Was I just not paying attention? LAX - Europe
Sep 2, 2017, 7:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: LAX IAH AMS
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 1,267
Was I just not paying attention? LAX - Europe
I now live in Europe (AMS), head office is in Houston and family in Los Angeles/Orange County. My preference when flying international is that, if a connection is required, do it before crossing the ocean. From AMS, that strategy is all but impossible and if a connection is done after crossing the ocean the connection times in the US to SNA and LAX are horrible from AMS or leave a 6 hour transcon.
I now realize that UA only flies from LAX to LHR. How long has it been this way? I can't imagine UA only having one european destination from LA. I know that the star alliance has things nicely covered but still....
I now realize that UA only flies from LAX to LHR. How long has it been this way? I can't imagine UA only having one european destination from LA. I know that the star alliance has things nicely covered but still....
Sep 2, 2017, 8:21 am
#2
Join Date: May 2006
Location: L.A.
Programs: United 1K; United 1MM; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 32
As a 1K based in Los Angeles who frequently travels to Europe, I feel your pain. The LAX-LHR flight has been around for a while. Although I am not sure when it began, I recall flying this route as early as December 2014. I wish United would add another one or two European routes from LAX...perhaps Paris and Munich or Frankfurt. I guess the competition is too great with the other carriers or there are rules in place so that Star Alliance airlines won't compete against one another on exact same routes.
Sep 2, 2017, 9:23 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 58
Looks like United bought the London route from Pan Am in 1990. http://articles.latimes.com/1990-10-...nited-airlines
Don't remember United ever flying from LAX to other European cities; SFO is their "real" West Coast hub and currently has service to LHR, CDG and FRA.
Don't remember United ever flying from LAX to other European cities; SFO is their "real" West Coast hub and currently has service to LHR, CDG and FRA.
Sep 2, 2017, 9:39 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
LAX-LHR has been around for a long time with both AA and UA operating the route. Not sure if it is still around but, Delta got into the route as well post Bermuda 2.
Sep 2, 2017, 9:41 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Lots of *A options, just not UA metal. I assume you're not happy with this because you're chasing GS status (I feel you, missed out on GS for multiple years due to this). If booking on an award, then doesn't matter.
AMS-ARN-LAX on SK
AMS-MUC-LAX on LH
AMS-FRA-LAX on LH (x2 daily during the summer)
AMS-ZRH-LAX on LX
AMS-VIE-LAX on OS
Also AMS-LHR-LAX on NZ if you want to switch it up
AMS-DUB-LAX on ET requires and overnight and on EI has a long layover in DUB.
AMS-ARN-LAX on SK
AMS-MUC-LAX on LH
AMS-FRA-LAX on LH (x2 daily during the summer)
AMS-ZRH-LAX on LX
AMS-VIE-LAX on OS
Also AMS-LHR-LAX on NZ if you want to switch it up
AMS-DUB-LAX on ET requires and overnight and on EI has a long layover in DUB.
Sep 2, 2017, 9:42 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
Looks like United bought the London route from Pan Am in 1990. http://articles.latimes.com/1990-10-...nited-airlines
Don't remember United ever flying from LAX to other European cities; SFO is their "real" West Coast hub and currently has service to LHR, CDG and FRA.
Don't remember United ever flying from LAX to other European cities; SFO is their "real" West Coast hub and currently has service to LHR, CDG and FRA.
Sep 2, 2017, 9:54 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
IIRC, only AA and UA fly LAX-LHR. DL exited after a brief stint ~2015. It is the only LAX-"Europe" route among the US3.
I flew UA LAX-CDG on 772 back in the dotcom era. It actually lasted longer than UA's LAX-FRA, iirc.
I flew UA LAX-CDG on 772 back in the dotcom era. It actually lasted longer than UA's LAX-FRA, iirc.
Sep 2, 2017, 10:02 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Hertz PC
Posts: 657
Looks like United bought the London route from Pan Am in 1990. http://articles.latimes.com/1990-10-...nited-airlines
Don't remember United ever flying from LAX to other European cities; SFO is their "real" West Coast hub and currently has service to LHR, CDG and FRA.
