Jul 1, 2016, 10:36 am
Last edit by: IBJoel
27 March 2018
United Airlines suspends NZ service (Suspension Period: April 18, 2017 - October 30, 2017)
Per New Zealand Herald quoting UA:
Air New Zealand service between Auckland and Chicago
From Nov. 30, 2018, Air New Zealand will operate three times weekly, year-round service with its new configuration Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Flight time will be approximately 15 hours northbound and just over 16 hours southbound. Air New Zealand code share service will be offered on around 100 flights across the U.S. for convenient connections to Auckland via Chicago. United Airlines operates more flights from its hub at O'Hare International Airport than any other airline, with more than 500 flights to 147 airports across the United States.
United expands service between San Francisco and Auckland
Beginning in April 2019, United will extend service between its West Coast hub in San Francisco and Auckland to year-round with three-times-weekly service. In partnership with Air New Zealand, United's flight arriving in Auckland will offer passengers more than 20 connections across the region. The return trip utilizes United's extensive route network in San Francisco, which provides connections to the United States, Canada, and Latin America. United operates more than 290 daily flights from its hub at San Francisco International Airport to 79 airports across the U.S. and 26 international destinations. Tickets for the expanded San Francisco schedule will be available on united.com and airnewzealand.com later this year.
United service between San Francisco and Auckland will operate with a Boeing 777-300ER between November and March and will operate with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft between April and October.
From Nov. 30, 2018, Air New Zealand will operate three times weekly, year-round service with its new configuration Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Flight time will be approximately 15 hours northbound and just over 16 hours southbound. Air New Zealand code share service will be offered on around 100 flights across the U.S. for convenient connections to Auckland via Chicago. United Airlines operates more flights from its hub at O'Hare International Airport than any other airline, with more than 500 flights to 147 airports across the United States.
United expands service between San Francisco and Auckland
Beginning in April 2019, United will extend service between its West Coast hub in San Francisco and Auckland to year-round with three-times-weekly service. In partnership with Air New Zealand, United's flight arriving in Auckland will offer passengers more than 20 connections across the region. The return trip utilizes United's extensive route network in San Francisco, which provides connections to the United States, Canada, and Latin America. United operates more than 290 daily flights from its hub at San Francisco International Airport to 79 airports across the U.S. and 26 international destinations. Tickets for the expanded San Francisco schedule will be available on united.com and airnewzealand.com later this year.
United service between San Francisco and Auckland will operate with a Boeing 777-300ER between November and March and will operate with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft between April and October.
UA will now fly the 77W on SFO AKL when it resumes operation 29OCT17 - 22MAR18 (from SFO). Overall frequency will be 6 weekly, and increasing to 7 weekly from mid-Dec. UA73/74 is canceled.
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/...as-of-01sep17/
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/...as-of-01sep17/
Per New Zealand Herald quoting UA:
This change is in response to seasonal variations, which will also see United Airlines adding an additional three flights per week starting December 18, 2017 after resuming its daily Auckland to San Francisco services on October 31, 2017. This will increase services to a total of 10 United's flights per week during the high seasonal demand period. Passengers who have already purchased tickets during the suspended period are being contacted by the airline and offered flights on the Air New Zealand service instead. We apologise to customers for any inconvenience and advise that customers will not be out of pocket as a result of this shift in scheduling and will retain all frequent flyer benefits."
SFO-AKL JV w/NZ, all year UA metal, 77W Nov18-Mar19, 772 Apr19-Oct19 (+newORD-AKL NZ)
Sep 17, 2016, 2:55 pm
#121
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,393
Just to be precise, it's the 787-9 (and the other variants are 787-8 and 787-10).
Sep 17, 2016, 4:18 pm
#122
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 493
Just completed 917 SFO-AKL in C. Love the route and the plane, but I have to say this was the worst intl cabin crew I've had in a long time. Attitude was fine, but they were just struggling to get things done when it was time to get things done and then disappeared into the galley aka pmCO FA lounge to make noise for the rest of the flight.
