Status of UA's SFO-PVG operations, back to non-stop -- 30 Jan 2023
Feb 6, 2022, 10:45 pm
#166
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,879
Well, it appears UA is flying SFO-[ICN]-PVG without passengers & with or without cargo (inconclusive, IMO), and flying back as UA858 PVG-[ICN]-SFO with passengers and cargo.
A suspension under these rules from China isn't a suspension of the airplane's flight itself, but merely a suspension of that aircraft carrying passengers.
A click on WHERE'S THIS AIRCRAFT COMING FROM yields an error message:
A suspension under these rules from China isn't a suspension of the airplane's flight itself, but merely a suspension of that aircraft carrying passengers.
A click on WHERE'S THIS AIRCRAFT COMING FROM yields an error message:
Feb 6, 2022, 11:00 pm
#167
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,335
Cargo only would be a 28xx / 27xx flight and labeled as such on unitedcargo.com
conflicting info on when UA857 is scheduled to resume unitedcargo has13 Feb 2022
EF has 12 Feb but availability is zeroed until mid-march
conflicting info on when UA857 is scheduled to resume unitedcargo has13 Feb 2022
EF has 12 Feb but availability is zeroed until mid-march
Feb 7, 2022, 12:01 am
#168
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,783
Today;s UA858 arrived in PVG as UA2850 -- a cargo flight (SFO-ICN-PVG) ship #2137 a 773 , N2737U
So for now UA is flying a cargo only flight into PVG and a passenger/cargo flight out as UA858 (with 100 or so passengers)
Yesterday, 5 Feb it was N2243U, same sequence
Feb 7, 2022, 12:08 am
#169
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,335
But the main point is cargo only flights are 28xx/27xx. UA 858 infers passenger operation
Today;s UA858 arrived in PVG as UA2850 -- a cargo flight (SFO-ICN-PVG) ship #2137 a 773 , N2737U
So for now UA is flying a cargo only flight into PVG and a passenger/cargo flight out as UA858 (with 100 or so passengers)
Yesterday, 5 Feb it was N2243U, same sequence
Today;s UA858 arrived in PVG as UA2850 -- a cargo flight (SFO-ICN-PVG) ship #2137 a 773 , N2737U
So for now UA is flying a cargo only flight into PVG and a passenger/cargo flight out as UA858 (with 100 or so passengers)
Yesterday, 5 Feb it was N2243U, same sequence
Okay, understood; that then makes perfect sense - I must have been reading/interpreting that PDF wrongly. Cheers.
I consider my initial question now 100% answered (and happy about the outcome).
Mar 20, 2022, 5:08 pm
#170
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 1,155
No JN, ON or YN inventory on UA857
Since a few days ago there has been zero JN, ON or YN inventory on UA857. Doesn't this directly violate the last seat availability promise?
Last Seat Availability Benefit
MileagePlus members have the benefit of booking awards without capacity controls on flights operated by United and United Express. If there is a seat available, these members have unrestricted access to book an award, even if it's the last seat on the plane.
MileagePlus members have the benefit of booking awards without capacity controls on flights operated by United and United Express. If there is a seat available, these members have unrestricted access to book an award, even if it's the last seat on the plane.
Mar 20, 2022, 6:15 pm
#171
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,125
Mar 20, 2022, 6:18 pm
#173
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: HPN, LAX, HNL, or somewhere in between
Programs: UA 1K, JetBlue Mosaic
Posts: 435
It doesn't violate the "last seat availability" promise because United has chosen to make 0 J inventory available on that flight. It's not like there are cash seats for sale but no awards available.
Mar 20, 2022, 6:21 pm
#174
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 1,155
There are many dates with J9 JN0 Y9 YN0. E.g. 9/18/2022. Searching awards on SFO-PVG returns absolutely nothing throughout the schedule.
Mar 20, 2022, 6:27 pm
#175
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: HPN, LAX, HNL, or somewhere in between
Programs: UA 1K, JetBlue Mosaic
Posts: 435
I wonder if this has to do with the stop in Seoul? UA 893 has awards available.
Last edited by JALsnipe; Mar 20, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Mar 20, 2022, 6:28 pm
#176
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,335
Mar 20, 2022, 7:08 pm
#177
Join Date: Aug 2021
Programs: UA 1MM
Posts: 347
I would not be surprised if UA's current net profit on its 4x weekly SFO-PVG is a sizable percentage of its pre-pandemic profit on its entire US-China route network.
Mar 20, 2022, 7:33 pm
#178
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,424
I wasn't sure UA still made this promise, but here it is:
Mileage Plus Award Travel
Have you tried calling UA and asking to book the flight with miles? Ultimately, not sure how meaningful the promise is, when they can just charge 10 million miles for the flight. Dynamic pricing has changed (ruined) everything.
LAST SEAT AVAILABILITY BENEFIT
MileagePlus members have the benefit of booking awards without capacity controls on flights operated by United and United Express. If there is a seat available, these members have unrestricted access to book an award, even if it's the last seat on the plane.
MileagePlus members have the benefit of booking awards without capacity controls on flights operated by United and United Express. If there is a seat available, these members have unrestricted access to book an award, even if it's the last seat on the plane.
Mileage Plus Award Travel
Have you tried calling UA and asking to book the flight with miles? Ultimately, not sure how meaningful the promise is, when they can just charge 10 million miles for the flight. Dynamic pricing has changed (ruined) everything.
Mar 20, 2022, 7:38 pm
#179
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: HPN, LAX, HNL, or somewhere in between
Programs: UA 1K, JetBlue Mosaic
Posts: 435
I was curious about this, so I called. Waited 30 minutes only to have an incompetent agent say "sometimes we offer flights without award availability." When I explained the last seat availability benefit, he doubled down that some flights are not available as awards. I'll try to call again later if I'm up for it, but wait times are long. Trying chat in the meantime.
For those looking for a rough idea of what an award might cost on this route, I did see J9 JN9 Y9 YN9 on September 16th:
For those looking for a rough idea of what an award might cost on this route, I did see J9 JN9 Y9 YN9 on September 16th: