United Evaluating U.S. to Singapore Nonstop
Dec 12, 2015, 4:43 pm
#76
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
As an aside, I wonder if his remarks were accurate. If his estimations of 777 residual value are correct, would have significant consequences to the whole leasing industry and require a lot of writedowns.
Dec 12, 2015, 7:26 pm
#77
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 620
I've flown the SQ nonstop before both in whatever they were calling their premium economy and in business when it went all business. I don't think I'd do it again. IMO, 18 hours is just too long to spend on a plane.
Dec 13, 2015, 5:18 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
I have done EWR-HKG, ORD-HKG ATL-DXB and PEK-JNB, and I don't think I will want to fly any flights longer than those flights.
My recent EWR-HKG was just so long that I could not wait to get off the plane.
I find nothing wrong with a one-stop stopover in NRT.
My recent EWR-HKG was just so long that I could not wait to get off the plane.
I find nothing wrong with a one-stop stopover in NRT.
Last edited by UA_Flyer; Dec 13, 2015 at 5:33 pm
Dec 13, 2015, 5:48 pm
#79
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: YBG
Programs: Marriott: Platinum Hilton: Diamond AC: 25K
Posts: 234
I think this would be a good addition. once in SIN you can take local airline to the area for cheaper first class seats.
Dec 13, 2015, 5:55 pm
#80
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Dec 13, 2015, 6:13 pm
#81
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: UA 1K, Delta PM, AA EXP, Marriott AMB, IHG Gold
Posts: 448
The problem with this flight is that you need to have enough people located in SFO who want a direct flight to SIN (or vice versa). Being based in SEA I would love a direct flight from SEA to SIN. From most other cities if you are going to have to do a stopover why not do it in HKG or NRT and split the flight into two more manageable chunks?
Dec 13, 2015, 7:26 pm
#82
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,609
Having done 14 hours in business class a number of times, I have to agree. 18 hours is just too much time to be confined in a metal tube.
Dec 13, 2015, 7:30 pm
#83
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: 5280 feet
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 674
If you fly to SIN from the US, most any location, you are going to be on the plane for 17-18 hours minimum (albeit with a stopover in NRT or ICN). So yes, while it is a long time to be on a plane, it's kind of necessary if you want to go to SIN.
Dec 13, 2015, 8:31 pm
#84
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
JFK-JNB, EWR-HKG, LAX-SYD, MEL-LAX all fine with being on the plane. It's the TCONs that I get antsy and agitated.
Dec 13, 2015, 8:44 pm
#86
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
Dec 13, 2015, 11:14 pm
#87
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist, Marriot LT Titanium, UA 2.4MM, HH Gold, AS MVPG
Posts: 3,400
Agree 100%. Just did MIA-SFO on Friday and It seemed forever long. 6 hours in a 737 (and I was in first) is horrible and way worse than a TPAC in a premium cabin. I don't know how people do it in coach.
Dec 14, 2015, 1:19 am
#88
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SIN
Programs: UA 1K MM, SQ PPS, CX Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriott Gold, SPG Silver
Posts: 679
I agree that SQ has better service, but still lots of people fly UA, since they fly 2X a day into SIN. My guess is the non stop would replace one of the one stop flights, net result a better profit. UA advantage is better coverage in USA and for most flyers a better mileage program. UA does have Singaporean Mileage plus members who would fly SIN-SFO/XXX-other USA city, than 2 stop option on SQ, or even other S'poreans that may just want less stops. Also many companies with staff in SIN have contracts with UA, so UA does get a lot business traffic.
The other bonus of the stop (on either airline) is you get to eat at the super good Sushi place near the United club at Narita. Get the Bluefin meal, with an extra couple pieces of the marinated bluefin.
As for the extended route network, I just book separate tickets on other carriers. Typically SQ has no problem interlining my bags.
This.
Has anyone considered the possibility that this could be the rhetoric to either pull SQ back in to *A (more than in name only, in terms of codeshare and redemptions) or to send a shot across the bow to get out? The relationship has seemed tenuous for some time...
Dec 14, 2015, 2:11 am
#89
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The Indo Jungle
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,319
Meh. My dream is a non stop from CGK or DPS to the west coast. A dream indeed.
Dec 14, 2015, 8:01 am
#90
Formerly known as caveruner17
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: ORD
Posts: 432
I think with the longer ones, the ability to actually sleep helps. Those 2-4 hour flights aren't long enough to do much -- sometimes not even long enough to watch a movie. Frankly, after doing my first TPAC last month, I prefer that to the shorter TATL hops from Chicago. After meal service is completed, it's hard to sleep when you've only got 4 hours before you're woken again for breakfast.