End of an Era. -- United Airlines (1080p)

In 1974, Saul Bass designed one of the most iconic logos in aviation history, The United Airlines Sweep.
Saul Bass' Sweep,(or "Tulip") was a testament to United courage and class and was timeless as it was elegant. Worldwide recognized, it propelled United through the best and worst of times.
Sadly, and most unfortunately, the logo was discarded in 2010 as a result of the merger between Continental Airlines and United. But the Sweep did not go down without a fight! Thousands of people protested, and even after the final decision was made, still continue to protest its removal till this very day.
This is to remember the great memories of a great airline and its brand that carried us to far away places.
-Long Live the Sweep, Long Live United.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

RIP united tulip.

[@justme-ll1qz]

People don't understand unless you actually worked for the old United...that tulip signified people who put their lives into working for that company. I remember flying into Ohare for training in the late 80's and seeing plane after plane sporting the tulip..made me so f'in proud to be apart of it.

[@kevinonthank]

I miss the tulip and the good customer service they had. Same with AA

[@marcchavez6658]

Pretty much every airline from the 80s ...70s 60s 50s 40s 30s... 1926

[@justme-ll1qz]

Footnote .. after close to 30 years working for United .. my station was outsourced in 2014.. all 100 of us were let go.. some with 40 years of service .. the loss of the tulip was just the beginning

[@justme-ll1qz]

Doug Mammaro It does, still bugs me

[@kyle4246]

Yea my dad worked for united when they had the tullip

[@PlanesAndGames732]

R.I.P. United Saul Bass Tulip 1974-2010 Gone but Never Forgotten

[@davidconlin32]

they need to bring back the sweep

[@davidconlin32]

i agree I hate the continental globe united should stuck with the rising blue before they merged

[@marcchavez6658]

Corporate logos change...then like stylles...old stuff comes back...maybe one day the shield will be back

[@manecascris3897]

One of the most beautiful and charismatic liveries ever!

[@kalahiki808]

i remember traveling as a kid many times a year on United air planes with the Tulip. i will miss it and i don't think i could fly them again until that beloved icon returns

[@PlacePlacington]

Am I really about to cry over the loss of an airline logo? Yes, yes I am. Even with all the blandenization that Smisek has forced on United, (this includes a far less inventive ad campaign among other things) somewhere, some place, a Sweep/Tulip soars the friendly skies. Long live United.

[@as97ir]

oh my god , this made me almost cry :'(

[@eaglescoutsxx]

LONG LIVE THE TULIP!

[@Capn2Mike]

Thanks you for this tribute - very well done ~ I flew for United Air Lines in what I consider the last of the "Golden Era" of United - and the airline business in general - 1964-1999. DC-6's to 747's. An airline with the finest in maintenance, training, and personnel - and advertising, I might add. To have worked for Pat Patterson, and flown with many fine pilots and stewardess’ was my good fortune. Wishing the best to those taking a great airline into the future ~

[@lreinert1]

This is so sad! Worked for United for 27 years! It truly is the end of a legacy carrier!!

[@yenzelllopez-sjucoquispott2468]

Wow, the Tulip, Battleship Grey, and Sweep will always be unique

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

This song makes me want to cry.

[@johnzimmerman3021]

Irish tin flute.

[@Jeffhew812]

I worked for them for 20 years, through 2005. Must have tried to merge with Continental three or four times in that twenty years. Truly a sad day in the history of US aviation. Goodbye my old friend!!

[@jimryan5280]

I miss that iconic "U." It symbolized a legacy carrier that was the epitome of the "friendly skies." They could (and should) incorporate it into a bold new color scheme and livery. I remember that great jingle in the 80's "You're not just flying, you're flying the friendly skies." Not anymore.

[@tpemmua]

As an employee who has been with United Airlines since 1988, when I saw this video, I was so sad that I wanted to cry!

[@PixarFan8080]

RIP the united tulip. we will never forget you.

[@cancelanime1507]

I liked how you added in the Adama bsg theme.. It really fits really well

[@MyleneJ]

United has been a Major player in my life for my entire life. My mother a now Retired 40 year flight attendant, myself a second generation employee, and extremely proud of it. The Saul Bass Tulip is probably the most recognizable logo in Aviation history and will continue to be so as a piece of history. And while this is the end of an era, United is marching proudly into the future. And will continue to be a World Class Airline as it does so. Thanks to ALL of its employees, new and old alike.

