SYD-LAX-SYD New Polaris

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Apr 3, 2019, 2:43 pm

#16

findark

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

And I'm not sure AKL isn't equivalent yielding. There is no real competition on that route (just JV partner NZ). I understand J fares are very consistently $8k plus. By contrast, you have DL, QF, and VA all competing into SYD.

ANZ is a weird market. Consistently high fares and light loads, including lots of upgrade space (to AKL in particular), so it's pretty hard to puzzle out what the financials are on the route. Definitely fewer paid seats than many others, but they are getting more money for them.

Australia Economy yields have collapsed with the flood of new service, but this hasn't hit NZ as hard (yet) -- although there is plenty of incursion with QF/DL/VA/AA being happy to sell you US to NZ via Oz.

Apr 3, 2019, 3:15 pm

#17

Boofer

Join Date: Sep 2004

Location: SYD

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Quote:

Originally Posted by findark

It's been a couple of years, but a UA insider told me these routes could operate with as little as half the seats filled, and they'd still make money on freight.

lixiaojuventus and mrt88 like this.

Apr 3, 2019, 6:28 pm

#18

greenpau

Join Date: Sep 2011

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Boofer

It's been a couple of years, but a UA insider told me these routes could operate with as little as half the seats filled, and they'd still make money on freight.

Exact same as I was told — they need the 773 for freight capacity — they apparently fill it every day at a good rate

Apr 3, 2019, 10:04 pm

#19

bhunt

Join Date: Feb 2012

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Quote:

Originally Posted by findark

Is cargo a factor in this? Seen plane to AKL had alot of containers being loaded.

Edit: question answered on down thread

Apr 4, 2019, 1:06 am

#20

findark

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Don't suppose anyone has every flown a 747 combi on the route?

Apr 4, 2019, 2:55 pm

#21

mellon

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Quote:

Originally Posted by evanroberts

It's odd that AKL is getting the new Polaris regularly, now gets Premium Plus, but the presumably higher yield Australian ports get the old seats.

I would think AKL is a low end leisure market. NZ only has 18 J seats on its 787s. So AKL must have lots of freight. AKL is an easy upgrade on UA great place to use your GPUs

Apr 4, 2019, 7:48 pm

#22

samjnz

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: San Francisco, CA

Programs: NZ *E

Posts: 345

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellon

I would think AKL is a low end leisure market. NZ only has 18 J seats on its 787s. So AKL must have lots of freight. AKL is an easy upgrade on UA great place to use your GPUs

I have noticed on NZ operated flights a lot of American passengers on vacations. Given NZ pretty much gives 0 award space in Business I would think these are all paid fares (which usually go for around $5-6k ex SFO operated with a 77W)

They've got a second more premium heavy config on the 787s they use on US routes with 27 in Business (and 44 on the 77W)