Consolidated "United SYD/MEL Flight Delays or Cancellations" Thread [2013]
Nov 30, 2013, 12:55 pm
#421
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
As to routing through HNL, would mean pre-positioning a 747 crew at HNL against the chance that it might be needed sometime and then, eventually getting that crew back to HNL. Still doesn't help if there are days off, illness and the like.
Nov 30, 2013, 1:00 pm
#422
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Yes, it should only be considered once the 777s become the equipment to Oz, which I think begins in April. There are already 777 crews flying HNL-GUM, HNL-NRT, and to US mainland every day of the week.
Last edited by transportprof; Nov 30, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Nov 30, 2013, 1:23 pm
#423
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Wow - is this a first?
I don't recall them running a daytime departure for a canceled Australia flight before.
Planned departure was 10:30am, with an arrival of 8pm - 3 hours before curfew in SYD.
After a near 1 hour delay on departure they are now showing a 8:27pm arrivial, so still 2 1/2 hours before curfew.
I don't recall them running a daytime departure for a canceled Australia flight before.
Planned departure was 10:30am, with an arrival of 8pm - 3 hours before curfew in SYD.
After a near 1 hour delay on departure they are now showing a 8:27pm arrivial, so still 2 1/2 hours before curfew.
Nov 30, 2013, 2:04 pm
#424
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Sydney,Australia
Programs: UA 1K, QF Gold
Posts: 1,141
Wow - is this a first?
I don't recall them running a daytime departure for a canceled Australia flight before.
Planned departure was 10:30am, with an arrival of 8pm - 3 hours before curfew in SYD.
After a near 1 hour delay on departure they are now showing a 8:27pm arrival, so still 2 1/2 hours before curfew.
I don't recall them running a daytime departure for a canceled Australia flight before.
Planned departure was 10:30am, with an arrival of 8pm - 3 hours before curfew in SYD.
After a near 1 hour delay on departure they are now showing a 8:27pm arrival, so still 2 1/2 hours before curfew.
Nov 30, 2013, 6:39 pm
#425
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
Wow - is this a first?
I don't recall them running a daytime departure for a canceled Australia flight before.
Planned departure was 10:30am, with an arrival of 8pm - 3 hours before curfew in SYD.
After a near 1 hour delay on departure they are now showing a 8:27pm arrivial, so still 2 1/2 hours before curfew.
I don't recall them running a daytime departure for a canceled Australia flight before.
Planned departure was 10:30am, with an arrival of 8pm - 3 hours before curfew in SYD.
After a near 1 hour delay on departure they are now showing a 8:27pm arrivial, so still 2 1/2 hours before curfew.
VDBs and IDBs from our flight were given $800 (highest I've seen in a long time) and rerouted through HNL.
Nov 30, 2013, 7:09 pm
#426
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,028
Maximum duty time is 17.5 hours; inclusive of check-in, briefing, flight, and de-briefing ... it literally only takes a small delay of an hour and a half on a scheduled SYD flight time of 14.5h on these flights for the crews to time out.
To deal with the 747 reliability issues, UA have increased the number of "ready reserve" F/As at SFO who begin their ready reserve shift at 10 or 11pm. Ready reserves have no assigned flights and go where the need in greatest for no-shows, sickness, delays, timeouts, etc - this allows them to be switched out rapidly for these late night long flights if needed.
To deal with the 747 reliability issues, UA have increased the number of "ready reserve" F/As at SFO who begin their ready reserve shift at 10 or 11pm. Ready reserves have no assigned flights and go where the need in greatest for no-shows, sickness, delays, timeouts, etc - this allows them to be switched out rapidly for these late night long flights if needed.
Nov 30, 2013, 9:29 pm
#427
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Toronto YYZ UA-1K 1MM,QFgold
Programs: Royal Ambassador/ SPG Platinum 75/Marriott gold
Posts: 14,283
perhaps the 777 replacing the 747 to SYD is a good idea??? However they are going to use UA 777 that will mean some aggressive load limiting. So about 1/3 less seats so prices go up and less chance of your upgrade clearing.
