Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > United Airlines | MileagePlus
Reload this Page >

Will MEL flights shift to SFO or get cancelled?

Register
Community
Wiki Posts
Today's Posts
Search

Will MEL flights shift to SFO or get cancelled?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 20, 2016, 5:36 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXPLT, NZ GE, VA PLT Hyatt Diam, Marr Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 3,445
Will MEL flights shift to SFO or get cancelled?
With VA (re-)entering the market, do you think UA will give up on its LAX-MEL adventure, or possibly shift to SFO? Loads on the route have been pretty light. Would think they might have a go at feeding the SFO hub rather than compete. Or, use the aircraft for less competitive routes (ie, drop MEL).
SFO_FT is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 5:50 pm
  #2  
TA
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,484
Maybe they will keep it for the more lucrative summer season, and then ax it afterwards only to be seasonal?
TA is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 6:03 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Cle
Posts: 574
Will do fine
United is doing fine and will continue to dos on his route
trk1 is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 6:21 pm
  #4  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
I wonder how much they'd have to give up to downsize it to B788, pretty much the smallest viable aircraft on that route.
mduell is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 6:56 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YEG
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 755
I hope they keep it as is, I love this flight, and LAX is just as easy a hub to get to from other UA hubs such as DEN or ORD, and might keep upgrade chances better the way it is haha
whitethunder is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 7:00 pm
  #6  
TA
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,484
I have frequently heard that USPS contracts are highly profitable. But given the amount of passengers I ever observed on UA's SYD-MEL tag, I never thought that LAX-MEL itself had overwhelming high-paying demand enough to reliably fill even a 788. (except in high season)
TA is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 7:09 pm
  #7  
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
I vaguely recall reading somewhere that SFO-MEL was too far range-wise but LAX-MEL was not. Don't remember the reference and don't know it is true any longer if it's not a 747.
RichardInSF is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 7:11 pm
  #8  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
Originally Posted by SFO_FT
With VA (re-)entering the market, do you think UA will give up on its LAX-MEL adventure, or possibly shift to SFO?
The worst case is UA will do what it has done in the past - SFO-SYD-MEL.

MEL does not seem a candidate to be dropped.
garykung is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 7:38 pm
  #9  
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: 52,135
Originally Posted by RichardInSF
I vaguely recall reading somewhere that SFO-MEL was too far range-wise but LAX-MEL was not.
LAX-MEL is longer than SFO-MEL. SFO-MEL is actually more favorable to ETOPS and neither routing exceeds ETOPS 180.
mahasamatman is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 7:50 pm
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,016
Originally Posted by mahasamatman
LAX-MEL is longer than SFO-MEL. SFO-MEL is actually more favorable to ETOPS and neither routing exceeds ETOPS 180.
Great circle map But airline do not always fly the great circle route

LAX SYD 7488 mi
LAX MEL 7921 mi
SFO SYD 7417 mi
SFO MEL 7855 mi
Mwenenzi is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 7:52 pm
  #11  
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: 52,135
Originally Posted by Mwenenzi
airline do not always fly the great circle route
But it's usually very close.
mahasamatman is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 7:57 pm
  #12  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,016
Originally Posted by mahasamatman
But it's usually very close.
For many routes is far from close. Mainly due to politics, prevailing winds, politics, air routes in the sky in congested areas (like Eu) and politics
Mwenenzi is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2016, 8:39 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
Originally Posted by RichardInSF
I vaguely recall reading somewhere that SFO-MEL was too far range-wise but LAX-MEL was not. Don't remember the reference and don't know it is true any longer if it's not a 747.
SFO is actually a few miles closer to MEL than LAX so not sure that range would be an issue. http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=Mel-lax,+mel-sfo
t325 is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2016, 1:12 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Hollywierd Hills, CA
Programs: United 1P. 880k lifetime miles, all on my own dime.
Posts: 378
Originally Posted by SFO_FT
Loads on the route have been pretty light.
Why would VA enter the market if loads are light? Care to share with us your source for this statement?
ORDSteve is offline  
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2016, 1:37 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,693
4-flight sample on Flight Status, all look relatively close to full
kirkwoodj is offline  
Reply



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.