<rant>
-First drink service 1.5 hrs into flight
-FAs didn't know what wine they had and served the whites warm
-Wine refilled once during dinner (after having to ask and then the guy forgetting about it for another 10 min) and then empty wine glass was left at my seat until I pointed it out at breakfast time
-Meal requests taken front to back
-First towel service cold, second sopping wet and thus useless
-Purser was a very quirky dude, nice enough but he had a real hard time getting through the announcements...
+The coffee was pretty good and served hot! Gotta say something positive...
</rant>
<rant>
-First drink service 1.5 hrs into flight
-FAs didn't know what wine they had and served the whites warm
-Wine refilled once during dinner (after having to ask and then the guy forgetting about it for another 10 min) and then empty wine glass was left at my seat until I pointed it out at breakfast time
-Meal requests taken front to back
-First towel service cold, second sopping wet and thus useless
-Purser was a very quirky dude, nice enough but he had a real hard time getting through the announcements...
+The coffee was pretty good and served hot! Gotta say something positive...
</rant>
Sep 17, 2016, 10:17 pm
#123
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: LBB, Texas
Programs: UA 1K, 1.6MM
Posts: 111
Just completed 917 SFO-AKL in C. Love the route and the plane, but I have to say this was the worst intl cabin crew I've had in a long time. Attitude was fine, but they were just struggling to get things done when it was time to get things done and then disappeared into the galley aka pmCO FA lounge to make noise for the rest of the flight.
<rant>
-First drink service 1.5 hrs into flight
-FAs didn't know what wine they had and served the whites warm
-Wine refilled once during dinner (after having to ask and then the guy forgetting about it for another 10 min) and then empty wine glass was left at my seat until I pointed it out at breakfast time
-Meal requests taken front to back
-First towel service cold, second sopping wet and thus useless
-Purser was a very quirky dude, nice enough but he had a real hard time getting through the announcements...
+The coffee was pretty good and served hot! Gotta say something positive...
</rant>
<rant>
-First drink service 1.5 hrs into flight
-FAs didn't know what wine they had and served the whites warm
-Wine refilled once during dinner (after having to ask and then the guy forgetting about it for another 10 min) and then empty wine glass was left at my seat until I pointed it out at breakfast time
-Meal requests taken front to back
-First towel service cold, second sopping wet and thus useless
-Purser was a very quirky dude, nice enough but he had a real hard time getting through the announcements...
+The coffee was pretty good and served hot! Gotta say something positive...
</rant>
Sep 17, 2016, 10:21 pm
#124
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 493
👍🏼 maybe something to look forward to! OT, but I feel like flights inbound to the US almost always have better service...FAs in a better mood heading home?
The Marlborough Savignon Blanc they were serving on my outbound was actually a really interesting example, but the off temperature made it hard to enjoy.
The Marlborough Savignon Blanc they were serving on my outbound was actually a really interesting example, but the off temperature made it hard to enjoy.
Sep 18, 2016, 7:51 am
#125
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Osaka
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier Executive
Posts: 581
Just completed 917 SFO-AKL in C. Love the route and the plane, but I have to say this was the worst intl cabin crew I've had in a long time. Attitude was fine, but they were just struggling to get things done when it was time to get things done and then disappeared into the galley aka pmCO FA lounge to make noise for the rest of the flight.
<rant>
-First drink service 1.5 hrs into flight
-FAs didn't know what wine they had and served the whites warm
-Wine refilled once during dinner (after having to ask and then the guy forgetting about it for another 10 min) and then empty wine glass was left at my seat until I pointed it out at breakfast time
-Meal requests taken front to back
-First towel service cold, second sopping wet and thus useless
-Purser was a very quirky dude, nice enough but he had a real hard time getting through the announcements...
+The coffee was pretty good and served hot! Gotta say something positive...
</rant>
<rant>
-First drink service 1.5 hrs into flight
-FAs didn't know what wine they had and served the whites warm
-Wine refilled once during dinner (after having to ask and then the guy forgetting about it for another 10 min) and then empty wine glass was left at my seat until I pointed it out at breakfast time
-Meal requests taken front to back
-First towel service cold, second sopping wet and thus useless
-Purser was a very quirky dude, nice enough but he had a real hard time getting through the announcements...
+The coffee was pretty good and served hot! Gotta say something positive...
</rant>
Sep 28, 2016, 3:16 pm
#126
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 19
Running 777-200s to AKL (from SFO) in Nov-late March
The 788-800s will cease in November and 787-900 will return in late March '17. This came from the flight director on an AKL - SFO flight ten days ago.
The rumor is that Polaris might appear on the planes then. I would not count on it. United refits cannot be highly dependable. However, the 900 series flight would be a nice flight. I go in early March and will take Air NZ or else upgrade on the 777-200 on United to Global First. The latter is no better than Air NZ Premier Business. The 777-200 in the 2-4-2 configuration is horrible. Add in United service (C-) and it is a loser choice.
The pricing on Air NZ has been volatile since United has come in to compete. They actually can fix prices if they choose to in the coordinated marketing effort.
Expect them to continue to be chaotic in pricing. I do some work for Air NZ and they said both airlines are experimenting with pricing. The flights I was on in September had tons of Bus class seats left even two days prior to departure. The one going down out of SFO on the 4th filled up because some other flight got cancelled and Bus class people moved onto that flight.
Coming back north on the 18th, it must have been a bunch of people on upgrade lists, which were long. So, no empty seats there.
The Bus Class FA's on the 18th from AKL to SFO were superb! Really! On the 4th they had been efficient and unfriendly and also disappeared for long periods of time. Two completely different experiences!
I will wait until Sept-Oct 2017 to try United Dreamliners again and then only to get over the hump to Million Miler Status. Air NZ is far better.
The rumor is that Polaris might appear on the planes then. I would not count on it. United refits cannot be highly dependable. However, the 900 series flight would be a nice flight. I go in early March and will take Air NZ or else upgrade on the 777-200 on United to Global First. The latter is no better than Air NZ Premier Business. The 777-200 in the 2-4-2 configuration is horrible. Add in United service (C-) and it is a loser choice.
The pricing on Air NZ has been volatile since United has come in to compete. They actually can fix prices if they choose to in the coordinated marketing effort.
Expect them to continue to be chaotic in pricing. I do some work for Air NZ and they said both airlines are experimenting with pricing. The flights I was on in September had tons of Bus class seats left even two days prior to departure. The one going down out of SFO on the 4th filled up because some other flight got cancelled and Bus class people moved onto that flight.
Coming back north on the 18th, it must have been a bunch of people on upgrade lists, which were long. So, no empty seats there.
The Bus Class FA's on the 18th from AKL to SFO were superb! Really! On the 4th they had been efficient and unfriendly and also disappeared for long periods of time. Two completely different experiences!
I will wait until Sept-Oct 2017 to try United Dreamliners again and then only to get over the hump to Million Miler Status. Air NZ is far better.
Sep 28, 2016, 3:44 pm
#127
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,362
Didn't share your overall experience though, and found it to be rather pleasant, and the crew seemed to be trying their best (at least in a CO/UA sort of way).
Will likely be on this route a few times in the next few months, and SUPER glad AKL is now easily accessible from PEK (Air China) and SFO, and without having to rely so heavily on AirNZ anymore.
Also, can finally use GPU to get to New Zealand.
Thanks for the heads-up on the plane change in March 2017 and the info on the interim 777-200 use.
Sep 28, 2016, 4:14 pm
#128
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: EWR, BDL
Posts: 4,471
Just completed 917 SFO-AKL in C. Love the route and the plane, but I have to say this was the worst intl cabin crew I've had in a long time. Attitude was fine, but they were just struggling to get things done when it was time to get things done and then disappeared into the galley aka pmCO FA lounge to make noise for the rest of the flight.