[@jamest2401]

I still wear my 'United Logo' “Save the Tulip” long sleeve t-shirt.

[@johnb300m]

surprisingly well done. props for the graphic effect to change what could've been just a bunch of photo clips into an interesting art form.

[@justme-ll1qz]

I remember the day I walked into work and hanging on the news board was the news that united had chosen the shares system...I thought, yup, we are indeed fucked

[@shaneledbetter4210]

just me I vividly remember PSS Day 1. Our first ORD kickoff was cancelled for maintenance, and the DEN kickoff was 2 hours late for crew rest. None of us really knew what the f we were doing, and the old CO staff was less than helpful. Nothing worked right in Shares, entries weren’t working right, Helpdesk was a 1hr wait. Finally after everything was gone and handled that morning, we all sat in ops in total silence. One senior agent who had worked in Apollo even cried. Should have NEVER dumped FastAir/Apollo

[@CorneiliusLibowitz]

And don't forget SCEPTRE.............

[@dc10fomin65]

PanAm and VARIG Compass logos were really classy, I miss them as I flew them for decades between MIA and GIG/GRU!

[@dregreene2824]

I still can't understand why they went with the Continental livery and corporate image. It is like Nike merging with Puma and deciding to go with the Puma logo etc. that logo was known throughtout the world and whenever I think of United I think of that Saul Bass designed U logo. The continental livery with the United name is in my opinion a total mismatch.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

I first saw the tulip in one of United's retired planes the Douglas corporation 10. And I thought,"this is their old livery, it looks great"! I wish united would get rid of their globe and bring back the tulip.

[@marcchavez6658]

My dad and his cohorts prefered the old Red and Blue stripe and never understood the "tulip'

[@southwest737pilot]

GOD I LOVE THE TULIP LOGO and i have a ton of things with the tulip CUPS, NAPKINS, BOARDING PASSES, ADS, POSTERS EVERYTHING I WANT TO MAKE A cabin with the old tulip logo

[@UnitedUAL]

A truly beautiful video. Thank you for the moving piece.

[@johnoconnor6356]

When I first saw the title of this video, I was a little nervous. I thought that it meant that United Airlines was going out of business. But it only means that the tulip logo is now being phased out. It has been nearly 50 years since it's debut, and phased out the Red, White & Blue 4 Star logo. United Airlines is now one of only three major US airlines left, the other two are American and Delta. Eastern Airlines went belly up, and closed shop in the early 1990's. TWA and US Airways were bought out by American, Northwest Orient was bought out by Delta, and Continental was bought out by United.

[@cameronjournal]

I never understood the change. From a branding perspective, they sacrificed billions of dollars in brand recognition to make the change. It is one of the most iconic and recognizable symbols in the US market and around the world. Never made sense to me from a marketing perspective but it probably had to do with the negotiations in the merger and continental wanting more co-branding so the continental logo wouldn't just die out and the company would continue to let the continental legacy live on.

[@727100bear]

ironically, Saul Bass also designed the beautiful Golden Jet color and contrails logo "competition stripes" gold, red and orange colors for Continental Airlines and Air Micronesia in 1968. Continental Airlines was a fierce competitor with United at Denver Stapleton for decades, offering the very best service and the only Pub in the sky aboard its DC-10s. Unfortunately, the United name survived the 2010 merger (thanks to the bungling of Glenn Tilton) and chaos has ensued since.

[@justme-ll1qz]

727100bear I remember, United had a internal program to drive Continental out of Stapleton . Take any ticket from CO They weren’t that fierce , UA drive them out Think the acronym was CACTUS We won

[@glennturnerAug24]

there is little left of United Airlines as its now another airline with the name. within the company the tulip U was a special part that was part of the company"s history. its made me feel at home. only one other logo gave me that special feeling. Pan Am Blue Globe. the new logo is ok and fits with an international airline but lacks that special feeling of that airline that took me places from the time I was a little boy. that airline that I dreamed as a boy that took me all sorts of places.

[@RandyBoeingFan]

LONG LIVE THE TULIP!!

[@mat6916]

wow, i feel tears on my face

[@TheCheezhead15]

So long old friend

[@MyleneJ]

@iFly747400UAL Now, as for United. I work for UA and my Mother was a UA Flight Attendant for Nearly 40 years prior to retiring in '03. So United has been in my life, and in my blood since day one. I have loved all of UA's Liveries that I've seen throughout my life, and this one is a new chapter in the life of a Great Airline, and it's our job as employees to keep it great. United is more than Paint, United was great before the Tulip, and we'll keep it great Long after it's gone.

