HawaiiO

Does UA still have any intra-asia flights on UA planes?

Years ago, there are a bunch from NRT to BKK/SIN/ICN/SGN but I dont see those routes using UA metal anymore.

Thanks

WineCountryUA

Those NRT flights are long gone -- 2017? and earlier

UA Cancels Last 5th Freedom Widebody: SIN-HKG.

also https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...s-closing.html

Was hinted at in late 2020 but was never bookable?? HKG-SIN to return! (cargo only initially)

HawaiiO

ahhh thanks

So lame...those intra asia flights were nice.

Maybe UA will bring those back in the future...hopefully!

paperwastage

Consensus on the forum is that these flights won't return (ROI not there, rather push it off to aANA (JV) or OZ(*A, though OZ will likely leave *A due to takeover by KE)

Fly the island hopper if you still want a unique UA route (hawaii-guam-asia). Wait, that routes also going to pieces
UA's Micronesia Island Hopper - consolidated questions, advice, ....

goodeats21

Sat across the aisle from a commuting UA captain last week. Had a great talk about the good-ole-days, especially the NRT-BKK tag flight. I was a frequent passenger on that one, and he flew it some as well.
Interestingly, it apparently wasn't viewed as a great trip from an hour / build perspective for bidding, etc.

But brought back great memories of the Upper Deck 747 ride from NRT into Bangkok...

God I miss it.

restlessinRNO

Those were the days! UA actually had a FA base at BKK (and SIN) 20 years ago. Now they don't even fly to BKK.

Also, not mentioned, UA flew NRT-TPE years ago.

kevflyer

NRT-HKG many years ago too

DELee

How much of the UA Asia structure was because of its purchase of Pan Am's Pacific routes?

David

kevflyer

All except two routes, both out of SEA then:

https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/...amdeal-in.html

uanj

(Need to edit my response). UA was flying SEA-HKG and SEA-NRT before the final purchase of PA's Pacific routes and aircraft. From memory, UA had been fighting for years to get some Pacific route authorities and had finally gotten three: SEA-TYO, SEL and HKG and then gave them up to get approval for the Pan Am deal. Maybe Seoul was not operation at the time of the purchase. HKG certainly was, I remember taking one of their first flights!

UA_Flyer

I posted the intra-Asia routes UA had flown in an older thread, but cannot find it anymore. Being a frequent UA intra-Asia flyer in the 90s, here is a list (others feel free to add if I miss anything):

One time or another (not all routes were on the schedule at the same time)

NRT-PVG/SHA
NRT-PEK
NRT-GUM
NRT-SEL/ICN
NRT-MNL
NRT-HKG
NRT-TPE
NRT-BKK
NRT-SIN

KIX-GUM
KIX-SPN

HKG-SIN
HKG-BKK
HKG-SGN

TPE-MNL
TPE-BKK
TPE-SEL

travelinmanS

I've taken the NRT to BKK/SIN/HKG/ICN flights as well as the MNL to ICN, HKG to SIN/SGN flights and even PVG to GUM. I very much enjoyed getting hammered in biz or first on the USA-NRT portion of many of those trips and then sleeping for 6 or 7 hours on the way to BKK or SIN, oh to be young again! Both UA and NW had great hub operations in NRT and the time from 2-6pm every day was jammed packed. Taking a shower in the NRT FC lounge was always a treat.

None of these tag flights will be back. Even I switched to Cathay many years ago, UA can't compete inter Asia with either the LCCs or the regional full cost carriers.

SPN Lifer

Sadly for those who travel there, the NRT-MNL route was cancelled by PA shortly before after (?) selling its routes to UA. There were problems with low fares, but also with security — an attempted bombing.

I was a Reservations Sales Representative at SFORR from 1985-87 and well remember the excitement of the acquisition of Pan Am's Pacific routes 35 years ago in January 1986. I had one month to go before becoming eligible for full Non-Rev privileges.

I quickly began planning a 3-day trip to SYD (which turned into 4 days when I didn't clear standby on the return — I still have the crossed out departure stamp on an old passport.)

The first segment of the SFO-LAX-SYD "direct" flight became known as a "Non-Rev" special, because it left from the international gates and they didn't sell domestic segments — so it was an easy way for junior employees to get to LAX, and hence to HNL.

Eventually UA would make it to MNL through the CO merger, taking over the Continental Micronesia (CS) GUM hub. To this day UA flies NRT-GUM.

UA also had KIX-SPN service in the mid-1990s that I flew in 1995.

kevflyer

It's the last non-Japan Asia route out of GUM now

UA_Flyer

Agree on the 747-400 Upper Deck Intra-Asia experience.

Before the 747-400, UA operated mostly 747-100 in the 90s on its intra-Asia routes. Those old J seats on the smaller upper deck was not as good an experience as the 744.

My favorite intra-Asia seat on the 747-100 is the single J seat in row 16 and 17 on the right side of the aircraft. Those were the best seats before Polaris or any of the current new all aisle access seats available on various airlines. Roomy with side table and also quiet.