United Evaluating U.S. to Singapore Nonstop
Dec 9, 2015, 8:14 am
#31
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: Southwest, Alaska, United, American Airlines
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United is already stronger than Singapore Airlines on SFO-SIN based on average fare paid. With a nonstop, UA will utterly clean SQ's clock, as SQ cannot match UA's ability to bring everyone from the top 50-75 US markets to SFO for a nonstop SIN flight.
Dec 9, 2015, 8:22 am
#32
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- A wealth of onward connections throughout SE Asia/Oceania via SQ's Changi hub (probably the best airport in the world).
- They're drawn to one of the best (arguably the best) hard and soft products in the world.
- They're Singapore based and flying the flag carrier is an easy call given its quality and dominance at Changi.
The only reason UA might justify a SIN nonstop is if they have a substantial body of captive US-based corporate customers who travel to SIN regularly, pay for lots of BF seats, and are clamoring for this route. But even that seems to me a real stretch given the distance and cost.
Dec 9, 2015, 8:50 am
#33
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: KHH, FUK, SNA
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Posts: 1,181
People fly SQ TPAC for three basic reasons:
The only reason UA might justify a SIN nonstop is if they have a substantial body of captive US-based corporate customers who travel to SIN regularly, pay for lots of BF seats, and are clamoring for this route. But even that seems to me a real stretch given the distance and cost.
- A wealth of onward connections throughout SE Asia/Oceania via SQ's Changi hub (probably the best airport in the world).
- They're drawn to one of the best (arguably the best) hard and soft products in the world.
- They're Singapore based and flying the flag carrier is an easy call given its quality and dominance at Changi.
The only reason UA might justify a SIN nonstop is if they have a substantial body of captive US-based corporate customers who travel to SIN regularly, pay for lots of BF seats, and are clamoring for this route. But even that seems to me a real stretch given the distance and cost.
Dec 9, 2015, 9:06 am
#34
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Dec 9, 2015, 9:17 am
#35
Join Date: Sep 2015
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I think this route would do really well for United. The saying "time is money" holds true in the business world and, at least at my business, everyone prefers the fastest/most convenient option over the most luxurious one. A 787-9 should definitely be able to fly SFO-SIN nonstop as its range at MTOW is 7635 nmi, and the route is only 7339 nmi. Along with this, United flies its 787-9's with 252 passengers, which is less than the 290 it can fly at MTOW. One of the 777's that currently flies to SIN from NRT or HKG can now be used on a different route, maybe NRT-BKK or NRT-KUL, to enter a new market. It would help if UA and SQ decided to codeshare, but maybe they will in the future.
Dec 9, 2015, 9:21 am
#36
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Personally, I'd rather not be on the aircraft that runs out of fuel due to inbound congestion at Changi or stronger than usual jetstream.
Edited to Add: Here's a link to Boeing's marketing info on the 787's real world range. 787 Range - Los Angeles; Seattle. You can see SIN is outside the shaded areas from both LAX and SEA.
Last edited by Kacee; Dec 9, 2015 at 10:08 am
Dec 9, 2015, 11:04 am
#37
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United Evaluating U.S. to Singapore Nonstop
I have SFO-(NRT)-SIN on fare lock, any chance this gets put in the schedule within 5 days? 
To add to Kacee's comments I have booked SQ recently on this sector to earn full flown miles on MP v RDM calculator, price was about the same, 2 bags per person regardless of status, and $100 instead of $300 change fees
Having better IFE and food was just a bonus.
To add to Kacee's comments I have booked SQ recently on this sector to earn full flown miles on MP v RDM calculator, price was about the same, 2 bags per person regardless of status, and $100 instead of $300 change fees
Having better IFE and food was just a bonus.
Dec 9, 2015, 12:14 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
The A359 predictably had much better fuel burn than the 772LR, and unsurprisingly that is what SQ picked.
https://leehamnews.com/2015/07/20/op...hts-to-the-us/
Edit: I should also note that the idea of being stuck in a 9-abreast United 789 seat for up to 18 hours is truly frightening. Thank goodness it doesn't have the range.
Last edited by milypan; Dec 9, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Dec 9, 2015, 12:21 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
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A good rule of thumb would be to take the OEM numbers and subtract at least 20%.
https://leehamnews.com/2015/08/07/bj...-the-oem-says/
Dec 9, 2015, 12:28 pm
#40
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Dec 9, 2015, 12:34 pm
#41
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People fly SQ TPAC for three basic reasons:
The only reason UA might justify a SIN nonstop is if they have a substantial body of captive US-based corporate customers who travel to SIN regularly, pay for lots of BF seats, and are clamoring for this route. But even that seems to me a real stretch given the distance and cost.
- A wealth of onward connections throughout SE Asia/Oceania via SQ's Changi hub (probably the best airport in the world).
- They're drawn to one of the best (arguably the best) hard and soft products in the world.
- They're Singapore based and flying the flag carrier is an easy call given its quality and dominance at Changi.
The only reason UA might justify a SIN nonstop is if they have a substantial body of captive US-based corporate customers who travel to SIN regularly, pay for lots of BF seats, and are clamoring for this route. But even that seems to me a real stretch given the distance and cost.
Whether it's a matter of UA USA domestic connections to SQ or UA to SIN with onward connections on SQ, it's still a connection from one *A partner to another.
Dec 9, 2015, 12:39 pm
#42
Join Date: Feb 2013
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That does not mean the aircraft can handle the route. You need a substantially larger cushion than that.
Personally, I'd rather not be on the aircraft that runs out of fuel due to inbound congestion at Changi or stronger than usual jetstream.
Edited to Add: Here's a link to Boeing's marketing info on the 787's real world range. 787 Range - Los Angeles; Seattle. You can see SIN is outside the shaded areas from both LAX and SEA.
Personally, I'd rather not be on the aircraft that runs out of fuel due to inbound congestion at Changi or stronger than usual jetstream.
Edited to Add: Here's a link to Boeing's marketing info on the 787's real world range. 787 Range - Los Angeles; Seattle. You can see SIN is outside the shaded areas from both LAX and SEA.
Hong Kong and Dubai really on the border of that shaded area. Sort of makes you wonder?!
Dec 9, 2015, 12:50 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 117
Obviously this is virtually always the case between two competitors where one does and the other does not have the connecting traffic: no matter the destination, the carrier with feed, the hub operation, is the stronger of the two.
Dec 9, 2015, 12:59 pm
#44
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
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Use the DXB planes since it's being dropped.
Dec 9, 2015, 1:29 pm
#45
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
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