[@varigdc10]

I am an old traditionalist, my favorite airline colors were of my own now deceased VARIG with the original classic livery of the 70's and 80's with the compass logo on the tail. Same with UNITED, I miss the old original colors, with the inscription "Friendship" on the side below the cockpit. And, the DC-10..........................

[@LouisTsung]

標題下的好！ Real United are gone, now are Continental's United!

[@itsakoni8059]

Long live the "U Tulip"

[@cubsrule2040]

Either United should've kept the rising blue livery (just like Delta keeping its 2007 livery and Southwest retaining its 2001 canyon blue livery after merging with Northwest and Air Tran respectively) or come up with a new logo and livery from scratch, like American Airlines did in January.

[@ifly2pdx]

+1 , although in the end it was good that they retired the tulip since they are ruining the airline (not the same UA we know)

[@YichuanCao]

The blue and white tulip is my favorite colors and livery.

[@mcastillo830]

In the present years united airlines has return hooray united

[@songwutkochaphum4385]

I like to dedicated this video from KZbin to all my friend who I spend 30+yrs with at SFO up until the time of my early retirement enjoy the nice presentation of this and hope it will bring back some good memory from past......>>>>>>

[@FriendlySkies1K]

Sorry, but the majority of your post is inaccurate. If you look at the policies of the combined carrier, the majority are from CO, not UA. As of now, very few things of the true UA are still around. We got the name, and CO got much, much more. If I had to give it a percentage, I'd say 85% is the old CO, while only 15% is the *TRUE* United Air Lines.

[@crackaddict444]

It's not called the sweep. It's called the "U" or the "Tulip", which is a name that originated with employees. "Sweep" was the form of the Tulip that was up close and cropped, like on the tails of the newest livery and on terminal signs. You should change your description.

[@crackaddict444]

@MyleneJ No, it was designed as a modernized version of the previous shield logo United had used before the Tulip, and United has never referred to it as a "W", it's always been a "U" and I have the Chicago Tribune article from September 1974 that showcased the new livery and new logo. The Tulip moniker came from employees and aviation nerds, but United has only referred to it as the "U" or the "United symbol".

[@crackaddict444]

@jfbenzl AA's logo is just 4 years older than UA's. And UA has historically been a larger airline. The Tulip and the "AA" symbol are both well known. Far more than the clip art garbage of CO.

[@crackaddict444]

@MyleneJ More like it's a continuation of Continental. United is Continental with "United" slapped over it. And many employees feel that way too.

[@afiwubh4go9aiosugb]

Yup the good days are over i still remember when 732's in grey color and some 727's fly over when ever i went to the airport for plane spotting i was like 8 or 9 years old the planes still had the grey livery you see alot of 732's just parked at the gate alot of noise i really wish today was still those days.

[@ual777222]

@skywagon5 You do realize Legacy United was making more money than Continental in the 3 quarters leading up to the merger right? Oh of course not, that would require using facts.

[@secretagentnewt]

i loved united and i loved continental. both were amazing airlines, and them merged now is just not the same. it is technically continental since the majority reason they merged was because continental couldn't go bankrupt again or they would be shut down. united can go bankrupt 1 more time and that's really the reason they merged. great airlines, but it's a tough industry.

[@davidconlin32]

i even miss the Boeing 727-200's for united

[@davidconlin32]

The only way I enjoy 727-200 is on my fsx

[@marcchavez6658]

My dad worked narrow boday ORD-HN and always preferd we fly 727s over 737s and never ever on DC-10s. I agree though a 727 domestic with tourist class 5 across seating sucked but mostly when we flew on mexicana 4 across seating on International (First Class through the whole plane like the old days before the class system- huevos ranchersos and champaign! Acapulco to Chicago) I came to appreciate having the run of a whole plane as child of 12. As an adult I have flown on a few 737 six across and has sucked only thing worse is being ona an Airbus

[@CorneiliusLibowitz]

@@marcchavez6658 A taxiway now occupies the place where ORDHN once existed many, MANY moons ago....

[@iFly747400UAL]

Smisek is a horrible and terrible CEO, he really needs to step down and let someone handle the business better, the tulip was United Airline's most famous symbol and logo in aviation history and it deserves to prosper, Saul Bass was a wonderful artist but it is really sad to hear this, even he is sad to hear this.. Smisek needs to step down period.

