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]
#62
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
The actual in air time looks to be roughly 14hrs and 25 min. This is a few hours shorter than EWR-HKG. I can't imagine too much of a payload restriction.
#64
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,425
I'm not sure this is the case. First of all, it's a common misconception that UA does not haul cargo on its 777s to HKG, BOM, PVG, etc. Quite often, these flights go out right at MGTOW with pax, bags, freight and fuel. Weight restrictions come into play when weather conditions and/or winds aloft cause problems, but under normal conditions these flights can carry a healthy freight load. Second, the 772 actually has a larger freight volume than the 744, owing to the shape of the fuselage. Finally, the 744 has a lower CASM than the 772, and can still be a big moneymaker, but this is only if you can fill a substantial portion of those 374 seats with a reasonable mix of traffic. By subbing in the 772 (if it happens), UA is attempting to 'fire' the lowest-yield Y traffic by reducing the number of economy class seats by over 100 while making a smaller cut to premium capacity. In a competitive market (see SEA-NRT, LAX-NRT, LAX-PVG) with a lot of downward fare pressure, this strategy makes sense, as the alternative - a capacity dump a la SFO/LAX-EWR - is not feasible nor advisable.
#65
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Orygun
Posts: 459
I will certainly give you that. The question is though can the 777 – 200 ER offer as much freight lift as the 747 – 400?
#66
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
I think it's cool that everyone has their own preferences. While I hear that some of you prefer the UA J seat so much that you'd take 2-4-2 over 2-2-2, I'd take the Continental plane very single day of the week over the UA plane.
#67
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: United Premier 1K, Hyatt Platinum, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, SPG Gold
Posts: 70
Something tells me United knows more about the economics of the route than some people on FlyerTalk, but hey, that's just me.
#68
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Orygun
Posts: 459
I'm not sure this is the case. First of all, it's a common misconception that UA does not haul cargo on its 777s to HKG, BOM, PVG, etc. Quite often, these flights go out right at MGTOW with pax, bags, freight and fuel. Weight restrictions come into play when weather conditions and/or winds aloft cause problems, but under normal conditions these flights can carry a healthy freight load. Second, the 772 actually has a larger freight volume than the 744, owing to the shape of the fuselage. Finally, the 744 has a lower CASM than the 772, and can still be a big moneymaker, but this is only if you can fill a substantial portion of those 374 seats with a reasonable mix of traffic. By subbing in the 772 (if it happens), UA is attempting to 'fire' the lowest-yield Y traffic by reducing the number of economy class seats by over 100 while making a smaller cut to premium capacity. In a competitive market (see SEA-NRT, LAX-NRT, LAX-PVG) with a lot of downward fare pressure, this strategy makes sense, as the alternative - a capacity dump a la SFO/LAX-EWR - is not feasible nor advisable.
#69
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
I doubt it, but it may get there for a lower costs with a more appropriate amount of passengers. I'd need to look up what the freight lift is for UA on these routes. I'm not sure if that's a huge business for them on that route
#70
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MEL
Programs: VAG
Posts: 1,865
And it's not like fares are low, either. You'll pay a lot more to fly SFO-SYD than the comparable-length SFO-FRA or the even longer SFO-SIN.
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,558
#72
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
I talk to the pilots on every trip I take (747 captains are generaly the only ones that know a family memeber also with UA) and always ask about cargo loads and how they relate to MTOW
on the SYD fights they are always at rated MTOW with as much cargo as they can hold
#73
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
#75
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,961
OK, got it. But Premium Economy SFO-SYD on NZ is pricing out around $3400 even months out. Seems pretty steep for not that much better a seat. Upgrading to C on UA nonstop seems like a better deal, at least if you have UA status.