787fan

Based on the flight number sequence sounds like PMUA 3-class with GF

JOSECONLSCREW28

sUA 3-cabin 777.

johnathome

Depending on the time of year, flights between the US and PEK/PVG are getting harder and harder to book in J class. I've done EWR, ORD and SFO to PVG so another flight will help.

travelinmanS

Wow, would be tempting to switch back to UA from CX with the timing of that 9pm departure and nonstop to SFO. Unfortunately they stink so bad that the timing and convenience can't overcome the stinkiness that is today's UA. I'll stick with CX.

TWA Guy

Today the DOT approved the second daily flight to start around May 6, 2015 on a seasonal basis. Has to start by May 16, 2015 or UA loses the designation.

787fan

what do you mean seasonal basis ? it's summer-only, or UA has to re-apply for the authority for each summer and winter season ?

exerda

I'm assuming it's the same as any other seasonal route, meaning that UA will only run the 2nd flight for part of the year.

JDS747

And SFO/ORD-PVG/PEK are both 747s now! Although I anticipate ORD-PEK will go back to a 777 during the summer and they'll move the 747 back to ORD-FRA.

The way I read the application was that UA requested the ability to operate it on a season basis so they had "the flexibility to tailor service levels during periods of reduced demand."

The application didn't read that they would operate it on a seasonal basis just that they wanted the flexibility. I didn't see the approval yet so maybe they were only approved to operate it seasonally.

Edit to add... Just read the approval and they were approved per their application of 7 weekly frequencies indefinitely with the ability to operate the route seasonally if they choose to. If the frequency isn't used for a period of 90 days (other than seasonal use) once started the allocation will expire.

deltaflyer08

United will be launching a second daily flight from SFO to PVG starting May 6, 2015 with the schedules for both the current flight and new flight below:

UA 857(Current Flight): Departs SFO at 1:25pm-Arrives at PVG at 5:25pm the following day

UA 858(Current): Departs PVG at 12:05pm-Arrives at SFO at 8:25am

UA 891(New, effective 5/6): Departs SFO at 2:40pm- Arrives at PVG at 7:00pm

UA 890(New): Departs PVG at 9:00pm- Arrives at SFO at 5:40pm

The 2nd daily flight will be using a 777 instead of a 747.

cesco.g

Glad to learn this city pair does well. Could be seasonal, e.g. thru fall.
This reminds, when pmUA had two daily SFO-HKG runs.

FWAAA

Discussed last month when UA applied and the DOT approved:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...o-pvg-2-a.html

Search tip: Flyertalk search for 3-character terms works if you put them in quotes, so "PVG" and "SFO" searched in titles only, returned the link above.

787fan

UA will once again have same number of PVG flights to mainland US as DL+AA combined, continuing to prove that their TPAC strategy works great when you can serve PVG from the 4 largest cities of PVG demand (SF LA NY CHI) and not be running away from foreign competition

sincx

I wonder why the two departure times are so close. Couldn't UA either move the existing flight earlier (10 AM or so) or push the second flight later (4 PM possibly?) to provide more options to travelers?

Nicholas

I suppose it's because of domestic U.S. connections.

RockinPete

This. Is. Awesome.

This gives me a full business day in Shanghai and I can fly back to SFO.

Currently I either have to fly to LAX (UA199 leaves PVG at 8:25 PM) and clear customs in LAX or stay an extra day and take the morning flight to SFO.

This is excellent news for me! I just need a 2nd (evening) flight from HKG now.