Apr 19, 2021, 7:54 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United Airlines Adds New Flights to Croatia, Greece and Iceland as Countries Begin to Reopen to Vaccinated Travelers
United is the only airline that allows customers to upload vaccine results within its mobile app and website through the airline's Travel-Ready Center
New seasonal flights on sale now and scheduled to begin in July
CHICAGO, April 19, 2021
-- United is adding three new flights to its international network, giving travelers more options for summer travel by flying direct to countries that are starting to reopen to vaccinated visitors. Starting in July, United will offer new direct flights from Newark Liberty International Airport to Dubrovnik, Croatia, from Washington Dulles International Airport to Athens, Greece and from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Reykjavik, Iceland, all subject to government approval.
United's Travel-Ready Center enables customers to upload their COVID-19 testing and vaccine documentation, and have it certified ahead of check-in so customers can get their boarding pass before getting to the airport. United is the only airline that does this seamlessly in the airline's mobile app.
The addition of these new routes reflects an increase in interest among United's customers: in the last month, searches on United.com for flights to Croatia, Greece and Iceland are up 61%. And customers can book travel starting today at United.com and on the United mobile app.
"As countries around the world begin the process of reopening, leisure travelers are eager to take a long-awaited getaway to new international destinations," said Patrick Quayle, vice president of international network and alliances. "These three new routes unlock the natural beauty of the outdoors for our guests. They are also the latest example of how United is remaining nimble in rebuilding our network."
Croatia
United plans to add the only nonstop service between the U.S. and Croatia on July 8, with service to Dubrovnik on Croatia's Dalmatian Coast. The airline will operate three weekly flights between Newark and Dubrovnik through October 3 on a Boeing 767-300ER with 30 United Polaris business class seats. Flights will operate Monday, Thursday, and Saturday from Newark and on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday from Dubrovnik and will be timed to connect in Newark to over 65 cities in North America.
Greece
United will expand its service to Athens with daily flights from Washington Dulles beginning July 1 and operating through October 3. This new route marks the first time daily nonstop flights have been available between Washington D.C. and Athens. The schedule is timed for connections in Washington Dulles to over 95 cities in North America and will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with all-aisle-access Polaris business and United Premium Plus seats. This builds on United's existing daily summer service to Athens from Newark Liberty International Airport, which resumes on June 3.
Iceland
United is expanding its service to Iceland with the first U.S. carrier service from Chicago to Reykjavik, beginning July 1 and running daily through October 3. The schedule is timed for connections in Chicago O'Hare to over 100 cities in North America and will be operated by a Boeing 757-200 with 16 lie flat business class seats in the Polaris cabin. This new service builds upon United's existing service to Reykjavik from Newark, with daily flights resuming June 3 and operating through October 29.
These new routes are just the latest adjustments United is making to its international schedule in response to increased demand. In addition:
United is the only airline that allows customers to upload vaccine results within its mobile app and website through the airline's Travel-Ready Center
New seasonal flights on sale now and scheduled to begin in July
CHICAGO, April 19, 2021
-- United is adding three new flights to its international network, giving travelers more options for summer travel by flying direct to countries that are starting to reopen to vaccinated visitors. Starting in July, United will offer new direct flights from Newark Liberty International Airport to Dubrovnik, Croatia, from Washington Dulles International Airport to Athens, Greece and from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Reykjavik, Iceland, all subject to government approval.
United's Travel-Ready Center enables customers to upload their COVID-19 testing and vaccine documentation, and have it certified ahead of check-in so customers can get their boarding pass before getting to the airport. United is the only airline that does this seamlessly in the airline's mobile app.
The addition of these new routes reflects an increase in interest among United's customers: in the last month, searches on United.com for flights to Croatia, Greece and Iceland are up 61%. And customers can book travel starting today at United.com and on the United mobile app.
"As countries around the world begin the process of reopening, leisure travelers are eager to take a long-awaited getaway to new international destinations," said Patrick Quayle, vice president of international network and alliances. "These three new routes unlock the natural beauty of the outdoors for our guests. They are also the latest example of how United is remaining nimble in rebuilding our network."
Croatia
United plans to add the only nonstop service between the U.S. and Croatia on July 8, with service to Dubrovnik on Croatia's Dalmatian Coast. The airline will operate three weekly flights between Newark and Dubrovnik through October 3 on a Boeing 767-300ER with 30 United Polaris business class seats. Flights will operate Monday, Thursday, and Saturday from Newark and on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday from Dubrovnik and will be timed to connect in Newark to over 65 cities in North America.
