Changes to UA's IAD-HNL Service (Schedule, Equipment, etc.)?
Mar 19, 2013, 8:20 pm
#31
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,187
There are many more people who live in "Metro EWR" than in "Metro IAD."
Another drawback for some, including myself, to both EWR-HNL and IAD-HNL, is a preference to break the time-in-tube up with a connection at SFO or LAX. I have also booked travel for several people flying from DC area to HNL and to a number, all have preferred to fly from DCA or BWI (depending upon their residence) than to truck out to IAD for the nonstop. Of course, that N is only ~ 15.
While there are many who go to Hawaii for "business" conferences, the majority of travellers going to warm islands are going for true vacation and don't have an inclination to play with the tax rules.
That said, there are parts of the Caribbean that are in the US -- viz. Bajo Nuevo Bank (uninhabitated, also claimed by Columbia, Jamaica, and Nicaragua), Navassa (uninhabitated, claimed by Haiti and the US), Puerto Rico, Serranilla Bank (occupied by Columbia, and also claimed Honduras, Nicaragua and the US), and the US Virgin Islands. Not to mention that part of Cuba which is quasi-US, Guantánamo Bay (not that one would want to vacation there).
EWR-HNL probably gets much more local passengers from the NYC market and IAD would depend more on those connecting and one issue is many have to fly a backwards or non direct routing to take this flight. ORD and IAH also DEN, LAX, and SFO are better alternatives.
That said, there are parts of the Caribbean that are in the US -- viz. Bajo Nuevo Bank (uninhabitated, also claimed by Columbia, Jamaica, and Nicaragua), Navassa (uninhabitated, claimed by Haiti and the US), Puerto Rico, Serranilla Bank (occupied by Columbia, and also claimed Honduras, Nicaragua and the US), and the US Virgin Islands. Not to mention that part of Cuba which is quasi-US, Guantánamo Bay (not that one would want to vacation there).
Mar 19, 2013, 8:43 pm
#33
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Hawaii is the perfect vacation spot. It's got all the trappings of a long haul international trip and yet, it has none of the hassles! Even flight attendants like the east coast-HNL runs, all the high hours of international trips with none of the international hassles!
Mar 19, 2013, 9:03 pm
#34
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This. MsHalls120 isn't a fan of long distance uninterrupted travel. Next time we do Hawaii, we won't take the nonstop even if it still is available.
Mar 19, 2013, 9:13 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Thank you for stating the obvious.
I've lived in the DC area for 21 years now. We've been to Hawaii twice in those 21 years. We've been to the Caribbean 7 times.
Don't get me wrong, we love Hawaii. But you don't decide to pop out to Hawaii for a four day weekend. You do in the Caribbean.
I've lived in the DC area for 21 years now. We've been to Hawaii twice in those 21 years. We've been to the Caribbean 7 times.
Don't get me wrong, we love Hawaii. But you don't decide to pop out to Hawaii for a four day weekend. You do in the Caribbean.
Opposite problem here in San Francisco. As a diver I'd love direct flights to Cozumel, Bonaire, Caymans; instead it's 2-3 hops and often an overnighter, so instead I'm off to Indonesia or Thailand, or the short hop to Hawaii.
Mar 19, 2013, 9:15 pm
#36
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Well that 738 is back to a 747 , and when I was on it it was Empty. So as much as we like the 747 over the 738, unless they are selling tkts on that route CO was probably correct in using the 738, since if most folks are simply as I did using it as a way to get a HKG & SIN stops onto 1 tkt for the price of a HKG tkt , it doesnt make any sense to me
Any carrier has to do what will increase its bottom line and not what will be a better flight for its Elites
Any carrier has to do what will increase its bottom line and not what will be a better flight for its Elites
I love the ORD or EWR flights its so much better to fly 9+ hr in one plane rather than stopping in LAX/SFO. Also from YYZ we just fly to one airport and arrive in HNL after a great nap...^
Last edited by iluv2fly; Mar 19, 2013 at 9:26 pm Reason: merge
Mar 19, 2013, 10:58 pm
#37
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August, September and early October can be "dicey" in the Caribbean. Better to be in Hartford, Hereford or Hampshire.
