Aug 26, 2017, 4:30 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread.
The active thread is What Route(s) do you wish UA Flew?
Thanks, United forum Moderators.
The active thread is What Route(s) do you wish UA Flew?
Thanks, United forum Moderators.
What Route(s) do You Wish UA Flew? [Archive thread]
Apr 12, 2019, 9:37 am
#1696
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 320
IAH-MSN, or IAH-MKE, for South American connections
Apr 12, 2019, 10:46 am
#1697
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,126
The most interesting part of Kirby's interview, as it relates to new routes, was his comment on SFO:
"California, and SFO in particular, is a unique crown jewel for United - it is the best gateway across the Pacific because of geography. It's in the right place to connect the whole country to Asia. And it's also the biggest local market with lots of premium demand. Turns out that even our flights to Europe, with less geographic advantage, do well for us from SFO due to a large, high-income customer base full of people with a high propensity to travel. Every new route that we add works—recently Tahiti, Europe, Amsterdam. India and Melbourne start later this year. We just keep growing here and it all does very well. SFO is a unique asset for United"
Based on this, I wish he would pull the trigger on SFO-BKK. They are spraying new SFO routes into the vicinity of BKK -- SIN #1 , SIN #2 , DEL It's such a PIA to get there via HKG, TPE or NRT. SIN and DEL overshoot Thailand, so they're no better.
"California, and SFO in particular, is a unique crown jewel for United - it is the best gateway across the Pacific because of geography. It's in the right place to connect the whole country to Asia. And it's also the biggest local market with lots of premium demand. Turns out that even our flights to Europe, with less geographic advantage, do well for us from SFO due to a large, high-income customer base full of people with a high propensity to travel. Every new route that we add works—recently Tahiti, Europe, Amsterdam. India and Melbourne start later this year. We just keep growing here and it all does very well. SFO is a unique asset for United"
Based on this, I wish he would pull the trigger on SFO-BKK. They are spraying new SFO routes into the vicinity of BKK -- SIN #1 , SIN #2 , DEL It's such a PIA to get there via HKG, TPE or NRT. SIN and DEL overshoot Thailand, so they're no better.
The entire eastern half of the USA is better connected through ORD or maybe even EWR as those are polar routes. O'Hare is only about 850 miles farther from Hong Kong than San Francisco. Does anyone want to fly an extra 1500 miles or more to SFO just to shave off 850 miles?
Apr 12, 2019, 10:58 am
#1698
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
The entire eastern half of the USA is better connected through ORD or maybe even EWR as those are polar routes. O'Hare is only about 850 miles farther from Hong Kong than San Francisco. Does anyone want to fly an extra 1500 miles or more to SFO just to shave off 850 miles?
BTW, does someone know the smallest UA frame that can reach BKK from SFO? Thx!
Apr 12, 2019, 11:09 am
#1699
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Apr 12, 2019, 11:18 am
#1700
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,630
I always thought it was CRIMINAL UA could not capture the business from the really big chemical company that is located near MBS. I thought for sure post merger UA really missed the boat once the 3rd party charters contract was up to begin some sort of IAH service for MBS, but the chem company found more value in purchasing 2 CRJ700's and running the route themselves, rather then making their employees sit in a CRJ200 via ORD.
Apr 12, 2019, 12:30 pm
#1701
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Maybe BRU? or MIL? ...... ?
Apr 12, 2019, 2:21 pm
#1702
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: California
Programs: UR, United MP, AAdvantage
Posts: 30
Neither here nor there but I'm curious if anyone has any insights regarding a possible SFO-GRU or SFO-GIG at some point. Substantial Brazilian population in the Bay Area and I would think a decent enough amount of business travel. I know the AA LAX-GRU is an easy connection from SFO. Just curious if anyone thinks SFO-GRU makes sense/might be coming at some point. Asking selfishly as my wife is from smaller Brazilian city and connecting on both continents is a royal pain.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Apr 12, 2019, 6:02 pm
#1704
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
I agree that UA may as well take a flyer on SFO-BKK as a seasonal route and see what happens. There aren’t really any other obvious routes that I think UA should try...maybe SFO-BNE? Perhaps another SFO-India route if SFO-DEL does well (if the geography/routing works)? Does SFO-GUM on any kind of frequency make sense at all? UA is taking in more 789s coming up, and I don’t think they have to retire all of their old 767s / 777s such that this will simply be fleet update/replacement purchases.
Apr 12, 2019, 7:52 pm
#1705
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
I would have thought so, considering that GUM was widely believed to be the most profitable of pmCO's hubs. However, UA has made so many cuts to GUM service that it's hard to see them adding that route. They won't cut GUM-HNL, as that's a huge O&D market on its own, and I don't know if they have enough mainland-bound passengers to make use of both an HNL and SFO flight.
Apr 13, 2019, 12:01 am
#1706
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Still surprised that UA never touched VIE, given that is a OS/Star hub, with good connections into Eastern EU.
Maybe LHs connections from FRA & MUC to Eastern EU are sufficient for UA.
Maybe LHs connections from FRA & MUC to Eastern EU are sufficient for UA.
Apr 13, 2019, 4:10 am
#1707
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Apr 13, 2019, 7:55 am
#1708
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
Apr 13, 2019, 1:30 pm
#1709
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: FUK/Fukuoka
Programs: AS, HA, JL, UA
Posts: 676
PDX-LAX!