UA Adds Second Daily Nonstop Service between SFO-HKG (back to daily till 28 Mar 2020)
#376
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
These changes have been discussed at length in {this thread}
This is NOT correct. The UA Contract of Carriage specifically calls this out as an IRROPS, and they will generally give options such as changing/canceling flights without penalty.
This is NOT correct. The UA Contract of Carriage specifically calls this out as an IRROPS, and they will generally give options such as changing/canceling flights without penalty.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 11, 2019 at 2:06 pm Reason: cleanup after merge; thanks for the link
#377
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
Whether the change from one lie-flat to a different lie-flat triggers this provision is somewhat unsettled. A swap from recliners to lie-flats definitely would.
#378
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Programs: United Gold
Posts: 2,047
Hi,
I am flying Newark - HongKong (UA 179 and return to San Francisco (UA 862) during the Christmas break. When I booked my business class tickets in August, they displayed the New Polaris configured 4 across business seats. Now suddenly, they have changed to PMCO 777 (6 across).for both the flights.
Of course, there is a chance that it will revert back 3 days prior to travel - but is this a decision made by UA to revert HKG flights to PMCO equipment? The answer is probably no, but do I have any recourse at all?
I am flying Newark - HongKong (UA 179 and return to San Francisco (UA 862) during the Christmas break. When I booked my business class tickets in August, they displayed the New Polaris configured 4 across business seats. Now suddenly, they have changed to PMCO 777 (6 across).for both the flights.
Of course, there is a chance that it will revert back 3 days prior to travel - but is this a decision made by UA to revert HKG flights to PMCO equipment? The answer is probably no, but do I have any recourse at all?
doesnt mean you can’t ask to change, just noting that it would have shown.
a downside of United not always sending out automated emails when there are changes.
#379
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
No. Monterey county (437K) and SLO county (283K) are both not in the "bay area" MSA counties, and both are between the SF Bay Metro MSA and Santa Barbara. Their are actually probably another 2M people for whom SFO is the primary international gate way (not including the Sacramento MSA which as 2.4M people in it.
To asia, the options are (1) connect on a puddle jumper at SFO, (2) back connect on a puddle jumper at LAX, (3) fly out of SMF to SEA, connect their, or (4) drive/shuttle to SFO. Outside of limited options ex-SJC, most of the traffic is ex-SFO, and the massive market, strong high value business demand, and large asian population, is why there are so many flights to asia, with competition on nearly every route, out of SFO.
To asia, the options are (1) connect on a puddle jumper at SFO, (2) back connect on a puddle jumper at LAX, (3) fly out of SMF to SEA, connect their, or (4) drive/shuttle to SFO. Outside of limited options ex-SJC, most of the traffic is ex-SFO, and the massive market, strong high value business demand, and large asian population, is why there are so many flights to asia, with competition on nearly every route, out of SFO.
#380
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,515
I flew 877 and 878 this past week and both used Polaris 772s (swapped out about 3 days before departure). PP was treated as E+ and was able to grab those both ways. Y catering but received PP bedding and amenity kit
UA really should have installed LED mood lighting when they refurbished these cabins though.
UA really should have installed LED mood lighting when they refurbished these cabins though.
#381
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,340
I suspect that SF is United's most important market, in that unlike IAH/EWR it faces real competition here, and it is probably a bigger HVF market for UA (nearly all on corporate accounts) than is ORD and certainly DEN. Put another way more possible $$$ to be either gained or lost to competition at SFO than any other hub. SFO services not only the 4th largest metro area, but in high value travel (inc corporate travel) my guess is that it is #2 in the US after NYC. Someone probably has the figures to show if my guess is correct.
And on a metro area basis (apples to apples), SF is #7, 4x less than NYC, 2x less than Chicago. LA, Houston, Dallas, Philly also ahead of you.
And btw, ORD/Chicago faces far more competition than SFO (AA/WN MDW hubs and many intl carriers). And NYC across three airports has an abundance. If you’re speaking Asia competition only, well, yeah, duh! SFO is the closest US hub (LA/SEA close also - but not UA focus).
