MAXimum comfort and efficiency: Our first 737 MAX 9 takes flight
"The Boeing 737 MAX is a great addition to United's fleet, providing approximately 14 percent fuel efficiency compared to previous 737 generations and an improved customer experience onboard," said Rodney Cox, vice president of United's Houston operation. "As we begin the busy summer travel season, Houston is happy to be home for United's first MAX aircraft, as we launch initial 737 MAX service from here, and later this month, add MAX service on flights from Houston to L.A., Sacramento and Tampa."
To celebrate our newest and "youngest" aircraft, we gifted 737 MileagePlus miles to all of our youngest MileagePlus members (members age 18 and under) who departed from Houston on one of our MAX flights on Thursday. All customers on our first MAX flights from Houston received first flight certificates, travel cases and headphones to commemorate their trip on our newest aircraft.
In April, we took delivery of our first Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft from Boeing Delivery Center in Seattle, and unveiled a new livery for the fuel-efficient aircraft. The curved-line feature on the 737MAX is similar to that used on our fuel-efficient widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
In February, we announced the addition of a new aircraft type, the Boeing 737 MAX 9, to our domestic flight schedules and are the first U.S. carrier to take delivery of this aircraft. The MAX 9 features Boeing's Advanced Technology winglets and fuel efficient engines providing a quieter ride, the ability to fly farther on less fuel and significant reductions of CO2 emissions compared to older generation aircraft. With a longer range than previous 737 models, United is able to operate the 737 MAX between Houston and Anchorage, Alaska, which previously needed to be served with larger aircraft. United expects to have 10 737 MAX aircraft in its fleet by the end of this year.
The MAX 9 aircraft are now operating between our Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and five cities, including Anchorage, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, San Diego and Austin. Beginning June 29, we expect to add additional MAX 9 flights between Houston Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, as well as service between Los Angeles and Honolulu. See the full schedule here.
"The addition of the MAX 9 furthers our efforts to become a more efficient and productive airline. It has better fuel efficiency, lower maintenance costs and does all of this while maximizing customer comfort," said United's Chief Financial Officer Andrew Levy.
The Boeing 737 MAX 9 features 179 seats, providing customers with access to in-seat power outlets and the opportunity to purchase satellite Wi-Fi. United Private Screening personal device entertainment will be available throughout the aircraft and enables customers to play thousands of hours of movies and television programs on their electronic devices.
The 737 MAX utilizes Viasat next-generation satellite Wi-Fi, providing access to faster, more reliable internet connections gate to gate. United will expand Viasat Wi-Fi to more than 70 aircraft, including at least 58 new 737 MAX planes over the next three years.
For more information on the Boeing 737 Max 9 and its features, visit United Newsroom.
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Cheryl Searle can illuminate an entire terminal with her infectious positivity and never-ending desire to put smiles on customers' faces. A senior supervisor for United Airlines at its Denver International airport, Searle was particularly chipper when she showed up to work, since she was planning to celebrate Valentine's Day by surprising customers with goody bags full of sweets.
A couple hours into the work day, a coworker told her about an engagement ring that'd been recovered near Gate 33. A missing item claim had been filed, a match found, and customer confirmed. The customer would be flying back to Denver on Sunday.
'Happy ending, but we can make it an even happier ending,' Searle thought to herself.
After getting the green light from her boss, Searle and customer service representative Nancy Swingle boarded the next United flight to Orange County, California to make a surprise Valentine's Day delivery.
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Hansen woke up distraught Friday morning. She hadn't heard from anyone about the ring and she was convinced she'd never see it again. Her finger felt empty, so she googled potential replacements she could buy herself. Hansen's mother, sensing her daughter's heartbreak, bought a ring from the Disney store so that Megan could have something on her finger again.
That placeholder helped, and the family headed into Disneyland. While at the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge area, Hansen got an incredibly uplifting call: her ring had been recovered at the Denver airport, and United would hold on to it for her to pick up on Sunday.
"United made my Valentine's Day," a relieved Hansen exclaimed. Shortly after, her fiancé's phone rang. Cheryl Searle was on the other end.
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Everyone knew, except for Hansen. Even Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Searle and Swingle, with the help of Disneyland, Hansen's fiancé and her father, had devised a ring reunion plan for Friday night's fireworks show. Hansen and family arrived for the show and went directly to a VIP viewing area.
"Weird, but my Mom must have talked our way into here, since that's something she'd do," Hansen recalled thinking. A few minutes later, Searle and Swingle approached Hansen, in the shadow of Sleeping Beauty Castle. "I thought they were Disney employees," Hansen said. "I'm thinking to myself, 'Oh no, what did I lose now? Did I leave my wallet somewhere?'" Then Searle revealed a small box in her right hand.
"We know you are already in the happiest place on earth," Searle told her, "but we think we are about to make you just a little bit happier."
Searle handed the ring to Walker, who got down on one knee and re-proposed. Those nearby cheered, thinking they'd just witnessed the couple get engaged. Disney arranged for Mickey and Minnie to pay the family a visit, too.
"I have so much gratitude for Cheryl, Nancy and everyone else at United who was involved with this truly surreal experience," Hansen said. "They took what was this highly stressful, awful moment in my life and turned it into a great experience and made me feel like I truly mattered. And that's special."
For Searle, Swingle and their United colleagues in Denver, it was mission accomplished.
"Customer Service is all about doing the right thing and taking care of our customers like we would want someone to take care of our own family," Searle said. "I felt utter pride knowing that her ring was home with her, where it belonged, especially on Valentine's Day.
"Seeing the reunion unfold, from the planning phases to the deployment, it gave all of us reason to believe in happy, fairytale endings. Dreams do come true."