[@christopherwidger5976]

I showed this video to a friend of mine who has flown every modern aircraft at united, starting at the 727, working his way up to the 747. He now flys the 777 and will soon apply to fly the 787. This video brought tears to his eyes.

[@luisspecialforce123]

THE BEST AIRPLANE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐😥😥😥😢😢😢❤❤❤❤

[@CanadianPacific1]

I still like the U sweep better than the Continental globe.

[@luisspecialforce123]

UNITED AIRLINES 😢😢😢⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤❤❤

[@ifly2pdx]

I really loved the current livery (last UA livery) shown at 3:00

[@asianwholikesplanes]

this makes me sad

[@tonyyero7231]

To me UNITED passed when the Tulip livery ceased :(

[@patricklenigan4309]

to be honest, I do not mind if United decided to take Continental Colors, but keep the bloody Tulip! a recolor and mix of the United Tulip and the continenta colors would look amazing! just my two thoughts

[@andrewmorris5428]

Nice video. I am a fan of the tulip. What program did you use to create this video?

[@JACKBLACK9100]

Dont worry, when jeffy $mi$uck leaves united sooner or later they will want that old livery back, the tulip and all. Just you wait. In the next decade or 2 there will be a major livery change at united, and people will want the tulip instead of the globe vecause the tulip matched better than the globe currently does. Just seeing one with new livery makes my want to gouge my eyes out with sewing needles.

[@tadekw9108]

2:41 is it just me or does that look like Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport where the plane is landing?

[@TenXiRecords]

McDonnell Douglas not McDonald***** :) great vid. Proper tag will bring more views.

[@Jl777100]

Its still United. Only thing missing is the Tulip and the old management (which dint do a good job in the last 10 years). CO is the brand that truly is gone besides the globe.

[@BR75069]

i think it's a real shame that United have adopted the continental globe, plus i think it does not represent united well as the tulip did, as the tulip is in the shape of the letter U. And as the tulip is in that shape, it is more recognisable.

[@southwest737pilot]

GOD I LOVEEEE THIS VIDEO

[@MyleneJ]

@iFly747400UAL @iFly747400UAL In her own words, Sure, there is a sting about it, but she worked through two different liveries before the tulip ever existed. So the way she explained to me is that while yes, it's very sad to see the tulip retired, But it's served a long and distinguished life as United's logo, and it could have been worse.. It could have been the Tulip on a -Continental- Jet which would be just Blasphemous. So be happy United is still at heart, UNITED.

[@frtguy80]

United was doing just fine without Continental, just remember Smisek begged United to merge with Continental. Otherwise United would have bought UsAirways

[@tronicon4]

frtguy80 but instead American bought US Airways

[@crackaddict444]

Jeff $mi$ek and his CO cronies disliked this 9 times

[@davidconlin32]

i miss the DC-10's too but i have them on my FSX as well i even have the DC-8-71 for United

[@fidobeer4667]

What does the logo symbolizes?

[@tsntana]

Wow, did Saul Bass piss off Continental or something? :)

[@LouisTsung]

On April 16, 2010, United resumed merger talks with Continental Airlines. Both carriers planned to begin merging operations in 2011 to form the world's biggest carrier. The new company still named United Airlines but use Continental Airlines logo. The original United Airlines was into history, new company fully controlled by Continental Airlines. So why this video called "End of an Era.".

[@ateltoni]

He means that is the end of the United Airlines sweep Logo thats why

[@williamtate1459]

actually continental recieved shares from ual after the merger. United continental holding owned and operated United airlines. yes the two airlines talked and they merged but continental was not the major player between the two, it was United airlines. there is a reason why the planes say United on it and not continental, I'm not taking from continental though they were a good airline. 😊

[@justinmartinez7351]

The new company is controlled by the original Continental, just keeping the United name

[@byebye006]

Don't worry... we'll wait a few years until Smisek leaves UA, then we'll try bring the Tulip back again...

[@TheYottaTube]

Comment nr, 100, Like nr, 140: Good Song, Good Show, Good ol' U Logo.

[@dhampex]

I admit,,, gonna miss that "Saul Bass design" tulip! It's iconic tho! Most liveries are very plain and dead looking but hey if they have to cut down on colors, they gotta do what they gotta do to survive. The whole is airline industry seams like its in a downward spiral!