Last edited by tcdtcd; Dec 14, 2019 at 7:48 pm
#382
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
On a “per capita basis”, SFO might be UA’s most %HVF hub. But ORD (+60% pax) dwarfs it as does IAH/EWR in absolute terms. So I’m not sure you’re claim is correct. SNA on a “per capita basis” might beat SFO on %HVF!
And on a metro area basis (apples to apples), SF is #7, 4x less than NYC, 2x less than Chicago. LA, Houston, Dallas, Philly also ahead of you.
And btw, ORD/Chicago faces far more competition than SFO (AA/WN MDW hubs and many intl carriers). And NYC across three airports has an abundance. If you’re speaking Asia competition only, well, yeah, duh! SFO is the closest US hub (LA/SEA close also - but not UA focus).
And on a metro area basis (apples to apples), SF is #7, 4x less than NYC, 2x less than Chicago. LA, Houston, Dallas, Philly also ahead of you.
And btw, ORD/Chicago faces far more competition than SFO (AA/WN MDW hubs and many intl carriers). And NYC across three airports has an abundance. If you’re speaking Asia competition only, well, yeah, duh! SFO is the closest US hub (LA/SEA close also - but not UA focus).
Also, SF business traffic is far more important to UA than Chicago's traffic. In general, SF's economy is more important. UA's biggest corporate customer is Apple with regular flights to Asia (PVG and HKG are hugely important to Apple), as well as Europe (TLV, ZRH, DUB, LON, AMS are all important tech markets with Google / Apple / Facebook outposts in each)
#383
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
FWIW, EWR-HKG is going back to 1x daily starting at the end of March, but only on a 772.
#384
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
The debate on population statistics has run its course. There are multiple different measures and clearly these different metrics can be used to draw different conclusions. The internal metrics UA uses are unknown to us and unlikely to be shared. But UA's schedule choices are clear.
So as posters' opinions have been shared and reshared there seems to be little point in further battling of those statistics.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
So as posters' opinions have been shared and reshared there seems to be little point in further battling of those statistics.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
#385
I'm thinking of waitlisting SFO-HKG in late Jan during the CNY holiday that is PN>0, booking a K fare and using 80PP that are expiring anyways. Currently something like 10 booked and nobody on the waitlist using the flight status "hack." It was PZ>0 right when GPUs were converted to PP but I missed the boat on that.. Thoughts on chances? At least it is RN9 right now..
#386
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
I'm thinking of waitlisting SFO-HKG in late Jan during the CNY holiday that is PN>0, booking a K fare and using 80PP that are expiring anyways. Currently something like 10 booked and nobody on the waitlist using the flight status "hack." It was PZ>0 right when GPUs were converted to PP but I missed the boat on that.. Thoughts on chances? At least it is RN9 right now..
#387
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Programs: United Gold
Posts: 2,047
I'm thinking of waitlisting SFO-HKG in late Jan during the CNY holiday that is PN>0, booking a K fare and using 80PP that are expiring anyways. Currently something like 10 booked and nobody on the waitlist using the flight status "hack." It was PZ>0 right when GPUs were converted to PP but I missed the boat on that.. Thoughts on chances? At least it is RN9 right now..
and if needed you can always split the record after waitlisting to get more than 2 cleared in advance
#388
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
I'm thinking of waitlisting SFO-HKG in late Jan during the CNY holiday that is PN>0, booking a K fare and using 80PP that are expiring anyways. Currently something like 10 booked and nobody on the waitlist using the flight status "hack." It was PZ>0 right when GPUs were converted to PP but I missed the boat on that.. Thoughts on chances? At least it is RN9 right now..
#389
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
#390
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,331
While I understand it is a good news to have plenty of upgrade space available and FTers are able to clear ^, isn’t it an indication that the route may not be sustainable based on this trend?
I see the same fact pattern as LAX-HKG in the past 3 decades since I started flying United.
Hope HK economy gets a boost and the service is sustainable, but then we will be complaining our upgrades not clearing anymore..
I see the same fact pattern as LAX-HKG in the past 3 decades since I started flying United.
Hope HK economy gets a boost and the service is sustainable, but then we will be complaining our upgrades not clearing anymore..