United (UA) To Eliminate NRT-BKK (UA837,UA838) [Now gone]
Nov 19, 2013, 11:56 am
#46
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Good bye, Bangkok. UA to eliminate NRT-BKK 747 service(UA837,UA838)
Horrid retrench.
Where does the sUA 777 and 747 go? Victorville?
Where does the sUA 777 and 747 go? Victorville?
Nov 19, 2013, 11:56 am
#47
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Nov 19, 2013, 12:04 pm
#48
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Nov 19, 2013, 12:08 pm
#49
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Nov 19, 2013, 12:15 pm
#51
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I suppose one can fly UA to HKG and then TG to BKK, which would maximize the time I can spend in the front cabin and minimize the time I have to spend in partner E-. Seriously, though, how was UA losing money on BKK-NRT? If demand was enough to support a 747 part of the year and a 777 the rest, and the premium cabins were a fairly tough upgrade (as they sure seemed to be to me), that has to translate into some degree of profitability.
I guess UA is figuring they can revenue share with ANA. Sad, really, as I will not take one of those flights--particularly when I can't upgrade on a 6.5 hour flight.
I guess UA is figuring they can revenue share with ANA. Sad, really, as I will not take one of those flights--particularly when I can't upgrade on a 6.5 hour flight.
Nov 19, 2013, 12:29 pm
#52
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It might be a tad off topic, but the Gulf based airlines are watching the U.S. market closely. With decent pricing, good service and comfortable seating it's an option that will not be overlooked for long. And if the flight can be credited to a U.S. program like AA's, then what is so disadvantageous doing the U.S.-BKK flight on one of their carriers with the stop in the Gulf, where the lounges are fantastic and transfers are short and painless?
Nov 19, 2013, 12:38 pm
#53
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Don't feel TOO bad. United is still selling NRT->BKK on their metal, for travel after the BKK route is discontinued.
Nov 19, 2013, 12:44 pm
#54
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...and all added flights on the list are from USA.
With the de facto de-hubbing of NRT, intra-Asia flyers will have hard time staying with United. They may be able to get to their other destinations in Asia on *A or JV partner flights, but there are still significant downsides (as I mentioned in NRT-HKG thread):
1. There are no E+ seats.
2. Nothing counts toward MM lifetime status.
3. Can't use GPU on partners' routes.
4. UA has had technical difficulties from time to time selling UA and NH flights on the same ticket -- bad for USA-based MileagePlus members seeking 016 tickets.
5. A greatly inflated intra-Asia award chart now that all flights to those cities must involve *A partners.
With the de facto de-hubbing of NRT, intra-Asia flyers will have hard time staying with United. They may be able to get to their other destinations in Asia on *A or JV partner flights, but there are still significant downsides (as I mentioned in NRT-HKG thread):
1. There are no E+ seats.
2. Nothing counts toward MM lifetime status.
3. Can't use GPU on partners' routes.
4. UA has had technical difficulties from time to time selling UA and NH flights on the same ticket -- bad for USA-based MileagePlus members seeking 016 tickets.
5. A greatly inflated intra-Asia award chart now that all flights to those cities must involve *A partners.
As BKK is a frequent destination, this further erodes any reason to stay with UA.
Curious...all mainline, or a mix with UAX?
Nov 19, 2013, 12:48 pm
#55
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I'm guessing here but they dropped NRT-HKG and added DEN-NRT, dropping SEA-NRT and are adding a 2nd IAH-NRT, so that just leaves the vacated NRT-BKK slot.
Nov 19, 2013, 1:32 pm
#56
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I suppose one can fly UA to HKG and then TG to BKK, which would maximize the time I can spend in the front cabin and minimize the time I have to spend in partner E-. Seriously, though, how was UA losing money on BKK-NRT? If demand was enough to support a 747 part of the year and a 777 the rest, and the premium cabins were a fairly tough upgrade (as they sure seemed to be to me), that has to translate into some degree of profitability.
I guess UA is figuring they can revenue share with ANA. Sad, really, as I will not take one of those flights--particularly when I can't upgrade on a 6.5 hour flight.
This stinks. Looks like my trips to Asia will be through SFO. I WILL NOT ride ANA, not after the pain (physical) they inflicted on me last year. It took my knees a month to stop hurting after being jammed into the seat in front of me on three legs. I will avoid DL if at all possible, no legroom in coach on them, too. Nothing new, I first rode them in 1976 and that DC-8 was a sardine can, too. I typically fly out of SEA, so losing the SEA-NRT flights will hurt. Well, there's always the Q400 to Vancouver, followed by Air Canada...
BKK-SFO/LAX in C on NH is about $3,300 round-trip.
Nov 19, 2013, 1:43 pm
#57
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So it would indeed require two tickets (and getting the HKG-BKK plated on 016 stock will be a challenge, though not impossible).UA seems to have real issues with codesharing with TG; for example, last time I tried to price out an itin to HKT, UA codeshared Asiana via ICN, but not TG via BKK, and that OZ codeshare was more than $1000 more than 2 tickets connecting in BKK would have been.
I am not looking forward to ANA economy for NRT-BKK!
Nov 19, 2013, 1:45 pm
#58
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It looks like several posts got hosed in the merging of threads.
The supposedly 31" pitch in Y on NH's 767 is indeed tight and uncomfortable to say the least. Somehow, there has to be less legroom on this NH config than other planes with a reported 31" pitch... maybe the seats/seatback pockets are thicker?
Cancellation of NRT-BKK is a shock because IME, the planes are always full and GPU upgrades are difficult at best, not clearing on a V or Q fare twice this year. This really stinks.
The supposedly 31" pitch in Y on NH's 767 is indeed tight and uncomfortable to say the least. Somehow, there has to be less legroom on this NH config than other planes with a reported 31" pitch... maybe the seats/seatback pockets are thicker?
Cancellation of NRT-BKK is a shock because IME, the planes are always full and GPU upgrades are difficult at best, not clearing on a V or Q fare twice this year. This really stinks.
Nov 19, 2013, 1:48 pm
#59
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I wonder how much this has to do with UA's decision? Whenever I priced a W fare SFO-BKK it was in the same ballpark as SFO-NRT and SFO-HKG (i.e., a few hundred dollars either way) - in other words, UA did not seem to be able to charge much in the way of extra $$ for that 2,800 mile NRT-BKK leg.
Nov 19, 2013, 1:50 pm
#60
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The problem is that UA doesn't codeshare with TG through HKG so you have to buy two tickets. Moreover, the fares to HKG are just as much if not more than they were to BKK.
You could, well, buy a business class ticket if the room in coach is not sufficient for you.
BKK-SFO/LAX in C on NH is about $3,300 round-trip.
You could, well, buy a business class ticket if the room in coach is not sufficient for you.
BKK-SFO/LAX in C on NH is about $3,300 round-trip.
E+ on a 747 beats the heck out my experience with coach on ANA last year. No comparison at all.