UA IAH-SYD - First reduced for low season, now 4x weekly year around (& load limits)
Jan 19, 2018, 3:08 pm
#136
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,679
They wouldn't provision anything on LAX-TPE as that doesn't exist on UA
Jan 19, 2018, 5:43 pm
#137
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Maybe if the menu displayed what it actually was and it sounded enticing I’d consider it.
Jan 19, 2018, 6:18 pm
#138
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
I got one of the hot bites when Polaris first launched but haven’t in awhile now. Frankly between the large meal plus the snack cart there’s plenty of food and it seems too much trouble, even on EWR-DEL which is my longest and also most common Polaris flight.
Maybe if the menu displayed what it actually was and it sounded enticing I’d consider it.
Maybe if the menu displayed what it actually was and it sounded enticing I’d consider it.
Jan 19, 2018, 6:19 pm
#139
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Carolina
Programs: UA LT Gold, American Kettle, Hertz #1 Presidents Circle, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 927
I got one of the hot bites when Polaris first launched but haven’t in awhile now. Frankly between the large meal plus the snack cart there’s plenty of food and it seems too much trouble, even on EWR-DEL which is my longest and also most common Polaris flight.
Maybe if the menu displayed what it actually was and it sounded enticing I’d consider it.
Maybe if the menu displayed what it actually was and it sounded enticing I’d consider it.
Feb 28, 2018, 4:47 am
#140
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: +61
Programs: SQ*PPS, QF-WP1 & LTG, VA-Gold, Marriott*LTT, Hilton*Gold, Accor*Platinum
Posts: 5,735
Recent experience on IAH-SYD ...
1. J was almost empty, but filled up with lots of non-revs. Imagine non-revs backtracking from LAX to IAH given more empty J cabins
2. Routing was odd. Essentially flew over LAX before continuing down under (imagine it's shorter if you go south initially). This can't be an ETOPS thing as QF 380 goes Southwest immediately on DFW-SYD.
1. J was almost empty, but filled up with lots of non-revs. Imagine non-revs backtracking from LAX to IAH given more empty J cabins
2. Routing was odd. Essentially flew over LAX before continuing down under (imagine it's shorter if you go south initially). This can't be an ETOPS thing as QF 380 goes Southwest immediately on DFW-SYD.
Feb 28, 2018, 5:59 am
#141
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: OMA
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 75
I'm not sure what ETOPS rule UA flies under but there are different categories based on minutes. Example in the link below shows 180-minute and 240-minute restricted areas on IAH-SYD. There could be any number of reasons a flight takes something other than the most direct routing.
Great Circle Mapper
Feb 28, 2018, 6:34 am
#142
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,695
On a Wednesday, IAH-SYD was 1/3 nonrevs in J cabin. Flying back on Monday, no nonrevs. Depends on the day of week, and smart employees know when the slow days are to enhance their chance of flying J. This new flight is so massively convenient for me! 
--addendum re routing--there is some variation re weather/wind patterns, I've gone various ways over Mexico on these flights, not sure about any ETOPS restrictions coming into play
--addendum re routing--there is some variation re weather/wind patterns, I've gone various ways over Mexico on these flights, not sure about any ETOPS restrictions coming into play
Feb 28, 2018, 6:41 am
#143
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
On a Wednesday, IAH-SYD was 1/3 nonrevs in J cabin. Flying back on Monday, no nonrevs. Depends on the day of week, and smart employees know when the slow days are to enhance their chance of flying J. This new flight is so massively convenient for me!
--addendum re routing--there is some variation re weather/wind patterns, I've gone various ways over Mexico on these flights, not sure about any ETOPS restrictions coming into play
--addendum re routing--there is some variation re weather/wind patterns, I've gone various ways over Mexico on these flights, not sure about any ETOPS restrictions coming into play
Feb 28, 2018, 8:17 am
#144
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bellingham/Gainesville
Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion
Posts: 2,808
Recent experience on IAH-SYD ...
1. J was almost empty, but filled up with lots of non-revs. Imagine non-revs backtracking from LAX to IAH given more empty J cabins
2. Routing was odd. Essentially flew over LAX before continuing down under (imagine it's shorter if you go south initially). This can't be an ETOPS thing as QF 380 goes Southwest immediately on DFW-SYD.
1. J was almost empty, but filled up with lots of non-revs. Imagine non-revs backtracking from LAX to IAH given more empty J cabins
2. Routing was odd. Essentially flew over LAX before continuing down under (imagine it's shorter if you go south initially). This can't be an ETOPS thing as QF 380 goes Southwest immediately on DFW-SYD.
Feb 28, 2018, 9:22 am
#145
Suspended
Join Date: May 2017
Location: In the Swiss amoeba's head
Programs: Lowest level possible
Posts: 2,829
The term used to signify Extended Range Operation with Two-Engine Airplanes but the meaning was changed by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when regulations were broadened to include aircraft with more than two engines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETOPS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETOPS
I'm not sure what ETOPS rule UA flies under but there are different categories based on minutes. Example in the link below shows 180-minute and 240-minute restricted areas on IAH-SYD. There could be any number of reasons a flight takes something other than the most direct routing.
Great Circle Mapper
Great Circle Mapper
Great Circle Mapper
Last edited by DoTheBartMan; Feb 28, 2018 at 9:53 am
Feb 28, 2018, 9:30 am
#146
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA Premier Silver
Posts: 311
The 747 also receives ETOPS certification. The 747-800 Intercontinental is ETOPS-330 certified.
It is my understanding that the 787 is ETOPS 330-minutes certified, so there should not be any routing restrictions because of ETOPS, unless United's aircraft operate with a lower ETOPS certification.
Great Circle Mapper
It is my understanding that the 787 is ETOPS 330-minutes certified, so there should not be any routing restrictions because of ETOPS, unless United's aircraft operate with a lower ETOPS certification.
Great Circle Mapper
May 19, 2018, 5:57 pm
#147
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
UA first sold IAH-SYD at 10200 a piece, now they bumped it to over 12k. I understand it's a hub premium but where are people connecting to besides AKL?
At this rate I wouldn't be surprised if UA changed it to a 788 if it has the range for it.
May 19, 2018, 6:28 pm
#148
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
I thought that 787-8 has a longer range than 787-9. Actually, 789 beats 788 by 325 miles. So, 788 can do IAH-SYD. But this aircraft rotates with SYD-LAX route.
May 19, 2018, 9:46 pm
#150
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bellingham/Gainesville
Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion
Posts: 2,808
It was reminded to me recently that ETOPS is not only an aircraft and airframe specification but a carrier specification. United does not have 330 certification yet, as they must have flown at a lower ETOPS first for some time before that one is given. Hopefully the FT user who knew more about this can pop back in and give some more information.