United Airlines has unveiled a new Star Wars themed safety video. The video is expected to be on flights soon (if it isn’t already) and is obviously part of Disney’s ongoing promotion for The Rise of Skywalker, which debuts December 20, 2019 (but actually December 19 because that’s how movies do things).
Themed safety videos are a small bit of controversy in the aviation world. The trade-off is obvious—distracting and weird safety videos might not be the best way to convey information, but no one likes watching boring old videos.
Unrelated, this takes me back to the good ol’ days when the Muppets did the introductory “turn off your cell phone” video for AMC theaters. I loved that video, and I don’t think I’ve ever gone to as many movies as when the Muppets introduced them.
United also has a new livery themed to Star Wars. The 737-800 with tail number N36272 is also branded with The Rise of Skywalker insignia.
This plane used to fly a variety of routes, with Washington Dulles being its primary hub in the past few weeks. However, United can put the plane on any number of routes.
These sorts of partnerships are fun, but you can’t really plan to get on this plane. On long-haul flights, where planes often fly a route roundtrip, it’s easier. But a domestic 737-800 can pretty much go wherever its needed at the time.
I’m hopeful that they’ll decide on the obvious pairing—Orlando, because Disney World, and Chicago, because it’s their main hub. That would be great for me, as I fly a lot between Chicago and Orlando.
Other Notes About About United
While I generally have a “best price” policy, United is actually my least favorite airline to fly. Their basic economy baggage restrictions are among the worse (size wise) of all airlines.
To add insult to injury, customers who book basic economy and don’t purchase a bag cannot check-in online. Instead, they have to check-in at the airport. In a world where I can breeze through security with CLEAR and TSA PreCheck, adding airport check-in is a needling inconvenience for me.
You can avoid this requirement by booking your flight on a Chase United Explorer card, which comes with a free checked bag. But even as a cardholder, I sometimes forget to do this.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And at 180 days out it's time to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World FastPass+ strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom FastPass, Epcot FastPass, Animal Kingdom FastPass, and Hollywood Studios FastPass.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.