United (UA) To Eliminate NRT-BKK (UA837,UA838) [Now gone]
Nov 20, 2013, 6:33 pm
#166
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: US CP ; LH FTL ; *G
Posts: 1,630
Don't OZ/SQ/TG still have NRT-BKK service? All better options than UA and easy for redemptions too.
Nov 20, 2013, 6:38 pm
#167
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Of course we can't use GPUs even on a codeshare, so this is very, very painful, and will increase people trying to use GPUs on HKG and SIN slights - or is that also gone
ANA also flies nonstop on this route.
Nov 20, 2013, 6:43 pm
#168
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: iad/dca
Programs: UA Million Mile Gold, Club, AA, Delta, Marriott, Hertz G, A/Club
Posts: 1,106
Do you know the UAL load is low yield leisure?
Nov 20, 2013, 6:49 pm
#170
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Osaka
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier Executive
Posts: 581
Maybe it is beacuae they can't get a 2 class 787 on the route. United cant compete in Asia like they could before the merger. People will not pay a premium to fly Unted anymore with the alignment to PMCO Style of service! No one wanted to fly a UA 787 from SEA to NRT. I know I wouldn't that is a huge downgrade when you could fly a 3 class 777 a few months earlier. Continental was a small airline with a few hubs with little competition. They can't compete anymore.
Nov 20, 2013, 6:53 pm
#171
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,361
And unfortunately for COua with these moves to stop the flow over Tokyo, many of us won't be flying COua. I'm definitely not getting on a 4 hour domestic CO front cabin to get to SFO and then fly C; or woes, be subjected to it after a 12 hour TPAC.
The ANA JV "might" help, but if it earns me nothing toward the elite requirements, then it seals the deal with OW as their partner flights do count. Having been burned on UA-fault misconnects to LH in FRA, where they both say it's the other ones issue...simply no way I'll do a COua/anyone flight regardless of the ticket stock.
Given how few US companies operate in the Japanese market and how poorly Japan tech is doing, I'm still missing the logic of turning NRT into an O&D as I just don't think there is enough demand to justify that. Seems to me well over half an ORD wide body C/F cabin herds to the transit security line rather than heading to customs.
BKK is also not all fun and sun, with lots of businesses there plus easy connections to the next emerging economies in SE Asia as part of the business trip.
definitely the nail in the UA coffin for me.
The ANA JV "might" help, but if it earns me nothing toward the elite requirements, then it seals the deal with OW as their partner flights do count. Having been burned on UA-fault misconnects to LH in FRA, where they both say it's the other ones issue...simply no way I'll do a COua/anyone flight regardless of the ticket stock.
Given how few US companies operate in the Japanese market and how poorly Japan tech is doing, I'm still missing the logic of turning NRT into an O&D as I just don't think there is enough demand to justify that. Seems to me well over half an ORD wide body C/F cabin herds to the transit security line rather than heading to customs.
BKK is also not all fun and sun, with lots of businesses there plus easy connections to the next emerging economies in SE Asia as part of the business trip.
definitely the nail in the UA coffin for me.
TG is far from growing aggressively; like UA they're well behind projected growth.
Also UA could rely upon lots of ancillary revenue form bags etc since this was a tourist destination and there were assuredly lots of bags checked by non-elites on usually packed to the gills planes.
Also UA could rely upon lots of ancillary revenue form bags etc since this was a tourist destination and there were assuredly lots of bags checked by non-elites on usually packed to the gills planes.
I guess I am confused. If BKK is such a great market, why would United pull out?
Nov 20, 2013, 6:56 pm
#172
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,146
The problem is you're assuming UA management is making good decisions and thus BKK can't be profitable / more profitable than using the plane elsewhere. Examine that assumption and it might be more clear how this could be yet another mistake.
Nov 20, 2013, 6:57 pm
#173
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: UA *Gold
Posts: 71
Wow! I would never have thought they would drop NRT>BKK>NRT. Although I did notice at times it was $2,000 cheaper to go to BKK than to stop at NRT.
Economy and business were always full--J with lots of oil and gas folks on the way to Burma, Bangladesh and peninsular Malaysia in business. It was always a tough upgrade NRT>BKK and reverse.
Maybe they will put in some good codeshares with ANA and TG. IAD>PEK>BKK with PEK>BKK on TG is 3 hours shorter than IAD>NRT>BKK on UA. Plus the return on TG leaves at 1010am instead or 6am.
Cancellation may be due to having to leave a 777 on the ground from 11pm until BKK>NRT at 6am.
Economy and business were always full--J with lots of oil and gas folks on the way to Burma, Bangladesh and peninsular Malaysia in business. It was always a tough upgrade NRT>BKK and reverse.
Maybe they will put in some good codeshares with ANA and TG. IAD>PEK>BKK with PEK>BKK on TG is 3 hours shorter than IAD>NRT>BKK on UA. Plus the return on TG leaves at 1010am instead or 6am.
Cancellation may be due to having to leave a 777 on the ground from 11pm until BKK>NRT at 6am.
Nov 20, 2013, 6:58 pm
#174
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
Maybe UA is planning a 787 flight direct from USA to BKK at a future date?
Nov 20, 2013, 7:01 pm
#175
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Nov 20, 2013, 7:03 pm
#176
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,361
Profitability is a binary function. If it was profitable, why would it be cut. If it wasn't profitable, or wasn't profitable enough, what do you think management neglected to do to improve the routes performance? Increase upgrades and change the service so people buying coach fares make United their first choice for travel?
Nov 20, 2013, 7:04 pm
#177
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
Nov 20, 2013, 7:09 pm
#178
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
I suspect that frequent travelers between south-east asia and the U.S. who had stayed loyal to UA will now be seriously considering a switch to SQ or CX.
Nov 20, 2013, 7:09 pm
#179
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Illinois-downstate
Programs: UA 1K, UA MM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 955
Are we sure that this route is completely going away? Maybe the 747 that flies the route part of the year is going away, but, to be replaced by 777 year round?.. I fly this route numerous times a year and the NRT to BKK leg is always packed. It's the hardest leg to get upgraded on my trip from ORD. I am shocked if this route will be halted. Say it ain't so!
Nov 20, 2013, 7:11 pm
#180
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 916
Companies are looking for the next quarter earnings , plus they know a lot more about the numbers than we do......
I hate to see UA gut the asian service , because if BKK is not worth serving is SIN ?
And then they can save money in NRT by closing the Red Carpet club......
As a quarter to quarter business plan it might be the thing to do ,
but as the long run , Asia is the growing market compared to Europe or anywhere else !
I hate to see UA gut the asian service , because if BKK is not worth serving is SIN ?
And then they can save money in NRT by closing the Red Carpet club......
As a quarter to quarter business plan it might be the thing to do ,
but as the long run , Asia is the growing market compared to Europe or anywhere else !