeff Smisek says he hopes the upgrade to upgrade them by 2016 - when it's A350XWB's are due into service.

Some of the savings that the combined UA/CO entinty is making is paying for these upgrades. Even Jeff says:

"The back of the product on the 747 that United flies is not an acceptable level of product. I know that,"

"But United didn't have the money to invest in that product. Well it does now."

"We can re-allocate aircraft to a much greater depth and drive significant additional revenue,"

You have to invest. There is a price for not investing: you lose people."

Again - like I said, if you've been in the back of a 747-400 with United, it's stepping into a timewarp. An early 90's timewarp. And 5 year turnaround is a bit long winded.

What actual upgrades will occur has yet to be decided, but I'd hope at a minimum AVOD and a decent seat product - and not the joke that exists.