UA life post COVID-19 recovery
Apr 9, 2020, 4:55 pm
#31
formerly wunderpit
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ONT-SNA-LAX
Programs: UA1K-HHDiamond
Posts: 1,337
I sure hope we see a quick comeback of 871 and 872 to Taipei. So far my June reservations are confirmed. I'm cautiously optimistic.
Taiwan is one of the safest places in the world right now, though, and who knows how long it will be before (non-Taiwanese citizen/resident) passengers from the USA are allowed back into the island.
Taiwan is one of the safest places in the world right now, though, and who knows how long it will be before (non-Taiwanese citizen/resident) passengers from the USA are allowed back into the island.
Apr 10, 2020, 2:41 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Interesting to see how UA will handle/preserve its FRA slots; not as valuable as LHR though due to TATL JV with LH, but FRA slots are still hard to come by during peak times.
Apr 10, 2020, 3:26 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,317
IMHO, the best way to project the "post Covid-19 UA" is looking at the travel patterns and projected travel volume of each one of us on Flyertalk. I know we are a small sample of overall United frequent flyer population, but I would think it provides a better indication than reading some of the fun posts based on self-gut feelings or wild speculations. They are clearly fun to read and I enjoy everyone of them especially I am grounded.
Here is my anticipated post Covid-19 travels (assume start on July 1) for the second half of 2020:
1. zero transatlantic flights (usually 4 per six months)
2. 1/2 of my Asia-EU flights are not happening (usually 4 per per six months, but this won't impact UA)
3. projected 12 transpacific flights to cut down to 5
4. 40 domestic flights to be cut down to 15
5. 12 intra-Asia/Oceania flights will be gone altogether (No impact to UA)
I am based out of DC and South Florida, and my transpac destinations are PEK, HKG, SIN and TYO. transatlantic destinations are LHR, MAD and FRA. Domestic destinations NYC, SFO,
Other than UA, I fly SQ the most (PPS), and follow by OS/LH/LX and CA
Base on this single sample of millions, I see UA's transatlantic flights hurting, domestic traffic goes down 2/3 and transpac traffic is less than 1/2 pre Covid 19. I won't qualify for SQ PPS after the extension, and I won't have the opportunity to use Plus points to sit in LH F, and sadly no more outstanding coffee and in-flight caterings on OS!
Here is my anticipated post Covid-19 travels (assume start on July 1) for the second half of 2020:
1. zero transatlantic flights (usually 4 per six months)
2. 1/2 of my Asia-EU flights are not happening (usually 4 per per six months, but this won't impact UA)
3. projected 12 transpacific flights to cut down to 5
4. 40 domestic flights to be cut down to 15
5. 12 intra-Asia/Oceania flights will be gone altogether (No impact to UA)
I am based out of DC and South Florida, and my transpac destinations are PEK, HKG, SIN and TYO. transatlantic destinations are LHR, MAD and FRA. Domestic destinations NYC, SFO,
Other than UA, I fly SQ the most (PPS), and follow by OS/LH/LX and CA
Base on this single sample of millions, I see UA's transatlantic flights hurting, domestic traffic goes down 2/3 and transpac traffic is less than 1/2 pre Covid 19. I won't qualify for SQ PPS after the extension, and I won't have the opportunity to use Plus points to sit in LH F, and sadly no more outstanding coffee and in-flight caterings on OS!
Last edited by UA_Flyer; Apr 11, 2020 at 4:54 am
Apr 10, 2020, 5:03 pm
#36
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Hilton HHonors, AAdvantage, Tier 8 Status - Hotel Tonight
Posts: 103
EWR is going to be hit hard no matter what. Expect them to consolidate and stay in Terminal C. Perhaps have other Star Alliance Carriers reside in the terminal as well (like CO used to do with SAS.)
Apr 11, 2020, 1:39 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,715
want to go overseas? Uh-nope most countries have closed their borders or require 14-day quarantine for arrivals, which kind of defeats the purpose of a vacation. Want to go to NYC? Umm not a good idea now. Vegas without Casinos? I don’t think so. Hawaii? 2-week quarantine. National parks? Some are open but good luck finding lodging.
It is a real roll of the dice on the re-opening of all these places. But once that info is known, people are going to be jamming the phone lines booking flights and rooms
Apr 11, 2020, 3:19 am
#38
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Gringolandia y LatinoAmerica a veces EU y Asia
Programs: AV, AA, BA, CM, UA, Hertz, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 153
Apr 11, 2020, 4:37 am
#39
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,332
agree - everyone I know is waiting to pull the trigger on a vacation but nobody can do so with great uncertainty about when things will reopen.
want to go overseas? Uh-nope most countries have closed their borders or require 14-day quarantine for arrivals, which kind of defeats the purpose of a vacation. Want to go to NYC? Umm not a good idea now. Vegas without Casinos? I don’t think so. Hawaii? 2-week quarantine. National parks? Some are open but good luck finding lodging.
It is a real roll of the dice on the re-opening of all these places. But once that info is known, people are going to be jamming the phone lines booking flights and rooms
want to go overseas? Uh-nope most countries have closed their borders or require 14-day quarantine for arrivals, which kind of defeats the purpose of a vacation. Want to go to NYC? Umm not a good idea now. Vegas without Casinos? I don’t think so. Hawaii? 2-week quarantine. National parks? Some are open but good luck finding lodging.
It is a real roll of the dice on the re-opening of all these places. But once that info is known, people are going to be jamming the phone lines booking flights and rooms
I reckon the demand will surpass the available seats, initially.
UA will slowly ramp up flights, but demand will happen quite suddenly, IMO.
Expect FULL planes, and an underwhelming experience.
Apr 11, 2020, 5:45 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,115
will take a bit of time to get people back to work and have money put aside again.
my guess is 24 mo this before demand “pops”
Apr 11, 2020, 5:51 am
#41
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,332
Apr 11, 2020, 7:46 am
#42
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, UA Mileage Plus 1K, AA Executive Plat, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 2,342
Apr 11, 2020, 10:28 am
#44
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVP 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA 1MM,
Posts: 1,707
I think we all need to be clear, this is not going to be a light switch type of restriction lifting. There will be gradual demand slowly coming back over time. And just like IATA, I see this happening in the first half of 2021. The airlines are starting to model this with the long term (more than 4-5 months) storage of the fleet.
Apr 11, 2020, 10:35 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
Posts: 4,610
I really don't think we will be going back to "normal" for quite a while... I am sitting on US-Canada in late June and a transcon in August that I am not sure will happen (leisure travel)
Have Europe in mid-september - again not sure about that one either.
Have Europe in mid-september - again not sure about that one either.
