Last edit by: Bitterroot
Updates to Wiki as of 20 January 2014
Planned changes in aircraft by date and route:
SFO -- SYD: first 772 departs SFO 27 March; turns to 840 at SYD on 29 March
LAX -- SYD: first 772 departs LAX 29 March; turn off 840-29th.
NRT -- ORD: First 744 departs NRT 27 March (aircraft turn at ORD to PVG and FRA in succession the day following arrival from NRT)
ORD -- NRT: First 744 departs ORD 31 March
ORD -- PVG: First 744 departs ORD 28 March
PVG -- ORD: First 744 departs PVG 29 March
ORD -- FRA: First 744 departs ORD 29 March
FRA -- ORD: First 744 departs FRA 30 March
NRT -- SFO: 852 to operate with 772 27 March through 31 March inclusive (772 coming out of rotation)
Or, you can just go look at the good work here (note that info posted above differs from AIRLINEROUTE info dated 4 January 2014 and before):
http://airlineroute.net/2013/08/17/ua-s14update1/
Or, straight to the source if you want to do your own research:
http://www.oag.com/Global
Planned changes in aircraft by date and route:
SFO -- SYD: first 772 departs SFO 27 March; turns to 840 at SYD on 29 March
LAX -- SYD: first 772 departs LAX 29 March; turn off 840-29th.
NRT -- ORD: First 744 departs NRT 27 March (aircraft turn at ORD to PVG and FRA in succession the day following arrival from NRT)
ORD -- NRT: First 744 departs ORD 31 March
ORD -- PVG: First 744 departs ORD 28 March
PVG -- ORD: First 744 departs PVG 29 March
ORD -- FRA: First 744 departs ORD 29 March
FRA -- ORD: First 744 departs FRA 30 March
NRT -- SFO: 852 to operate with 772 27 March through 31 March inclusive (772 coming out of rotation)
Or, you can just go look at the good work here (note that info posted above differs from AIRLINEROUTE info dated 4 January 2014 and before):
http://airlineroute.net/2013/08/17/ua-s14update1/
Or, straight to the source if you want to do your own research:
http://www.oag.com/Global
[Confirmed] SYD going UA 3 Cabin 777 in 2014 [and other 747 route changes]
#151
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,961
Then that would be an answer to my question. I asked why GPUs to upgrade to C aren't a benefit to him. He said it's because he doesn't need to upgrade since he can afford to just pay for C. That seems like a dumb answer. If the answer is that he's always flying on very short notice and on fixed dates and can't get upgrades, that's a different answer.
#152
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
Then that would be an answer to my question. I asked why GPUs to upgrade to C aren't a benefit to him. He said it's because he doesn't need to upgrade since he can afford to just pay for C. That seems like a dumb answer. If the answer is that he's always flying on very short notice and on fixed dates and can't get upgrades, that's a different answer.
I *could* ride the bus to work, and I *could* get tax benefits for doing so as a result of programs that my company offers. However, I will not ride the bus for a variety of reasons, and thus will not receive the tax benefits, so those programs that my employer offers are of no direct value to me. They may have value to others, but not to me.
I similarly see no direct value from the breastfeeding room that we have in our building. Very important to some, not to me.
Greg
Edited to note that employer programs are of no *direct* value to me - they have recruiting and retention value which do benefit me, so it's not a strictly analogous example, because the OP doesn't benefit if others upgrade.
#153
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,961
That doesn't answer the question because the question is about booking guaranteed upgrades.
#154
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,376
Now I realize that competition on that route has from QF/UA to include DL/VX. But calling the one-time most profitable route in the entire network a leisure route sounds crazy.
#155
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YVR SFO
Programs: UA G
Posts: 4,866
Long story short, the SYD route has horrific on-time and reliability metrics. I, for one, welcome the PMCO 772's on this route.
#156
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 638
Instead of all the bickering about upgrades, I would be interested in a discussion about whether this scheme:
777 SFO-SYD
777 LAX-SYD
787 LAX-MEL
could possibly be more profitable in the long run than the current scheme:
747 SFO-SYD
747 LAX-SYD-MEL
Or would it really be more profitable to just cut capacity and fly two 777s and nothing else?
777 SFO-SYD
777 LAX-SYD
787 LAX-MEL
could possibly be more profitable in the long run than the current scheme:
747 SFO-SYD
747 LAX-SYD-MEL
Or would it really be more profitable to just cut capacity and fly two 777s and nothing else?
#157
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,961
The MEL flight makes sense to me, although it should depart from SFO.
Also, some days are clearly more popular than others, would it be viable to fly one flight on some days and two flights on other days?
Also, some days are clearly more popular than others, would it be viable to fly one flight on some days and two flights on other days?
#158
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,123
Quote:
Originally Posted by LordTentacle
Not all of us have such the "horrid" time
The vast majority of us never have an issue and thus never post
Rule 1 of FT: don't let facts stand in the way of a good rant. On-time stats straight from EF:
Long story short, the SYD route has horrific on-time and reliability metrics. I, for one, welcome the PMCO 772's on this route.
Originally Posted by LordTentacle
Not all of us have such the "horrid" time
The vast majority of us never have an issue and thus never post
Rule 1 of FT: don't let facts stand in the way of a good rant. On-time stats straight from EF:
Long story short, the SYD route has horrific on-time and reliability metrics. I, for one, welcome the PMCO 772's on this route.
Also, let us take a gander at some 787 records...
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike...
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,339
Me t
#160
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,123
The same ones that said HKG-SIN-HKG is 737 worthy? Or "smarter" ones.
#161
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: GEG
Programs: UAL 1K/1MM, Go Zags!
Posts: 404
I fly SFO-SYD 2X per year, for the last 8 years, all on business.
I've GPU'd to C about 95% of the time, in all seasons.^^^
While I prefer the upstairs C on the 744, I have to agree with previous posts that the reliability of those old birds has really deteriorated. I've been delayed numerous times as well as spent nights in both SYD and SFO for flights that have gone mechanical, not to mention wall panels falling off in the head, overhead air vents popping out of the panel, etc. etc.
I hate to see the upstairs go away but if it means a more reliable plane, I'll take it.
I've GPU'd to C about 95% of the time, in all seasons.^^^
While I prefer the upstairs C on the 744, I have to agree with previous posts that the reliability of those old birds has really deteriorated. I've been delayed numerous times as well as spent nights in both SYD and SFO for flights that have gone mechanical, not to mention wall panels falling off in the head, overhead air vents popping out of the panel, etc. etc.
I hate to see the upstairs go away but if it means a more reliable plane, I'll take it.
#163
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Zurich
Programs: UA 1k, BA silver, HH D
Posts: 220
Happy I'm starting a phase out. BA and OW are pretty nice now. If I can't get to oz on swus in paid w, no need to be UA flyer for me. Time will tell... 8 swus to urn until 2015, so maybe things will still pan out for UA.
#165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike...
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,339