Benefits News: United Airlines Rebrands and Upgrades

CHICAGO, Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines, a Veterans Advantage Partner and a wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL), today announced the company is upgrading its premium-cabin services to offer customers new food and beverage options, additional choices in in-flight entertainment, and – on long-haul international flights – new amenity kits, pillows and blankets.

United is also rebranding its international, long-haul premium-cabin services, introducing:

• United Global First, the international first-class experience on three-cabin aircraft.
• United BusinessFirst, the international business-class experience on two-cabin and three-cabin aircraft.

United Global First, United BusinessFirst
Beginning March 3 on long-haul international flights and many flights within Asia and the Pacific, first-class customers on three-cabin aircraft will experience United Global First, with a higher level of privacy and comfort, a flat-bed seat, priority airport services and more-personal attention.

On most of United's three-cabin aircraft, United Global First suites offer flat-bed seats, laptop power, USB ports, individual audio and video on demand with noise-reduction headsets, additional storage compartments and a multi-course meal with complimentary wines.

Beginning in the second quarter, United will upgrade the long-haul first-class experience with new amenities, including:

• More-comfortable bedding amenities.
• Additional in-flight food choices.
• New amenity kits featuring Philosophy-brand skin-care products.

United also will extend Continental's award-winning BusinessFirst product to United, offering an elevated business-class service with new amenities that include:

• An additional entree option, for a total of four, designed by United's Congress of Chefs. United is also changing the way it prepares business-class meals to improve the quality and taste.
• Expanded wine selections chosen by Doug Frost, Sommelier and Master of Wine.
• New ice cream sundae dessert option with a choice of six toppings.
• Improved in-flight entertainment including noise-reduction headsets.
• New amenity kits featuring Philosophy-brand skin-care products.
• Duvet-style blankets and higher-quality pillows and hot towels.

"The rebranded cabins offer premium-cabin customers the highest levels of service, every time they fly," said Mark Bergsrud, United's senior vice president of marketing. "We are keeping the products that our customers tell us they value the most as we continue to build the world's leading airline."

United First, United Business
For customers flying United in North America, between North America and Central America, between North America and northern South America, and on some flights within Asia and the Pacific islands, the airline will continue to offer United First and United Business premium-cabin services.

On most flights, United has revamped its premium-cabin meal and snack choices to offer customers their favorites among options previously available only on United flights or Continental flights, including:

• Warmed, all-natural scones and cookies, made from scratch exclusively for United.
• Warmed cinnamon rolls on breakfast flights.
• Pasta salads as a light snack.
• Premium snacks including all-natural pop chips, Emerald nuts, Clif organic energy bars, Toblerone Swiss milk chocolate and fresh fruit.
• Warmed nuts offered in a small china bowl on all lunch and dinner services.
• Ice cream sundaes offered with a choice of six toppings, available on many transcontinental lunch and dinner services.

On United Express flights longer than two hours, customers seated in the premium cabin may enjoy complimentary snackboxes.

The rebranding and expanded menu options come as United continues with plans to invest more than $550 million to upgrade aircraft interiors. The airline has installed Economy Plus seating on dozens of Continental aircraft. When fully deployed, United will offer customers more extra-legroom economy-class seats than any other airline in the world.

United continues to upgrade its widebody fleet with new premium cabins, with more than 130 aircraft outfitted with flat-bed seats. Once completed in early 2013, United will offer more premium-cabin flat-bed seats than any other airline.

Beginning later in 2012, customers will see additional improvements, including larger overhead bins on Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft – increasing the available carry-on storage space by approximately two-thirds – and satellite-enabled inflight internet service. United is also introducing on-demand entertainment on its popular transcontinental p.s. service, along with an expanded premium-cabin service with flat-bed seats.

About United Continental Holdings, Inc.
United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) is the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Together with United Express, Continental Express and Continental Connection, these airlines operate an average of 5,656 flights a day to 376 airports on six continents from their hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark Liberty, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. United and Continental are members of Star Alliance, which offers more than 21,000 daily flights to 1,290 airports in 189 countries. United and Continental's more than 80,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. For more information about United Continental Holdings, Inc., go to UnitedContinentalHoldings.com. For more information about the airlines, see united.com and continental.com or follow United on Twitter and Facebook.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. Worldwide Media Relations, +1-312-997-8640, [email protected]