Nov 30, 2013, 10:02 pm
#428
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
The 772ER and 744 have similar ranges and cargo capacities:
http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commerc..._400_prod.page
http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commerc...00product.page
Indeed, SFO/LAX-SYD is a shorter route than ORD-HKG, which UA has been flying for some time with a 772ER.
The 772 does have 12 fewer BF seats and 4 fewer GF seats than the 744. On the other hand, the route should see far fewer cancellations requiring rebooking on subsequent flights.
Nov 30, 2013, 11:09 pm
#429
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
Fixed as additional seats on the sUA 777's are reserved for crew rest on the 777 where none are required on the 747 with the intigrated pilot crew rest
Dec 1, 2013, 12:48 am
#430
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,910
I have a modest suggestion that UA could explore to boost the reliability of these Australia flights. UA has a major presence in HNL, which is about one third of the way between California and Sydney. When MX events go sideways at LAX and SFO, why not run the delayed flights with a stop, and crew change, in HNL instead of cancelling the whole flight?
Dec 1, 2013, 1:53 am
#431
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
Arrived back today on 870 from SYD-SFO. All flights to/from SYD - LAX/SFO were oversold to varying degrees this weekend before the cancellation, so there just weren't sufficient reaccommodations available that they had to get a plane down there.
VDBs and IDBs from our flight were given $800 (highest I've seen in a long time) and rerouted through HNL.
VDBs and IDBs from our flight were given $800 (highest I've seen in a long time) and rerouted through HNL.
Dec 1, 2013, 6:30 am
#432
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Toronto YYZ UA-1K 1MM,QFgold
Programs: Royal Ambassador/ SPG Platinum 75/Marriott gold
Posts: 14,283
This theory was discussed and debunked here.
The 772ER and 744 have similar ranges and cargo capacities:
http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commerc..._400_prod.page
http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commerc...00product.page
Indeed, SFO/LAX-SYD is a shorter route than ORD-HKG, which UA has been flying for some time with a 772ER.
The 772 does have 12 fewer BF seats and 4 fewer GF seats than the 744. On the other hand, the route should see far fewer cancellations requiring rebooking on subsequent flights.
The 772ER and 744 have similar ranges and cargo capacities:
http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commerc..._400_prod.page
http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commerc...00product.page
Indeed, SFO/LAX-SYD is a shorter route than ORD-HKG, which UA has been flying for some time with a 772ER.
The 772 does have 12 fewer BF seats and 4 fewer GF seats than the 744. On the other hand, the route should see far fewer cancellations requiring rebooking on subsequent flights.
dont always believe what your read from "experts" on FT. 
Dec 1, 2013, 9:20 am
#433
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: DSM
Programs: UA-1K >1MM ,QF Platinum,HH-Diamond,Marriott-Gold
Posts: 105
I have to go to SYD in March ---and the relatively high price of UA business (would reach a high percentage of my 1K requalifying 2014 spend) and unreliability of aircraft means I shall be trying out QF business after hearing all the good things about it.
Dec 1, 2013, 9:38 am
#434
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
3/10 of my most recent international (all TATL) segments with UA were cancelled. (Not delayed, but totally cancelled). Before that, not a single UA international cancellation in 25 years. All cancellations were 747 if that matters. If you average my 25 year record, then UA is doing OK. But given the recent trends, it sure makes me nervous now every time I plan an international trip where timing of meetings is important. For business, I am trying to use other airlines until UA solves its cancellation problems.
Dec 1, 2013, 10:14 am
#435
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
That's what CX does to ex-LAX/SFO/YVR flights. If MX is known in advanced, they keep crew at hotel so clock doesn't start. If MX is discovered too late, they change the flight plan so the dest is TPE/ICN/NRT/KIX instead of HKG. Then during those 10+/- hours (mostly daytime in HKG), call up reserve crew from HKG and ship them to new dest and continue the flight.