Greece
United will expand its service to Athens with daily flights from Washington Dulles beginning July 1 and operating through October 3. This new route marks the first time daily nonstop flights have been available between Washington D.C. and Athens. The schedule is timed for connections in Washington Dulles to over 95 cities in North America and will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with all-aisle-access Polaris business and United Premium Plus seats. This builds on United's existing daily summer service to Athens from Newark Liberty International Airport, which resumes on June 3.
Iceland
United is expanding its service to Iceland with the first U.S. carrier service from Chicago to Reykjavik, beginning July 1 and running daily through October 3. The schedule is timed for connections in Chicago O'Hare to over 100 cities in North America and will be operated by a Boeing 757-200 with 16 lie flat business class seats in the Polaris cabin. This new service builds upon United's existing service to Reykjavik from Newark, with daily flights resuming June 3 and operating through October 29.
These new routes are just the latest adjustments United is making to its international schedule in response to increased demand. In addition:
- United is adding three new markets in Africa*, with service three times weekly to Accra, Ghana from Washington Dulles beginning May 14, three times weekly service to Lagos, Nigeria from Washington Dulles set to begin later this year and daily service to Johannesburg, South Africa from Newark beginning June 3 (*subject to government approval).
- United is expanding its India portfolio to 5 daily flights with new service from San Francisco to Bangalore beginning May 27
- United is growing service to Tel Aviv as Israel prepares to welcome back group tourists, with Chicago service resuming three times weekly on May 7 and expansion of San Francisco to daily service on June 3, for a total of 24 weekly frequencies.
- In May, United will resume service from Newark to Rome and Milan, and from Chicago to Munich, Amsterdam, and Tokyo Haneda
- In June, United will resume flights between San Francisco and Tahiti.
UA New Flights to Croatia, Greece & Iceland as Countries Reopen to Vax'ed travelers
Apr 19, 2021, 6:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Programs: None
Posts: 105
UA New Flights to Croatia, Greece & Iceland as Countries Reopen to Vax'ed travelers
Washington Dulles to Athens
Newark to Dubrovnik
Chicago to Reykjavik
Awesome new routes with these countries open to vaccinated travelers.
Newark to Dubrovnik
Chicago to Reykjavik
Awesome new routes with these countries open to vaccinated travelers.
Apr 19, 2021, 6:15 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,552
Additional information:
Croatia: July 8 to Oct. 3, 3X weekly on a 767-300ER
Greece: July 1 to Oct. 3, daily on 788
Iceland: July 1 to Oct. 3, daily on 757-200
Source: https://hub.united.com/2021-04-19-un...652631758.html
Croatia: July 8 to Oct. 3, 3X weekly on a 767-300ER
Greece: July 1 to Oct. 3, daily on 788
Iceland: July 1 to Oct. 3, daily on 757-200
Source: https://hub.united.com/2021-04-19-un...652631758.html
Apr 19, 2021, 7:34 am
#6
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,956
I agree that ORD would be a better choice for midwest and west passengers. I guess that this IAD-ATH choice is due to connection flights at ORD vs. IAD. The schedule for IAD-ATH is 5:35 pm - 10.20+1 day, ATH-IAD is 12:05 pm - 4.05 pm. Adding extra 30 min on departure and return, ORD-ATH would depart at 5:05 pm CDT (very early for TATL flights), return at 3:35 pm CDT.
Apr 19, 2021, 7:54 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
These are not simply O&D flights. Have to look at the entire network to determine the best connection location as well as aircraft utilization. That's a complex algorithm and not resolved simply by population center. An ORD departure is close to two travel days for O&D and a full 2 days for most connections. IAD departure means later departure from origin and, on the return, fewer options without an overnight at IAD.
Apr 19, 2021, 10:39 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
You should check again. I just booked August BOS-ATH and PHL-ATH roundtrip connecting in IAD. Maybe married segment logic is in place, but I haven't checked. All 4 flights had 3-6+ seats available.
Apr 19, 2021, 11:08 am
#10
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,956
Apr 19, 2021, 1:12 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,956
I guess so. ORD-KEF also has PZ2 almost every day except for the date of my outbound flight, which was changed from EWR-KEF due to lengthened connection time resulted from a schedule change. I called 1K lines at 10 EDT and the agents had to manually open PZ spaces for me.
Apr 19, 2021, 5:18 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
Programs: UA MM 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 4,419
It’s amazing they didn’t try ORD-ATH and left it to AA. Lot’s of Greek Americans are taking AA this summer instead of the Lufthansa connection that they’ve been taking in previous years.
Apr 19, 2021, 5:57 pm
#14
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: 66,834
Why go up against a competitor, when you can get a non-competitive route with sufficient demand?