escapefromphl

I have a flight booked IAH-SCL middish Dec. I still see "Subject to receipt of government operating authority". I know it's still 6+ weeks away, but do they have the receipt and the website just hasn't been updated?

drvannostren

This is just good business though. These routes don't just get cancelled for the sake of cancelling them. Being usually an AC flyer, there's been more than a few of these as well. New routes are being started at a good clip because business is good right now but it's just a matter of time before it becomes evident there aren't 300 pax needing to go YYZ-CPH daily. Or 150 MORE pax needing to go YYZ-PTY when Copa is already there and usually cheaper.

The demand will determine the success which isn't a new concept or anything, but gone are the days that airlines can fly what I would call "random" routes, like Canadian Airlines flying direct to Prague.

Sure someone ALWAYS gets offended and feels put out when these get cancelled, but for the few regulars that exist the empty seats don't justify it.

mlibers

Hello I heard last night on Ua 818 that service will begin IAH - SCL on 763

JOSECONLSCREW28

Yup it was announced a while back. There's a thread somewhere around here with the info.

sbm12

I'm at the gate now for the SCL inaugural. No celebration happening at all; just another regular day of flying. Well, except the part where they don't have the flight listed on any departure boards at IAH.

Air Houston

Enjoy your trip. I look forward to reading more about it soon.

RNE

From the picture you tweeted, looks like SCL was appropriately celebratory at least.

sbm12

Yup...we got a water canon salute in SCL. And the crew was talking up the inaugural part a bit as well. But it seems that corporate HQ decided not to make as big a deal about the actual flight. I know there was a celebration in Houston last week for the route but otherwise very tame.

Kacee

Hedging bets in case it doesn't work out. Like IAH-NRT #2 . . . .

kirkwoodj

Lame. How about some marketing! I and several others are excited about this flight, as we've spent time in Chile and have friends & colleagues there!

RNE

It's the departure time of the return flight I can't hack.

AndyPatterson

Interesting that UA is joining DL and AA in flying to Santiago de Chile, although my preference remains DL for its front-of-the-cabin seating. In contrast, the UA 767-300 is only good in the window seats in Row 1 (a few inches more leg room, and quieter than the aisle seats).

But, UA does not have any sort of departures lounge or affiliate in SCL, unlike DL and AA, both of which have lounges with showers in SCL -- great before such a long overnight flight. Any chance UA will come up with anything comparable? Maybe the UA website hasn't been updated yet.

sbm12

UA uses the DL lounge in SCL.

I was on the inaugural IAH-SCL. It was just fine.

mahasamatman

It's been available for several months now.

sbm12

Not really. The first UA IAH-SCL flight was on 7 December, just 3 weeks ago.