Originally Posted by
HeadInTheClouds (Post # 312)
Also worth noting that even before the LAX-MEL nonstop was launched, UA ran a tag on LAX-SYD-MEL for as far back as my UA flying experience goes. UA has a good long history at MEL. Heck, it even had a true Red Carpet Club there back in the day.
In 1986 the route was SFO-LAX-SYD-MEL aboard a B-747 (sometimes making a fuel stop in AKL).
The SFO-LAX portion left from the International Terminal and wasn't sold as a stand-alone flight, so it was known as the "Nonrev Special". With so many senior UA employees at SFO, junior employees would have much better chances standing by for flights out of LAX. As a UA Reservation Sales Representative, several times I flew to Honolulu for the day, SFO-LAX-HNL-SFO, returning on the red-eye. I would bring my law books to study on the beach and plane.