[@jaysmith1408]

Brilliant, what is the accompaniment?

[@MyleneJ]

@iFly747400UAL First of, yes, Delta did change their livery they did it initially as a respectful nod to Northwest (the 'vanishing' carrier) In that all their aircraft had been repainted with a new tail with the "Delta" Logo pointing in the direction that North-West would be on a compass, however, Delta itself has been having massive internal problems employee wise merging its workforces mostly due to treatment of workers from what they call the "lesser" carrier (NWA).

[@delta-fx3nu]

What is the music? Great video!

[@Aflightsimblog]

The music is "Admiral and Commander" from the Battlestar Galactica Season 3 soundtrack.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Long live the Tulip. Customer service isn't the problem branding is the problem.

[@marcchavez6658]

Custiomer service isnt the problem its customers that are the problem

[@michaelmaxfield3744]

Is it the letter U for United Airlines' logo?

[@hopers2378]

Such a nice video but I hated to see the CR7 tail in there.

[@abh716]

this vido made me cuay

[@tpemmua]

😭😭😭😭😭

[@ataramprat]

I feel like I am watching a Ken Burns documentary! : - * /

[@MyleneJ]

@iFly747400UAL And, because I don't know how to shut up. I love the Tulip, And I am going to miss it greatly. But I remember a time when it was designed and first introduced, it was meant more to represent United's business merger/partnership with Weston Hotels. The now famous "UU"s were originally meant as a W in the form of U's to represent Weston, so just interesting to see something that originally had little to do with UA now being such a HUGE part in its history and legacy.

[@TheGoodpilot]

what was the song used in the video and yes LONG LIVE THE SWEEP! LONG LIVE UNITED!

[@PlacePlacington]

You also have to take into account all of the time and money they're putting into re-skinning the airplanes, which is usually very expensive. It would have been so much better and more cost-efficient for the company to keep the old logo, but Smisek just HAD to have his way. The worst thing in my opinion is how United has been pretty much deprived of its creative freedoms. It will be a long time, if ever, when the company goes back to using artistic vision like in the Sea Orchestra spot.

[@davidconlin32]

i agree the Continental Colors don't look good on United i remember when i went on my first plane trip is was to Disneyland in California my mother and I flew United to San fransisco then to Orange County John Wayne Airport on a B737-300 United 1980's livery then on the way back i think we did the same 737-300 then in san fransisco we changed to a United Boeing 727 i was 12yrs going on 13yrs old then united came out with that battleship gray i didnt care for that color they should of kept the rising blue On my FSX (flight Simulator X) i have the 1980's livery the 1990's livery, the rising blue and the Continental colors so i have 4 generations of of United Airlines.

[@vivekpilot]

Which is the music?.

[@UnitedAirlines4Life]

vivek pilot it’s a cut up version of Admiral and Commander and I think another piece from the modern Battlestar Galactica series.

[@robertweinberg1993]

United's planes were outdated and couldn't really compare with Continental's planes. Now United has newer planes with the 787 and A350 coming soon. However; I prefer the sweep over the globe.

[@tonyde52]

Thank you; I TOTALLY agree: VERY UGLY. It doesn't even FEEL llike UNITED!

[@Fuzzxxxcore]

The last 0:20 was the best.

[@MyleneJ]

@crackaddict444 Okay, First off, I do have to ask Do you work for UA and if so What Station (You're free to reply to that privately) I mean nothing malicious in the question what so ever, just personally curious. Second, As I have said countless times I will miss the "Tulip" or "UUs" As much as or more than most. But i will say this. United's Employees CSR to CSR outnumber CO's 2 to 1 and as long as WE stay strong United will STAY United, even with Crappy Paint. also GO IAM!

[@caltrain910]

Update: United introduced a new color scheme recently.

[@lucascalma605]

Yeah and it's even worse than the first globe livery

[@paulperaino8594]

yes it is true, it is just greed, we at ual do not want continental they should just depart and be separate airlines

[@francomanuel98]

we all have our own opinion :)

[@eddieespinoza827]

Windicator the memory of livery United airlines and same as American airlines flight 11 and flight 175 United airlines and American airlines flight 77 and United airlines flight 93 4 phone been hijacked and rest in peace to all passengers And crews on flights 11 175 77 93 and rest in peace 4 planes were destroyed

[@ual835]

How I miss the Battleship Grey livery....

[@UnitedAirlines4Life]

Alan Xie me too!