<rant>
-First drink service 1.5 hrs into flight
-FAs didn't know what wine they had and served the whites warm
-Wine refilled once during dinner (after having to ask and then the guy forgetting about it for another 10 min) and then empty wine glass was left at my seat until I pointed it out at breakfast time
-Meal requests taken front to back
-First towel service cold, second sopping wet and thus useless
-Purser was a very quirky dude, nice enough but he had a real hard time getting through the announcements...
+The coffee was pretty good and served hot! Gotta say something positive...
</rant>
<rant>
-First drink service 1.5 hrs into flight
-FAs didn't know what wine they had and served the whites warm
-Wine refilled once during dinner (after having to ask and then the guy forgetting about it for another 10 min) and then empty wine glass was left at my seat until I pointed it out at breakfast time
-Meal requests taken front to back
-First towel service cold, second sopping wet and thus useless
-Purser was a very quirky dude, nice enough but he had a real hard time getting through the announcements...
+The coffee was pretty good and served hot! Gotta say something positive...
</rant>
Sep 28, 2016, 4:15 pm
#129
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: EWR, BDL
Posts: 4,471
The 788-800s will cease in November and 787-900 will return in late March '17. This came from the flight director on an AKL - SFO flight ten days ago.
The rumor is that Polaris might appear on the planes then. I would not count on it. United refits cannot be highly dependable. However, the 900 series flight would be a nice flight. I go in early March and will take Air NZ or else upgrade on the 777-200 on United to Global First. The latter is no better than Air NZ Premier Business. The 777-200 in the 2-4-2 configuration is horrible. Add in United service (C-) and it is a loser choice.
The pricing on Air NZ has been volatile since United has come in to compete. They actually can fix prices if they choose to in the coordinated marketing effort.
Expect them to continue to be chaotic in pricing. I do some work for Air NZ and they said both airlines are experimenting with pricing. The flights I was on in September had tons of Bus class seats left even two days prior to departure. The one going down out of SFO on the 4th filled up because some other flight got cancelled and Bus class people moved onto that flight.
Coming back north on the 18th, it must have been a bunch of people on upgrade lists, which were long. So, no empty seats there.
The Bus Class FA's on the 18th from AKL to SFO were superb! Really! On the 4th they had been efficient and unfriendly and also disappeared for long periods of time. Two completely different experiences!
I will wait until Sept-Oct 2017 to try United Dreamliners again and then only to get over the hump to Million Miler Status. Air NZ is far better.
The rumor is that Polaris might appear on the planes then. I would not count on it. United refits cannot be highly dependable. However, the 900 series flight would be a nice flight. I go in early March and will take Air NZ or else upgrade on the 777-200 on United to Global First. The latter is no better than Air NZ Premier Business. The 777-200 in the 2-4-2 configuration is horrible. Add in United service (C-) and it is a loser choice.
The pricing on Air NZ has been volatile since United has come in to compete. They actually can fix prices if they choose to in the coordinated marketing effort.
Expect them to continue to be chaotic in pricing. I do some work for Air NZ and they said both airlines are experimenting with pricing. The flights I was on in September had tons of Bus class seats left even two days prior to departure. The one going down out of SFO on the 4th filled up because some other flight got cancelled and Bus class people moved onto that flight.
Coming back north on the 18th, it must have been a bunch of people on upgrade lists, which were long. So, no empty seats there.
The Bus Class FA's on the 18th from AKL to SFO were superb! Really! On the 4th they had been efficient and unfriendly and also disappeared for long periods of time. Two completely different experiences!
I will wait until Sept-Oct 2017 to try United Dreamliners again and then only to get over the hump to Million Miler Status. Air NZ is far better.
Sep 28, 2016, 4:32 pm
#131
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: EWR, BDL
Posts: 4,471
Oct 26, 2016, 10:32 am
#134
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,867
NZ C vs 772 UA F
I have an award booked in New Zealand I class, I have noticed UA opening up F a few days out. Since it's the same number of points (80K) is that a change anyone would recommend or would I be better just sticking with NZ? I haven't flown either cabin before.
Oct 26, 2016, 11:49 am
#135
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,393