Don't remember United ever flying from LAX to other European cities; SFO is their "real" West Coast hub and currently has service to LHR, CDG and FRA.
Sep 2, 2017, 10:51 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
Lots of *A options, just not UA metal. I assume you're not happy with this because you're chasing GS status (I feel you, missed out on GS for multiple years due to this). If booking on an award, then doesn't matter.
AMS-ARN-LAX on SK
AMS-MUC-LAX on LH
AMS-FRA-LAX on LH (x2 daily during the summer)
AMS-ZRH-LAX on LX
AMS-VIE-LAX on OS
Also AMS-LHR-LAX on NZ if you want to switch it up
AMS-DUB-LAX on ET requires and overnight and on EI has a long layover in DUB.
AMS-ARN-LAX on SK
AMS-MUC-LAX on LH
AMS-FRA-LAX on LH (x2 daily during the summer)
AMS-ZRH-LAX on LX
AMS-VIE-LAX on OS
Also AMS-LHR-LAX on NZ if you want to switch it up
AMS-DUB-LAX on ET requires and overnight and on EI has a long layover in DUB.
I love the LAX-LHR flight on NZ (they really seem to like their customers, seats are very comfortable in PE (as well as coach if you get the seats in row 59) and pricing is generally better than UA)
Not that any of that helps you with GS status (but I am 1K and will never make GS so am fine with *A flights)
Last edited by Aussienarelle; Sep 2, 2017 at 11:10 am
Sep 2, 2017, 11:06 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
The OP's issue is that you can't fly LHR-AMS on *A so the LAX-LHR flight is useless. I'm tempted to say that either SkyTeam or OneWorld would serve better and should probably become the focus. SkyTeam will be non-stop all the way, and OW offers good one-stop connections, with BA/AA joint venture having excellent service from LHR to LAX.
Sep 2, 2017, 11:56 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: UA Million Mile, Mileage Plus Premier 1K, SkyMiles Gold Medallion, AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 875
I have family who live in Orange County, and SNA is so much more convenient compared to LAX, especially with LA traffic. I see AMS-IAH-SNA and SNA-ORD-IAH most days with reasonable connection times on UA.
UA has a "larger European presence" because of the JV. LH and LX have service from LAX to MUC, FRA, and ZRH.
UA has a "larger European presence" because of the JV. LH and LX have service from LAX to MUC, FRA, and ZRH.
Sep 2, 2017, 12:36 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
Programs: EK Platinum, AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,148
If you're still going for GS, then those *A options are of no use to you. Your best bet is to just connect somewhere in the US arriving nonstop from AMS, then connect to California. If you want to connect in Europe, your options to maintain GS go out the window.
Question, if you plan on living in AMS long enough, do you not find it worth it to switch to KLM? You'll be able to fly nonstop to LA and Houston, along with many other places in the US.
Question, if you plan on living in AMS long enough, do you not find it worth it to switch to KLM? You'll be able to fly nonstop to LA and Houston, along with many other places in the US.
Sep 2, 2017, 2:36 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: UA Life Gold, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,757
I hate going through US Immigration and Customs anywhere but Dulles since it's 5 miles from home and if I get delayed, I just get home a bit later. I don't have to worry about dealing with delays and missing a connection, dealing with CBP and maybe getting delayed, or dealing with TSA foolishness after a long flight across the world.
I assume the OP is of a similar opinion and that's why he/she wants to not have to deal with connecting in Chicago or Dulles or Newark. While I would generally agree with the plan, it does sound like SNA is a better airport to terminate at, so going through ORD or IAH would probably get you home earlier.
I assume the OP is of a similar opinion and that's why he/she wants to not have to deal with connecting in Chicago or Dulles or Newark. While I would generally agree with the plan, it does sound like SNA is a better airport to terminate at, so going through ORD or IAH would probably get you home earlier.