UA Ending LAX-SIN, going 2x daily SFO-SIN, 27 OCT 2018
#91
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,620
Use to fly LAX/SFO - SIN regularly but being based out of SFO I obviously prefer SFO. My wife unfortunately still makes the run several times a year and this was good news for her. A lot of tech companies in the Bay Area do heavy business out of Singapore and Asia in general so I am sure this had something to do with the switch. I use to hate having to fly to or from LAX just to get my LAX-SIN flight.
#92
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K and MM
Posts: 174
Yikes - the UA Website is wrong I guess. https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-upgrades.html
Just read this in the FT wiki:
LH booking class P, Z upgreadable for miles and eVouchers
Appears this also applies to use of UA GPUs IF booked as native flight number on LH or UA ticket stock.
Presently UA is not converting codeshare to native flight numbers, as required for this process, if P or Z fare
Glad to know that for the future. I just missed out on applying an upgrade on a recent LH/UA itinerary because I didnt know about this change.
Good to know that you need to pick the flight combo with LH flight number to avail yourself of this GPU opportunityty in the future.
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Moderator Note -- Please let's focus further discussion of the LH/GPU usage in Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic (How to use, will it clear?, issues w/flight credit,...)
Thanks
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Just read this in the FT wiki:
LH booking class P, Z upgreadable for miles and eVouchers
Appears this also applies to use of UA GPUs IF booked as native flight number on LH or UA ticket stock.
Presently UA is not converting codeshare to native flight numbers, as required for this process, if P or Z fare
Glad to know that for the future. I just missed out on applying an upgrade on a recent LH/UA itinerary because I didnt know about this change.
Good to know that you need to pick the flight combo with LH flight number to avail yourself of this GPU opportunityty in the future.
----------------------
Moderator Note -- Please let's focus further discussion of the LH/GPU usage in Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic (How to use, will it clear?, issues w/flight credit,...)
Thanks
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 2, 2018 at 2:53 pm Reason: Moderator Note
#93
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,529
I guess UA couldn't compete with SQ out of the LAX market. And, as someone noted upthread, it appears UA won't fight too hard for x-LAX traffic going internationally to Asia.
#94
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Well, this might be true. UA still has LAX-PVG and LAX-NRT flights. It code-shares with Air China on a number of LAX-PEK flights a day, with NH on a number of LAX-NRT flights. It is a disappointment for ex-LAX flyers. Hopefully, LAX-BKK will be added soon.
#95
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: Southwest, Alaska, United, American Airlines
Posts: 994
Yes, most LAX-Asia markets are somewhat larger in sheer size, but SFO-Asia is often by far the stronger TPAC market for yields. This is partly driven by the Bay Area's comparatively more affluent customer base, and partly due to the fact that competition at SFO is somewhat less intense. TBH LAX-Asia flying is a bloody race to the bottom at the moment, as the mainland Chinese carriers + ME3 are undercutting like crazy on price.
#96
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA PP, UA 1K/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Gold
Posts: 1,200
Yes, NH is a fine airlines and have won many fans, but it just does not do it for me.
I found their service too slow for my liking, and their fine food does not gel with me. I love flying SQ and BR, and their services are more intuitive vs NH's rigid approach. (SQ was the same before, but has improved a great of deal).
One trivial thing that bothers me is lack of footrest in its business suite. The current configuration has a cubby hole only. One has to fully extend the legs to rest the legs in a sitting position vs having a footrest build into the seat so one can switch to a lounge chair position.
I found their service too slow for my liking, and their fine food does not gel with me. I love flying SQ and BR, and their services are more intuitive vs NH's rigid approach. (SQ was the same before, but has improved a great of deal).
One trivial thing that bothers me is lack of footrest in its business suite. The current configuration has a cubby hole only. One has to fully extend the legs to rest the legs in a sitting position vs having a footrest build into the seat so one can switch to a lounge chair position.
#97
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1MM GS, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 283
Or as others have pointed out, maybe they’re chasing higher yields? SFO-SIN is an insanely difficult upgrade.
#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,336
I frequently visit BKK for my business travel, and I noted business cabins on the intra-Asia flights seem fairly light except for NRT-BKK. Not sure UA will get good yield from the US on an year-round LAX-BKK service.
BTW, I flew TG A350 from PEK to BKK last month. Love the TG business cabin. I have the PEK transit routine and timing figured out. It is now my preferred routing to BKK from the US: IAD-PEK/NRT-BKK. It beats IAD-SFO-SIN-BKK in terms of timing and one less connection.. I get good sleep on PEK/NRT-BKK, versus the short flight from SIN to BKK.. Also flatbed seats all the way!
BTW, I flew TG A350 from PEK to BKK last month. Love the TG business cabin. I have the PEK transit routine and timing figured out. It is now my preferred routing to BKK from the US: IAD-PEK/NRT-BKK. It beats IAD-SFO-SIN-BKK in terms of timing and one less connection.. I get good sleep on PEK/NRT-BKK, versus the short flight from SIN to BKK.. Also flatbed seats all the way!
#99
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
It'll be interesting to see which airlines approach ends up winning (if any of them) given the industry's record of burning cash at breakneck speed when they face economic shocks.
Safe Travels,
James
#100
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
#101
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
Be careful to select the NH 787-9, not the 787-8, for the NRT-BKK flight, and then hope you don’t end up with an equipment swap.
Neither IAD-PEK-BKK nor IAD-SFO-SIN-BKK sound like something that UA would sell on a single ticket without a very high fare. Are these award tickets?
#104
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
#105
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
I figured it had more to do with ORD and IAD being pmUA hubs. I know they’ve mixed it up a little, but I’ve never seen sUA 772s at EWR except to BRU and FRA every now and then.