File:United 2 at Newark - N772UA (5677836077).jpg

There were some interesting developments at United Airlines in 1995. It not only became the first airline in the world to fly the Boeing 777, but also launched an Around-the-World Service, with United 2 flying east from Los Angeles to Newark, and onto London, New Delhi, and Hong Kong before returning to Los Angeles, and United 1 flying the same route westbound.

March 1996 was my sophomore year in college, and I wanted to spend my spring break in London. This would be my first Atlantic crossing. I made sure to have that trip booked on United out of Newark, to ensure that I would get to fly the Boeing 777. And here it is. The 777 did not disappoint at all, between a curvaceous interior with large storage bins and a (rather primitive, but state-of-the-art for the time) personal entertainment system. This trip is one reason why United Airlines and Boeing 777 are my favorite airline and my favorite aircraft type, respectively.

The EWR-LHR route on United was the only New York area 777 service at the time. United used 767s for London services from New York Kennedy. United's other London runs in early 1996 used 777s from Washington-Dulles and 747 classics from California, with Chicago being added soon thereafter. The continuation of the Around-the-World, from London to New Delhi and Hong Kong, used the 767.

After the bankruptcy of 2002, United would eventually abandon all international routes from Newark and New York. However, the 2010 Continental merger has put United back in the EWR-LHR market, as Newark is a Continental hub. Flights 1 and 2 were re-assigned to Chicago-Honolulu route, then upon the Continental merger, all United flight numbers below 200 were assigned to Continental flights.

This particular example was the fifth 777 off the assembly line, and first flew on 19 November 1994 as part of the Boeing 777 certification program. It joined the United fleet on 29 September 1995. It would bring me back to Newark a week later. The aircraft remains in United service - repainted to the 2004 Blue Tulip livery shortly after its introduction, and repainted again into the Disco Ball livery in 2012.

"Not only is the Triple Seven new to United, it is new to the world. We hope you'll like it as much as we do."

N772UA, "Mary Beth Loesch - Customer" Boeing 777-222 Construction Number: 26930 Line Number: 5 First Flight: 19 November 1994