Originally Posted by Duke787

Had my first experience with KE last week.

ICN - BKK on the 773 (not ER) -- which would've been the case even before this change
SIN - ICN on the 773ER -- due to elimination of SIN - NRT flight

Was very pleasantly surprised.

ICN - BKK: The 773 was definitely on the old side but had IFE and the seat was comfy for the 5 hour flights despite the plane being mostly full. Food was disgusting (thought I was playing it safe with beef and noodles but even the noodles were disgusting). Was exhausted from DTW - ICN so mostly napped and watched a couple of movies -- would be perfectly fine on the 773 again

SIN - ICN: Nice 773ER with new HD screens and very comfortable Y seats (and J seat looked to be the APEX J seat which looked very appealing). Had the bibimbap and it was really tasty (wasn't expecting that after terrible ICN - BKK food). FAs were very nice and happy to bring me more beer after the initial F&B service. Would be perfectly fine with that seat for a longer flight in Y -- definitely no complaints after the 6.5 hour SIN - ICN flight (except we arrived early and then waited 25+ minutes for a gate -- thankfully we weren't connecting on to ICN - MSP that night or may not have made it but that's exactly why we built in an overnight to avoid the misconnect).

Despite warning about warm cabins, both sectors were actually on the cold side and required blankets (and I live in NC and usually love AC so cold has to be actually cold). The SIN - ICN flight was also a bus gate which was annoying from an overhead bin perspective since it essentially neutralized my SkyPriority and the bins were pretty full

One big downside vs. NRT is that the KE lounges in ICN are awful but at least they have showers and a beer machine.

Originally Posted by SEAUAKID

I hope the rumor of DL launching LAX-SIN nonstop comes to fruition, but I have serious doubts it will ever happen. First of all, why would DL shutter a station (SIN) and pay out long-time employees, only to reopen with a single flight? I would love if this were true, but economically it would make no sense. Same thing with Taipei, I would love it if DL would launch a nonstop but they've just laid off all their TPE employees for a reason... they don't see a DL metal future there.

Originally Posted by lsquare

So sad. Maybe JV should be illegal and then DL would have an incentive to fly there. I would love to have TPE, SIN, and HKG on the list.

Originally Posted by flyerCO

All getting rid of JV would do is reduce cities you can get to. You do realize JV spread expenses across carriers. Get rid of that and airline now has to cover it all. All while now not getting passengers from former JV partner to fill plane up. I know JV can be abused. However we do end up with options we wouldn't have had without it. For example, do you think we'd have flights like AUS-AMS or the like without JV to spread the cost and fill the plane?

Originally Posted by ab2013

And some people don't realize or care that it's not a lucrative business model to sell tickets to Asia for $500 RT, especially for a US airline. And, unfortunately for us, DL doesn't run a charity.

Originally Posted by kjnangre

Business class often sells for 10x that amount or more. If you can fill a good number of J seats, I suspect it is profitable. United just added a 2nd daily SFO-HKG 777. UA is not a charity either. UA is a US airline last I checked.

Originally Posted by Duke787

Comparing DL to UA on TPAC/Asia J traffic is hardly fair given the huge strategic/network advantage UA has with the SFO hub for J traffic from the tech giants. Remember that picture that leaked earlier this year that said Apple alone spends $150M/year on UA? With an average of 50 business class seats daily on SFO - PVG generating $35M annually on that route alone -- with HKG listed as the #2 route for Apple?

UA can add TPAC capacity because they have huge paid O&D J traffic in SFO to support the $500 Y fares. Clearly DL (and AA) don't have the same traffic to many Asia cities which is why you've seen DL and AA retreat from many routes in Asia and look to funnel through a single Asia hub or through US hubs.

Originally Posted by ab2013

Interesting...

https://onemileatatime.com/chinese-a...sing-billions/

Originally Posted by Duke787

Comparing DL to UA on TPAC/Asia J traffic is hardly fair given the huge strategic/network advantage UA has with the SFO hub for J traffic from the tech giants. Remember that picture that leaked earlier this year that said Apple alone spends $150M/year on UA? With an average of 50 business class seats daily on SFO - PVG generating $35M annually on that route alone -- with HKG listed as the #2 route for Apple?

UA can add TPAC capacity because they have huge paid O&D J traffic in SFO to support the $500 Y fares. Clearly DL (and AA) don't have the same traffic to many Asia cities which is why you've seen DL and AA retreat from many routes in Asia and look to funnel through a single Asia hub or through US hubs.

Originally Posted by lsquare

Surprisingly, DL is still flying its metal to PVG and PEK at around $500 rt next spring. I hope I'll be Platinum by then and see how well DL treats me on those flights.

Originally Posted by flyerCO

Dont get your Hope's up. Diamonds fly these routes regularly. We dont get anything special except the very rare OPUP.

Originally Posted by hikouki

Last day of ops at NRT is March 28? What will be the last flight in, and out of NRT? Is DL planning something special that day?

Originally Posted by lsquare

lol. Damn. Can't catch a break from the DMs! I thought the US-China tension would at least deter some people from going there. Guess I'll need to find a way to become DM.