Mar 20, 2013, 9:22 am
#38
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There are no CPUs on the iAD-HNL flight
The flights can be packed I flew via IAD on a $449 out of JFK, so if they are packed due to the fare war out of NY, doesnt mean they are making any $$$ on the flight, all it says is the flight is full. And if they arent making any $$ no sense flying it.
The flights can be packed I flew via IAD on a $449 out of JFK, so if they are packed due to the fare war out of NY, doesnt mean they are making any $$$ on the flight, all it says is the flight is full. And if they arent making any $$ no sense flying it.
Mar 20, 2013, 9:46 am
#39
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Are we really in full-on meltdown mode over a long, thin, low-yield domestic route going seasonal during a ten-week period of soft demand?
It is still scheduled to operate on Saturdays (when many timeshares turn over) during the fall, and is back daily in the winter when traffic picks back up. I fail to see how this warrants a slew of pot shots against Continental... oh wait, never mind.
It is still scheduled to operate on Saturdays (when many timeshares turn over) during the fall, and is back daily in the winter when traffic picks back up. I fail to see how this warrants a slew of pot shots against Continental... oh wait, never mind.
Mar 20, 2013, 10:40 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,510
Are we really in full-on meltdown mode over a long, thin, low-yield domestic route going seasonal during a ten-week period of soft demand?
It is still scheduled to operate on Saturdays (when many timeshares turn over) during the fall, and is back daily in the winter when traffic picks back up. I fail to see how this warrants a slew of pot shots against Continental... oh wait, never mind.
It is still scheduled to operate on Saturdays (when many timeshares turn over) during the fall, and is back daily in the winter when traffic picks back up. I fail to see how this warrants a slew of pot shots against Continental... oh wait, never mind.
Mar 20, 2013, 3:44 pm
#41
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United has been flying to Hawaii for over 50 years and UA has had a hub at IAD for more then 25 years. The merger really did not bring in hardly any new cities into IAD to help support a nonstop IAD-HNL flight so I am not sure why UA felt the need to fly this route. Saturday service should be fine. The bottom line is the aircraft would be better utilized elsewhere.
Mar 20, 2013, 4:28 pm
#42
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1. HI flights are full, but with pax flying on el cheapo and freebies.
2. UA and other carriers make 90% of their net revenue (profit) from their premium cabins.
3. IAD-PEK RT in F is $32,000. IAD-HNL RT in F is approx. $6,400. Sure, PEK is further, but not that much. Tells you that the HI market just doesn't support the kind of service some would like, but won't pay for.
Nobody is going to fly long-haul aircraft around to make non-paying folks happy.
2. UA and other carriers make 90% of their net revenue (profit) from their premium cabins.
3. IAD-PEK RT in F is $32,000. IAD-HNL RT in F is approx. $6,400. Sure, PEK is further, but not that much. Tells you that the HI market just doesn't support the kind of service some would like, but won't pay for.
Nobody is going to fly long-haul aircraft around to make non-paying folks happy.
Mar 20, 2013, 5:09 pm
#44
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Mar 21, 2013, 4:06 am
#45
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HKG-SIN went from 747 to 737 to 747 now to 777. As for the loads/yields, it will often be full. If the US-SIN loads aren't high enough to fill it, UA dumps lots of tour group/consolidator fares to pick up HKG-originating traffic. Just a bit of marginal revenue, but better than leaving it empty, or parked. Obviously on a random Tuesday that may not work as well as on the Friday flights, but that's still the basic strategy, it would seem.
Anyway, maybe the 777 will prove a better mix between operating economics and satisfying premium pax than the 737 did. Or maybe they'll throw a 767 on it next. Just keep trying stuff until they get it right, yeah?
Back to your previously scheduled IAD-HNL discussion. At least THAT flight's not a 737!
